From Bungalow on the Beach, I wanted to go on both North towards Poompuhar & South towards Karaikal which were filled with so so so many ancient temples!!! I hired a car and set out. Of all the places I saw, the most important 3 were Pallavaneeshwaram Excavations, Ponsei Temple and Valampura Nathar Temple.
We completed the day with Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple. This is a new temple built in 1929. Her legend is so extraordinary in Saivaite tradition (Lord Shiva Himself called her Ammai, which means Mother) that there would be a bronze of her in many temples. Realizing that there's no dedicated temple to Karaikal Ammaiyar in her own town, this was built!
P.S.1: All temples mentioned in this post (except Pallavaneeswaram Excavation, Sampathiamman temple & Karaikal Ammayar Temple) are பாடல் பெற்ற ஸ்தலம் (paadal petra sthalam) meaning, has hymns sung on them atleast one of the 4 Saivaite Saints called Nalvar (Appar, Sundarar, Manikkavasagar, Thirungyana Sambandar). They were religious (specifically Lord Shiva) Tamil poets who lived in 6th to 9th C CE. Hymns sung by them on these temples are proof of existence of these temples since then!!!
P.S.2: At Karaikal, don't forget to try out the Paruthi Paal Halwa at Nagoor Alwa Kadai! Paruthi Paal is the milk of Cotton Seeds! Its a local delicacy and its yummm!!!
P.S.2: At Karaikal, don't forget to try out the Paruthi Paal Halwa at Nagoor Alwa Kadai! Paruthi Paal is the milk of Cotton Seeds! Its a local delicacy and its yummm!!!
To get there:
On Google Maps: Akkur Thanthondriswarar, Sembanarkoil, Ponsai, Thirukadaimudi Mahadevar Temple, Pallavaneeswaram Excavation, Pallavaneeswara Swamy Temple, Chayavaneswarar Temple, Sampathiamman Temple, Valampura Nathar Temple, Thalachankadu, Thiruvettakudy, Karai Koil Pathu, Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple, Nagoor Alwa Kada
Contact number of the temple priests:
Akkur Thanthondriswarar - +91 97877 09742; +91 75022 22850
Sembanarkoil - +91 99437 97974 (Mr.Muthukumar)
Ponsai - +91 96989 50011 (Mr.Sambandhakumar)
Thirukadaimudi Mahadevar Temple - +91 94876 73261; +91 4364 283261 (Swaminatha Kurukkal)
Pallavaneeswara Swamy Temple - +91 94437 19193 (Mr.Ravi); +91 99446 65998 (Mr.Prabhu)
Chayavaneswarar Temple - +91 94431 07069 (Mr.Chandrashekhar)
Valampura Nathar Temple - +91 94428 60605 (Pattu Kurukal); +91 97877 09754 (Mr.Radhakrishnan)
Thalachankadu - +91 94434 01060 (Mr.Balachandran)
Thiruvettakudy - +91 98658 45102 (Ramesh Kurukkal)
Karai Koil Pathu - +91 97866 35559
Akkur Thanthondriswarar - +91 97877 09742; +91 75022 22850
Sembanarkoil - +91 99437 97974 (Mr.Muthukumar)
Ponsai - +91 96989 50011 (Mr.Sambandhakumar)
Thirukadaimudi Mahadevar Temple - +91 94876 73261; +91 4364 283261 (Swaminatha Kurukkal)
Pallavaneeswara Swamy Temple - +91 94437 19193 (Mr.Ravi); +91 99446 65998 (Mr.Prabhu)
Chayavaneswarar Temple - +91 94431 07069 (Mr.Chandrashekhar)
Valampura Nathar Temple - +91 94428 60605 (Pattu Kurukal); +91 97877 09754 (Mr.Radhakrishnan)
Thalachankadu - +91 94434 01060 (Mr.Balachandran)
Thiruvettakudy - +91 98658 45102 (Ramesh Kurukkal)
Karai Koil Pathu - +91 97866 35559