Places of Interest:
1.Rameshwaram
The
temple town of Rameswaram
in state of Tamil Nadu, is an island in the Gulf of Mannar off the tip of the peninsula. Rameswaram is sacred for both the Shaivite
and Vaishnavite sects of Hinduism.
The Ramanathaswami Temple is about a hundred meters from the
shore. It marks the place where Rama is said to have
earned Shiva’s forgiveness for killing Ravana. The
temple is huge with a 54meter high gopuram and a
corridor that is 1220meters long, lined with 1200 huge granite pillars. The Agni Teertham is when devotees
purify themselves in the seawater around. The temple complex has 22 wells, each
of which is supposed to have different tasting water. Gandamadham
Parvatham is the highest point in the island. The
hall has a wheel (chakra) which bears a footprint believed to be Rama’s.
8
km from Rameshwaram is the southern tip of the island
called Dhanushkodi after Rama’s bow. The boulders around are believed to be from the
bridge that Rama’s monkey army built to get across to
the errant Ravana’s Lanka. Devastated by a cyclone in
1964, all that remains here is an ancient temple and its idols of figures from
the epic.
Rameswaram is not only a pilgrimage. The Kurusadai Islands west of the Pamban Bridge are of great interest to marine
biologists as is the entire area around here. The gulf has been declared a
biosphere reserve. The coral reefs are beautiful and home to lots of
sea-creatures. Boat rides to the islands can be arranged from Mandapam.
The district headquarters at Ramanathapuram
(55 km) are to be visited for the Ramvilas Palace
of Sethupati kings. The walls are very entertaining,
with oil portraits of the kings and murals of such sundry occasions as battles
with Marathas and business meetings with the British!
Erwadi (21 km) is a place of pilgrimage for Muslims. It has the tomb of Ibrahim Syed Aulia.
An annual festival in memory of the saint is held every December.
Uthirakosamangai has a statue of Shiva carved out of emerald and attracts
lots of pilgrims.
Kanchirankullam (35 km) is a water bird sanctuary and is home to many
species throughout the year. The season is from November to February.
Valinokkam (90 km) is a seaside village largely untouched by
consumerism and 'tourism’. The water is clear and clean and ideal for swimming.
The
seaside is peppered with little stalls selling wares of seashell art; corals,
conches and palm leaf drawings are available around the beach.
It’s
hot and humid here all through the year and summer and winter temperatures
don’t vary by much. However, the months of Jan/Feb are more comfortable than
May/ June.
The
nearest airport is at Madurai (167 km), which is linked
to major cities in the country by domestic airlines.
No
pilgrims miss this area in their pilgrimage tour.SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours pilgrimage packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These pilgrimage tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
2.Sabarimala
The World famous Sastha temple at Sabarimala located on the slope of the Western
Ghats. The pilgrimage begins in the month
of Vruchikam (November) and ends in Makaram-Makara Samkranthi(January).
Sabarimala is the most famous pilgrim centre in Kerala. This temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. It is believed to be the place where Lord Ayyapa meditated soon after killing the powerful demon, Mahishi. It is situated on a hilltop and is surrounded by
mountains and dense forest. This temple is unique in many respects. One is that
the temple is open to all irrespective of caste, creed or religion. There is a
place near the temple (east to Sannidhanam) dedicated
to the Vavar called "Vavarunada".This
is an epitome of religious harmony. Another fact is that it is not open
throughout the year. It is open for worship, only during the days of Mandalapooja, Makaravilakku and Chitra Vishu. The pilgrims have
to follow fasting for many days and the journey to the temple is to be taken
through difficult paths in the forest as the vehicles can go only up to Pampa.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours pilgrimage packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These pilgrimage tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
3.Chidambaram
Chidambaram
is an important destination for followers of the Hindu god Shiva and exponent
of the fearsome, frenzied Tandav Nritya
or the dance of destruction. At the centre of
the town is the large Natraj Temple complex
dedicated to Shiva as the divine dancer or Natraj,
the foremost of all dancers. Spread out over 40 acres this complex, dedicated
to the god who is usually represented by the phallic symbol, houses other
temples, a tank, and the 'thousand pillared hall’. Non-Hindus are allowed into
the complex but not the gold plated sanctum sanctorum that houses the idol. The
Natyanjali Dance Festival is held on the temple
grounds in February with performances by eminent dancers. There is a 13th
century Kali Temple on the outskirts of the town.
