Most beautiful temple in India

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Rameswaram is located in an island in the Gulf of Mannar, and is connected to the mainland at Mandapam by one of India's great engineering wonders, the 2.3 km long Indira Gandhi Setu, which was opened in 1987 by Rajiv Gandhi.

Ramanathaswamy temple : The temple is renowned for its four corridors (197 m long) lined with elaborately sculpted pillars. The 12 century temple has a 53 m high gopuram and 22 theerthams (tanks). Pilgrims are expected to bath in and have to walk around the temple wet. The sanctum has paintings depicting the origin of Rameswaram.

Gandamadana Parvatam : The two storey mandapam (3 km, hire a cycle) on a hill contains Lord Rama's footprints. This highest point on the island has good views of the town.

Dhanushkodi & Adam's bridge : Dhanushkodi is a long, windswept surf beach and sandpit with an end of the world feel. From the end of the peninsula there is a chain of reefs, sandbanks and islets that almost connect Sri Lanka with India named Adam's bridge.

Legend says that these are he stepping stones created and used by Rama to follw Ravana, ion his bid to rescue Sita in the epic Ramayana. From the East car street near the Ramanathaswamy temple, buses leave for Dhanushkodi (18 km, 45 minute). The 4 km walk leads to the beach.

Kothandaraswamy temple : It is 6 km before Dhanushkodi on the route.

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Kanyakumari is the 'Land's End' of the Indian subcontinent, where the Bay of Bengal meets Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.

Kumari Amman temple : The Devi temple celebrates a car festival in May/June. Men must remove their shirts while entering the temple (no photography).

Gandhi memorial : This striking memorial to Mahatma Gandhi was used to store some of the Gandhi's ashes until they were immersed in the sea.

Government museum : It is near the temple with display of temple artefacts (Rs 5, Friday closed).

Vivekananda memorial : Swami Vivekananda meditated here in 1892 before setting out to become one of India's most important religious crusaders. A memorial built in 1970 on a rocky island 400 m offshore (admission Rs 10). The 133 ft statue of the Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar is on a nearby small island. The ferry shuttles between these islands and port (Rs 20, last ferry at 4 pm).

Suchindram temple (13 km) : Musical pillar and 5.3 m Hanuman statue.

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Kodaikanal : Better known as Kodai at 2100 m is Tamil Nadu's cool hill station. Kodaikanal is 120 km from Madurai, surrounded by wooded slopes, waterfalls and precipitous rocky outcrops and the winding journey up and down is breathtaking. Kodai is the only hill station in India set up by the Americans. Shenbegannur museum of orchids is another attraction.

The Kurinji shrub found in Kodai has light, purple-blue coloured blossoms and flowers every 12 years. From Boat house follow the Anna Salai road to Kodaikanal International school (1840), country's most prestigious private school. The road then leads to Sacred Heart church and Kurinji Andavar temple. At Chettiar park (3 km from town), one may see some Kurinji flowers. April to June is the season, while Aug to Oct is also good. Rain is common during these season.

Byrant park and the nearby Coaker's walk (Admission Rs 2, camera Rs 5) are the main attractions of the town besides boating (Rs 40 for two seater pedal boat) in the Kodai lake. There are numerous waterfalls of which the Silver cascade on the way to Kodaikanal is the best. From Byrant park, a 7 km scenic route leads to 120 m high Pillar rocks. Astrophysical laboratory is 3 km from the lake. Cycle and motor bikes can be hired from shops near boat house. There is no Auto rickshaws, you have to depend on taxi cars for sightseeing. Kodai has less frequency of buses, so relax.



Palani is 65 km from Kodai. Palani Murugan temple is a pilgrim centre on top of a hill connected by ropeway. From Palani, one can head towards Ooty (200 km) via Coimbatore.

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Nilgiri hills : The hill stations on the hill are Coonoor(28 km from Mettupalayam), Ooty and Kotagiri.

Coonoor is on the way to Ooty at a height of 1850 m. Upper Coonoor is 2 km from town centre and has 12 hectare Sim's park (Admission Rs 5, camera Rs 25). Kotagiri bus can drop you here. The park has 1000 plant species mainly magnolia tree, tree ferns and Camellia. Dolphin's nose is a popular view point (10 km). On the way one can stop at Lamb's rock. Catherine falls is nearby. A taxi tour will cost Rs 200. Coonoor is 20 km from Ooty on the Mettupalayam road.

Kotagiri is 28 east of Ooty. The Catherine falls (8 km, including a 3 km final walk), Elk falls (6 km) and Kodanad viewpoint (22 km) can be visited from here. Kotagiri has buses to Ooty (Rs 15, 2 hour), Coonoor and Mettupalayam.

Udagamandalam (Ooty) : South India's most popular hill station at 2240 m connected by a miniature train (World Heritage by UNESCO) from Mettupalayam near Coimbatore. Ooty has an undeniable charm and the hills and evergreen forest around it are sensational for trekking. Ooty has points with superb views, tea plantations and a visit to tribal Toda settlement (Pykara, 21 km) will be an unforgetful experience. A left side seat in the toy train gives best views across the mountains.

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Ooty is 95 km from Coimbatore. The toy train is the most romantic way to reach Ooty (2193 m) from Mettuplayam (326 m, 4.5 hour). The 46 km narrow gauge route has 16 tunnels, 31 bridges built in 1899. The train leaves Mettupalayam for Ooty at 7.20 am (Rs 12 II class). One day advance reservation is also available at Rs 15 extra fee. The train leaves Ooty at 3 pm and takes 3.5 hour to Mettupalayam.

