[JacksonStorm]

Introduction:

This is my first Travelogue Post in Team-BHP. Please bear with me and acknowledge any mistake in this travelogue.
I visited Sathuragiri Hills on 31st Dec 2021 with my family (myself,my wife, my elder son (10 years old), and my younger son (5 years old)).
This is my second visit to Sathuragiri hills. My first visit to Sathuragiri was in September 2011. after 10 years I visited Sathuragiri for a second time. My wife visited Sathuragiri before marriage. My wife is interested to visit Sathuragiri hills with my kids. We are planning many times before, but unfortunately, we are unable to make this trip for various reasons.

Temple Opening Times:
Earlier, the temple is opened all day. The government restricted due to Covid -19 Pandemic and it is open only below days.

1. Full moon day, Previous day of full moon day, and next day of the full moon day
2. New Moon day, Previous day of New Moon day, and next day of New moon day
3. pradhosam day (twice in a month)

In general, The temple is open only 8 days a month. If you are planning to visit this temple, plan accordingly.Due to the increase in the Covid-19 (OMICRON ) cases in the current situation, We are planning this on 31st Dec 2021. (on prodosam day)
We are not sure, due to omicron, the temple may close at any time. so, we used this opportunity to visit this temple during this December vacation time. since our kids are already on Christmas and new year's vacation.

Stay Option:

Our main destination should be Sathuragiri Hills. It is impossible to cover within one day from Bangalore. so, I tried to look into the stay option nearby Sathuragiri Hills.
The nearby town is Srivilliputhur 28km from the Sathuragiri entry point (Thaniparai). Sivakasi and Virudunagar towns are located 40km from the Sathuragiri entry point (Thaniparai). I checked the hotels and staying options in Srivilliputhur, Sivakasi, and Virudhunagar. If I book the hotel in these places. we can stick only to Sathuragiri hills.
My wife insisted, why can't try Madurai for the staying option.Madurai is located 76 km from Sathuragiri entry point (Thaniparai).I said yes. Immediately I booked the hotel in Madurai. The hotel's name is called "Sri Arulmuthu Residency" in arasradi. It is a decent stay option. There are lots of parking options and a garden view hotel. It is a medium-term hotel.



Travel Itinerary:
Our plan is,
1. Start Bangalore on 30th Dec on the way we can visit Arulmigu Kallalagar Temple, Allagar Temple, and Thiru Pazhamudhircholai Murugan Temple.
2. Start to Sathuragiri Hill in the early morning on 31st Dec
3. Visit Meenakshi temple on new year's day and start back to Bangalore.

After Vadipatti in NH44, there is Allagar temple road, It is located 26 km from the NH44

30th Dec 2021:
1. Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Dharamapuri - Salem - Namakkal - Karur - Dindigul - Vadipatti - Alanganallur - Alagarkoil - Pazhamudircholai - Madurai
31st Dec 2021:
2a..Madurai - Thaniparai - Sundara Mahalingam temple - Santhana Mahalingam Temple
2b.Thaniparai- Madurai
1st Jan 2022:
3. Madurai Meenkashi Amman temple - Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal
4. Start back to Bangalore

Preparation:
before this trip, we prepared our golden cheetah for smooth travel

1. Fill the Petrol Tank
2. Check the Tyre pressure (all 4 wheels and including the spare Tyre) and fill with 33 PSI
3. Recently done the 3rd paid service (no need to check however I checked the engine oil level, coolant oil, brake oil, etc )
4. Battery checkup (Recently changed the battery. so I believe it will not give up )
5. Front wipers health condition and a rear wiper (recently changed the rear wiper)

30th Dec 2021:

Arulmigu Kallalagar Temple, Allagar Temple, and Thiru Pazhamudhircholai Murugan Temple:

On the way to Madurai between Karur and Dindigul





Golden cheetah is resting on the roadside:

















On the way to Alagar Koil road via Alanganallur
on the way, you can cross the Alanganallur village. This place is famous for the Jallikattu event



Beautiful Countryside near Alanganallur













On the way to Alagar Koil Road





Entrance to the Alagar Koil Road











Entrance to the Pazhamudircholai Hill Road





View of the Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple



Golden Cheetah is resting at the Pazhamudircholai Parking Area



Steps towards Noopura Ganga at top of the Pazhamudircholai Hill



(To be Continued ...)

