Day 8: The Penultimate Day – Of Sunrise, Legends & Goodbyes

 Day 8: The Penultimate Day – Of Sunrise, Legends & Goodbyes

We began our day early, waking up by 5 a.m., hoping to witness the sunrise from atop the iconic Rock Fort Temple in Trichy. Although a few travel delays meant we couldn’t make it to the summit in time, we did manage to catch the mesmerizing sunrise halfway up the hill—a golden hue spreading across the sky, gently lighting the ancient stone steps beneath our feet.

This Rock Fort stands atop a geological marvel—a rock that is said to be older than the Himalayas, possibly among the oldest in the world. Standing in its presence felt like being embraced by time itself.

At the base of the hill, we visited the Ganapati temple, and after a short but steep climb, we reached another Ganapati temple perched on the summit. The complex also houses shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, completing the divine triad.

The Ganapati Temple atop the hill holds a fascinating legend that adds to its spiritual gravitas:

 After an intense penance, Ravana was granted a boon by Lord Shiva in the form of the Atma Linga, with a condition that it should never be placed on the ground. On his way to Lanka, the gods, fearing Ravana’s rise in power, sought Lord Ganapati’s help.

 Ganapati, taking the form of a cowherd boy, offered to hold the Atma Linga while Ravana relieved himself. True to his divine trickery, Ganapati placed the linga on the ground, making it impossible for Ravana to lift it again.

 This divine act led to the formation of Gokarna, where the Atma Linga rests. Furious, Ravana returned to Lanka and shared the tale with his brother Vibhishana, who in turn, searched for Ganapati and found him here, atop this very rock. Enraged, Vibhishana slapped Ganapati, leaving a dent on the idol’s head—a mark that remains to this day as a testament to the legend.

After attending the morning puja and soaking in the mystical aura, we slowly descended, paying our respects at every shrine along the way.

 It's said that this rock fort was once a mighty military stronghold, but due to numerous battles, particularly between the French and the British, much of it now lies in ruins—yet the essence of its historic glory still echoes through its weathered stones.







Post darshan, we returned to our hotel for a hearty breakfast and took some time to relax and reflect before checking out at 11 a.m.. With a few hours to spare, we left our luggage at the hotel reception and decided to explore a bit more.

Our next stop was a quick shopping visit to the Decathlon store, picking up a few things for our running routines back home.

 We then made our way to the Railway Museum near Tiruchirapalli Station—a place that turned out to be a delightful surprise! The museum boasts a rich collection of railway artefacts, some over 100 years old, capturing the evolution of Indian Railways through engines, tools, uniforms, and rare photographs. We spent a generous amount of time here, lost in nostalgia and admiration for an era gone by.





By 4 p.m., we returned to our hotel, collected our bags, and made our way to the railway station to board the train back to Mumbai.

And just like that, our spiritually uplifting and culturally immersive journey came to a close—a journey etched into our memories, woven with threads of divinity, legend, heritage, and joy.

Thank you all and God bless 🙏 

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