As I got a job in a well known MNC in Coimbatore, I have been relocated from Hyderabad (my home town and my previous job location) to Coimbatore recently. I had a passion of exploring heritage, religious and ancient places where ever I travel. I already visited few places around Coimbatore but a long cherished dream still left behind and am waiting for the appropriate moment to fulfil the dream.
Before telling about my dream, A little introduction about my family. I have been born into a non-brahman vaishnavite family and Sree Ranganathar and Andal are our family deities. We start every thing praying to them. My mother has a dream of visiting all the 106 divya desams (2 divyadesams were believed to be in eternal world) where lord vishnu is worshipped in his different forms and had been praised by different Alwars. So, fulfilling my mom's dream is my dream.
I thought of visiting all the divyadesams in Tamilnadu with my patents during my stay in Coimbatore and been waiting for the right time. In April tamil people celebrate their new year and we got a holiday for that and combining the weekend I got 3 days holidays and In this long weekend I thought of visiting few divyadesams.
I enquired with my parents about their interest. They are ready for the trip and my aunt (my moms sister) is also interested for this trip. I started to plan for the trip in steps as follows...
First step is identifying all the divyadesams and there locations.
Here is the list of all divyadesams
Temples in Tamilnadu
Tiruchirapalli
1. Thiruvarangam (Sri Rangam) - Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
2. Thirukkozhi (Uraiyur) - Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple
3. Thirukkarambanoor - Sri Purushothaman Perumal Temple
4. Thiruvellarai - Sri Pundarikashan Perumal Temple
5. Thiru Anbil - Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple
6. Thirupper Nagar - Sri Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple
Thanjavur & Kumbakonam
7. Thiru Thanjaimaamani Koil - Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple
8. Thirukkandiyur - Sri Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple
9. Thirukkoodaloor - Sri Aaduthurai Perumal Temple
10. Thirukkavithalam (Kabisthalam) - Sri Gajendra Varadha Perumal Temple
11. Thiruppullam Boothankudi - Sri Valvil Ramar Perumal Temple
12. Thiru Aadhanoor - Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan Perumal Temple
13. Thirukkudanthai - Sri Saarangapani Perumal Temple
14. Thiru Vinnagar - Sri Oppiliappa Perumal Temple
15. Thirunarayoor (Naachchiyaar koil) - Sri Thirunarayoor Nambi Perumal Temple
16. Thiruccherai - Sri Saranathan Perumal Temple
17. Thirukkannamangai - Sri Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple
18. Thirunandhipura Vinnagaram (Nathan Koil) - Sri Jaganatha Perumal Temple
19. Thiruvelliyankudi - Sri Kola Valvilli Ramar Perumal Temple
Mayiladuturai or Mayavaram
20. Thiru Indhaloor - Sri Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple
21. Thiruvazhunthoor - Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple
22. Thiru Sirupuliyur - Sri Arulmaakadal Perumal Temple
23. Thirukkannapuram - Sri Sowrirajan Neelamega Perumal Temple
24. Thiru Naagai - Sri Soundaryarajan Neelamega Perumal Temple
25. Thirukkannankudi - Sri Loganatha Perumal Temple
26. Thiru Thalaicchanga Naanmathiyam - Sri Naan Madhiya Perumal Temple
Sirkazhi
27. Kaazhicheeraama Vinnagaram - Thadalar Seerkazhi Thirivikaraman Perumal Temple