Chidambaram
is a small town but is the highlight of the temple circuit because of its
famous shrine to the Dancing Destroyer. No, not some WWF hulk but the Nataraja, which is the form of the Hindu god Shiva, as he
performs the devastating dance of death. Part of the divine trinity that
otherwise includes Brahma the Creator and Vishnu the Preserver, it is Lord
Shiva on whom is enjoined the task of Apocalypse.
50
km from Chidambaram is Gangaikondas Cholapuram, at one time the capital of the Chola kingdom. It has a Shiva temple that is noted for its
hugeness and the rich carvings on the walls of demi-gods
in dancing positions. A huge Nandi bull guards the
entrance, and there is a lion-head step well in the complex.
Pichavaram, 16km east of Chidambaram, has a huge
mangrove forest. There’s a range of sports for the taking like canoeing, rowing
and parasailing. The huge sandbar that keeps the sea out can be reached by
boat. TTDC provides boating facilities, lodging, and a restaurant for those who’d
rather not carry a picnic hamper.
Annamalai University in Chidambaram is one of the most
important in India.
The Kalvarayan Hills are 150 km away and reach
up to 1190mts. They make for an ideal quiet get-away with easy trekking, time
by waterfalls, and walks in the botanical gardens. There is a summer festival
on in May.
Ruins
of a 17th century Danish fort, an old
Collector’s House, a temple built in 1305, a 300 year old
church and a 200 year old town gate mean Tranquebar,
or Tarangambadi, is tangibly steeped in history.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours pilgrimage packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These pilgrimage and pleasure tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
4.Chottanikkara temple
Chottanikkara temple, located near Ernakulam
enshrines Bhagawati - the mother Goddess, is one of
the most popular deities in Kerala.
People
who have mental illness seek refuge in the divine mother, who graciously cures
all her devotees. Goddess Rajarajeswari is the
presiding deity.
This
deity is worshipped in three different forms - as Saraswati
in the morning - draped in white, as Bhadrakali at
noon draped in crimson, and as Durga in the evening
decked in blue.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours pilgrimage packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These pilgrimage tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
5.Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari district, which lies in the southern most tip of Peninsular
India, is famous for its majestic hills, virgin beaches, pristine rivers and
meandering rivulets. The district has a fragrance of architecture culture and
customs of neighbouring Kerala
mixed with the rich deep traditions, culture and architecture of Tamil Nadu.
Thiruvalluvar Statue
Thiruvalluvar is the immortal poet of Tamil Nadu and has given to theworld Thirukkural. The memorial statue of Thiruvalluvar
is in Kanyakumari. Visting
Hours -8 AM To 4 PM
Kamarajar Manimandapam
Another monument Kamarajar Manimandapam
was raised and dedicated to Late. Sri. Kamarajar, The freedom
fighter, Former Chief minister of Tamil Nadu,
President of Indian National Congress. He was popularly
known as Black Gandhi among the masses and king maker during congress
regime. This monument was constructed where his ashes were kept here for public to
pay homage before immersion into the sea. Visting
Hours -7 AM To 7 PM . Entrance Free
Vivekananda
Rock Memorial
Vivekananda Rock Memorial is another place in
Kanyakumari which attracts large number of
tourists. In Puranic
tradition, it has been known as “Sripada Parai: meaning the rock, that has been blessed by the touch
of Shripada feet of the Goddess.On
the rock, is a projection similar in form to a human fort and a little brownish
in complexion, which has traditionally, been revered as a symbol of Shripadam. According
to legend, it was on this rock that Goddess Kanyakumari
did Tapas.
The memorial consists of two main structures, viz (i) Vivekananda Mandapam and (ii) Shripada Mandapam.
