[selvagp]

Hi,

Me and a friend of mine are planning to visit all the six abodes of lord Muruga in one trip. All though there are many other temples in these six towns we are interested in only these six temples.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Abodes_of_Murugan

I live in Chennai (Near Vandalur),
My friend will come from Bangalore
My home town is Tuticorin (Thoothukudi).
We plan this trip next week during the Christmas holidays. 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 of Dec.

My plan is this.

Dec 24: I will Start from Chennai to Dindigul (via Vilupuram, Trichy).
My friend will take Tuticorin Express and Meet me at Dindigul
Dec 25: Dindigul to Pazhani (Palani), after worship head to Madurai and rest.
Dec 26: Visit Tirupparamkunram, Pazhamudircholai and head to my hometown Tuticorin.
Dec 27: Visit Thiruchendur, and head to Kumbakonam. Halt at Kumbakonam.
Dec 28: Visit Swamimalai, head to Chennai.
Dec 29: Head to Thiruthani. My friend could take train from Arakkonam to Bangalore and I could head back to Chennai.

Is this a feasible plan? How far or close Thiruparamkundram and Pazhamudircholai from Madurai? Could we squeeze a little more travel each day so we could finish in four days instead of five? I request you to provide suggestions and better plans. Many thanks in advance.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by selvagp

Hi,

Me and a friend of mine are planning to visit all the six abodes of lord Muruga in one trip. All though there are many other temples in these six towns we are interested in only these six temples.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Abodes_of_Murugan

I live in Chennai (Near Vandalur),
My friend will come from Bangalore
My home town is Tuticorin (Thoothukudi).
We plan this trip next week during the Christmas holidays. 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 of Dec.

My plan is this.

Dec 24: I will Start from Chennai to Dindigul (via Vilupuram, Trichy).
My friend will take Tuticorin Express and Meet me at Dindigul
Dec 25: Dindigul to Pazhani (Palani), after worship head to Madurai and rest.
Dec 26: Visit Tirupparamkunram, Pazhamudircholai and head to my hometown Tuticorin.
Dec 27: Visit Thiruchendur, and head to Kumbakonam. Halt at Kumbakonam.
Dec 28: Visit Swamimalai, head to Chennai.
Dec 29: Head to Thiruthani. My friend could take train from Arakkonam to Bangalore and I could head back to Chennai.

Is this a feasible plan? How far or close Thiruparamkundram and Pazhamudircholai from Madurai? Could we squeeze a little more travel each day so we could finish in four days instead of five? I request you to provide suggestions and better plans. Many thanks in advance.

Very much feasible.
Both Tiruparamkundram & Pazhamudirsolai are very close to Madurai (10-15 kms), but in different directions - the first can be covered on the way from MDU to Tuticorin

You can do the entire circuit in 3 days - excluding Tuticorin.

D0: Chennai-Dindigul
D1: Dindigul-Palani-Pazhamudirsolai-Tirupuramkundram-Tuticorin
D2: Tuticorin-Tiruchendur-Tuticorin-Ramanathapuram-Nagapattinam-Kumbakonam
D3: Kumbakonam-Swamimalai-Vridhachalam-Tindivanam-Kanchipuram-Arakonam-Tiruttani-Madras

However, expect heavy crowds at the temples, so delays could be possible. Moreover, bear in mind temple midday closing timings.

[ampere]

HVK has already answered all of it. Its definitely possible. You just need to make sure that you can make it these temples when they are open. Either morning or evening. So you will have to time it accordingly. The timelines you have given are perfect. Can be executed easily and you also get ample rest in between.

[selvagp]

thank you both.. had a great trip..
this was my trip
Chennai - Dindigul - Pazhani - Pazhamuthircholai - Meenakshi Amman temple (attempted) - Thiruparamkundram - Tuticorin - Thiruchendur - Tuticorin - Rameshwaram - Trichy - Srirangam - Swamimalai Kumbakonam - Srirangam.

Part ways, my friend carried on to Chennai Thiruthani. Me, Trichy to Tuticorin and back to Chennai. All this in just four days. Almost 2500 kms. enjoyed every bit.

PS: Relied on google navigation for most part. it sometimes was too good but too bad at times. It sure takes you to the final destination, but it sure does not know what a "good" road is. Got to blame myself for the route selection than the navigator.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by selvagp

PS: Relied on google navigation for most part. it sometimes was too good but too bad at times. It sure takes you to the final destination, but it sure does not know what a "good" road is. Got to blame myself for the route selection than the navigator.

Great to note you had a good trip. Most roads are arterial in these sections. You can't go wrong. I think roads around Kumbakonam are bad. Esp Tanjore-Kumbakonam. Is that what you are referring to?

[selvagp]

yes @ampere, Tanjur - Kumbakonam is bad. It has two routes, one, the normal one that everyone takes, the other one is via saligramam which is not popular but equally bad.
Also from Rameeshwaram to Trichy there were two routes. One is ECR. Other is Karaikudi, Devakottai. which I chose as the locals seemed to suggest. I missed some turns and was re-routed but bad roads.
Also, the google maps took me to No-No roads from Thiruparamkundram to Tuticorin.
It seems to suggest e the shortest distance to final destination but doesn't have any indication on the road condition.

