The most significant event, that is going to take place in the small area Tiruvanaikoil, in the south indian state Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu is the talk of the state today. The consecration ceremony of the most popular Jembugeswarar temple in Tiruvanaikoil is scheduled on 12^th December, 2018, and the city has been witnessing thousands of devotees for the past few days.

The historic significance of this temple has made this place a sacred center . Tiruvanaikoil is one of the five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva representing the FIVE cosmic elements and this temple is for “Water”. The presiding deity is in the form of a small Linga idol and the base of the idol is always wet due to the constant water base and He is also called “Appu Lingam”, as in Sanskrit, Appu means Water.

 

It is quite amazing to see that the Lingh idol in the Sanctum Sanctorium is partially or fully immersed in water all through the year irrespective of the water levels in the nearby river Cauvery. The architecture  of this temple is around 1500 years old , but still being witnessed as a testimony of the engineering knowledge our ancestors possessed. All you need is four to five hours of your time to witness the architectural wonder of the temple and particularly the mystic beauty of the hundreds of bilaterally symmetrical pillars built on both sides of the corridor on your way from Lord Shiva’s sanctum to his counterpart’s. The temple is so big that there are five streets surrounding the sanctum sanctorum. The outermost street of the temple is a circular path of four kilometers distance. People used to have a pilgrim walk covering the distance every month on a full moon day and it is quite interesting that the number of pilgrims increases month on month.

Another thing which makes us spell bound in this temple is the idol of the Goddess Akilandeswari which is one among the very rare huge statues found across the country. There is an interesting story behind. Since the time of inception, she was uncontrollably furious in olden days, punishing the devotees without any reason. Once, the Saint Adi Sankara, who introduced the Advaita principle to the world, visited this temple. Finding her so furious, he adorned her with two big ear rings by name “Thaadangam” and made her staying cool always and blessing her devotees with whatever they have wished for. You can witness those earrings even today. One more special event which you can never see in any of the temples in India is that, every day exactly at 12 noon, the priest in the shrine dresses up as Goddess Akilandeshwari and does the Pooja to Lord Shiva which is a feast to the eyes and you may get the chance of being greeted by an elephant too.

 

The legend says, there were a spider and an elephant worshipping Lord Shiva every day. As elephant saw the spider’s nest , it would clean it immediately with the water carried it in its tusk. And this routine continued for many days. When both met, the spider furiously went inside the elephant’s ears to trouble him and on account of this, both died. Historians say that the spider was the Chola King Kochengatkanan who built this temple and he  was very careful that no elephant can enter into the sanctum which is  unusual practice compared to the other Shiva temples.

The entire area has worn a festive look with the gorgeous decorations of all the shrines in the temple premises. Devotees from different parts of the state and country have thronged the city to attend this magnificent event. The celebrities popular in different fields have been visiting the temple and the nearby sacred monastery and offering their worships.

This festival has indirectly paved way for numerous small scale vendors who have emerged along the streets with their small shops attracting the children and the elders alike. The region around the temple has become a popular getaway for many.

 

The exhaustive schedules for rituals and poojas are in place for the past one week. Special arrangements have been made by the local authorities for vehicles parking and dining. Even otherwise, there are number of small hotels around the temple, where you can finish all your three meals at a very reasonable price.

The four gateway towers on all the four directions, the sanctum of Lord Jembugeswara and Goddess Akilandeswari will be consecrated between 6 am and 7.30 am on 12^th December,2018, which will be truly a significant event in this Trichy region and the state as well.

Cultural programmes, divine discourses, special poojas and rituals by the monastics, small shops around, free meals at select places are the highlights of the festival along with the ceremony being attended by the celebrities and Government officials.

Altogether, your visit to this temple will be a memorable, colorful and spiritually astounding experience to take back to your homeland.

Tirupati Tirumala, the most visited pilgrim center in the South Indian state Andhra Pradesh, witnesses thousands and even lakhs of devotees disgorging from all corners of the country every day. It is very common that the devotees wait in very long queues that may take even up to three days to have the Dharshan of Lord Venkateswara, who is the magnificent nine feet self-manifested idol, blessing His devotees almost twenty three hours a day.

To optimize the procedures and to make the Dharshan process easier, the temple Devasthanam introduced the online booking scheme for all kinds of Dharshans and various Arjitha Sevas. Still, the website is flooded with bookings and for many of the arjitha  sevas the booking gets closed very soon.

Due to the unimaginably high number of requests flooding online, the TTD seva online booking gets over online prior to many days of the actual darshan, The devotees get deeply disappointed as they are not able to have the dharshan of Lord.

In view of catering to the needs of its clients, South Tourism, the renowned Destination Management Company took an initiative to make the procedure simpler and accessible. South Tourism has joined hands with the Andhra Pradesh Tourist Development Corporation which enables its clients to book the tickets online for the Special Dharshan Seva. This scheme guarantees the clients of South Tourism, a quick dharshan within two hours with an accompanying guide.