Vivekananda
Mandapam:- This
180’-11 ½ ‘ X 56’ Mandapam consists of (1) Dhyana Mandapam, i.e., Meditation
Hall with six adjacent rooms (2) Sabha Mandapam or the Assembly Hall including Pralima
Mandapam (statue section) two rooms, a corridor and
an open Prakaram round the Sabha
Mandapam (30 Mukha Mandapam (Portion) and (4) the Front Entrance steps with
two rooms and a corridor below the steps.
Shripada Mandapam:- This square
hall consists of (1) Garbha Graham i.e., (Sanctum
Sanctorum) (2) the Inner Prakaram (3) the Outer Prakaram and (4) the Outer Platform all around. Both the Mandapams
are so designed that the vision of Swamiji in the
statue would be seen direct towards the Shripadam.
Visting Hours -7
AM To 4 PM . Entrance Fee - Rs
10 . Ferry Fee Rs 20 for
adult .and Rs 10 for students.
Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise can be seen
in Kanniyakumari through out the year at Bay of Bengal. Sunset can be seen from View Tower
through out the year except the months of June, July and August.
View
Tower
and Telescope House
Panoramic view of landscape, seashore,
Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Thiruvalluvar Statue etc.,
can be seen at View
Tower and through
Telescope.
Visiting hours:-
05.00 A.M. to 07.00 P.M.
Government
Museum
The Government Museum,
situated on the Beach Road
offers a good collection of sculptured artifacts and crafts of South Indian Temples
and is one of the “Must See” places in Kanyakumari.
Visiting hours:-
From 09.30 A.M. to 05.00 P.M. (All friday and
second Saturday holiday)
Kumari - Hall of history
It is located south side of Kanyakumari Railway
Station exhibits the pictures of historical wonders and also comprised rare
photographs Kamarajar, Gandhiji
and other freedom fighters.
Visiting hours:-
From 08.30 A.M to 08.30 P.M.
Suchindrum
Suchindrum is a
small village about 12 km. from Kanyakumari and about
seven kilometres from Nagercoil. This holy place is located on the bank of the
river Pazhayar, adjoining fertile fields and coconut
groves and the temple is dedicated to Sri Sthanumalayan. The word denotes Siva, Vishnu and Brahmma as. Sthanu represents Siva, Mal
represents Vishnu while Ayan represents Brhamma i.e. Siva, Vishnu and Brhamma
in “One Form”.
Mathoor Hanging Bridge
The Mathoor Hanging
Trough is the tallest as well as the longest trough bridge in Asia,
having a height of 115 feet and a length of one kilometre. Constructed in 1966, this bridge has become a
place of tourist importance and hundreds of tourists visit this place. This is situated in Mathoor,
hamlet of Aruvikkarai revenue village in Thiruvattar Panchayat
Union.
The
trough has a height of seven feet with a width of seven feet six inches. The canal is being shouldered by 28 huge
pillars. By the unrelented efforts of late Thiru.
K. Kamaraj, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, this canal was constructed as a drought relief
measure and for the development of agriculture in Vilavancode
and Kalkulam Taluks. The
District Administration has recently put up a staircase from top to the bottom
of the bridge and also built a children's park and bathing platforms over here.
St. Xavier
Church
The church records show that the church was built in the year 1600
A.D. In the year 1865, the Church was
enlarged and the shrine of our lady was also renovated and vaulted over. In 1930, the church was raised to the status
of a Cathedral.
In 1942,
in commemoration of the fourth centenary of the arrival of St.Xavier
in India, a beautiful tower
to the saint, a grotto to Out Blessed Mother and a small shrine to St.Ignatius who sent him to India were constructed in the
Cathedral premises. In 1955, the church
was further extended and the chapel of Our Lady was incorporated into the
enlarged church.
The Church of St. Xavier enjoys a great fame as a
place of miracles from early times. The
annual festival is celebrated during the month of November – December lasting
for 10 days.
Padmanabhapuram
Palace
The
ancient historical town Padmanabhapuram is one of the
four municipalities in the district is 55 Km. south of Trivandrum,
about two km. east of Thuckalay and 35 km. from Kanyakumari on the Trivandrum-Cape
Comerin road.
