Tourist places in ECR from Chennai to Kanyakumari

The Coramendal coast of India is the coastline we have TamilNadu and Andhra. My journey is through the entire stretch of the coastline of TamilNadu from Chennai to Kanyakumari in the ECR, the most picturesque road  in TamilNadu.

As a great spiritual start Marundeeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur would be an apt beginning. The temple dates back to 7th century, from Cholas for the Hindu deity Shiva. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams where the two of the most revered Nayanars, Appar and Tirugnana Sambandar have glorified the temple with their verses.

Down the road ECR is filled with theme parks, MGM Dizzee World and VGP Golden Beach and various unique eateries where one can get delicacies of all kinds. VGP has recently added attractions like the underwater aquarium and snow world. Both are taking Chennai to next level of tourism.

The Cholamandalam Artist Village and DakshinaChitra are not only for art lovers but anyone can spend meaningful time here enjoying the artistry. Muttukadu Beach House offers rowing, windsurfing, water skiing and speedboat riding is one of its kinds in Chennai.

Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Center for herpetology has an immense collection of different species of crocodiles and snakes. It sometimes gives us creeps to watch a lot of crocodiles being there in a small space.

Covelong, this bay is the site of a colonial Dutch Fort and a fishing village with windsurfing prospects. If you are into surfing, this is the go-to place.

One of the jewels in the ECR stretch is Mahabalipuram, where one can witness the stone carving of the Pallava dynasty. The places that can interest you are

Descent of the Ganges or Arjuna's Penance, a large piece of stone that depicts the scenes from Mahabharata.

Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots)

Cave Temples

The Shore Temple, whose silhouette forms an iconic image of TamilNadu

Other structural temples include the Olakkanesvara temple, the lighthouse, the Draupadi's tank and Krishna's butterball. 

If you slightly deviate from your path, an hour ride off ECR(43 Km) is Vedhanthangal Bird Sanctuary. It is a 74-acre protected area on National Highway 45. More than 40,000 birds (including 26 rare species) visit the sanctuary during the migratory season every year. If you are into birds, this place should be on your list.

Sardas Dutch Fort was an Dutch fort with huge granary and stables dating back to 1959 is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in efforts to contain further dilapidation of this great monument.

Alamparai Fort was built during the Mughal era between 1736 and 1740 AD. It once had a 100-metre long dockyard stretching into the sea, from which zari cloth, salt, and ghee were exported. There are references to the region in Sangam literature Ciṟupāṇāṟṟuppaṭai as a trade post.

Blossoming bougainvilleas and leafy boulevards with 18th-century colonial buildings is Puducherry, a former French colony. Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Chunnabar boat House and Seaside Promenade are some regular tourist places to stop by. Auroville, is an experimental township and a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The houses there are so unique in architecture as people of around 20 countries live here. Matrimandir (Sanskrit for Temple of The Mother) is an edifice of spiritual significance for practitioners of Integral yoga. It is called soul of the city and is situated in a large open space called Peace. Matrimandir does not belong to any particular religion or section. Arikamedu is a forgotten historic trading port on the banks of the Ariyankuppam river, which had maritime links with ancient Greece and Rome. They uncovered substantial evidence of a Roman trading settlement including amphorae (ancient Greek/Roman jar), lamps, glassware, coins, beads made of stone, glass, gold and gems.

One of the ancient, historic district Cuddalore has 2 major places to visit, Silver Beach and St David fort. Another important historical and spiritual temple town in the district is Chidambaram. Thillai Nadaraja Temple is one of the iconic landmarks of Tamil Nadu. The traditional name of the temple complex is Chidambaram Thillai Nataraja-koothan Kovil. The mangrove forests of Thillai trees (Excoecaria agallocha) were abundant in the town once. The temple and the town were once in the midst of Thillai trees. The temple and the deity were immortalized in Tamil poetry in the works of Thevaram by three poet-saints belonging to the 7th century - Thirugnana Sambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundaramoorthy Nayanar. The speciality of the temple is the golden tiled roof was laid by the Chola King Parantaka I(907-950 CE).