The procedure is so simple that when you visit our site, https://www.southtourism.in/tirupati-darshan, you are guided to fill in the form with the necessary details. Submitting this form will lead to another page where the client will be confirming the details already entered. After this, the next step is the payment gateway from where you will be guided to pay the dharshan charges online  through any of the options listed in the page.

After the payment is successfully made, you can submit your details by giving your credentials as in your Aadhar card or Passport which will be printed on your entry tickets you will be carrying on the day of Dharshan. Please be utmost careful while entering your details as these tickets will be your entry passes into the Special Dharshan Queue. Once all these procedures get over, the tickets will be sent to your email id.

South Tourism wishes you a quick dharshan to have the benevolence and blessings from Lord Venkateshwara at Titupati Tirumala ! For more details or for any clarifications, please join us in the website.

Travel along the 12 beautiful roads of South India. An enchanting experience for a lifetime, enjoying the scenic locations, detouring through the unexplored regions, unveil an exquisite moment and lot more to entice. A most cherished experience to choose from the options for a never before experience you can be sure of getting in the beautiful roads in South India.

Chennai To Pondicherry

Make your journey more memorable one when you travel from Chennai to Pondicherry on a road trip. The best scenic route along the coastline of Bay of Bengal gives you number of sightseeing options and places of attractions. Pondicherry being one of the choicest holiday destinations in India, take a peaceful break there when you prefer to travel along the scenic East Coast Road.

Pamban Brdige (Rameswaram)

The beautiful road leading to Rameshwaram makes you spell bound with the engineering excellence of Pamban Bridge built in 1912. Take away some of your time from your tour plan, spending with your loved ones watching the Rail Bridge. If you are lucky, you can watch the Double leaf bascules opening for the ships to pass by and the trains crossing the Bridge.

Bangalore to Ooty

Get reminded of the famous quote “Roads are meant for journeys and not for destinations” while you go on a road trip from the Garden City Bangalore to the Queen of Hill Stations Ooty. A beckoning journey along the dense forests, tall pine trees and lush green meadows of tea estates makes holds you on with its mysterious charm. Take the gorgeous view of the valleys down when you ride on the steep hairpin bends from the flat landscapes. An undoubtedly wonderful journey to explore and enjoy!

Bangalore – Bandipur Forest

One of the life-changing experience is the road trip from Bangalore to Bandipur. A perfect route to go on a weekend to explore the lesser known destinations is Bangalore to Bandipur road trip. Pack your bags for an entirely unique experience unveiling the true bliss of nature on the country sides and the dense woods of India. Get drenched in the nature’s lap presenting you the lush greenery, dense woods and the rarest species of animals and birds taking you away from your targets and deadlines.

Coimbatore to valparai

Enjoy the sun rays streaming through the trees on and off and the pleasant weather during your road trip to Valparai from Coimbatore. An undoubtedly wonderful journey surrounded by mountains with boards quite often warning you about the sudden appearance of elephants, yet an enjoyable road trip. Detour along the unnamed lanes lined up with tall trees with nice music and good photographs. Halt at tea shops and enjoy the scenic location around you with hot tea and your loved ones. A truly amazing experience!

Chennai – Munnar

Rejoice your weekend, take a 11hours long road trip from Chennai to Munnar, crossing the major tourist destinations of Tamil Nadu. If you have enough time to spare, go around the interesting locations of Trichy, Palani and Dindigul and proceed to Munnar. Stroll around Munnar, the most sought after tourist destination by the global travellers. Enjoy walking through the unending expanse of the tea plantations and the lush green meadows, giving you an enticing experience.

Bangalore – Goa

Go for a spectacular journey from Bangalore To Goa on road, mesmerizing you with the beauty of Western Ghats from different hues. The thrilling road trip is a life changing experience for anyone who loves traveling, especially with the wonderful road trip from Bangalore to Goa. Enjoy the cascade of water falls, roads washed by rains, lovely views of the valley, backwaters of dams, people working on the lush green fields, serene lakes and scenic beaches, all at one tour. Yes, the magic happens during your road trip from Bangalore to Goa !

Mysore – Ooty

An entirely different experience is guaranteed when you plan to travel by road from Mysore to Ooty. You can explore Mysore on your road trip, paying a visit to the renowned Mysore Palace. Road to Ooty from Mysore takes you through the scenic locations of Bandipur, Mudumalai and Masinagudi where nature is in its abundant beauty. If you can spare your time, take a safari in the sanctuaries and go for visiting the scenic locations in Masinagudi. Exploring Ooty is a truly amazing experience. Shopping for homemade chocolates and wooden artefacts are generally preferred by the travellers.

Vizag – Araku

The road trip from Vizag to Arakuveli is an amazing experience with an undoubtedly beautiful sightseeing places and enchanting views all through the route. Enjoy your stay in the eco tourism resorts and the picturesque wooden cottages on the way. The tranquil locations and the most scenic attractions throughout your trip make it the most cherished of your travel experiences. Visit the Tyada hamlets and the Borra caves welcoming you with bundles of stories told and retold.