This town is
surrounded by a fort with an area of 187 acres. The ancient capital of Travancore
might be constructed before AD 1601. The
palace with an area of seven acres, is situated in the
very centre on the Padmanabhapuram Fort, amidst
hills, dales and rivers. The palace
which is situated in Kanyakumari District is under
the control of a Curator of the Archaeological Department of Kerala Government.
The
fort which was built with mud originally was dismantled and reconstructed with
granite by Maharaja Marthanda Varma. The height of the walls varies from 15’ to
24’ according to the inclination of the ground.
Entrance Hall:-
The entrance to the main edifice
is controlled by another ornamental gateway with retainers for watch and
ward. The gabled entrance has wooden
ceiling profusely ornamented with lotus medallions. The most striking feature of the entrance is
the clock-tower which is one of the oldest in India erected in 1832 A.D. and
still continues to be in working order.
The
first floor the Poomuham has a council chamber or Mantrasala which is meant for holding discussions with
ministers and prominent citizens. The
floor off this hall, which is polished with the admixture of coconut shell
ashes, eggs fermented in molasses and lime reflects the figure like a
mirror. Next to the Mantrasala
is the Dancing Hall which was used exclusively for the members of the royal
family.
Adjacent
to the Council Chamber and to the south of dancing hall is the dinning hall
called “Uttupura”, with two
floors (the ground and the first) each measuring roughly 78 by 6 metres and it would accommodate about 2000 people at a
time. Feeding of about 2000 poor
persons, it is said, was done here every day and so the king was called ”Dharmaraja”.
Uppirika Malika : - The most attractive
building in the whole palace is the ‘Uppirika Malika’ which consists of three storied. ‘Uppirika’ is the
abbreviated term of ‘Muppirika’ which means the residence
of the eldest member of the family. A
wooden cot is erected on the top most floor in the
belief that “Lord Vishnu” the chief deity. The
first floor contains a wooden cot made of 64 medicinal plants, on which
Maharaja used to sleep. The medicinal
cot was presented to Maharaja “Marthanda Varma” by the Dutch East India Company in 1750, as a mark
of friendship.
The
Navarathri Mandapa: - To the west of the Zuppirika
Mandapa is the Navarathri Mandapa which is a spacious hall of exquisitely beautiful granite
pillars with drooping pendants reminiscent of the Nayakar
style of architecture. In the Navarathri Mandapa, performances
of Bharatha Natya and
musical recitals took place in the royal presence.
Pechiparai Dam
About
43 km. from Nagercoil this dam has been
constructed. This dam in Kalkulam Taluk, was built during the days of the Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal across the river Kodayar. The
construction of the dam was designed on the pattern of the Periyar
dam in the Madurai
district. The length of the dam is 425.1
mts. It has a catchment area of 204.8 sq.km. There
is a camp shed provided at the dam side for the visitors. The weather is very pleasant and hence
attracts a large number of tourists.
The reservoir is surrounded by dense forests
which are famous for their valuable trees and rich would life such as tiger,
elephants, deer etc. A hill tribe, small in number known as ‘Kanikars’ dwell in the dense forests around the lake.
Peer Mohammed Durha
There is a durha named
‘Peer Mohamed Oliyullah Durha’
at Thuckalay named after the great philosopher
Mohamed Appa, who was born in Tenkasi
of Tirunelveli District. After spending sometime in spiritual pursuits
in Peermedu of Kerala State
he came and stayed at Thuckalay. Being a Tamil poet of great eminence, he
wrote many books on philosophy. He had
intimate relationship with the Kings of Chera
dynasty. It is said that he laid
foundation stone for the Padmanabhapuram Granite
Fort.
The Anniversary of the great philosopher poet is
celebrated every year on a grand scale on the full moon day in the month of Rajap. Both the
people of Kerala and Tamil Nadu
attend the celebrations on large numbers irrespective of their caste, creed and
religion.
Tirparappu Water Falls
The Kodayar makes its descend at Tirparappu and the
water fall at this place is about 13km. from Pechiparai
dam.
