Visit to Meenakshi Amman Temple Total No of days - 2Dated - May 2017
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Meenakshi Amman Temple visit
Drive from Vellore - MaduraiMeenakshi Amman Temple
RouteMeenakshi or eyes are in the shape of a fish, (Unmesha nimishodhpanna vipanna bhuvanavali - from Lalita Sahasranama) states that she never blinks her eyes day or night. The temple is open from 5.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m...
Our stay was in Hotel North Gate, the nearest to the temple. It has a decent parking space, rooms are small still well maintained. The food is very good, had dinner and breakfast. Early morning after breakfast we visit the temple. The hotel guys arrange us an auto. The auto guy was very friendly as he showed us the dry Vaigai river and the Yanaikkal statue, Sree mohan bhaojanalaya and more. The roads are very narrow near the teple, so better take a auto the visit the place. The hotel is around 4 kms away, but days are very hot and humid so its not a easy walk.
If ones main aim is to visit meenakshi temple it this hotel is good. The railway station is also at a walkable distance from the temple.
The city is more than 2,500 years old and has a rich cultural heritage which is evident in the places near the temple...the capital of the pandyas. The small city is bustlking early morning with activity. jasmine flowers are the main produce here.
After alighting the auto (Rs 100/- charged), we had to walk through the narrow alleys to enter the temple. The roads around the Temple are narrow, bustling with hawkers & parking is scarce, 3-4 hours will be required to see the temple complex.
The temple is so huge with high ceilings that the walk to the main temple itself is through the mandapas, very huge. There are shops inside to buy flowers and offerings. From there we walk further to cross the tank Portamaraikulam or the golden lotus tank. It was on the banks of this tank the literary sangam used to be organised once when the great learned people used to recite their works.
Next to this mandapam is the Kilikootu Mandapam or hall of parrots where there are some beautiful sculptures as well as parrots, which chant the name of Meenakshi. The guide chattered but we didn't see then. The shrine to the goddess is just beyond this hall and entry is restricted only to Hindus. There is no dress code. Before the entry one will be confronted by guides who will promise you a tour around the temple. But its not reqd as all the pathways are properly marked.
Next to this mandapam is the Kilikootu Mandapam or hall of parrots where there are some beautiful sculptures as well as parrots, which chant the name of Meenakshi. The guide chattered but we didn't see then. The shrine to the goddess is just beyond this hall and entry is restricted only to Hindus. There is no dress code. Before the entry one will be confronted by guides who will promise you a tour around the temple. But its not reqd as all the pathways are properly marked.
The rush was less today, still it took an hour to have Ammas darshan. There is a vip queue with a fee of Rs 100 per person which takes you through a shorter route.
The next is the At the Sundareshwar temple across the courtyard, Lord Siva is represented as a lingam here. Here too was a similar queue, so we preferred the vip tickets which took totally half an hour for the darshan. Before the entry gigantic idol of Sri Ganesh called Mukkurini Pillaiyar can be seen. The pujari accepted our offerings and did some special puja and handed over the Prasad.
By the time it was 11:30 and we were to leave for Thekkady....so bid good bye to the city of temples. Still more to be seen and still longing to be back...
To eat To eat Amma's mess, Murugan's Idly Shop
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