South Indian temples
#1
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
South Indian temples
I am in the initial planning stages of a trip to South India, I plan to spend a week in the south. Madurai would be a must. I am looking for other suggestions in the vicinity, I plan to travel by train and bus.
TIA
TIA
#2
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Kumbakonam - amazing temples
Thanjavur - must see the Big Temple
(few hours by train from Madurai)
Trichy / Sri Rangam (four hours by Road from Madurai)
Rameswaram ...few hours train from Madurai.
Kanchipuram (near MAA...1.5 hours by road)
Thanjavur - must see the Big Temple
(few hours by train from Madurai)
Trichy / Sri Rangam (four hours by Road from Madurai)
Rameswaram ...few hours train from Madurai.
Kanchipuram (near MAA...1.5 hours by road)
#3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: CO Gold, DL GM, SPG GOLD, PC Plat, Hilton Gold, Hertz Gold, National Executive
Posts: 17
Kutralam
Kodaikanal - Hill station near Madurai
Thirunallar Saneeshwaran temple
Trivandrum and Kovalam beach
These are some places worth a visit if your schedule permits
Kodaikanal - Hill station near Madurai
Thirunallar Saneeshwaran temple
Trivandrum and Kovalam beach
These are some places worth a visit if your schedule permits
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Orlando
Programs: Delta-Million miler
Posts: 1,312
Chidambaram-unique temple and unique hairstyle of "Chozhian" priests.
Gunaseelam-Suchindram near Madurai-Great ancient Anjaneya temple
'Of course the Great Tanjore temple-under UNESCO-clean and majestic
Thiruvannamalai-The great Ramana Maharishi lived there-great temple.
In Chennai itself-the kapaleeswara and the Parthasarathy temples. Even earlier dated-the Keshava perumal temple. Mylapore has great temples.
For great Murukku and Thenkuzhal, the Thiruchendur temple.
Many many, countless in south India. Of course, the unique navagraha temple near kadalur.
Gunaseelam-Suchindram near Madurai-Great ancient Anjaneya temple
'Of course the Great Tanjore temple-under UNESCO-clean and majestic
Thiruvannamalai-The great Ramana Maharishi lived there-great temple.
In Chennai itself-the kapaleeswara and the Parthasarathy temples. Even earlier dated-the Keshava perumal temple. Mylapore has great temples.
For great Murukku and Thenkuzhal, the Thiruchendur temple.
Many many, countless in south India. Of course, the unique navagraha temple near kadalur.
#6




Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™, trying to make it through a year in BLR
Programs: SQ Pew Pew SSSS, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, GHA Tit, Avis/Hertz PC
Posts: 6,770
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: DL Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, ALL Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 30,703
#9
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
See - there's
1. Madurai
2. Thanjavur and the surrounding temples (the navagraha temples, etc - besides the thanjavur "big temple" / periya kovil)
3. Tirunelveli - nellaiappar temple, followed by the "nava tirupati" on the road to tiruchendur, and tiruchendur itself .. [of course, if you say tiruchendur, all the "aaru padai veedu" 6 murugan temples)
etc etc .. depends on which god you want to pray to, and what your interest is - architecture? prayers? special puja etc rituals at specific places?
1. Madurai
2. Thanjavur and the surrounding temples (the navagraha temples, etc - besides the thanjavur "big temple" / periya kovil)
3. Tirunelveli - nellaiappar temple, followed by the "nava tirupati" on the road to tiruchendur, and tiruchendur itself .. [of course, if you say tiruchendur, all the "aaru padai veedu" 6 murugan temples)
etc etc .. depends on which god you want to pray to, and what your interest is - architecture? prayers? special puja etc rituals at specific places?
#11
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ORD
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt GP Diamond, Marriott Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 213
You know a better question would be what interests you in a temple?
History, particular god, etc.
When I did my temple tour the first time, It was a week tour, starting from Guruvayoor, sabarimala, kanyakumari, rameswaram, madurai, tanjavur, vaideeswaran kovil (for the nadi josyam), chidambaram.
Palani is near there, but visited it on the 2nd trip.
TN is full of (more like too many) temples. If you are interested in a particular subject, you can construct your trip accordingly.
Best of Luck.
History, particular god, etc.
When I did my temple tour the first time, It was a week tour, starting from Guruvayoor, sabarimala, kanyakumari, rameswaram, madurai, tanjavur, vaideeswaran kovil (for the nadi josyam), chidambaram.
Palani is near there, but visited it on the 2nd trip.
TN is full of (more like too many) temples. If you are interested in a particular subject, you can construct your trip accordingly.
Best of Luck.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ORD
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt GP Diamond, Marriott Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 213
You can look up more on the Indian Railways website
http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/rai...id=0,2,320,380
http://www.indiarail.co.uk/indrail.htm
http://www.indiarail.co.uk/irprules.htm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ORD
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt GP Diamond, Marriott Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 213
I used to buy the 2nd AC, 60 day pass. You need to purchase it with foreign currency and show your passport saying you are a foreigner/NRI.
As soon as I buy, I also used to plan out my trip and make the reservations accordingly.
All reservations are free and you can get into any train you want.
And..if you are traveling a lot, it is way cheaper.
My journey's started from HYD and HYD-DEL itself in AC 2 Tier used to cost 7-9k. So, $200 (USD) for 60 days was worth it.
As soon as I buy, I also used to plan out my trip and make the reservations accordingly.
All reservations are free and you can get into any train you want.

And..if you are traveling a lot, it is way cheaper.
My journey's started from HYD and HYD-DEL itself in AC 2 Tier used to cost 7-9k. So, $200 (USD) for 60 days was worth it.
#14
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
Thanks everyone for their suggestions. It seems I might not have enough time to do the temple tour.
I haven't got enough time for Indrail PAss to be economical. I have used Indrail pass once in the past. It was a good buy for 15 days. Now it's not.
Someone asked what interests me if I was interested in some specific god. The answer is no. My interest is architectural, historical and cultural, not religious.
I haven't got enough time for Indrail PAss to be economical. I have used Indrail pass once in the past. It was a good buy for 15 days. Now it's not.
Someone asked what interests me if I was interested in some specific god. The answer is no. My interest is architectural, historical and cultural, not religious.


