Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Kumbhkonam

II day.

We had a sumptous BF what with hot idlies, Vadas, dosa, and butter toast too, with hot coffee, couldnt ask for anything else, filled myself to the brim and then we started to Kumbhkonam.

After around one hour we reached Patteswaram temple, this is durga temple and the idol is covered with silver.
Darasuram..This is the Unesco heritage site, a hindu temple built in dravidian style..huge gopuram and shivling.
Nageshwara kovil....This is a shiva temple and known for its shrine of Rahu..its one among the navgrah temples.
Uppiliappan coil....This is very near to Nageshwaram temple and dedicated to Vishnu.

Now the times was around 12, the time for temples to be closed , so we looked around for a hotel and found Green Park...it was reasonably good, we had a big room with dining table and sofa,we didnt need all that but it was spacious and clean and with all the amenities too..like AC TV.We had lunch in their restaurant and it was delicious.Though they dont serve everything they list in menu.Then we took some rest, but when i am out , i dont feel like resting, so we went out around 3.30, and started from Sarangpani temple..But it was closed and they said that they would open at 4.30, but they didnt open till 5.30.So we just sat there..It has a very big chariot, biggest i have seen so far. It is said that this is the biggest Vishnu temple in south.

Next on my list was Ramaswamy temple, this is called the Ayodhya of south, as there are few temple here where we can see Ram sita, lakshaman , Bharat and Shatrughna..When we do parikrama we see the whole Ramayana depicted thru pictures all around,but all the description is in Tamil, so we cant enjoy them..

NAGESHWARAM KOVIL
DARASURAM
RAMASWAMY TEMPLE
KASI VISHWANATH
UPPILIAPPAM KOVIL
SARANGPANI
Kasi vishwanath..This is a shiva temple, deity being the same who is in Varanasi..it has Mahamman tank also and it is said that all sins can be washed away by having a bath there.

Outside Ramaswamy temple there are many tea shops and serve excellent tea, so good that i had two:)..I wanted to see the market but driver couldnt find parking ,so we had to go back to hotel and called it a day

19 comments:

KParthasarathi said...

I hail from Kumbakonam and so read the post with relish.I hope you saw the great paintings in Sri Ramaswamy temple.There are hundreds of temples, many famous, in and around the town that it is hardly possible to cover all of them in one trip.
The pictures are good

radha said...

We went to the Kumbeswara temple in Kumbakonam which is said to be the largest Shiva temple there. It was quite an ancient temple. It had just opened for the evening darshan and there was no one there so we just went around at our pace part prayer and more admiring the architecture

Amrita said...

Ram LAkshman Sita in TN is a rarity as far as i think..
even i dont like to rest when i am out roaming :)

Found In Folsom said...

Where is this?

Jeevan said...

Nice photos and detail on the trip.

Rama Ananth said...

It is a lovely place , full of Vishnavites, for it is considered one of the "must" visit places for all Iyengars. I hope you saw some of them too. My husband's family comes from a small town in Kumbakonam, called Kodavasal
When we went we stayed at Swami Malai Resort, which used to be run by the Sterling Resorts, but has been now taken over by Mahendra Resorts. This resort is very beautiful, with old chetinad type of individual units, good food and very good environment also.
Did you manage to visit Garbharakshambikai temple which is also very beautiful, and is very famous all over the world. But it is never crowded, it is very peaceful and quiet.
Did you buy the famous Tanjore Dollls, the ones which shake their heads, they are very beautiful and are famous all over the world. The coffee too is very good there for they make it brass filters, which is supposed to add that unique taste only found in Kumbakonam.
Glad to know you visited all these places in South.

Rama Ananth said...

It is a lovely place , full of Vishnavites, for it is considered one of the "must" visit places for all Iyengars. I hope you saw some of them too. My husband's family comes from a small town in Kumbakonam, called Kodavasal
When we went we stayed at Swami Malai Resort, which used to be run by the Sterling Resorts, but has been now taken over by Mahendra Resorts. This resort is very beautiful, with old chetinad type of individual units, good food and very good environment also.
Did you manage to visit Garbharakshambikai temple which is also very beautiful, and is very famous all over the world. But it is never crowded, it is very peaceful and quiet.
Did you buy the famous Tanjore Dollls, the ones which shake their heads, they are very beautiful and are famous all over the world. The coffee too is very good there for they make it brass filters, which is supposed to add that unique taste only found in Kumbakonam.
Glad to know you visited all these places in South.

Anu ~*~ said...

Great pics mam .. it seems u had a great time,,

Haddock said...

The intricate work at these temples are mind boggling.

ra said...

that's an interesting thing to know about the parikrama thing to know entire ramayan through pics ..

rudraprayaga said...

Nice. Feel like being there.

sm said...

beautiful temple

Rhapsody Phoenix said...

Namaste....
lovely photographs, thanks for the tour/information...


peace.
Rhapsody
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Kalyan said...

simply beautifully captured shots...lovely place!

Happy Kitten said...

Guess TN is the land of temples..will u be visiting Rameshwaram too?

Wonder when I shall get the urge to visit holy places..all these years I have visited them only with a historical angle..

Tara said...

Its is good all our rich temples and heritage ! nice to see you !

Renu said...

Kparthsarthi: I nevr knew it, I have a friend here who also belongs to Thanjavur, he only helped in planning..

radha: yes it was biggest temple and this is one thing I like in south that temples have lot of spcae, one can sit there and enjoy the feel.

Amrita:I want to utilise all the time:)

Found In Folsom: it is in Tamilnadu only, 250 km from chennai.

Jeevan: Thanks:)

rama: I didnt see the temple you mentioned, as I didnt know about it, my itinery was made by one of my friend who hails from Thanjavur only.
And I couldnt buy the dolls even because markets were closed due to Pongal..but I enjoyed the trip.

Anu: Thanks:)

Haddock: yes, southern temples are amazing..

Rahul: yes it was beautiful.

sm:Thanks!

rudraprayaga:then it served the purpose:)

Rhapsody:Thanks!

Tara:yes must visit places..

Hai Baji said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vanya Gupta said...

Very Nice and Knowledgeable content. Will create a lot of awareness among the people. Varanasi is a holy place situated in Uttar Pradesh and is quite famous for Manikarnika Ghat where people believe to get salvation after their death. To know more, visit us.

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