[raka1o]

Covered Aaru padai veedu in 2 1/2 days from Bangalore on 18-Dec-2019

Day 1: Bangalore to Palani Route is good started at 3PM, went till Dindigul and took turn as it was dark and want to take safe route. (stayed in Amethyst hotel). Its new hotel and very good. As we reached only at 9PM so not able to visit palani temple same day as it closes by 9pm (after Dindigul its single road and last stretch will not be able to cover quickly)

Day 2: Started at 4:45am, visited Palani temple (went by walk as winch or rope car service only starts bit late). completed by 6:30am.then started to Pazhamuthircholai(bit of traffic in Madurai as we missed to take turn before bridge after fatima college)but able to complete the darshan by 10:30am. then started to thiruparankundram and reached in 1 hour and completed darshan by 12:00pm (we skipped breakfast as we had Fruits and Bakery items and want to cover 4 temples). then started to Tiruchendur - road is very good except Tuticorin to tiruchendur road is very bad). reached by 3pm...completed darshan by 3:30 and had very good lunch in Saravana bhavan then decided to reach Trichy same day... after tuticorin road is very good good till Trichy (dont have to enter Madurai so no traffic). Reached Trichy by 9pm and stayed in KVM hotel.

Day 3: Started to Swamimalai at 6am (its single road so will not be able to cover quickly). completed darshan by 8:30am and then started for Thirutani (will not be able to cover quickly as its single road, bikes, overtake not possible to take quickly and also potholes in some stretches). Reached Thiruthani by 2pm and started to Vellore and had late lunch there and then started to Bangalore (Road is good but traffic so drive carefully). Reached bangalore at 8:30pm with traffic Bangalor entrance.

Only 2 people and both driving so able to cover it in 2 1/2 days. With family then need better planning as need more time for breaks. Overall good Darshan, took VIP darshan ticket in all places to cover the temple visit fast as its crowded due to Ayyappa season

[raka1o]

Aaru padai veedu visit in 2 days during lock down last November (2020). Packed food from home for day-1 and day-2 morning

Day1: Started from Bangalore at 3am and reached Palani at 9AM. then directly went to Pazhamuthircholai 12:30PM as temple might get closed in afternoon in thiruparankundram so decided to go directly to Tiruchendur, reached by 4:30PM. Decided to drive to thiruparankundram and reahed only by 9PM as temple closed so stayed in nearby hotel Gateway (heritage hotel and spread across lots of greenery).

Day 2: started at 5:30am, visited thiruparankundram and then headed to Swamimalai reached by 10am and then went to Thiruthani reached by 4:30pm and then reached bangalore by 11pm (had dinner in vellore Saisangeet).

[ravib]

Originally Posted by raka1o

Aaru padai veedu visit in 2 days during lock down last November (2020). Packed food from home for day-1 and day-2 morning

Day1: Started from Bangalore at 3am and reached Palani at 9AM. then directly went to Pazhamuthircholai 12:30PM as temple might get closed in afternoon in thiruparankundram so decided to go directly to Tiruchendur, reached by 4:30PM. Decided to drive to thiruparankundram and reahed only by 9PM as temple closed so stayed in nearby hotel Gateway (heritage hotel and spread across lots of greenery).

Day 2: started at 5:30am, visited thiruparankundram and then headed to Swamimalai reached by 10am and then went to Thiruthani reached by 4:30pm and then reached bangalore by 11pm (had dinner in vellore Saisangeet).

Wow! That sounds too aggressive timing to me without enough rest/breaks! I hope there were at least 2 drivers.

-Ravi

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by raka1o

Day1: Started from Bangalore at 3am and reached Palani at 9AM. then directly went to Pazhamuthircholai 12:30PM as temple might get closed in afternoon in thiruparankundram so decided to go directly to Tiruchendur, reached by 4:30PM

Just wow! How did you do this? There was no rope car or winch in operation in October 2020 when we visited. How did you manage to walk up-finish darshan-walk down and leave Even more interested to know about Tiruchendur. When we went, it was awfully crowded, took 2 hours to finish darshan. Other temples are a breeze.

[raka1o]

Originally Posted by ravib

Wow! That sounds too aggressive timing to me without enough rest/breaks! I hope there were at least 2 drivers.

-Ravi

Yes Ravi, only 2 people and both were driving also trying to take all precautions and also we packed food only for 2 days. Its difficult to do with family. only myself and friend so it was fine. sorry, for late reply... I didnt logged into team bhp site for long time.

Originally Posted by narayans80

Just wow! How did you do this? There was no rope car or winch in operation in October 2020 when we visited. How did you manage to walk up-finish darshan-walk down and leave Even more interested to know about Tiruchendur. When we went, it was awfully crowded, took 2 hours to finish darshan. Other temples are a breeze.

Luckily, its less crowded so it was fine due to lock down time. Yes, that was tough part by walk reaching temple in Palani. Only myself and Friend so able to make it on time... coming down is very easy. Every temple we took special darshan to avoid to getting delayed.