The
river bed is rocky and about 300 feet in length. The water falls from a height of nearly 50
feet and the water flows for about seven months in a year. The whole bed above the falls is one rocky
mass which extends up to a distance of about quarter of a kilometer upstream
where the famous Thirparappu weir has been
constructed for supplying water to the paddy fields. On either side of the river, on the left bank
of the river in between the water falls and the weir, there is a temple
dedicated to Siva enclosed by strong fortification. The District Administration has recently constructed a swimming
pool for children over here which is very popular among the
children.
Maruthuva Malai
The Maruthuva Malai also known as the Marunthu Vazhum Malai – the abode of
medicinal herbs, forms from part of the western ghats.
According to tradition, the Maruthuva Malai is a fragment of the Sanjeevi Mountain, a piece of which fell down
here, and it was carried by Hanuman from Mahendragiri
to Srilanka for healing the fatal wounds of Lakshmana, the brother of Rama,
the epic hero. It stretches for more
than a km, reaching a height of 800 feet at the highest point. It is about 11km. from Nagercoil.
Muttom
Beach
The famous beach at Muttom is located about 16 kms
from Nagercoil and 32 kms
from Kanyakumari. Muttom is
famous for its beautiful landscaping and high rocks dipping into the sea at the
beach-side. The sun set view point at Muttom is one
of the most Panoramic view points in the district. Another attraction of Muttom is the century old light-house built by the British.
However so far this beautiful beach has always been unsafe for the tourists
since the rocks on which tourists go to see the sea view are slippery and a
number of fatal accidents have occurred over the past few years.
The district administration,
decided to put protective stainless steel fencing across the entire dangerous
areas and also to put up small open huts at the rock tops for the tourists to
sit and watch the massive sea waves leisurely with protection from sun and
rain. The fencing work and the small huts have already been completed to the
delight of the tourists who mob the beach in hundreds during week ends. Sitting
benches have also been constructed in a circle for the elders to chit-chat,
relax and enjoy the sun set. Seeing the response of the tourists, the district
administration has sanctioned for the construction of a toilet complex, a small
shopping complex and a children's park at a cost of Rs.11.60 lakhs and there are plans to undertake sculpture - works
across the rocks to add to the ambience of the area.
Sanguthurai Beach
Sanguthurai is a
beautiful beach resort and is very convenient for the local population of Nagercoil. It is only about 10 kms
from the city. Unfortunately no infrastructure facilities were available in
this beach. The district administration has now sanctioned a project for
putting up of a children's park, seating facility, open huts (Kudils) with Terracotta roofs and lighting facility at the
beach at a cost of Rs.6.00 lakhs. The entire work has
been completed. It is also proposed to put up a few shops for Women Self Help Groups
at the site, which can provide eatables to the on coming tourists at the beach
side.
Vattakottai
(Circular Fort)
VATTAKOTTAI (Agasteeswaram
Taluk): Vattakottai, a granite fort six kilometres
north-east of Kanyakumari cape, forms the terminal of
a line of ramparts known as the South Tranvancore
lines built by Marthanda Varma
to serve as defence for Nanjil
Nadu. It is
rectangular in shape and covers an area of about three and a half
acres. The fort is enclosed by walls 25
to 26 feet high, including the parapet, 29 feet thick at the front, 18 feet at
the corners and 6 feet at the rear. The
portion running into the area is the most strongly built under the orders of De Lannoy during the reign of Mathandavarma
(1729-58). About 1810 A.D. the British
forces under the
command of St. Leger marched into Nanjilnad
through the Aramboly pass and demolished the defence
lines. The small river by the side of
the fort, and the green vegetation all around add to the scenery of the fort
and has now become a holiday resort and picnic centre.
It
is said that there is a subway or tunnel about four feet width, supposed to
connect the padmanabhapuram palace. Now the tunnel has been closed. On the northern side of the fort is found a slop to being the canon from the lower to the upper part
of the parapet of the fort. There is
well of about 6’ diameter. The whole wall around the fort is repaired and fresh
mortar is being applied. Literary or epigraphically evidences are not in store
to know much about Vattakotai. However, from the evidence left by the fort
itself, it may be presumed that his fort was the military base to protect the Kumari port which was a rich pearl harbour. Since the emblem of the Pandya
Kings was ‘Fish’ and we find this emblem in some of the places of the fort, it
can be safely concluded that the Pandya Kings had
control over this fort for sometime.
