[kvsneela]

A short trip from East Coast to Western Ghats ( Kovai).

“Traveling is an experience not a duty “– anonymous

Time for next trip (rather a short one) which was to Kovai (short for Coimbatore) and surroundings.

Plan:
One of our college friends invited us to his daughter’s marriage (actually only reception as the marriage was already done in Guruvayoor or somewhere) on June 11th (Sunday) in Kovai. Even though the function was only on Sunday evening, planning was underway for everybody to reach on Saturday morning so that a bus trip could be arranged for sightseeing around Kovai. But that plan did not take off as many of us planned to reach only on Saturday evening or Sunday morning. So, we decided to plan ourselves by starting on Saturday morning to reach Kovai by evening and return same way on Monday (so that whole Sunday would be free). As usual wife was needed to be tempted with the pilgrim centres on the way and in and around Kovai. She wanted to visit Skandasramam (Salem) compulsorily. I wanted to drive through roads less travelled also. There are 2/3 routes to reach Kovai from Pondy. The main one is Villupuram, Ulundhurpettai, Salem, Kovai which is straight tolled highway (except up to Villupuram). Next one is Villupuram, Ulundhurpet, Perambalur, Musiri, Karur, Palladam, Kovai. In this route I had already travelled up to Karur and wanted to see the roads from Karur to Kovai. Since I wanted to visit my cousin in Karur (working in a bank and has second Saturday holiday) decided to take Karur route to reach Kovai on Saturday and return via Salem. Now wife wanted some temple visit on Saturday also(to avoid a dry run)so after some research fixed on Sree Kalyana Venkataramanaswamy Temple at Thandondrimalai, Karur (which is a km away from my cousin’s house). So finally, the places planned were:

1. Sree Kalyana Venkataramanaswamy Temple (Karur)
2. Marudhamalai Murugan temple (Kovai)
3. Isha Yoga centre(Kovai)
4. Kovai Kuttraalam waterfalls (Kovai)
5. Skandasramam (Salem)

But after doing some detailed research, Kuttraalam Waterfalls was dropped from the list as it was supposed to be dry since Monsoon rains had not arrived .

The drive:

On Friday itself I had checked and cleaned the car and filled air (using my foot air pump). As per the Spresso manual it was 32psi (cold) all tyres but recommended to increase 5 psi in case of highway drive. So, I kept it at 37psi (as usual since I drive mostly on long highway drives only).

10.6.2023 (Saturday)
Pondy to Kovai: (390 km)
Started at around 6.30 AM and drove to Villupuram via Vazhudavur Road as the shortest route to Villupuram is under repair/expansion and also I wanted to see condition of this road. But I was not disappointed as it was very smooth and picturesque. Soon reached Villupuram and joined Chennai Trichy Highway. Initially we planned to take breakfast at Vasantha Bhavan near Ulundhurpettai Toll but it was too early and instead breakfasted at Anandhaas between Veppur and Perambalur. Hotel was a standalone structure, plenty of parking space, food was ok. Only toilet facilities could be better (which was inside the hotel and limited).


Vazhudhavur Road

Vazhudhavur Road

Trichy Highway

Ulundhurpettai Road

Hotel Anandhaas

Reached Karur temple around 11 AM. Temple visit took only 30 minutes as there was a wait for main Pooja (which might take another hour or two) but we could see the deity directly from outside which satisfied wife(surprisingly) (Note: Better avoid going to Perumal (Vishnu) temples on Saturdays). And so, we moved on to my cousin’s house, took lunch there and moved toward Kovai by 2 PM.


Perambalur bypass

Towards Thuraiyur

For Thuraiyur By-pass take left

Musiri Cauvery Bridge

Tirchy Karur Road

Karur Toll

Karur Temple Turning

Temple Entrance Arch

Kalyana Venkatramanasamy Temple, Karur

Amaravathi Bridge

Karur Bus Stand

Kanyakumari road -Kovai road Junction

Kovai road

On the way crossed Vellakoil, Kangeyam (famous for bulls) and Palladam (famous for tobacco and textile) and reached Kovai at around 5 PM. (These town names I used to hear in my native town Pazhani but never visited so far). Our accommodations were booked at service apartments of CKH Tulasi, Singanallur ( next to airport). Function hall was Sri Sai Vivaha Mahal on the same road. These service apartments were good but only problem was that in 3 BHK apartment one room did not have attached bathroom. As there was no common bathroom also, family stayed in this room faced problems. Had dinner at RHR Hotels (which is the only decent Veg hotel on that road) and found to be very good. Went to bed without waiting for other friends to arrive as we had to get up early for next plan.


