The Chola Trail: A Journey Through the Heart of Tamil Nadu

On the early morning of August 12th, I left for the mysterious city of Chidambaram with my sister and a few relatives. The same day it started raining heavily so we waited until it stopped raining and went on our way to the temple. The temple was quite huge with hundreds of pillars. As it was a Saturday it was a little bit crowded. Then when we reached the main sanctum, it took some time to decode how the idol really was as it was covered with garments and embedded with jewels. We stayed at a good hotel.

Chidambaram is not just a town, but a mystery. It is home to one of the oldest and most magnificent temples in India, dedicated to Lord Shiva as the cosmic dancer, Nataraja. But what makes this temple unique is that the main deity is not an idol, but an empty space. Yes, you read that right. The innermost sanctum of the temple has nothing but a curtain of golden leaves, behind which lies the secret of creation, the Chidambara Rahasya. This secret is said to be revealed only to those who have attained the highest level of spiritual realization. The temple was consecrated by Patanjali, the father of modern yoga, who also wrote the famous Yoga Sutras.  The temple complex covers an area of 40 acres and has nine towers, each adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures. The temple also hosts many festivals throughout the year, the most important being the Arudra Darshan, which celebrates the cosmic dance of Shiva.

The following day we woke up a bit early and started back on the road trip. The first stop was the temple of Shiva and the epitome of Chola Architecture, Gangaikonda Cholapuram. This was indeed quite a big temple which had been made much smaller by the many attacks on it. That was a beautiful experience both gaining historical knowledge and having a spiritual effect from the idol there. It indeed was an experience of a different level.

Gangaikonda Cholpuram, the ancient capital of the mighty Chola dynasty. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to one of the most magnificent temples in India, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple boasts the largest Shiva lingam in South India, a four-meter-high symbol of divine energy. The temple also has a unique idol of Shiva, Ardhanarishvara, the half-male and half-female form that represents the duality of creation. The temple was built by Rajendra Chola I, the son of Raja Raja Chola I, who conquered the Gangetic plains and brought back water from the holy river to anoint his new city. He named himself Gangaikonda Cholan, meaning the one who conquered the Ganges. The temple is a testimony to his power and glory, as well as his artistic and engineering skills. The temple has many intricate sculptures and carvings that depict scenes from Hindu mythology and legends. The temple also has a mysterious feature: a secret underground passage that leads to an unknown destination. Some say it connects to another temple nearby, some others say it leads to a well, some say it leads to a hidden treasure, and some say it is a portal to another dimension. No one knows for sure what lies at the end of this passage, as it has not been explored fully yet. 

Then we continued on our route to Thanjavur the capital of the formidable Chola empire. When we reached the temple we went at 12:30 p.m. It was burning hot and was completely filled.

Thanjavur, the ancient capital of the Chola dynasty, is a city of art, architecture, and literature. Its Brihadeswara temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a masterpiece of Chola engineering and aesthetics. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple has the largest Shiva lingam and the highest tower in South India. The temple is made of granite, which is not found in Thanjavur. The temple does not cast a shadow at noon. The temple has beautiful sculptures, paintings, and a secret underground passage with an unknown end. The Brihadeswara temple is a marvel of ancient technology and spirituality.

Then we continue our trail. On the way to Rameswaram, our next stop. We stop somewhere near Ramanathpuram for a cup of tea. Then we continued till we reached the Pamban bridge. It was night, so we could see the light from the boats. That was a new experience for me. On one side was a mosque and on the other side many fisher boats waiting at sea. Then we reached the hotel. Later we had dinner near the hotel and went walk a walk to the shore and had a good night's sleep as we were very tired.

The next day we had plans to see the sunrise near the shore, but we dropped it off. But we left out to the temple. The Rameswaram temple. As I woke up early and had nothing to eat, I felt a bit drowsy so I stayed in the car. I slept for a while. Then after waking up, I drank 2 entire bottles of Frooti and became a bit active. Then to digest it I went for a walk and made a friend named Karthik. We walked for a while and saw many helicopters flying past with the Indian flag maybe rehearsing for Independence Day.

Rameswaram is a holy city for Hindus, located on a 12,00 foot long sandbar believed to be the remains of Rama's bridge to Lanka. The Ramanathaswamy Temple is a massive complex with 22 gopurams, said to have been built by the Cholas. It is home to a lingam installed by Rama himself. Other things to do in Rameswaram include visiting the Pamban Bridge and Dhanushkodi.

Then later I visited the Rameshvar shrine. Then had some breakfast and left for the bow's end AriCHAL Munai.

This was a ship docking bay in Dhanushkodi.On the golden shores of Arichal Munai, where turquoise waters kiss the sand and the squeaking of the sands sings a haunting melody, ancient myths and history collide. Legends speak of Lord Rama's landing here on his quest to rescue Sita, and the Ram Setu he built to bridge the seas. Dhanushkodi, once a thriving port town, now stands in ruins, a silent testament to the fury of nature. Arichal Munai is also home to a unique natural phenomenon known as the "singing sands." When you walk on the sand, it produces a squeaking sound, which is caused by the friction between the tiny grains of sand. Yet, even in its decay, its beauty remains, a haunting reminder of its glorious past. In these two enchanting places, where the Bay of Bengal meets the Palk Strait, history and nature whisper tales of courage, resilience, and the power of time.

Then we left Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam memorial. Spent some time learning more about his life and praising his glories.

Later we left to straight to Madurai. At around 7 or 7:30 at night, we reached our hotel. We freshened up. Later I had Idli and Ghee roast famous there. Then after eating and looking at that day's footage we had a good night's sleep.

The next day we woke up early and left for the Marvelous Madurai Meenakshi temple by crossing the Vaigai river. We reached when it was dark. We got a guide but he told the same thing in 2-3 different ways. Though it was quite an experience