During winter, you need warm clothing and are very cheap here (Commercial road near the bus stand or Tibettan market near the Botanical gardens). Night temperature occasionally falls to zero.

Thread garden : Over 150 species of flowers and plants are formed with coloured threads. These are hand embroidered without a needle by a Keralan artist Anthony Joseph. Admission Rs 10, camera Rs 15. The garden is around 1 km from railway station via Jolly grant amusement park (Admission Rs 5). Boathouse is near the Thread garden.

A 10 minute walk from railway station to the bazaar area and 20 minutes to Ooty's real centre, Charing Cross (Rs 25 by auto).

Centenary Rose park : Has terraced lawns and colourful flower beds. Admission Rs 10, camera Rs 30. 1 km from railway station.

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St. Stephan's church : This is the oldest church in Nilgiris. Its huge wooden beams came from the palace of Tipu Sultan in Srirangapatanam and were hauled the 120 km by a team of elephants. The cemetery has graves of John Sullivan, founder of Ooty. Church is near the Charing Cross.

Botanical garden : This beautiful garden (Admission Rs 3, camera Rs 30) has numerous mature species as well as Italian and Japanese sections. There is also a fossilised tee trunk believed to be around 20 million years old. It is further 1 km north from the Charing Cross.

The highest point near Ooty is Dodebetta peak (2636 m, 10 km).

Tribal Research centre & museum : The museum has models of various hill tribes. Take an Emerald bus from TRC stop for the museum (11 km, Saturday and Sunday closed).

Ooty has regular bus connections to Coimbatore (Rs 37, 3 hour) and Mysore (Rs 69, 4 hour) via Mudumalai national park at Theppakadu (Rs 23, 2.5 hour). There is a shot and arduous route to Mysore via Masinagudi on the Sighur Ghat road (Rs 10, 1.5 hour, 36 km). Government minibuses run on this route and tackles the 36 hairpin bends.

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Mudumalai national park (Admission Rs 30, Dec to June) is the best place in Tamil Nadu for wildlife viewing. It is home to chital (spotted deer), gaur, tiger, panther, wild boar, sloth bear, otter, crocodile and wild elephants numbering around 600. Heavy rain is common in Oct and Nov. Minibus tours (Rs 35 per person for 45 min, 15 km) run from 7 am to 9 am and 3 pm to 6 pm around the outskirts of the park. Masinagudi is the nearest village (7 km from Theppakadu). Bus runs at every two hour. Trekking can be done outside the national park.



Tirunelveli - Kantimati and Nellaipapper temples, Tiruchendur shore temple (13 km).

Kuttalam waterfalls : Near Tenkasi on the Kerala border.

Hogenakal waterfalls : On Salem - Hosur road near Karnataka border.

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Sabarimala (1260 m) is major Hindu pilgrim centre high up in the Sahyadri Mountains (Western Ghats) of Kerala in Pathanamthitta District. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Ayyappan meditated after killing the powerful demon, Mahishi. Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha temples. It is believed that "Parasurama Maharshi" who retrieved Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe, installed the idol of Ayyappa at Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa.

The temple is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. Sabarimala is one of the most visited pilgrim centres in the world with an estimated 4.5 - 5 crores (50 million) devotees coming every year. The world's second largest annual pilgrimage, after Haj in Mecca, is reported to be to Sabarimala.

Constant chants of "Swamiye Sharanam Ayappa" (Hail Lord Ayappa) rent the air and the pilgrims make their trip bound by a brotherhood created by devotion to the Lord. Pilgrims penance seems to be rewarded when they ascend the holy Pathinettampadi (18 holy steps) to reach the Holy Sannidhanam (sanctum sanctorium). After the holy darshan and lighting the ghee lamps, these devotees faithfully wait for the Makara Vilakku, the glow of a star that shines only on the Festival day of Makara Shankaranthi (Jan 14 or 15).

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The shrine gets thronged with devotees especially during the main pilgrim season from November to January. Mandalapooja (17th Nov) and Makaravilakku (14 Jan) are the two main events of the pilgrim season. The temple stays closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam month and during Vishu (April).

A pilgrim attending the Mandalapooja should observe certain strict customs for 41 days. During this period, the pilgrim should abstain himself from non-vegetarian habits, wearing a unique black outfit (shirt and dhoti) with beads around the neck and abstinence from sex.

Pilgrims set out in groups under a leader, and each carry a cloth bundle called Irumudi kettu containing traditional offerings. Only those coming with Irumudikettu will be allowed to ascend the Holy Pathinettampadi leading to the Sannidhanam. Unlike certain Hindu temples, Sabarimala temple has no restrictions of caste or creed.

Women aged between 10 years and 50 years will not be allowed to trek the Holy Hills. At the time of the Thiru Aarattu festival, presence of women aged between 10 to 50 is not allowed at Pamba also. Betel chewing, using pan masala, plastic/polythene bags and smoking are strictly banned in the temple premises.

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How to reach Sabarimala temple

Vehicles can go up to Pampa. From here one has to trek 5 km up a steep hill to reach the temple. Porter carried chairs are also available for aged and handicapped pilgrims.

By Road : Erumeli-Pamba 56 km, Kottayam-Pamba 128 km, Ernakulam-Pamba 200 km (KSRTC bus fare Rs 114).

By Rail: Chengannur is the nearest railway station on the Ernakulam-Kollam line. From there by bus to Pampa via kozhencherry (Rs 58, 93 km).

By Air: The nearest airports are at Thiruvananthapuram, Nedumbassery (Kochi) and from there reach Pampa by bus/car.