28. Thiruvellakkulam (Annan Kovil) - Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
29. Thiru Devanaar Thogai - Sri Deiva Naayaga Perumal Temple
30. Thiruvaali Thirunagari - Sri Lakshmi Narashima Perumal Temple
31. Thiru Kavalampaadi - Sri Gopala Krishna Perumal Temple
32. Thiru Manikkoodam - Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple
33. Thiru Paarthanpalli - Sri Thamaraiyal Kelvan Perumal Temple
34. Thiru Manimaada Kovil - Sri Narayana Perumal Temple
35. Thiru Arimeya Vinnagaram - Sri Kuda Maadu Koothan Perumal Temple
36. Thiru Thetri Aambalam - Sri Seganmaal Ranganatha Perumal Temple
37. Thiru Sempon Sei Kovil - Sri Per Arulaalan Perumal Temple
38. Thiru Vann Purushothamam - Sri Purushothama Perumal Temple
39. Thiru VaiKunda Vinnagaram - Sri Vaigundha Nathan Perumal Temple
Cuddalore
40. Thiruchitrakootam (Chidambaram) - Sri Govindaraja Perumal Temple
41. Thiruvaheendrapuram (Cuddalore) - Sri Deyva Nayaga Perumal Temple
42. Thirukkoviloor - Sri Thiruvikrama Perumal Temple
Kanchipuram
43. Thirukkachchi - Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple
44. Ashtabhuyakaram - Sri Aadhikesava Perumal Temple
45. Thiru Vekka - Sri Yathothakaari Temple
46. Thiru Velukkai - Sri Azhagiya Singar Perumal Temple
47. Thiruthanka - Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple
48. ThirukKalvanoor - Sri Aadhi Varaha Perumal Temple
49. Thiru Ooragam - Sri Ulagalantha Perumal Temple
50. Thiru Neeragam - Sri Jagadeeshwarar Temple
51. Thiru Kaaragam - Sri Karunakara Perumal Temple
52. Thirukkaar Vaanam - Sri Thirukkaar vaanar Temple
53. Thiruparameshwara Vinnagaram - Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple
54. Thiru Pavala Vannan - Sri Pavala Vannar Temple
55. Thiru Nilathingal Thundam - Sri Nilathingal Thundathan Perumal Temple
56. Thiru Paadagam - Sri Pandava Thoodhar Temple
57. Thiruputkuzhi - Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple
Chennai
58. Thiruvallikkeni - Sri Parthasarathy Temple
59. Thiruneermalai - Sri Neervanna Perumal Temple
60. Thiruvedanthai - Sri Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple
61. Thiru Kadalmalai (Mahabalipuram) - Sri Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple
62. Thiru Nindravoor (Thirunindravur) - Sri Bhatavatsala Perumal Temple
63. Thiruevvuloor (Tiruvallur) - Sri Veeraraghava Perumal Temple
64. Thirukkatikai (Sholingur) - Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple
Madurai
65. Thirukkoodal - Sri Koodal Azhagar Perumal Temple
66. Thiru Moghur - Sri Kaalamegha Perumal Temple
67. Thirumaalirunsolai (Alagar Kovil) - Sri Kallazhagar Perumal Temple
68. Thirukkotiyoor - Sri Uraga Mellanayaan Perumal Temple
69. Thirumeyyam - Sri Sathyagiri Natha Perumal Temple
70. Thiruppullanni (Ramanathapuram) - Sri Kalyana Jagannatha Perumal Temple
71. Thiruthankaal (Sivakasi) - Sri Nindra Narayana Perumal Temple
72. Thiruvilliputtur (Sri Villiputhoor) - Sri Vadabhatra Saayi Perumal Temple
Tirunelveli
73. Thiruvaikuntham (Sri Vaikundam) - Sri Vaikundanatha Perumal Temple
74. Thiruvaragunamangai - Sri Vijayaasana Perumal Temple
75. Thiruppulingudu - Sri Kaaichina Vendha Perumal Temple
76. Thirukkulanthai - Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
77. Thiruttholai Villimangalam (Twin Thirupathis) - Sri Aravindha Lochana Perumal Temple
78. Thirupperai - Sri Magara NedungKuzhai Kaathar Perumal Temple
79. Thirukkoloor - Sri Vaitha Maanitha Perumal Temple
80. Thirukkurugur (Alwar Thirunagiri) - Sri Aadhinatha Swamy Temple
81. Thiruvaramangai Vaanamaamalai (Nanguneri) - Sri Thothatrinatha Perumal Temple
