Travelogue

 Day 7: Trichy & Srirangam – A Journey Through Time & Devotion As the sun rose over Thanjavur, we embarked on our journey to Trichy (Tiruchirapalli), an hour-long ride filled with anticipation. Given the extensive travel planned for the next two days, we strategically booked a room near the bus stand, ensuring easy access to both buses and the railway station within walking distance. After a quick check-in, we wasted no time and set off towards our first destination—Srirangam Temple. Srirangam – A Temple That Encloses a Town Unlike most temples that are built within villages or towns, Srirangam Temple is an entire town within a temple! Spanning an astounding 155 acres, it is believed to be the largest religious complex in the world. Ranganathaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, has references dating back to 100 BCE, making it more than 2,000 years old. The sanctum houses Lord Vishnu in a reclining pose over the mighty Sheshnag (serpent king)—a sight strikingly similar t...

 Day 6: Chidambaram Nataraja Temple & Vaitheeswaran Koil – A Journey Through Divine Healing & Dance We woke up early and, after a quick breakfast, headed to the central bus stand to catch a bus to Chidambaram Nataraja Temple. Though we started our journey at 8 AM, there was no direct bus, so we had to change midway to reach our destination. Meanwhile, a dear friend had recommended visiting Vaitheeswaran Koil, a temple known for its unique spiritual and healing traditions. Since it was midway to Chidambaram, we decided to make a detour—even though time was tight, as the Chidambaram temple closes at noon. Vaitheeswaran Koil – The Healing Temple As soon as we entered Vaitheeswaran Koil, we discovered its two fascinating aspects: Lord Shiva as a Divine Healer  In this temple, Lord Shiva is revered as Vaitheeswaran, the divine physician. It is believed that the temple pond’s water has miraculous healing properties. Following the traditional ritual, we purchased jaggery, imm...

 Day 5: Thanjavur & The Magnificence of Brihadeeswara Temple We woke up in our IRCTC retiring room and soon shifted to Ponni Residency, which was conveniently located closer to the Brihadeeswara Temple—our primary reason for visiting Thanjavur. Our journey to Thanjavur was driven by two deep fascinations: witnessing the grandeur of the Brihadeeswara Temple, an architectural masterpiece of the Chola dynasty, and exploring the Thanjavur Museum, which houses some of the oldest manuscripts in India. Brihadeeswara Temple – A Testament to Chola Grandeur After quickly freshening up, we made our way to the Brihadeeswara Temple, also known as the Big Temple. This magnificent structure, built over 1,000 years ago by Raja Raja Chola I, stands as a testament to the artistic and engineering prowess of the Chola dynasty. The temple’s majestic architecture left us in awe. The exquisite carvings and intricate sculptures on the temple’s exterior reminded us of the Khajuraho temples. Though the ...

 Day 4: Rameshwaram and Journey to Thanjavur – A Day of Divine Blessings and Tranquil Transitions Our day began before dawn, as we had to wake up at 4:30 AM to witness the darshan of the Sphatik (Crystal) Lingam at the Rameshwaram Temple, which is available for viewing only between 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM. By 5:30 AM, we were ready and made our way to the temple. The temple volunteers guided us to the ₹200 special darshan queue, and by 6:00 AM, we had the divine blessing of witnessing the Sphatik Lingam, a sacred Shiva Lingam believed to have been gifted by the Maharaja of Nepal to Adi Shankaracharya. The peaceful and spiritually charged atmosphere made this an unforgettable experience. As we stepped out of the temple by 6:10 AM, we decided to head towards the boating area for a serene experience on the Bay of Bengal. The boating service was scheduled to start at 6:00 AM, but due to a lack of passengers, it was delayed until 6:45 AM. While waiting, we were blessed with a breathtaking su...