Munnar- Bangalore

A week-long tour plan will be the best choice to cover all the scenic attractions of the ghat sections taking your time to enjoy and explore during your road trip from Munnar to Bangalore. Visit the famous destinations enroute and enjoy your stay in the famous resorts and hotels. Munnar is an yummy destination for all the global travellers with its lush green meadows , unending expanse of tea plantations and pleasant weather. A walking tour in the tea plantation with your loved ones will be the highlight of this entire road trip.

Hyderabad to Vijayawada

The best possible mode of travel from Hyderabad to Vijayawada is by road taking hardly five hours to complete. Enjoy the monuments en route and record the cherished moments. There are lot of eating joints and shopping zones on the way. If you can spare some time, you can enjoy with your family and friends in these places, an entirely different experience.

Bangalore to Koli hills

Imagine a road trip through the lush green forests, monstrous curves and dangerously beautiful hairpin bends, the road trip from Bangalore to Kolli Hills will get you all these things. The priceless moments when you reach the top of the hill will really be a life-changing experience. Enjoy your showers in the spine chilling water falls. The time taken out of your busy schedules definitely pays you rewards.

Looking for some adventure? Head to Periyar [Thekkady] in Kerala. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. There are numerous adventure activities conducted by the govt. inside the sanctuary. Take a look at these 5 activities in Periyar which entertains the adventurer in you-

• Tiger Trail

Have you ever seen a tiger up close? Chances are high if you opt for a Tiger Trail program at Periyar [Thekkady]. It is conducted by the Periyar forest authority. Tiger Trail is a physical demanding activity as it involves a long trek ranging 25- 35 kms through the Periyar forest. Only 5 visitors are allowed at a time. You will be accompanied by 5 trained forest guides and 2 forest officials.

The program will be either 1 night or 2 night program as per the demand of guest. The trek starts in the morning at 9 am and ends either next day by noon or the day after. You would be camping in the middle of the jungle. Tents are carried for the same. Since this is an adventure activity, you would have to compromise on amenities and food as well. Please do not expect luxury. Only vegetarian food is served which is prepared by the guides. It is not guaranteed you will spot a tiger, however, it is for sure you would come across lot of elephants, bison and other residents of the wild.

• Bamboo Rafting

Bamboo Rafting is the most in-demand activity for the nature lovers and adventure travellers. A dawn to dusk program, it starts at 8 am in the morning and ends by 5pm in the evening. Usually, a group of 10 travellers along with 4 guides and an armed guard set off for Bamboo Rafting.  Hop on to a wooden raft and float along the Periyar Lake. While floating enjoy beautiful vistas of Periyar and you will get to see deer, elephants, bison and many other wild animals on the banks of the lake.

• Night Patrolling

A great chance to explore the Periyar wildlife. It is held between 7 pm and 4am. At a time, 8 persons in 2 different groups are allowed for the program. Each group will be accompanied by an armed forest guard and 2 watchers. You get so close to nature and you may come across giant wild elephants, bison and even a tiger.

• Jungle Jeep Safari

One of the favourite activity for many, a jeep safari through the thick woods of Periyar is a must experience activity. Opt for a 3 hours jeep safari conducted by the Periyar wildlife authority and enjoy an exciting drive through the jungle. You would come across lot of wild animals and exposed to some beautiful sights of the wild as you steer through the Periyar forest.

• Border Hiking

Border Hiking is a full day trekking program at the Periyar forest starting from 8 am. An armed guard and 2 forest guides will accompany a group of 12 visitors. This is also a physically demanding activity and therefore aged persons must avoid the same. You will be provided vegetarian snacks on the way. This is also a great opportunity to spot bears, elephants, and other wild residents of Periyar.

 

So these are the 5 best activities in Periyar!

Ready for adventure? Log on to South Tourism and plan your trip!

Enjoy a limited period offer by Air Asia India of “base fares as low as Rs. 99 and Rs. 444” for Domestic flights and International flights respectively. The Malaysian air carrier announced this discount sale on Sunday, 12^th of November 2017. The offer applies only on flights operating between May 2018 and January 2019. Bookings are open till November 19. Bengaluru, Kochi, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, New Delhi and Goa are among the Domestic destinations Air Asia operates.

International offer sale applies on flights to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur from Tiruchirappalli, Kochi, Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur and to Bali from Mumbai & Kolkata, Bangkok from Jaipur, Kolkata, Kochi, Chennai and Bengaluru. Apart from the same, the offer is also valid for flights operated by AirAsia Berhad, Indonesia Air Asia X, AirAsia X Berhad, Indonesia Air Asia and Thai AirAsia.

For more information visit Air Asia Official Website.

Plan your India holiday now with South Tourism