[JacksonStorm]

We reached Alagarkoil temple around 02:30 pm and the temple was closed and reopen at 04:30 pm only.We used this opportunity to visit Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple. It is located on top of the hill from Alagarkoil temple.

Visiting Pazhamudircholai you have to pay entry fees of Rs.50 for a car at the entrance(near Alagar koil Temple left side entrance). It is a small protected hill area. One of the six important abodes (Arupadaiveedu) of Lord Muruga. We spend nearly 1 hour 30 minutes in Pazhamudircholai. We visited Noopura Ganga at the top of the hill.

Noopura Ganga steps from the top















Golden Cheetah is resting at Noopura Ganga Parking Area



Around 04:15 we back to Kallazhagar (Sundararaja Perumal) (Vishnu) temple. We spend nearly 2 hours in this temple.

View of Alagar Koil Entrance





we are heading into the hotel to check in. After dinner, we went early into bed.

Visiting Sathuragiri:
31st Dec 2021:



We wake up in the early morning around 04:00 am. We are all fresh up, we started exactly 05:45 am. We reached the Sathuragiri entry point (Thaniparai) around 07:15 AM. There are plenty of places to park the car we paid Rs.50 as parking fees and it is completely safe.

From Srivilliputhur -Tenkasi - Madurai Road you can take a right turn from Alagapuri again you can take a right from Maharajapuram. You can also go upto Krishnankoil and take right turn and come via Watrap to reach Thaniparai.
This is how road towards Thaniparai (Sathuragiri Hills Entrance from Maharajapuram). It is a Single lane road







































(To be Continued...)

[JacksonStorm]

Single Lane Road (Village road) towards Thaniparai Entrance



Beautiful View of Western Ghat















Golden Cheetah resting at Thaniparai (Sathuragiri Hills Entrance) Parking Area




We exactly started to climb the hills around 07:30 AM. There is an entry fee of Rs.5 per head(per adult). At the entry point, police will check all the bags. No plastic bags, plastic covers are strictly not allowed.
Google suggests it was exactly 6km from the entry point. It was around 6-8 km together covered by Sundra Mahalingam and Santhana Mahalingam temple.]

Sathuragiri Hills Google Map:







Sathuragiri Hills Entrance : Starting Point









Police Check Point: entrance fees Rs.5 Per head









The journey first 1-2 km for concrete road, you can easily reach within 30-45 minutes.







The journey starts with the “ Aasirvada Vinayakar" temple.













(To be Continued...)

[JacksonStorm]

After crossing the concrete road, we reach Vazhukku Parai(Slippery rocks). As the name suggests Slippery Rocks, The real journey is starting from here. The journey is a little hard as the rocks are very slippery, while trekking at this point, many people suggested not using slippers. but we using trekking shoes. Many people going with without shoes, slippers throughout the journey. For the next half an hour we have to travel to the Slippery rocks.
The real journey begins after the crossing of Vazhukku Parai or Slippery rocks. For the rest of the journey, we would be traveling at Sangli Parai which means there would be no steps, just rocks









This is how our journey will be till we reach the abode of Lord Shiva at the top of the hills.







































The journey to Sathuragiri tests your Physical strength for sure, but, more than that if your determination to see the Lord is high, nothing can stop it. Your mental strength is very important. There is a Korakkar Cave or Gorakhar Cave before Irattai Lingam kovil (Twin Linga Temple)

Once you cross the Korrakkar cave, Once you reach Irattai Lingam kovil (Twin Linga Temple) 50% of the journey is completed. let's proceed to Pilavadi Karruppusami Temple. On the way, we can see lots of monkeys and Langurs.



Irattai Lingam kovil (Twin Linga Temple)

[JacksonStorm]

The first visit to Sundra Mahalingam temple proceeds by Santhana Mahalingam temple.

It is very difficult to reach Thavasi parai. Only a few ppl visit Thavasi parai. It is not recommended to visit Thavasi Parai with family. lots of wild animals bear and leopards will be there on the way.
so our journey ended up with visiting

1. Sundramahalingam temple
2. Santhanan Mahalingam temple

Entrance of Sundara Mahalingam Temple



Entrance of Sandana Mahalingam Temple















https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/hi...de-of-siddhas/

Sathuragiri Hills is also known as’ Chathuragiri’ or ‘Sundara Mahalingam’ and is situated in Virudhanagar District of Tamil Nadu. Chathuragiri is believed to be the abode of Gods and 18 Siddhars. Siddhars are saints who are Shaivites (devotees of Shiva) who profess and practice unusual forms of Siddhas, which are yogic powers.