Vekkakoil

Kangeyam

Palladam

Palladam Kovai Road

CKH Tulasi - Our stay

Day 2 (11.06.2023 Sunday)
Marudhamalai(22kms);
(Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maruth...amurthy_Temple)

We started the day at around 6 AM towards Marudhamalai which is about 22kms from our stay. Drove through Avinashi Road, Rajendra Prasad Road, Anaikatti Road, Marudhamalai Road and reached the destination around 7 AM. Rs. 50/- was charged to enter the ghat section to climb which was about couple of kms. Road was small and not butter smooth but drivable with mirror reflectors in every turns. Parking space was bit crowded but could find a place to park.


Avinashi Road

Flyover on R.Prasad Road

Anaikatti Road

Marudhamalai Road

Entry Tickets

Climb

Parking

.....Continued in next post

[kvsneela]

This temple was not built on the top of the western ghats rather half way from the bottom. Temple had little bit of crowd but since it was moving one did not take much time to complete the visit. (There are 2 temples side by side for Lord Muruga, one is the Moolavar (fixed main deity) and other one is Urchavar (deity used for processions). We could have a good view of the city from the top. Completed at round 8.30 AM and started for Isha Foundations. While returning we found lots of vehicles were waiting to enter and realised that coming to Marudhamalai earliest was best idea compared to going to Isha first.


Moolavar (Main diety)

Urchavar

Gopuram

Topview

View from the Top

Isha Dhayanalingam( 25 kms):
Had breakfast at a hotel called JP Chettinad Hotel on Bommanampalayam Road (which leads to Isha Centre). Food was ok but little bit costlier for a small hotel (onion uthappam was 60/- but normal dosai was only 20/-). From the beginning, wife was not showing any interest in visiting Adhi Yogi Statue but only the Dhayanalingam centre which was on the backside of the centre where meditation sessions are planned for every 20 minutes or so. We cannot take mobiles or bags inside but only towels and purses are allowed. Parking is only near Adhi Yogi statue and need to take shuttle service to come back here. Also parking within 100 metres from this centre not allowed so we parked after 100 meters on the road itself (as we felt it would be tedious to use shuttle services) as per the advice from the security. Meanwhile news came from other friends group that they had arranged a bus trip to Siruvani.


On the way to Isha

Take left to Isha

Entrance to Dyanalingam

Parking on the road itself

But before going to meditation hall there are 2 ponds called Surya Kund (for men) and Chandra Kund (for women) in separate buildings. A dip in these ponds is supposed to bring positive energy as there are 3 rasalingams placed in the ponds under brass/bronze structure (A rasalingam is a lingam made up of solidified mercury but actually might be made up of Gallium). Surya Kund is a big pond compared to Chandra Kund and both had cold clean water. Rs 20/- was entry fee and were given changing cloths (a wet towel for men and dry full cover for women). Before getting into the pond, need to take a shower bath as the water inside the pond is to be kept clean. After getting energized positively in these ponds, we moved on to the meditation hall. Since we were in 11.50 batch there was song session also. We need to keep silence once we enter until coming out. There will be bell sounds to indicate beginning and end of each session. Though there is no official restriction it is better not to bring babies and uncontrollable children (one baby was crying continuously and was taken out by the parents) which will disturb the purpose. There is a big lingam in the centre of the hall which hold hundreds of people same time. By 12.30 finished this visit and returned to our city stay by 1.30 PM. Had lunch at the same RHR hotels which was very good (curd and buttermilk were in perfect condition which was abnormal as many hotels serve tasty food but curd will be sour mostly.). Bus group returned disappointed to find Kuttraalam waterfalls dry and had to be satisfied with Adhi Yogi statue only ).Took some rest and moved to the reception hall by 6 PM (Sri Sai Vivaha Mahal) which was spacious and had had plenty of parking place too. Returned back by 9 PM and had a good night sleep.


