more to life...: March 2008

It had been a long time since I went to my dad's village, and this, coupled with the loss of my bachelorhood, turned into a family trip to Trichy, Tanjore, and Tranquebar. We started off to Trichy first, nothing of note there except we went to my wife's grandparents' house. The same day we left to Tanjore and on the way we stopped at Brahadeeshwarar Temple.

I had been to Brahadeeshwarar Temple many times, and each and every time I visit it, it gives me something to cherish and remember. Every day of the year, thousands of people come here to witness this timeless experience called the Brahadeeshwarar Temple. It is one of the finest examples of what human endeavor and skill can achieve. Built around the 10th century AD, it is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. It would take you at least one full day to see every part of the temple. The temple is unbelievably huge and beautiful. Also to not miss is the evening experience where you get to see the temple and the gopuram lit. Watching the Brahadeeshwarar Temple in moonlight is an even more awe-inspiring sight.

We spent the night at my uncle's place in Kuttalam. The next day, on the way to Thirumanancheri temple, by luck we sighted an old Chola temple in Kuttalam. Called Uktha Vedeswarar temple, as with most Chola temples, this is in bad shape and hardly visited. Though architecturally beautiful, this temple hardly gets any of the crowd compared to the one at Thirumanancheri. Legend says that Shiva and Parvathi got engaged here first before getting married at Thirumanancheri. Next, we went to Thirumanancheri where Shiva and Parvathi are worshipped as Kalyanasundareswarar and Kokilaambal. Legend says that in accordance with the verdict of Shiva, Parvathi recedes to an earthly life and amidst her wandering reaches a place called Komal, where Lord Vishnu assumes a form of a cowherd to take care of his sister. He releases her from the clutch of the curse in a place called Thiruvaaduthurai, and Parvathi sheds her assumed cow's form and takes her normal form in Kuttalam in the sacrificial fire of Sage Bharata Muni. Shiva and Parvathi then unite in marriage here in Thirumanancheri. After that, we visited the temples at Thiruvidaimarudur and Thirukadaiyur.

I had heard a lot about the old fort at Tranquebar (Tharangambadi in Tamil) and hence, as it is only about 30 km from Thirukadaiyur, we decided we would go there; Tharangambadi in Tamil means "place of singing waves." Called Dansborg in Danish, the fort here was built in the year 1620 AD. It is the site of the first Protestant settlement in India in 1706 AD. Tranquebar was a busy Danish port until a railway line was opened in Nagapattinam, the district capital. The old fort is now turned into a museum.

Route: Coimbatore=Trichy=Tanjore=Kuttalam=Thiruvidaimarudur=Thirukadaiyur=Tranquebar

Distance: 700 km for one round trip

Expenses: Depends on the size and appetite of the family you take :-)
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