The saints who practice Siddhis are called Siddhars. This place is located 10 km. from a place called Watrap or Vathirairuppu which is near Srivilliputhur. The base village is Thaanipaarai which is 7 km. from the Saathuragiri Hills.

One derivation of the name is from ‘Chatur’, meaning Four Veda (the Vedas), and ‘Giri’, meaning Hill. It is believed that all the Four Vedas met and the hill was formed according to Siva Puranam. This Hill of the Gods also has another derivation; the mountain is in a square and hence named Chathuragiri.



Important points to remember:

1. Do not carry any plastic bag and do take only a backpack.
2. Carry sufficient water. If possible take energy boost up liquid.
3. Take some energy foods/snacks and do not take additional luggage.
4. Visiting hours in the temple between 6 am to 4 pm only.
5. Many people climbing the hill Barbone legs(without shoes or chappels)
6. If you planning to wear shoes take some good trekking shoes On the way you can cross many small streams and small waterfalls.
7. On the way, you can see people will sell some energy drinks like lime soda, buttermilk, coffee,snacks, etc
8. On the top of the hill, annathanam happening all the days between 10 am-3 pm. you can take lunch over there at the temple if you like it.
9. There is a signboard on the way, "Do not take bath". But many people take a bath on small waterfalls then proceed to the Temple. You can also take a bath in the waterfalls. If you planning to take a bath take additional clothes and towels additionally in your backpack.
10. Carry an umbrella or raincoat during the visit. if you are planning to visit in the rainy session.
11. There is no electricity, no telephones, and network connection not available at the top.

We started the journey downwards around 01:45 PM. Drizzling during the time and raining happening sometimes.
While returning it is very difficult to reach down, The rocks are slippery in each place because of the rain. somehow we managed and exactly we arrived around 05:35 pm. It took us nearly 4 hours and 15 minutes to reach the entry point.

Once we reach the entry there was heavy rain. We stopped at the entry point around 30 minutes. luckily we carried one umbrella but this is not sufficient for 4 people. My self and my wife were completely wet.
but my kids are ok and they have been protected with the umbrella.

There are lots of tea shops and annathana mandapam running in the down. if you wish you can also have food over there.

We exactly started back to Madurai around 07:15 pm we had dinner at Hotel temple city (at Tenkasi- Madurai bypass road).

(To be Continued...)

[JacksonStorm]

01-Jan-2022:
We all got tired got a good sleep on the night. The Next day we woke up at 6:30 AM and visited Meenakshi Amman temple around 07:30 am on the New Year Day.
Cellphones are not allowed inside the temple. We got a special Darshan ticket of Rs.100 per head (per Adult)and standing a long queue. After waiting 1hour 30 minutes we got a blessing from lord Meenakshi Amman and Lord sundreshwarar. Finally, we visited Thirumalai Naayakkar mahal and we spend nearly 20-30 minutes over there.checking out the hotel at 12:30 PM.

Few Click at the Thirumalai Naayakkar mahal:















Thirumalai Naayakkar mahal Park:



King Thirumalai Naayakkar Statue:



Different Angle of Golden Cheetah at the hotel parking in Madurai:



















we started back to Bangalore around 01:15 pm and we reached Bangalore at 08:30 pm. we stopped in Hotel Shree Saravana Bhavan post-Krishnagiri toll for dinner.

Summary of Fuel cost and Mileage:
Total Distance Covered:1065Km
Fuel:60 liters of Petrol
Mileage : 17.85/per litre

[deathwalkr]

We used to take an annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala years back and looking at the trek up to the temple here, i am in awe.

Amazing to behold and i can already visualize myself slipping off those rocks!

Maybe one day...

Thanks for the travelogue.

[JacksonStorm]

Originally Posted by deathwalkr

We used to take an annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala years back and looking at the trek up to the temple here, i am in awe.

Amazing to behold and i can already visualize myself slipping off those rocks!

Maybe one day...

Thanks for the travelogue.