Next
to Vattakottai, we can see the traces of a light
house in Leepuram being called so after Colonel Lee who has destroyed
most of the Kadukkarai Kanyakumari
Fort in 1806. This is a picnic spot, the sea is calm and suitable for bathing.
Chothavilai Beach
This beach is about 10 Kms
from Kanyakumari, is one of the best natural beaches
of the district. The beach has shallow water and High sand dunes on the back
ground. The District Administration has through its own funds and through the
funds of MPLAD scheme, put up rest shelters, kudils
and a view tower over here for the benefit of tourists. The tourists can reach
the beach through the newly laid coastal road which is a very beautiful drive
along the sea-coast.
BAY WATCH (Water Theme
Amusement Park), Kanyakumari
The water theme amusement park at sunset
point offers a unique way to experience the exotic grandeur of Kanyakumari in its integrals. Baywatch comes up with
a wholesome family entertainment saga of rapturous experience, which leaves you
at a point of nonstop excitement in a thrilling and bewitching water
world. Great fun styles equaling international standards keep you on the
ecstatic brink of frenzy. Fun loaded rides like Bumping Car, Sky Cab,
Crazy Chairs, Hot Tea Cups, Giant Wheel, Columbus, Wave pool, Milky Way,
Multiple Splash, Kids Pool are some of our attractions. The location being a
prominent place of national integration, by all means, Baywatch has become the
abode of leisure, happiness laughter, family gatherings, etc. The search for
providing unique and multiple entertainment facilities that match with
international standards pave the way for introduction of India’s first Wax
Museum, which is line with the Madam Tussauds Wax
Museum at London.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours pilgrimage packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These pilgrimage and pleasure tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
6.Guruvayur
Popularly Known as - Dwaraka of the South
Dedicated to - Lord Krishna
Significance - Most Important Hindu Pilgrim Centre in Kerala. A temple, famous all over India as a
pilgrim centre, dedicated to Lord Krishna popularly known as Guruvayoorappan. The Sreekrishna
idol of this temple is believed to have been worshipped by Vasudevar
and Devaki at Dwaraka. This
shrine popularly known
all over India.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours pilgrimage packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These pilgrimage tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
7.Thanjavur
Tanjore as the Britishs
called it, is a lush paddy district. Now a small city
in the state of Tamil Nadu, it rose to glory during
the Chola period from the 10th century to
the 14th, when it came to be the centre of art and education. The
Cholas built extensively during this period and 74 of their temples are still
standing. As the centre of cultural development Thanjavur
attracted master craftsmen, and it still continues to produce attractive
handcrafted ware.
The
legacy of the days of glory endures. Its heritage as a centre of learning,
culture and craft is reflected in the variety of handicraft work that goes on
here. Thanjavur is still famous for its bejewelled, gold leaf Tanjore
paintings, fine silk carpets, bell metal work, musical instruments, pith work
and bronze sculptures.
The
Brihadiswara Temple built
by Raja Raja Chola in the
10th Century dominates the town. Its dimensions are huge: the Vimana, which peculiarly is bigger than the Gopuram is 65 meters tall, the lingam is called the Mahalingam to suggest its greatness and the Nandi Bull guarding the temple is 3.7 meters tall. The
frescoes compare well with those in Ajanta.
The South Zone cultural Center organizes a programme
on 2nd and 4th Saturdays at the Brihadiswar Temple for which entry is free.
The
Palace near the temple was built partly by the Nayaks in 1550, and partly by the Marathas of the west. It
houses an Art Gallery,
the Saraswati Mahal
Library, the Royal
Museum and a music hall.
The art gallery displays bronze and granite statues from the Chola period, ancient manuscripts on palm leaves are on
show at the library, and the royal museum displays the royal costumes, cutlery,
utensils and weapons.
Thirubuvanam (45 km) has a 13th
century temple to Shiva and is known for silk weaving.
