Velliangiri Andavar Temple / வெள்ளியங்கிரி ஆண்டவர் கோயில் / “THEN KAILAYAM” - Velliangiri Hills, Poondi, Sri Patteeswarar Temple, Perur and Sri Subramania Swamy Temple, Maruthamalai, Coimbatore, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu.

30 December 2012 

MY  VELLIANGIRI YATRA ( THEN KAILAYAM )28-04-2012 - DAY 1

After June 2011 Velliangiri Yatra, we want to do it again in  day time to enjoy the  beauty of  Velliangiri. So we planned the yathra on 28^th April 2012, a week before Chitra pournami. Checked the availability of seats/ berths during Feb 2012, for Saturday and Sunday night   travel Trains. 

Since the night trains are full, decided to go through Coimbatore intercity express, which starts at 14.30 Hrs from Chennai central.  Booked   for Mr Vau and Mr Muthu  Arunachalam. In the mean time after seeing my previous post Mr Alex from Chennai ( Actually from Kumbakonam ) wished to join with us. Last minute Mr Muthu Arunachalam opted out and Mr Alex joined with us from Chennai and his Friend (from Kumbakonam ) joined from Coimbatore.

Stayed at our SPIC ABC Guest house and Started our Yathra on 28^th April morning, after darshan of Shiva  at base temple. We could not purchase the bamboo sticks due to non availability at that time. To our surprise there was a heavy rush and checking was conducted for  plastic bags, match boxes by the forest officials. Provisions were made to drop the plastic bottles by the temple / forest authorities.

( Velliangiri Andavar Tempe at base of the hill ) 

 

 ( Velliangiri base temple )

( Navagrahas ) 

At the half of the first hill we could not manage to climb with out stick. So we have managed to make the sticks from the bamboo plants. ( How do we made our sticks is a different story ). After taking rest at Vellai Pillayar ie the end of the first hill, started climb through bamboo forest in the second hill. It will be  difficult to pass through this forest alone, due to sound of the insects. The steps in the first three hills are not uniform and step stones were missing in many places. After climbing 236 rock cut steps, called Vazhukku Parai and reached the third hill. High growth of grass found on both sides of the third hill.

The fourth and fifth hills are not so difficult with  small ups and down with out any steps. There are small shops with some eatables,   set up only for the season. The temperature was so pleasant and it was awesome sight to see the beauty of the  western  ghats. It was a wonderful sight to watch the clouds are moving through the hills, below us. Slowly climbed to the 6^th hill top and  we could see the seventh hill and below Siruvani dam. It was an another wonderful sight to watch  the clouds / mist passes on the seventh hill,  which disappear and appear after the cloud passes.

 ( Clouds passing through hills and valley )

 ( Clouds passing through hills and valley )

 ( Clouds passing through hills and valley )

After crossing the Aandi sunai started climbing the seventh hill which took  us an hour with steep path, which also has no steps.  It took us almost 6 hours to reach the top of the seventh hill from base temple. During our journey we had spent  some time to take photographs  and rest. All our pain vanished on worshiping of  Lord Shiva. Stayed there for an hour and practiced meditation and recited Thiruvasakam.

     

 ( Sri Vinayagar sannadhi at the entrance  )

( Moolavar natural cave )

Started climbing down and aimed to complete within four hour. When we reached 2^nd hill it was very dark and our speed slowed down due to failure of light. Moon light was not visible much due to trees and clouds. Since Mr Vasu’s torch light was not working, with one torch light found difficult to climb down. Due to mismatching  of the speed my  thigh and cough muscles started pain. Climb down took us 5 hours  to reach the base temple  Thanking Lord Shiva  for given us strength and courage to climb up and down reached Guest house around  23 .00 Hrs and  had a good sleep.

My sincere thanks to Mr R Vasu, Mr Alex and Mr Madhanagopal, who co-operated with me to make this yathra a memorable and enjoyable.

Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2011 : CLICK HERE

Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2013 : CLICK HERE

Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2015 : CLICK HERE

Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2016 : CLICK HERE

Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2017 : CLICK HERE

Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2018 : CLICK HERE

Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2019 : CLICK HERE

 ( Vasu Self and Alex )

 ( Vasu self and Madhan )

 (Alex and self )

( Alex, madhan and Vasu ) 

29-04-2012. - DAY -2

Left the guest house and  reached, Perur Shiva temple. The temple is very old and found many Tamil inscriptions dating back to 10^th to 12^th century.  Gana  bhairavar has a separate sannathi without dog.  The Sabha Mandapam ( Kanaka Sabai ) has beautiful   statues chiseled on the pillars. They are Lord Shiva in Urdhva thandavam, Kaali ( Thiru Alangadu ), Sri Arumuga Perumal and Ganapathi, Veerabhadra are to be watched very carefully. Minute details are finely chiseled.

Boarded the minibus to Maruthamalai from Perur. I went to this temple when I was studying at Coimbatore about 40 years before. Things has changed a lot. Went to the hill top through Taxi and after darshan returned through steps. Rajagopuram is under construction. Since the day happens to be Sunday, there are lot of devotees thronged the hill shrine. We could not spent much time at the temple due to want of time to catch the Train. Returned to Chennai around 23.00 hours through Kovai express with a wonderful experience.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

PERUR SRI PATTEESWARAR TEMPLE

( Moolavar vimanam )

( Rajagopuram )

( A Shiva temple near Perur Shiva Temple with Rishabam in place of Rajagopuram )

MARUDHAMALAI SRI MURUGAN TEMPLE

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

( Moolavar vimanam )

 --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---