My mother is actually a very spiritual person and loves god! She is also very interested in things like Vastu Sastra and Simple Astrology. I dont actually like the God, the reason being Confidential. There is only 2 people I trust - My Mom and myself. And no one Else.
So, Actually I am presently facing the big problem of today’s Youngsters "Unemployment". And I am been unemployed for about 2 yrs now. So, my mom really wanted to recheck my Astrology.
So she visited a Famous Astrologer in our locality to actually rewrite my Astrology(Jadhagam). So, after writing my astrology, he called us and told that, there in no problem in my astrology and I will live my life very good. But he also added saying that, "If we visit, the Sanneshwaran Temple at Thirunallar(which is close by to karaikal) very soon, it would be real better for my upcoming life!".
So Hearing this, we decided to go to "Coombaconum" Aka Kumbakonam on a week end to preform the prayer.!
So decided to visit the "Temple Town" on a 2 days trip, 22 & 23 Feb 2015. Also we needed a hotel for stay. we I searched into Internet and finally found a Hotel named "Hotel Sara Regency" which seemed good. We got the contact number from the hotel’s website and called them booking. But they said "Sir, its not season time, so u come directly and u can get any room for sure". But we did not trust their words becoz we already faced a similar problem at Tirupati twice. So we asked them to confirm our booking and they did!
Now comes the Tour -
Day 1:-
So we got the route detail and then on 22nd morning 7:30 am we started the journey in our Hyundai Elantra. Only one stopped for BF at Sapidavanga at MM Nagar and then NH45 until vilupuram. Then we look the NH45C, the panruti-Neiveli road and reached kumbakonam about 1:45pm. Speeds on NH45 about 120Kms and on NH45C about less than 70Kms. The NH45C panturi road was wat too worst. Many Path holes and road works in progress.
Then at 2pm we checked in and dropped out our bags at the room and came down for Lunch by 2:30pm. After Finishing the lunch, we look a small nap until 3:30 and then left out to visit temples. Visited about 3 Temple.
1) Sooriyanaar Temple -
Located approx 13 Kms east of Kumbakonam(on SH64/SH22). We first Reached the Temple around 5:15pm. Then entered the temple. If there is a kind of Dharsan, we have offer the Sun God with 9 Gurus, Red and Green cloths and Diya to each of 9 gods, one by one. The temple was crowded, we took a guide who also helped us and also provided the offering items. But not for free! We had pay Rs.800 for all. Pretty Expensive.
So if u r visiting this temple First time, make sure of ur purpose as normal visit or a dharshan. And if u r going to offer Praying at Sanneshwar temple, then this is almost a must.
Then we left the temple at around 5:45pm and reached the next 2 Temples at Thirunageswaram.
2) Sri Oppiliappa Perumal Temple - Located Approx 7kms east of kumbakonam(on SH147). We reached this Temple around 6:30 and entered the temple. Its Basically a Permual temple, the big brother of Thirupati Permumal(i guess). The temple is small one but a very Sacred one. Devotees are only allowed to prey the God but not Darshan in front of the statue. So, if u want Dharshan, there is special counter and u can get the dharshan from there. So, then we enjoyed the Temple Elephant, took some photos and left for next temple which is very near by to this temple. This temple has no Parking at all!
3) Thirunageshwara Swamy Temple - We entered this Ragu Temple around 7:15 and offered the praying here too. This is probably the Largest Temple Complex I have seen after Tirupati. Very Large premises. We had to walk, walk ad walk. There is also a Shiva Temple in there and Shri giri Gujambal Sanithi in there. We visited both the temples one by one in there and left the Temple around 8pm.
There is no crowd in the temple and No parking facility too. We too faced word of fight at the parking too.
Then We reached Back sara by around 8:30 and went back to room and took some rest and watched TV until 9:45. Then came down and had the Dinner.!
My goodness, that was the best food I had ever had at a Stay Hotel(Wer both restaurant and stay has). Even munnar and Ooty wer not good. I enjoyed their Food and hospitality.
Then we came down to reception hall, read some newspapers, relaxed, took some photos and went back to room and slept by around 10:30pm.
Day 2:-
On 23rd Monday, we Woke up at 7am, had tea, took bath, got ready and came down for free BF at 8:15am. The Breakfast was not so great. Cold food but thats obvious because its free.!
Then at 8:45 we began our travel to Thirunallar. We took the SH147 and reached the temple around 12pm. Oh, the Road is a Crap. Total worst.. Full of Path holes, Sharp Turns and unwanted Speed breakers. It was a pain reaching Thirunallar and took 3hrs(against the google map’s 1 and half hrs).
So before entering the Main Saneeshwara Temple, first we have to clean up our foot and hand at the Nalam Therthan(Comes first on SH147, located on left side of the Road towards Karaikal).
And then we entered the "Dharbaranyeswarar Temple" Aka Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple. There are a variety of tickets available like Normal Dharshan, Pooja, Yagyam, etc. So we just good the Deluxe Dhardhan ticket and got into the Temple.
The temple is usually said to be very Crowded on holidays and Season time. But since it was Monday, there was not much crowd and we got the Dhashan Real Fast.!
So after offering praying, they us a cup of rice so that we have to feed is to the birds and then got our Prasadam and we light some diya at "Diya lighting mandap" and came out of the the Temple around 12:15pm.
Since we know that if would take another 3 hrs to reach back sara, thats around 3Pm but the check out time is 2pm, so we go confused. But we decided to chose an another route via=Ambal Main Road(AKA Arasalar River bank road)== and Reach hotel by 2:45pm.
Then we apologized for the delay and requested the staff an another 5 mins to check out But they friendly and politely asked us extend our Stay until 4pm and then we can leave. That was very generous.
So, we dropped our prasadam at our room, came down at restaurant at 3pm and took ur lunch, took some rest until 3:45pm and then check out. We again Thanked them a lot!
The Price was also very nominal and suitable for us. The Hotel was AC exclusive and very Clean.
Then We Started our wat back to Chennai. We chose the ==SH139 and SH27 to reach
Perambalur=. since my bro was driving, his iphone maps messed up and we ended up at shortest route and not the shortest best route. And the Road lead us to a dead end with road been ruined completely for Road works. So to reach the SH139 in used my Lumia 1020’s Here Maps and reached perumbalur around 6pm. We Wasted 1 hour journey due to confusion. Took a tea there and we reach Chennai by Around 10:30 pm(NH45). (took dinner at Al-Reef near our home, keelkattalai).
Things to Remember -
1) The most important thing is, if u r going to kumkonam or karaikal, remember, if u visit Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple, its not advisable to visit any other temple anywer. So u can visit other temples first and them finally Visit The Saneeshwaran Temple and them directly head back home.
2) Dont Select the Panruti road NH45C or NH45A. Both a worst. U can select Nh45 upto Perumbalur and then Ariyalur and Kumbakonam.
Or can also chose NH45 and NH67 via Thanjavur to reach Kumbakonam. This road is little longer but super smooth route.
3) Its not advisable to eat any non veg on this tour. Otherwise ur praying wont be effective.
4) U can also select the Train route and take up a private taxi to do this tour. Cost effective and no worries about Parking and all.
5) Also, dont select the iphone maps for ur tours. Its not suitable for India.
Verdict - Its a Best Town to visit if u have interest and passion toward Temples and Indian History. "Best Temple Town worth many Visits"