Manora (65 km) has a quirky souvenir from
the colonial times; an eight storey high Victory
Tower built in 1814 by an Indian king
to celebrate the British victory over Napoleon at Waterloo.
Velankani (90 km) has a very popular shrine to Our Lady of Health that people of
all religions flock to with mini gold and silver replicas of the ailing
body-part. At Nagore (88
km) is the 500-year-old tomb of Hazrat Shahabdul Hameed that has a
golden dome and five minarets. The tank near it, Peer Kollam
is believed to have curative water and is visited regardless of religious
belief.
112
km from Thanjavur is Kodikarai or
Point Calimere. This Sanctuary is home to migratory
birds, especially flamingos, and animals like the black buck and wild ponies.
The best time to visit is November to January. Definitely
cooler.
Contact
The Forest Ranger, Kodikkarai. Tel: (04369) 72424 or
the Wildlife Warden, 110 Public Offices
Road, Nagapattinam. Tel:
22349 for accommodation at the Poonarai Illam Forest Resthouse.
Kumbakonam (36 km) has the important Mahamaham
Fair every twelve years, due next in 2004. It also has five important temples
that are known for their semi erotic sculptures.
Tirunallar (101 km) has one of the few temples to Saturn or ill-favouring Saneeswar, which people
visit to cancel out ill fortune.
Every
January there is a Music Festival to honour the south
Indian saint Thyagaraja. The great Mahamaham Fair is
held at Kumbakonam every twelve years but it isn’t
due till 2004. The summer months are warm averaging at 36°C. The months from
Jan. to March are far cooler, averaging at about 24° C.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours pilgrimage packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These pilgrimage tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
8.Srirangam
Srirangam is beautiful island surrounded by
river Cauvery and Kollidam(tributary of Cauvery). srirangam
is 8 miles in length and 4 miles in breadth. The population of Srirangam is about 50 thousand. The island town is
surrounded by 7 walls. Sri Renganatha swami temple is
one of the famous vaishnavite temples in
India
. There
are 21 gopurams, the rajagopuram (principal
tower) is largest gopuram in south
India
. The 72m high, 13-tiered gopuram
(towers) was built in
1987 and dominates the landscape for miles
around, while the
remaining 20 gopurams
were built, between the 14th and 17th centuries.
Srirangam is a holy place. Importantly for vaishnavates, because, their God Vishnu is in the name of “Renganathar” in a sleeping posture (called Anantha sayanam), which could not
be seen any where else like this. Srirangam has got
importance because of Renganathar temple. The
Geographic location of this island between Rivers cauvery
and kolidam is also a reason. There is a flower
market in this place called as “sathara veedhi” from where flowers and
Garlands
are exported to various foreign
countries.
A Garden which grows mangoes is also here. The name of that
is “
Thatha
Chariyar
Gardens
”. They export tons of mangoes
every year. There are totally five matriculation schools, Three Government
aided schools and six primary schools providing an excellent education. This
place is famous for Residential apartments. There are more than five hundred
apartments in this place. Bus services are available round the clock to reach srirangam. Numerous taverns and inns are here to
accommodate large number of tourists. Three art galleries are present where;
people forget themselves in the beauty of antiques and crafts.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours pilgrimage packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These pilgrimage tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
9.Ooty
What
was once a getaway from the steamy summers of the plains for the British elite
of the Madras Presidency is now a hill station that caters to weekend
holidaymakers from all over the South of India and honeymooners from across the
country. Its freshness and neat tea lined slopes have
beguiled many, including Hindi film producers scouting for Hindi film locales!
At 2286 metres above sea level, Ooty is essentially a small town that bustles and bristles
with the activity of locals going about their daily business, kids rushing
towards and rushing away from school and tourists ambling in the streets. A
little outside town, plantations of cardamom and tea, and eucalyptus forests
take over the landscape. Snuggling in the Nilgiri
Hills, enveloped in the blue mist that the name implies (nil=blue, giri=mountain), Ooty continues to
exude the charm of a laidback beautiful little town that it is.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours 'Honemoon' packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These honeymoon tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
11.Munnar
If you’re
looking for quiet strolls along rows of tea bushes, if you’re looking for the
enveloping calm of cool mist, if you are partial to pristine green-green-‘oh
heaven....so green’ countryside laid out below clear blue sky....then you’ve
been looking for, and will be hooked by, Munnar.