82. Thirukkurungudi - Sri Nindra Nambi Perumal Temple
83. Thiruvanparisaaram (Nagercoil) - Sri Kuralappa Perumal Temple
84. Thiru Vattaaru (Marthandam) - Sri Aadhikesava Perumal Temple
Kerala
85. Thiruvananthapuram - Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple
86. Thirupuliyoor (Chengannur) - Sri Maayapiran Perumal Temple
87. Thirucchenkundroor (Chengannur) - Sri Imayavarappa Perumal Temple
88. Thiruvaaran Vilai (Aranmulla Temple) - Sri Parthasarathy Perumal Temple
89. Thiruvanvandoor (Chengannur) - Sri Paambanaiyappa Perumal Temple
90. Thiruvalvaazh (Thiruvalla) - Sri Kolapira Perumal Temple
91. Thirukkadithaanam (Changanassery) - Sri Athpudha Narayana Perumal Temple
92. Thirukkaatkarai (Near Ernakulam, Edapally) - Sri Kaatkarai Appa Perumal Temple
93. Thirumoozhikkalam (Near Cochin Int Airport) - Sri Moozhikkalathaan Perumal Temple
94. Thiruvithuvakkodu (Near Thrissur, Pattambi) - Sri Uyyavantha Perumal Temple
95. Thiru Naavaay (Near Kuttippuram) - Sri Naavaay Mugundha Perumal Temple
Andhra Pradesh
96. Thirupathi (Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh) - Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
97. Thiru Singavel Kundram (Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh) - Sri Nava Narasimhar Temple
Gujarat
98. Thiru Dwaraka (Dwaraka, Gujarat) - Sri Kalyana Narayana Perumal Temple
Uttar Pradesh
99. Thiru Ayodhi (Uttar Pradesh) - Sri Ramar Temple
100. Thiru Naimisaranyam (Uttar Pradesh) - Sri Devaraja Perumal Temple
101. Thiruvaaipadi (Aayarpadi) - Sri Navamohana Krishna Perumal Temple
102. Thiru Vadamathura (Govardhanesan) - Sri Govardhana Nesa Perumal Temple
Uttaranchal
103. Thirukkandam (Devaprayag) - Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple
104. Thiruppirudhi (Joshimutt) - Sri Paramapurusha Perumal Temple
105. Thiruvadhari Ashramam (Badrinath) - Sri Badri Narayana Perumal Temple
Nepal
106. Thiru Salagramam (Mukthinath, Nepal) - Sri Moorthy Perumal Temple
Celestial Abodes
107. ThirupPaarkadal (Vyugam) - Celestial Abode
108. ThirupParamapadham (Parathuvam) - Celestial Abode
Second step is to choose which divyadesams are to be covered in this journey.
Always Srirangam is the first priority To visit as it is the place of Sri Ranganathar and is the first of all 108 divyadesams. So, I thought of covering all the temples in, around and near by Trichy. I started to identify the temples near to Trichy. Luckily Google maintains the map of divyadesams (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?msa=0&mid=z9k8m03ngbHc.kAuyz6LnW7Mg). I made a plan of 5 days considering 42 divyadesams and I prepared the following route map.
DAY1 Route map:
Halt in SriRangam
Srirangam - Koviladi 》 25.3 kms 》 35 mins
koviladi - Thiru Anbil 》 51 kms 》 23 mins
Thiru Anbil - Uttamar Koil 》 20.6 kms 》 31 mins
Uttamar koil - Thiruvellarai 》 12.4 kms 》 19mins
Thiruvellarai - Uraiyur Nachiyar koil (thirukkozhi) 》 20.7 kms 》 37 mins
Thirukkozhi - Srirangam 》 3.2 kms 》 15 mins
DAY2 Route map:
In Srirangam half day planned to spend in Srirangam temple and shiva temple and evening planned to relocate to Kumbakonam. while travelling to Kumbakonam thought of covering all the below places
Srirangam - Thirukkandiyur 》 51.9 kms 》 12kms
Thirukkandiyur - Thiruthanjaimaamani koil (Neelamegha perumal koil, this divyadesam is a combination of 3 temples with walkable distance) 》 6.2 kms 》11 mins
Thiruthanjaimaamani koil - Thirukoodalure 》 16.5 kms 》 26 mins
Thirukoodalure - Kabisthalam 》 7.6 kms 》 11 mins
