To Kumbakonam I stay in Coimbatore (CBE) and my in laws stay in Gobi (100 km’s away). They were supposed to collect the garland that I had used during the poja the previous time I had been to the temples and come to CBE by 3.0 pm. The garland was in my native which is 30 min from Gobi. Since it was a Thursday 1.30 to 3.0 pm was not an auspicious time to start the journey and so even the garland reached my in laws place only by 3.30 pm and they could leave Gobi only by 4.0 pm. Made a quick decision and asked in laws to take a bus to Kangeyam which is two hours from Gobi and 1 hour from CBE.I had left office by 2.0 pm with a plan to leave home by 4.0 pm, planned to get some odd pending jobs done during this time. This delay gave some extra time and used it to take rest.
We started from CBE at 5.0 pm and by 5.35 pm we reached Palladam. Called inlaws to check where they are. They had just reached Tirupur which is 15 km from Palladam. It would take at least an hour for them to reach Kangeyam where as we will reach in ½ hour. Thought if we will go to Tirupur and pick them up but dropped it and drove straight to Kangeyam. The drive was smooth and we reached Kangeyam by 6.05 pm and in laws were 30 min away. Took this time to browse and print the route map to the temples in Kumbakonam and the route from Karur to Trichy (had taken print but left them in CBE).
Started from Kangeyam at 6.45 pm to Karur and we where there by 7.30 pm. Now we had to pass through the town to go to Trichy (had planned on an alternate route, more details to follow) and this caused some delay. Could leave Karur only by 8.0 pm and reached Trichy by 9.30 pm. It was late and all the hotels on the out skirts where closed so we had to go to the bus stand to have dinner. Trichy is one of the main junctions and connecting point for south and north of Tamilnadu. So it is always busy there buses to most of the places throughout the night. The hotels around the bus stand are also open till late at night. Left Trichy by 10.15 pm and reached Tanjavour by 11.15 pm and it was 12.10 am when we reached Kumbakonam.Checked into the hotel and went to sleep by 1.0 am.
Route so far:
Coimbatore (CBE) - Palladam - Kangeyam - Karur - Trichy - Tanjavour – Kumbakonam
CBE to Karur, NH67, 127km,1 hour 45 min:
Roads are two laned but have the extension one either side. This allows you to overtake comfortably. When you approach a town it is four lanes with divider except at in large towns such as Palladam and Kangeyam. They have smooth surface such as on highways and no pot holes. You can maintain good speed.
Karur to Trichy, SH 74 till Palayam, 99 km, 1 hour 30 min:
Took an alternate route through Palayam. When in Karur ask for road to Tanthoni malai and proceed straight after crossing Tanthoni malai. From Palayam take left to Trichy (road goes through Mylampatti and Thohamalai, at Thohamalai you will cross the road from Kulithalai to Manaparai). Roads are average two lane and patched at places. We travel an extra 18 km from actual route but there is no traffic and we can maintain a constant speed. There are some sharp curves where caution is required.
It takes the same or more time if you go by the usual route (NH67, 81 km) through Kulithalai. There are couple of big cement factories and sand mining activites along cauvery, so there is lot of traffic and roads are usually ridden with potholes.
Trichy to Tanjavour, NH67, 55 km, 1 hour:
Got back on NH67 from Trichy to Tanjavour. About 75% of the roads are 4 laned. Some sections are not complete with diversions. There are also couple of place where barricades are placed to slow traffic and caution is required.
Tanjavour to Kumbakonam, NH67, 40 km 55 min:
We proceed further on NH67 but roads are normal two lanes and patched. When the road is passing through a town it narrows down to single lane.
Next post will be on the Temples, history and practices in various temples.
Note : I know it is not a complete travelogue if it does not have pictures. Please bare with me till the next post for picture. Since this was a fast track tirp there are not many pics. Using this travelogue to share informaton. |