Thank you for your kind words!!
There are 2 difficult parts while going towards the temple

1. Vazhukku Parai(Slippery rocks)
2. Sangli Parai

Once you crossed! The most difficult part is over! The only difficulty we
faced while going, was all the rocks are completely wet both the onwards and downwards journey.We had extra caution with our kids. we slowly move towards both ways.People who also went to the temple helped us to cross both Vazhukku Parai(Slippery rocks) and Sangli Parai because we are with kids. All the people are helping each other without their help our mission is not completed. They made us the "Successful Trip"

My father used to go to Sabarimala every year in non-peak sessions (May or June month). Unfortunately, I went to Sabarimala only one time till now.
.

[adisan]

Very good write-up and pics, thanks for sharing!
Thiruparankundram was not in your plan? It is not very far from Meenakshi Amman Temple.

The pics of Sathuragiri Hills reminds me of Parvathamalai, near Tiruvannamalai. It starts with concrete steps for the first 30% of the climb, and the remaining part of the climb is pure hills. Not an easy climb, it is sure to test one's mental and physical strength. There is a Mallikarjuna Swamy + Bhramarambigai Temple on top. It is considered very sacred.

[JacksonStorm]

Originally Posted by adisan

Very good write-up and pics, thanks for sharing!
Thiruparankundram was not in your plan? It is not very far from Meenakshi Amman Temple.

The pics of Sathuragiri Hills reminds me of Parvathamalai, near Tiruvannamalai. It starts with concrete steps for the first 30% of the climb, and the remaining part of the climb is pure hills. Not an easy climb, it is sure to test one's mental and physical strength. There is a Mallikarjuna Swamy + Bhramarambigai Temple on top. It is considered very sacred.

Yes, adisan. Thiruparankundram was in our plan! Unfortunately, we didn't make it.
After Algarkoil, we planned to visit Thiruparankundram. When we left Alagarkoil at around 07:00 pm and we went to Hotel around 07:45 pm. we felt it was too late and we got tired and went the bed early to prepare for the next day's Sathuragiri Hills Journey.
in Plan B, we planned after Meenakshi Amman Temple and Thirumalai Naayakkar mahal, We planned to visit Thiruparankundram on New Years Day. We got tired of standing long queue for nearly 1 hour and 30 minutes in Meenakshi Amman Temple. So we dropped the plan to visit the Thiruparankundram Temple on New Years Day. Next time If we planned to visit Madurai, our first visit is Thiruparankundram for sure.

[Pam81]

Wonderful photos !!

I have been to Pilavakkal dam that is close by to this temple location. Unfortunately, the dam was closed due to COVID. Luckily, there was a backside stone road leading to catchment area. Tried to take a panorama with my phone, excuse me for the quality.

[adisan]

Originally Posted by adisan

The pics of Sathuragiri Hills reminds me of Parvathamalai, near Tiruvannamalai.

Some Parvathamalai pics from 2016.

[JacksonStorm]

Originally Posted by Pam81

Wonderful photos !!

I have been to Pilavakkal dam that is close by to this temple location. Unfortunately, the dam was closed due to COVID. Luckily, there was a backside stone road leading to catchment area. Tried to take a panorama with my phone, excuse me for the quality.

I never heard about Pilavakkal dam, Maybe next time I will plan for sure. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by adisan

Some Parvathamalai pics from 2016.

Wonderful breath-taking photos. It will test your mental strength for sure as well as physical strength!
I heard about this Parvathamalai temple. I believe It is impossible with a family(Including kids) If I plan I come alone! I guess!
Is the temple open nowadays? Are there any restrictions on the recent COVID-19 pandemic?
If you plan to visit Parvathamalai in the future ping me, I can also join you, if you like it.

[adisan]

Originally Posted by JacksonStorm

I believe It is impossible with a family(Including kids) If I plan I come alone! I guess!
Is the temple open nowadays? Are there any restrictions on the recent COVID-19 pandemic?
If you plan to visit Parvathamalai in the future ping me, I can also join you, if you like it.

Ladies usually do climb the hill, but very small children not sure. Definitely it is a tough climb, descending is even tougher.

Do not know about any present restrictions. Otherwise, weekends or holidays will be better, as others will also be climbing. Also some small shops selling tea, snacks etc will be open. Pournami days crowd used to be more.

Definitely we could plan a trip to Parvathamalai together some time.

[graaja]

Nice travelogue with information and pictures of Chathuragiri. This brings back memories. 40 years back, when I was a kid, we used to go this hill from our native village called Saptur. We used to halt overnight near the temple those days. Have been thinking of visiting the past few years, but have not got a chance. Your travelogue has revived this wish to visit again. Thank you for sharing.