Kabisthalam - Pullamboothamgudi 》 4.6 kms 》 10 mins
Pullamboothamgudi - Aadhanoor 》 2.3 kms 》 5 mins
Aadhanoor - Thiruvelliyankudi 》 22.6 kms 》 34mins
Thiruvelliyankudi - Thirunandipura vinnagramam 》 24.2 kms 》 35 mins
Thirunandipuravinnagramam - Kumbakonam 》 7.5 kms 》 13 mins
DAY3 Route map:
Kumbakonam - Sirkazhi 》 56.4 kms 》 1 hr 17 mins
Sirkazhi - Annankoil 》 8.8 kms 》 15 mins
Annankoil - Thiru Devanar Thogai 》 2.7 kms 》 5 mins
Thiru Devanaar Thogai - Thiruvaali 》 1.6 kms 》 3 mins
Thirivaali - Thirunagari 》 5.5 kms 》 12 mins
Thirunagari - Thirukavalampadi 》 5.5 kms 》 13 mins
Thirukavalampadi - Thirumanikkodam 》 2.4 kms 》 6 mins
Thirumanikkodam - Thiru Vaikunda Vinnagramam 》 1.3 kms 》 3 mins
Thiru Vaikunda Vinnagramam - Thiru Vann Purushothaman 》 290 mts 》 1min
Thiru Vann Purushothaman - Pallikonda perumal temple 》 300mts 》 1min
Pallikonda perumal temple - Thiru Semponsei koil 》550 mts 》 1 min
Thiru Semponsei koil - Thiru Arimeyavinnagramam 》 650 mts 》 2 mins
Thiru Arimeyavinnagramam - Thirumanimaada koil 》 350 mts 》 1 min
Thirumanimaada koil - Paarthanpalli 》 2.9kms 》 7 mins
Parthanpalli - Thiru Thalaicchanga Naanmathiyam 》 9 kms 》 16 mins
Thiru Thalaicchanga Naanmathiyam - Chidambaram 》 37.1 kms 》 50 mins
Chidambaram - Coodalore (optional) 》 43.4kms 》 51 mins
Coodalore - Thirukoovilore (optional) 》 71.9 kms》 31 mins
Thirukoovilore - Kumbakonam 》 135 kms 》 49 mins
DAY4 Route map:
Sarangapani Temple - Oppilappan Temple 》 7.6 kms 》 14 mins
Oppiliappan Temple - Thirunarayur (Nachiyar koil)》 5.5 kms 》 9 mins
Thirunarayur - Thirukannamangai 》 24.7 kms 》 31mins
Thirukannamangai - Thirukannankudi 》 25.2 kms 》 35 mins
Thirukannankudi - Thirunagai 》 32.3 kms 》 42 mins
Thirunagai - Thirukannapuram 》28.3 kms 》 34 mins
Thirukannapuram - Sirupiliyur 》 22.6 kms 》 33 mins
Sirupuliyur - Thiruindalure (Mayiladuturai) 》 17.6 kms 》 31 mins
Thiruindalure - Therazendur 》 13.8 kms 》 22mins
Therazendur - Kumbakonam 》 34.7 kms 》 49 mins
for day5 I planned to visit any other temples
The route map is planned based on Endowments temple timings i.e., 6 Am - 12 Pm and 4 Pm - 8 PM. The route map is only theoretical (I know it changes according to on road experience and yes it changed which I tell you later).
Step3: After preparing the route map, I planned for the Journey, Travels and Accommodation.
There is only 1 direct train from Kachiguda(Hyderabad) to Trichy (i.e., Kachiguda Nagercoil express). I booked tickets for my parents on 8th April and return journey on 14th April. I booked tickets for myself from Coimbatore to Trichy on 9th April.
For accomodation I opted for yatrinivas in Srirangam (backside Srirangam Temple) because it is a govt. hotel which provides rooms at very low cost and good accomodation.
In Kumbakonam I opted Hotel Sitthi Residency near to Sarangapani temple which provides family rooms.
I planned to hire a cab for all these 5 days journey and consulted all travels in Trichy to provide their quotations. Based on their quotations I opted for Care Cabs (http://www.carecabs.in/) in Trichy. They provided their quotation for 850 rs as day rental for car, 9 rs for km coverage and 250 rs as driver day charges for Swift Dezire AC. I asked them for a driver who either knows english, hindi or telugu languages who can also act as a guide for us. They provided me a excellent service through out my journey which I describe it later.
This is my planning to the divine journey. In the next post I describe my experiences throughout my journey.