Pichavaram Mangrove Forest in the Vellar-Coleroon estuarine complex forms the Killai backwater. The mangroves are permanently rooted in a few feet of water. One of the rarest natural water forms we can enjoy with a boat ride.

Poompuhar was once a flourishing ancient port city known as Kaveri poompattinam was the capital of the early Chola kings. Much of the town was washed away by progressive erosion and floods. Submerged wharves and several meter lengths of pier walls excavated in recent times have corroborated the literary references to Poompugar. One of the fascinating places to visit holds our past dating back to the 4th century BCE. The place is mentioned in the epic Silapadhigaram.

Fort Dansborg (Danish Fort) is the second-largest Danish fort located in Tarangambadi, was built in 1620. It has large halls, columned structures, high ceilings and projecting drapery. An interesting scientific fact to this area is that the presence of rich Ozone (O3) content and the role it plays in absorbing the hazardous ultraviolet rays coming from the sun.

Karikal is just another French Colony and part of union territory of Puducherry and port on our way. Karaikal Ammaiyar is one of the 63 nayanmar who lived in Karaikal. She is one of the renowned saints, who devoted her life for lord shiva. The development of ferry service between Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry, India, and Jaffna in Sri Lanka , a component of the Sagarmala Programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways for the promotion of coastal shipping.

Nagore, prime attraction is the Nagore Dargah, a five centuries-old Islamic shrine. Nagore Dargah attracts millions of pilgrims irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

Velankanni was once a port that traded with Rome and Greece. The town is home to one of the most visited Roman Catholic Latin Rite shrines called the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health.

Vedaranyam - Kodikkarai (Point Calimere). The forests of Kodiakkarai, also known as the Vedaranyam forests, are one of the last remnants of the dry evergreen forests that were once typical of East Deccan dry evergreen forests ecoregion. The famous Kuzhagar Temple or Kodi Kuzhagar Temple (also called Amrithakadeswarar Temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. Kodikkarai has natural resources, a deer sanctuary and a migratory bird watch.

Muthupet reserve forest covers the lagoon, river creeks and mudflats. Muthupet Lagoon (Mullipallam) is a spectacular natural creation, which is 8 km from Muthupet town can be reached only by boat.

Mallipattinam, Manora Fort was built by Maratha ruler Serfoji II in 1814–1815 to commemorate the advance of the British over Napoleon Bonaparte. It is an 8-storied, hexagonal tower, which is 23-meters high overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The secret claim is that an underground passage from this fort leads to the big temple in Thanjavur, 65 km away.

Ramanathapuram District, we have Rameshwaram is the pilgrimage town where we have temples. We can also visit the ruins of the village Dhanushkodi.

Tuticorin is a port city which is famous for its macaroons. The Shiva temple in the centre of the town and the Our Lady of Snows Basilica are some religious attractions.

Tiruchendur is home to Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is a second of Arupadai Veedugal (Abodes of Murugan).

Manapad is a coastal village in far south India, where we have a great beach. The other attractions include St Francis Xavier Church and the cave he stayed.

Kanyakumari, known as Cape Comorin, is a popular tourist destination, famous for its unique ocean sunrise, sunset and moonrise, the 133-feet Thiruvalluvar Statue, Vivekananda Rock and a temple dedicated to Goddess Kanyakumari (the virgin Goddess). Kanyakumari was there since the Sangam period referred to in old Tamil literature and the accounts of Marco Polo and Ptolemy.

 

So by the end of our journey, we have travelled the entire stretch with only beaches, entertained ourselves with some backwater lagoons and mangrove forests and enlightened about our past with forts, temples etc. We can make a trip in 3 to 4 days. We can make stops at Pondycherry and Rameshwaram so the journey can be comfortable and enjoyable. The trip, so very unplanned, gives a satisfaction that is second to no other experiences.  The journey is something we need to take to reach out for ourselves from inside.