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.
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