Our wanderings and perceptions

On the third day of our trip we reached Kumbakonam around 3pm in the evening. Searching a couple of hotels for stay, we ended up with Madhanam Inn. A 3-star hotel, it had all the required amenities and friendly staff. Following the check-in we got refreshed and left to SwamiMalai Murugan temple which is around 9 kms from the hotel. SwamiMalai This is another Arupadai veedu of Lord Murugar and with this we get to worship him at 4 out of the 6 temples. The temple was crowded with devotees who in green dress, wore malai for Murugar. Lord Muruga is said to have taught his father here. So he is called Swaminathan. Once we get into the temple via the east end gopuram, we get to worship Lord Ganesha as Vallabhaganapathi. As we walk towards the left hand side we see the staircase leading to the Lord on top while his parents Sundareshwarar and Meenakshi can be worshipped below. Later as we go around this temple we can worship Dhakshinamoorthy and Durga devi. To get the darshan of Lord Muruga we...

In the evening, though legs were begging for a break we headed to the recently come up National Food security Museum in Thanjavur. It was almost 5pm when we reached here. Its in the Thanjur-Pudukottai road. Although it was closure time, the security checked with the authorities and allowed us inside. It is a state of the art exhibition showing India's Agricultural evolution from dependency to self-sufficiency and food storage is carried out. Interactive display monitors, a 7 min AV and a quiz at the end completes the museum. Tells you how grains were stored in different countries in the old age, how food crops went from the origin country to the rest of the world and what are those crops, how good are lentils for health, how each state in the county flavors on its popular dish. Next to this museum building is a model exhibition on how the land is ploughed, harvested, grains stored and distributed through rationing. Came back to our stay after having tea on the way. It was long day ...

 Thanjavur Palace On our second day in Thanjavur, after visiting the Brahadeeswarar temple we went to the Thanjavur palace, this lies within a kilometre from the temple. This palace is built by the Marathas during their reign. As soon you enter the gates, a parking charge of Rs.10 is collected and we are asked to park the vehicle there itself. We cross over a school in the same compound and reach the entrance ticket counter. Its Rs.50 per head and it covers the entrance charge to all places inside the Palace except two private museums. As we walk through the corridor to get inside the Palace we can see Bunk Anjaneya on the right hand side. Walking further, we get to the Saraswathi Mahal Library. Here you could see books for sale and a small museum of old photographs. Beyond this is the actual library containing all old books collected for years but we not allowed into that area to protect the old books. Researchers and others take permission to get into that library. The first priv...

 We decided to visit the Brahadeeswarar temple first thing today. So had breakfast at Akshayams near our place of stay. This is in the Thanjavur medical college road. The whole college campus and the hospital spans across this road. Once you cross the medical college road and go towards the old bus stand area, a fly over comes up, then comes the bridge with the sides similar to the napier's bridge but smaller in size. Here you can find small shops selling Thanjavur dolls - the thalaiyatti bommai and dancing girl. Parking slot is available just opposite to the temple so we have to cross after parking the vehicle. The temple was crowded with tourist buses coming in from different places. In the temple compound is a stall by the Tamilnadu Tourism Department where you can get a guide to walk you around the temple and share the historic details. As soon as you cross the first gopuram, on the right hand side there is the place to leave your foot wear. In the same place you could see shop...