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DAY 2 - KARAIKUDI

DAY 2 : KARAIKUDI

Today we decided to take help of Hotel receptionist to help us book a Taxi, who is good and shows places peacefully... An elderly driver came in 15mins..We started our journey...


DESTINATION1 : Kanadukathan :- Chettinad Palace

We first went to Kanadukathan.. Kanadukathan is famous for Chettinad mansions/chettinad palace.. Chettinad is the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiars (Nagarathar), a prosperous banking and business community. Many of this community's members migrated to South and Southeast Asia, particularly Ceylon and Burma, in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The people of Chettinad speak Tamil. Today there is a  diaspora of Chettinad people who live in places such as the USA, Singapore and Malaysia.
  
                               

Main attractions of this Kanadukathan mansions is, it is spread across a entire street.The broad roads are flanked by huge mansions of Chettiars. Every house is big here. And you dont get to see one modern house..The whole village seems to have been lost in time and you will be transported to 19th century..




Our driver stopped at one such important palace owned by Raja Annamalai Chettiar..This home was constructed in 1902.Many would have seen this house in movie Kandukoden kandukoden.. Tourists were allowed to take tour of this  house . But after 2010, it is stopped, as it is a private property and some localites used to spoil things by touching again and again and making place dirty..Seeing its richness from outside, we felt we should have visited the place before 2010:).I started taking pics from outside, and we returned back to driver saying, wish they would have allowed, then driver called up one of maid servant of that palace (Luckily that maid servant was his friend) and requested to allow to see palace..



After some time maid let us in, it was an amazing experience walking in 100+years old royal house..Unique thing about palace is,it is not built in square shape(having living room in centre, surrouding by rooms/kitchen) but it is in huge rectangular rooms, one followed by another.

 



We first entered to reach a portico with rich furnitures, then a living room, which was fully surrounded by black n white photos of their families. We then moved to a drawing room kinda thing where we saw some books and stuff, then we entered a Dining room, then a open place without roof where chettiars used to wash legs and take bath on some rituals.. 




Passing this open place you find kitchen with some old model vessels and utensils...Maid told us this palace inhouse 100rooms, and even now used by some guests of chettinad owners  once in a while. I was surprised to see attached bathrooms and modern furnitures and tiles in rooms, i was wondering if guest room is so good, how luxury would be owner's master bed rooms. (Maid wont have keys to owner's rooms).



He also told us this palace is Chidambaram 's mother's maternal home (Finance minister).. And he comes here once in while for any occassions...we enjoyed watching heritage house and took some snaps. Paid some money to maid and headed to our next destination..



Destination 2 : Thirumayam :- Thirumayam fort

Our next destination was Thirumayam Fort. It is a 40-acre wide fort. It was constructed by Vijaya Raghunatha sethupathi, Raja of Ramnad in 1687. Later the fort was handed over to his brother in law Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman. In the 1800s, it was the stronghold of Kattabomman one of the first Indian chiefs to fight the British ... There is nothing much to see in the fort, we can find a model of old weapon used to throw bombs...It was very hot, we took some snaps and left soon..





Satyamurti or Satyagirinatha Perumal Temple(vishnu temple) & Satyagirisvara Temple(shiva temple)

There are two famous rock cut temples in the Fort Complex, a Siva Temple and a Vishnu temple. Satyagirisvara Temple is dedicate to Lord shiva and Satyamurti Perumal Temple is dedicated to Lord vishnu.. These temples are adjacent to each other. Its very big temples, with lot of carvings in pillars and walls....







Destination 3: Tirupathur :- Thiruthalinathar Swamy Temple.

We next went to Lord vairavar temple, which is located on main road on way to Tirupathur.. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vairavar, another incarnation of Lord Shiva.There are separate shrines for Siva known here as Varalori Nathar and and his consort known as Vadivudai Amman. Again this temple is very big, with big praharam with manysubdieties, there are three lizard sculptures behind Mother Ambica shrine. Those affected by some doshas can pray here.





Destination 4: Thirukoshtiyur:- Sri Sowmya Narayana perumal temple

We next went to Thirukoshtiyur.In this temple the lord appears in five postures. On the ground floor He appears as the Dancing Krishnan.On the first floor in the sleeping posture. On the second floor, in standing posture as Ubendira Narayanaperumal, and on the third floor, in the sitting posture as Paramapathanathar and finally on the 4th floor he appears in the walking posture. The uniqueness of this temple is that Perumal appears holding his hands to receive Dhanam. Once emperor pururavachakravarthi decided to give dhanam to 1008 Brahmins. This yagam was conducted in a grand manner. At the time of dhanam the King found out that there were only 1007 Brahmins. It was a great shock to the King.Immediately He Prayed to Perumal to fulfill his wish. The Perumal himself appeared as Brahmin and received the dhanam. So Perumal in this temple appears holding his hand as dhana hastham






Destination 5: Kandrakudi :- Arul Thiru Shanmuganathan temple

It was already 6pm by time we reached Kandrakudi murgan temple.. This is a hill lock temple, situated at a height of 200 feet from ground level. Arulthiru Shanmuganathan Holy Temple is 1000yrs old..Lord Shanmuganathan is the presiding deity . Marudhu Pandiyars Kings of Sivaganga renovated the Temple during there period..



Demon Sura and his men, intending to take revenge on Devas, told peacock that Garuda of Lord Vishnu and the Airavat,were boasting that they could fly faster than the peacock. Believing this true, the peacock grew angry and swallowed them.Lord Vishnu and Indira cursed the peacock to become a hill. Realizing its mistake, the peacock came to this hill Kundrakudi-Arasavanam and performed penance for relief. Lord Muruga pardoned the peacock and redeemed the curse. The hill is in the shape of a peacock.As Muruga’s peacock vahan was relieved of its curse here, the hill is called Mayil Malai (peacock hill)


Destination 6 : Pillayar patti

Our last destination of the day was Pillayar patti. This is very famous temple..This is an ancient rock cut temple.As Vinayagar satisfies the wishes of his devotees like Karpagam tree, he is also known "Karpaga Vinayagar".Here Lord Vinayaga appears with 2 hands unlike in other places where he is seen with 4 hands. Also he is seen seated without Angusapasam, with his legs folded and stomach not touching the Asanam in the form of "Artha Padma" Asanam.Devotees worshipping Valamburi Vinayagar seated facing towards north, will be blessed with all wealth.







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