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Originally Posted by pramodpk Many thanks for the inputs ampere, ravib & J.Ravi. I would like to add Velankanni also to the list. Here is a map for the round trip that I prepared based on your inputs. http://goo.gl/maps/enQOM
Here is what I have in mind
Day 1
Bangalore - Trichy - Stay at Trichy
Start at 5:00 AM. Reach Trichy. Visit Srirangam & Rock Fort
Day 2
Tanjavur Big temple & Some selected temples in Kumbakonam. Halt at Kumbakonam
Day 3
1 -2 temples in Kumbakon & Drive to Velankanni. Visit Church and drive to Chidambaram. Some
Airavetiswara Temple in Dharasuram
Vaitheeswaran Koil
Vist Sirkazhi ?
Day - 4
Visit Nataraja temple and drive to Bangalore
Could you please suggest few must see temples in Kumbakonam?
Does this plan look feasible? |
Day1 plan is fine. I too started at 5 am from BLR and reached Trichy at 11:30 including 45 mts break at Thoppur A2B. Watch out for temple timings at srirangam, as darshan is not open all the time throughout the day.
I would suggest you to include Thiruvanaikoil, as it is a beautiful temple to see, because you mentioned pilgrimage is not main purpose. Visit Rockfort at twilight around 6 pm or so, which will be good to see the trichy city from top of the hill, in both day light & after dusk. At Trichy, i prefer to stay near Chatram Bus stand (in Hotel Mayaas to be precise) to avoid the city traffic and one-ways. The restaurant serves good vegetarian food which is also a plus. For your purpose, you don't have to go into the city and spend time in roaming around. For Srirangam/Thiruvanaikoil/RockFort sightseeing, stay at Chatram Bus Stand area makes lot of sense than in Central Bus stand area. Also, it helps to you catch NH45B and join Tanjore exit in hardly 10 minutes time. For visiting Rockfort, park your car in Hotel and better take an auto for 50 bucks, as it is almost impossible to find a parking near the temple in a busy/congested shopping area.
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Day2 plan is also good. Start early by 6 am from Trichy, so that you don't get stuck in Thiruverumbur traffic. There was a bridge work happening there, but don't know whether it is complete or not.
Trichy-Tanjore, you should be able to do in 45 mts to max 1 hour. Tanjore Big Temple takes about 1+ hour to see, so you can actually drive down to Darasuram as well and visit Airavatheeswarar temple before you break for lunch at Kumbakonam. Temples are closed between 12 pm to 4 pm so you can take some rest. Suggest you to stay at Hotel Rayas so that you can roam around easily. After 4 pm, at Kumbakonam, I would suggest you to see following temples which are closer by and within the town. Again in Kumbakonam don't drive your car within the town. Better take an auto as it will save your time.
a) Mahamaham Tank (Just a quick look and near to Hotel Rayas/General Post Office)
b) Sarangapani Temple
c) Kumbeshwarar Temple
d) Ramaswamy Temple
These temples are within the town and i have not listed any temple in surrounding areas of Kumbakonam. Remember, the above list is negligible in terms of numbers , because i am still unable cover and see all temples, though i visited Kumbakonam hundreds & hundreds of times since my childhood
If you are interested and particular to see some more, i can suggest you a bigger list !
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On Day3, instead of seeing more temples in Kumbakonam (better reserve it for a separate trip), I suggest you to leave early and better visit Thiruvarur Temple which is big & beautiful and then go further down to Velankanni via Nagapattinam. On the return journey, take the coastal route (ECR) and you can visit Nagore-Tranquebar-Thirukadaiyur-Sirkazhi-Chidambaram. Skip the ones which you are not interested or if you are running out of time.
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Day 4 is fine and i think thats all you can do after tiring 3 previous days travel.
-Ravi