I planned to make a pilgrimage trip with my family to Palani Hills on this Diwali. Gladly, my Guruswamy family (my Guru in my Sabarimala Trip for last 18 years) and my friend Gokul Nambiar family also joined us for this trip. The plan started off with a 4 seater Tata Indica, then 6 seater Toyota Innova and finally 12 seater Force Traveller. I am glad that such a trip happened for me. My plan was to visit Palani Hills and Darasuram in a single day. But, since more number of people joined, we decided to extend the plan by half day.
Day 1
On Saturday 2-Nov afternoon at 2:30pm, we headed to Srirangam. However, my guru suggested a temple in Thiruppattur (5km from Siruganur on the NH). At Thiruppattur, we first worshiped Lord Brahmapureeshwara (there is a separate shrine for Lord Brahma). Then Sri Devi Bhoodhevi Varadharaja Perumal Temple. After a tea, we headed to Sri-Rangam Temple . After long wait in spite of lined up in paid queue, we had a very good darshan of Lord Ranganadhaswamy. We had prasadam's from the stall as well as did our dinner at the temple itself under the Annadhana scheme. After dinner we headed to Palani Hills.
Day 2
On Sunday 3-Nov Morning, we trekked 25 minutes to reach the Lord Dhandayudapany Shrine. My mother had made arrangements to do abhishekha for the Lord Murugan deity in the morning around 8:45a.m. Around 11am we headed to Darasuram from Palani.
After our lunch at Trichy, we travelled via the Great Anicut Dam (Kallanai)m built by the Chola King Karikala Chola around 2nd Century AD). I must say that it was excellent part of travel. On my left, it was full of farm lands ranging from banana plantation to paddy fields while on my right it was the mighty Cauvery River. It was unfolding endlessly. Those two hours was a great watch for me.
We reached Darasuram at 5 p.m and visited the Airavatheeswara Temple. This temple was built by Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century CE is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Great Living Cholas Temples. It had excellent, intricate sculptures. One testimony for the excellent scriptures is the fused common face for a cow and a elephant. After spending one hour at the temple, we left to Swamimalai Murugan Temple. Later we headed to Vaitheeswaran Temple. Finally, our memorable satisfactory trip came to an end.
Places Covered
| Thirupattur | Sri Brahmapureeswarae Temple, Sri Sridevi Bhoodevi Varadharaja Perumal Temple |
| Srirangam | Sri Aranganatha Swamy Temple |
| Palani | Sri Dhanayudhapany Swamy Temple |
| Darasuram | Sri Airavatheeswarar Temple |
| Swami Malai | Sri Skanda Murugan Temple |
| Sri Vaitheeswaran, Sri Thaiyal Naayagi, Sri Muthukumara Swamy |
Here are few pictures.
Thiruppattur - Brahmapureeswara Temple
Palani Temple - A pilgrim carrying Milk-Abishekha Tank
Trichy to Darasuram - via Great Anicut Dam (Kallanai) -
On my left - Banana Plantation and Paddy fields
Trichy to Darasuram - via Great Anicut Dam (Kallanai) -
On my right- Cauvery River
Airavatheeswara Temple
Arthanareeswarar
Gokul Nambiar's Father at Horse Rath
A group pic but my guruswamy missing
My Guruswamy family
Main Gopura of Airavatheeswara Temple
Sri Durga
Mom and Grand Mom
Elephant and Cow with a common fused face
Elephant and Cow with a common fused face
