A Family Tour: Kannur (Kerala) To Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu) and Back...


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Nairrk

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We are now towards the end of Year 2016 and thought that why don’t plan for a tour for couple of days. First, we thought of going via Train but dropped the idea mainly because of problems in getting connected trains at our convenience. Then decided to go via Road and for that all our group unanimously given their preference to hire a Air Conditioned Tempo Traveller (14 seater).

We are 6 families (all 50+) i.e only Husbands and wives decided to travel in the first week of December but the demise of MS Jayalalitha put us in postponing the programme to 2nd week. So, finally we fixed the date as 12th of December and all arrangements were made accordingly.

We left our place at 6AM on 12th of December and after couple of hours we started getting calls from our relatives back at home those who have been watching the TV which was showing the Storm(Cyclone Vardah) which destroying Chennai and surrounding areas. All of our people want to know where we are and the situation of the storm at the route we are traveling. Fortunately the disaster stuck only in Chennai coastal area and nothing happened to central Tamil Nadu where our proposed routing was.

The route we selected was Calicut, Palakkad (not entering into the city limits), Trichy, Sri Rangam, Tanjavur, Kumbakonam, Valparai, Athirapally, Chalakkudy, Ernakulam, Calicut & Kannur.

At around 12:30 noon, we reached at Malampuzha Dam(Palakkad District). Malampuzha, a little township on the foothills of the Western Ghats takes its name from the River Malampuzha. Nurtured by this tributary of Kerala's longest river, the Bharathapuzha. Around the reservoir of the dam are beautiful gardens and amusement parks. Boating facilities are available on the lake. Other attractions in the Malampuzha garden are the beautiful rock garden, the fish-shaped aquarium, the ropeway(service aavilable only in the evening time) which takes you on an aerial tour of the park, and the gigantic Yakshi (an enchantress) sculptured by Kanai Kunhiraman, a renowned sculptor of Kerala

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(Malampuzha Yakshi)​

After spending around one hour in the dam park, we had lunch at nearby hotel and continued our journey towards Trichy/ Srirangam. Around 9:30PM, we reached at Srirangam and managed to get a good hotel, just few yards away from the Temple. Rs.950 for a double bed A/C room, they also have bigger rooms where 4/5 people can accommodate together. Indeed, a good and clean hotel. (Vamana Supreme Towers, 60 A.M.Road, Srirangam, Trichy-6).

Got up next morning around 7AM and went to the Temple for Darshan (Lord Vishnu).

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We left Srirangam around 9AM and next visited the Rockfort Temple. There are two rock cut temples in the fort, one in the lower part of the fort called Lower Cave temple and other in the complex outside the Thayumanswamny on the way up to Uchi Pillayar Kovil, called the Upper Cave temple. There are about 400 steps to climb to the top of the fort.

Next, We visited the Rockfort Temple (Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort, Trichy). There are two rock cut temples in the fort, one in the lower part of the fort called Lower Cave temple and other in the complex outside the Thayumanswamny on the way up to Uchi Pillayar Kovil, called the Upper Cave temple. There are about 400 steps to climb to the top of the fort.

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(View from top of the temple)​

From here, We left for Thanjavur...
 
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Thread Starter #2

Nairrk

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Re: A Family tour – Kannur (Kerala) to Kumbakonam(Tamil Nadu) and back..

Next, we visited the Rajarajan Thiruvasal Temple. The Rajarajan Thiruvasal named after King Rajaraja –I,. The temple, built by King Rajaraja Cholan, has three gopurams leading to the main temple which has a soaring vimana on the sanctum sanctorum.

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Next, Brihadeeshwar Temple- (Locally Known as ''Thanjai Peria Kovil''), is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is also known as RajaRajeswara Temple Rajarajeswaram and Brihadeshwara Temple. It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Tamil architecture during the Chola period.

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Our next stop was Kumbakonam.

Sarangapani temple, Kumbakonam. Temple dedicated to Vishnu.

The Rajagopurams of the temples of Tamilnadu are noted for their height. Srirangam tower is 236 feet tall and that of Srivilliputhur is 165 feet. Kumbakonam Lord Sarangapani temple is the third 11 tier 150 feet tall. The car-rath of the temple also is famous for its high artistic beauty – called Chithira Ther. Saint Tirumangai Azhwar calls this as Rathabandham.

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En route to Kumbakonam, We also visited Chandran Temple (Thingalur Chandran), one of the Navagraha Temple. WE cannot get Darshan as the Temple opens only at 4 pm. Then next - Suriyanar Temple (SUN Temple) – Thirumangalakudi. Again, we are bit early there for Darshan a Temple opens only at 5Pm.

Next, Kumbeswar temple in Kumbakonam - Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in the town of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshiped as Adi Kumbeswarar, and is represented by the lingam.