Sai Vivaaha Mahal

Day 3 (12.06.2023 Monday)
Skandasramam Murugan temple (167 kms):

Started around 6 AM (as usual) and drove towards Salem Skandasramam. Chanting Skanda Guru Kavasam (a hymn on Lord Muruga wrote by Santhananda Swamigal who constructed this temple and similar one in Chennai, Tiruvannamalai etc.,) was in wife’s bucket list. Also visiting Kannimaar Odai stream which was running behind the temple. We reached the temple around 8.30AM which was on a small road from the Salem bypass road. We almost had the temple to ourselves as there was hardly any devotee present at that time. First visited Kannimaar temple (not those 5 Panchakanyaas but 7 Virgins namely Brameshwari, Kaumari, Varahi, Vaishnavi, Chamundi, Maheshwari, Indrani )for which we had to walk little bit towards the stream down ( but no water) and this pooja was finished around 10 AM. Then went to the main Skandasramam Murugan temple and finished by 11 AM.


On the way to Salem

Left turn to goto Skandhasramam

Underpass to cross Salem Bypass

Towards the temple

Entrance

Parking area

climb down to Kannimaar temple

Kannimaar temple

Deity

Inside the Skandhasramam temple

Cowshed

Skandhagiri Hill

Started towards Pondy and finished lunch at A2B in Ulundhurpet (skipped breakfast). Saw plenty of jackfruit vendors towards Villupuram (as jackfruit HQ Panruti is nearby but we did not buy as we have a regular supplier in Pondy itself) and finally reached Pondy via same Vazhudavur Road by 3.30 PM.



On the way to Ulundhurpettai

sudden 2 lane road in between

Joining with GST Road at Ulundhurpettai

Jack Fruit vendors on the way to Villupuram

A2B after the toll

Turn from GST towards Pondy ( Via Thirukannur, Vazhuvadur )

Points to be noted:
1. Roads all around were good to best and 3-digit speed was possible most of the times (though not advisable).
2. For Marudhamalai temple, better to start early especially on Sundays and auspicious days
as parking is limited and roads are also narrower.
3. Though Isha Foundation is famous, directions and markings were limited unlike Marudhamalai which had clear markings every few kms. Could depend on GMaps. At Narasipuram need to take left (which I missed and had to retreat). While returning took Thondamuthur (Narasampathi Lake) Road.
4. Even though Isha Centre mentions about helping in developing inner peace and all, finally it looked more like a tourist attraction than anything else. People who stay there in lodges might have different perspective. More over many of the visitors are locals but many of the volunteers working inside could not converse in Tamil (even unable to understand) and try to answer in English. (I hear announcement only in English and Hindi sometimes) though the instructions boards are in English and Tamil only.
5. In Surya Kund, the towel cloth given is being rotated (same wet clothes are used again and again with some washing) but wife informed that in Chandra Kund it was dry cloth. It is not compulsory to take a dip in these ponds to attend meditation session.
6. We were forewarned about the volunteers who will try to explain all their schemes and facilities which will be time consuming and we might lose our focus. (Similar to car workshops try to sell other products during our service visits). So, we struck to only our purpose (that why did not go near Adhi Yogi Statue also).
7. Skandasramam is situated in a very peaceful (more than Isha) hilly area as there was no crowd at all with a possibility to have a family picnic . In rainy season it might look more serene.

Without a few words about the car which made this trip possible, this report cannot be completed. Our Spresso cooperated beautifully thought-out whether in highways or village or congested roads. AC is still a chiller in a scorching summer which is yet to see monsoon rains. Not a single drop of rain in those three days though we almost touched western ghats.
Total 900 Kms, Mileage around 19-20 ( with AC 80%)

[raptor_diwan]

Originally Posted by kvsneela

3. Though Isha Foundation is famous, directions and markings were limited unlike Marudhamalai which had clear markings every few kms. Could depend on GMaps. At Narasipuram need to take left (which I missed and had to retreat). While returning took Thondamuthur (Narasampathi Lake) Road.

True, and don't forget the small road, potholes However, the scenic surroundings and hills along the way will make the drive feel good. Additionally, the continuous presence of six mini speed breakers on those roads are night mare. Improvements are needed for the markings and the road itself. I used to take this road every month when I was at Karunya University right from 2015 and still not improved much.

Adding a few more pictures of the route, its one of the scenic routes.