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Yercaud Trip – A Pleasant Hill Station Journey

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The distance from Chettinad Mansion, Kanadukathan, to Yercaud is about 285 kilometres . We travelled to Yercaud on 5 October 2026 and returned on 7 October 2026 . The journey took about 5 hours and 30 minutes . We stayed at TGI Star Holidays , which was a good and comfortable hotel. During our stay, we travelled around Yercaud and covered nearly 32 kilometres of the hill station. Yercaud Lake was close to our hotel, and many shops were located around the area. We purchased several local products such as spices, oils, chocolates, fruits and cakes . We also specially purchased Mudavattukaal , which we felt would be useful to us. On the night of 5 October , there was heavy rain after 10 PM, accompanied by lightning and thunder. However, we were comfortable inside our hotel room and did not feel the effect of the heavy rain. While returning on 7 October, the cool weather was very pleasant. Suddenly, we entered an area covered by very thick mist . The visibility became extremely poo...
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TRIP TO TENKASI

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 T enkasi is the spiritual center of Tenkasi district. It is famous for the beautiful Kasiviswanathar Temple and it happens to be the headquarters of Tenkasi District . It is 256 Kms from Chettinad Mansion, Kanadukathan, Sivagangai District. The well-known Courtallam Falls , also called the "Spa of South India," are also located in this district. We stayed at Zamin Resort in Essaki Village on the Five Falls Road. At first, the police stopped us because the road was one-way. After we explained that we were going to the resort, they allowed us to continue. The resort was comfortable, and the food was tasty, though the menu was limited. We had breakfast at a good restaurant adjacent to the room. The breakfast included the south Indian delicacy Idly, poori, pongal, vada, and dosa. From the resort, we visited Five Falls . We met our staff members who were also visiting Courtallam. After that, they continued their journey to Kasiviswanathar Temple , Panpozhi Thirumalai Murugan ...
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VARKALA

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Varkala is a coastal town in the Thiruvananthapuram district of the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is well known for its dramatic cliffs overlooking the Arabian Sea. Varkala is around 50‑60 km north of Thiruvananthapuram Kerala’s major airport city. The sought after coastal town Varkala, has the following attractions. The Janardana Swamy Temple:   This is an ancient Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, in the form known locally as Janardanaswamy or Varkaleswara. It is believed to be about 2000 years old, though the current structure has seen renovationated, especially around the 12th century. The main idol of Janardanaswamy (Vishnu) is standing, facing east, and carries four attributes: the chakra (wheel), shankha (conch), gada (mace), and another (pot). There are also idols of other deities: Shiva, Hanuman, various “Upa Devatas” (subsidiary deities), Nagadevas (snake gods), etc. The temple sits close to Papanasam beach, atop cliffs. The cliffs give it a scenic settin...
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VELANGUDI TEMPLE - A CLAN TEMPLE

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  Velangudi is the smallest clan temple connected to the Chettiar community. It’s in the Sivaganga district, close to Karaikudi. The temple is known as a “Vaippu Sthalam,” which means it was mentioned in a song by the saint Appar. There’s a story about King Pari, who was out hunting. He saw a hare run into a hole, which was unusual. Curious, he told his men to dig there. As they dug, they heard a metallic sound and found a statue of a goddess. She was named Kamatchi Amman. Another god, Sandeeswarar, was later brought from a place called Pallathur and placed in the temple. The Velangudi temple is known for its detailed carvings, statues, and a tall temple tower called a gopuram. In most Shiva temples, five idols (called Pancha Moorthis) are taken out during processions: Shiva, Parvathi, Vinayagar, Murugan, and Chandikeswarar. But in Velangudi, Bairava is used instead of Chandikeswarar, because Bairava is more important to the people there. One special thing about this clan is ...
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VAIRAVANPATTI - A CLAN TEMPLE

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  Vairavanpatti is a village located about 13 kilometers from Karaikudi in Sivaganga District, on the Karaikudi-Thiruppathur Road. It is also 2 kilometers away from Pillayarpatti, a well-known temple village. Vairavanpatti is home to one of the nine clan temples of the Chettiyars, called the Vairavar Temple. The main deities here are Lord Valaroli Nathar and Vadivudi Amman. The village is named after Lord Bhairava, and it was once called Vadakkunathapuram. The temple celebrates several festivals, including Champakasura Chathurthi, Vinayaka Chathurthi, and Pillayar Nonbu. The temple has a beautiful five-tier Rajagopuram. Devotees visit to pray for freedom from enemies and relief from the negative effects of planetary alignments. In the temple, a depiction of Lord Rama worshipping is seen, where Hanuman brought news of Sita’s safety. Lord Bhairava has a separate shrine, and a spring created by him is located outside the temple. Those who take a dip in this spring and pray are bel...
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THIRUMAYAM FORT

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  Thirumayam Fort, built in 1687 by Vija Ragunatha Sethupathi, the Raja of Ramnad, spans about 40 acres. The fort features shrines dedicated to Lord Hanuman, Goddess Sakthi, Lord Ganapathi, and Karuppar, as well as two rock-cut temples — one dedicated to Lord Shiva and the other to Lord Vishnu. The fort was later handed over to the Raja of Pudukkottai, Ragunatha Raya Thondaimaan, and post-independence, it was taken over by the Archaeological Survey of India. On the fort's peak, a British-origin cannon stands, and six additional cannons are mounted at the gates. A beautifully constructed octagonal pond adds to the fort's charm. Situated in Tamil Nadu, this 17th-century marvel offers a glimpse into its rich heritage and valor, with panoramic views from its heights. The fort’s history is marked by betrayal and tragedy. Oomaithurai, brother of the famed Kattabomman, sought refuge here after battles. However, he was betrayed by the locals, captured, and executed. Following his d...
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Bragadeeshwarar Temple – The Big Temple of Thanjavur

The Bragadeeshwarar Temple , commonly referred to as the Big Temple , is one of the most iconic and grand temples in South India. Located in Thanjavur , Tamil Nadu, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva , who is worshipped here in the form of Bragadeeshwarar or Peruvudayar . This architectural marvel was constructed in the early 11th century (around 1010 CE) by the great Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I , and stands as a magnificent testimony to the prowess. Main Deity : The sanctum houses a massive Shiva Lingam , one of the largest in the world, made up of a single stone weighing 20 tons. Nandi (Vaahanam) : In front of the temple sits a gigantic Nandi (the bull vehicle of Shiva) , carved from a single block of black granite . Weighing approximately 25 tons , it is one of the largest monolithic Nandi statues in India. Temple Tower (Vimana) : The temple is crowned by an awe-inspiring tower that rises to a height of 65.8 meters (approximately 216 feet) , making ...
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