Temple History - When the world was facing destruction due to the devastating tsunami, Lord Brahmma approached Lord Shiva to know wherefrom He had to restart creation. Lord Shiva suggested that Brahmma make a magic pot with the sand collected from various sacred places and float it in the flood water and also taught the procedure of leaving it on the water. The pot stopped at a place. Lord Shiva shot an arrow on the pot. The nectar spilled and spread on all directions. That nectar mixed with the sand and became a Linga. This Linga is Kumbeswarar.

Lord Shiva in the temple is Swayambumurthi. The base of the Linga is broad at the bottom and narrow at the top as a needle point.

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We then left kumbakonam and started return-journey towards Thanjavuy/Trichy. We stayed that day at Thiruvaiyaru, around 13kms before Thanjur.

That's end of day 2
 
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Nairrk

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Re: A Family tour – Kannur (Kerala) to Kumbakonam(Tamil Nadu) and back..

Day:3

We started our journey around 8AM and next point in the plan was Valparai. However we have stopped at Azhiyar Dam/gardens enroute to Valparai.

Aliyar Reservoir is a 6.48 km reservoir located in Aliyar village near Pollachi town in Coimbatore District. The dam is located in the foothills of Valparai, in the Anaimalai Hills of the Western Ghats.

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We, then started our journey towards Valparai, a hill station in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. It is located 3,500 feet above sea level on the Anaimalai Hills range of the Western Ghats.

It was just 4PM but the surrounding becoming dark (cloudy) with chilly breeze all around. It took almost 2/2.5 hours to reach hill top/Valparai Town. Managed to locate a good homestay Hotel called ‘Idham’’ and we settle that night there. (Since it was very cold and chilly winds outside, no one wanted to go out for a walk or shopping instead preferred stay indoor and watching tv/discussions/gossips etc...

Day 4:

We left Valparai around 8 AM and enroute done some shopping and then started climbing down the hill. Our next point was Athirapally Water Falls.

Tea Estate at Valparai


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(The estate view from our Home stay hotel)

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Athirappilly Falls is situated in Athirappilly panchayath, Chalakudy Taluk of Thrissur district, Kerala. Athirapally Waterfalls are one of the best waterfalls in India. This waterfall drops from a height of 80 feet through several parallel streams offering a great scenic beauty. This is the biggest waterfalls in Kerala and well known for its scenic beauty. About 10-15 minutes (may be more for older people) trek down from top of the falls will take you to bottom of the falls where the greatest beauty of the waterfalls can be experienced.

Athirapally falls never dries out and can be visited anytime during the year. Though the waterfall appears in its full glory during monsoons, heavy rains can cause great inconvenience. So, the best time to visit is from September to January. It usually takes 2-3 hours to explore Athirappally falls.

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We left Athirapally around 1:30Pm and then our aim was to reach our homes by night 10pm. However, some breaks in between for Lunch, shopping and dinner with usual evening traffic consumed more time and finally we all reached our home safely just after midnight.

Thanks for reading.!!
 
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Re: A Family tour – Kannur (Kerala) to Kumbakonam(Tamil Nadu) and back..

Congrats for the travelogue.
My visit is illustrated here.
There are many attractions on the Athirapally-Chalakudy road. Did you visit Vazhachaal?
I missed the way to reach the bottom of the waterfall. Is there any indication?



Keep posting. We have more readers with less responses.
 
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Thread Starter #5

Nairrk

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Re: A Family tour – Kannur (Kerala) to Kumbakonam(Tamil Nadu) and back..

Thanks Mathew.
Yes, I have seen your travelogue and its very nice and illustrative.

We had some time limit (our plan was for maximum 4 daysl), hence we were not able to visit all the locations enroute. We were aware that there are plenty of tourist locations in Kerala like those one you have given in your travelogue, but we have limited only few because of our tight schedule and long distance covered during these 4 days.
 
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Nairrk

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Some more picutres, collected from my friends:

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(Yet another close shot of Athirapalli Falls)


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(Some of our members standing on the Malambuzha dam bridge)


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(Our Group standing in front of the Srirangam Temple, the lane is crowded with roadside shops and vendors..)


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(Just near the entrance of Adhi Kumbeswarar Temple, where the banner of Late Ms.Jayalalitha has been kept..?)


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(Malampuzha garden - a Long shot)


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(Top of the Rockfort Temple)​
 
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my home town is vriddachalam. it's near by to the places but i haven't gone to none of this temples once. superb photos.
 
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Thread Starter #10

Nairrk

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my home town is vriddachalam. it's near by to the places but i haven't gone to none of this temples once. superb photos.
That always happen. Normally, we dont give much importance (or think that will see later..) to such tourist spots or famous temple's nearby but people from other places always gives more important than us.. [roll]
 

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