Four
hours driving time away from the steamy, tropical palm fringed coastal Cochin and its seashores
lies the verdant, pictureque hillstation
of Munnar. Tucked into the Western Ghats, surrounded by
tea and spice plantations, soaked in atmosphere, Munnar
is heart-stopping beautiful. Hidden away in the midst of thick vegetation and lush rainforest, Munnar was the secret holiday getaway of only a few who
were familiar with its many charms. But modern day Munnar
has become highly visible on the tourist map as Kerala
sells its many faceted self to domestic and foreign visitors.
A
misty, lush green hill station 1600m ASL in the Annamalai
range of Kerala, Munnar is
fast making a transition from a tea, coffee and spice plantation centre to a
prime holiday resort and wildlife reserve. The town retains its colonial
British character with neat bungalows, cottage gardens filled with flowers and
the smell of fresh spices, tea and roasting coffee beans that hangs heavy in
the air. The surrounding hill slopes are covered with orderly rows of tea
bushes, the plantations amongst the highest in the world stretch for miles only
interrupted by pockets of forests teeming with local fauna and flora. Amongst
the unusual flowers that grow here is the Neelakurinji
that blooms once every twelve years and bathes the entire area in a beautiful
blue colour. The Neelakurinji
is next due to flower in 2006.
The economy of the Munnar region
is heavily dependent on the cultivation of tea, coffee and over twelve
varieties of absolutely fragrant spices like sweet cinnamon, spicy cloves and
peppercorns and delicate nutmeg. The climate in Munnar
is basically cool partly because of the altitude and green ambience and partly
due to the very heavy monsoons from June to September.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours 'Honemoon' packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These honeymoon tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
12.Yercaud
Yercaud is a small hill station in the Shevaroy Hills near
Salem
at
a height of 1500 meters, a nice getaway from
Coimbatore
( 200km ), quiet and serene, surrounded by coffee
plantations, ideal for walks and relaxing. The annual summer festival is in May
when there are boat races on the artificial lake; flower shows and fruits flood
the stalls. Not only is it popular with holidaymakers, but also with companies
who now hold incentive meetings and conferences in the pleasant surroundings of
this delightful town.
The best time in Yercaud
is in the warmer months between May and October. May and June are the months
when tourist activity is high. The range on accommodation is limited but there
are some decent mid-rung hotels at Yercaud.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours 'Honemoon' packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These honeymoon tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
13.Thiruvananthapuram
Get
to Thiruvananthapuram before a city you might fall in
love falls prey to irresistible modernisation. Thiruvananthapuram, the city of the sacred serpent, with
its winding cobbled lanes, traditional red tiled wooden houses with pagoda tops
and languid pace receives a modest nimber of
tourists. But not for long. Kerala
is the hottest item on the tourist map of India and Thiruvanthapuram
is its gracious capital city.The capital city from
where the world’s first elected Communist government governed is tucked into
the lower part of southern Kerala, part of what was Travancore.
Simple and lovely, Thiruvananthapuram
(earlier Trivandrum)
was the seat of the princely state of Travancore. It
flourished as the capital of a kingdom that grew rich from trade in spices,
ivory and sandalwood. In fact, the earliest records of trade date back to 190
AD. Thiruvanthapuram gets its name from the reigning
deity of the Travancore family, Lord Vishnu who
resides in the magnificent Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswami Temple.
The rulers of Travancore believed themselves to be
trustees of the Lord and ruled on his behalf.
A pleasant city in one the most beautiful states in India,
Thiruvananthapuram merits more than just a transit
meal on the way to Kovalam Beach.
SSRT Travels arranges tour/tours 'Honemoon/Joy ' packages from Madurai as per the choice of Customers. These honeymoon tour/tours from Madurai can be customized to any extent.
Top
