Hanuman temple Salangpur

Sarangpur also known as Salangpur houses the only Swaminarayan temple enshrining Hanuman as its chief deity. Sarang in Gujarati means Peacock. The Hanuman Darshan statue at the Sarangpur Hanuman Temple is a figure handlebar moustache, crushing a woman demon under his foot, that is standing among sculpted flora full of fruit bearing monkey followers.

  • Distance (From Nizamabad Bus Station): 6.5 Kms
  • Visited From: Nizamabad Bus Station
  • Trip Duration (Including Travel): 1 Hour
  • Place Location: Sarangapur Near Nizamabad
  • Transportation Options: Cab / Auto

At a distance of 6.5 km from Nizamabad Bus Station, Sarangapur Hanuman Temple is situated at Sarangapur is another important pilgrim site in Nizamabad district.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple Timings:

  • Sarangpur Hanuman Temple is open from 6 am to 12 pm and from 3 pm to 9 pm everyday.
  • There is a Mangla Aarti that is performed at the Sarangpur Hanuman Temple in the morning at 5:30 AM.
  • There is a special Shangar Aarti that is performed on every Tuesdays and Saturdays at 7.00 AM.
  • Rajbhog is performed from 10.30 AM to 11.AM and the darshan are closed for it.
  • The evening aarti is performed depending upon the sunsets evening timings followed by Thal for 30 minutes.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple Food Timings:

Food is served free to all visitors at the temple’s dining room. This dining room is run by the temple’s trust as well as the Swaminarayana temple located in the same complex. Around 5,000 people take prasad in the form of lunch daily. On donations to the temple, one is given prasad in the form of sukhdis which is a Gujarati sweet.

Festivals celebrated at Sarangpur Hanuman Temple:

Hanuman Jayanti Mahotsav: Hanumath Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the Vanara god, widely venerated throughout India. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and spirit among the devotees of Lord Hanuman. Devotees from all over the country visit the temple to offer the prayers and to perform the rituals. The devotees visit temples and apply tilaka of sindoor to their foreheads from Hanuman’s idol as Hanuman. The event is celebrated on the 15th day of the Shukla Paksha, during the month of Chaitra

Sundar Kand: Sundar Kand is celebrated in the month of October or November. It is a book that depicts the adventures of Hanuman. Sundara Kanda is the only chapter of the Ramayana in which the hero is not Rama, but rather Hanuman. This lesson is recited by religious Hindus, preferably on Tuesdays or Saturdays, these days having been earmarked for special prayers to Hanuman.

Holi: Holi is a two-day festival which starts on the Purnima. The first day is known as Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi while the second day is known as Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Dhulivandan. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter. It is also identified as a festival that celebrated agriculture, commemorated good spring harvests, and the fertile land. Devotees arrive at the Sarangpur Hanuman Temple to celebrate this festival of colors.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple – Poojas and Rituals:

There are different pujas and rituals that are performed in the Sarangpur Hanuman Temple. Devotees are also instructed to chant the Swaminarayan Mahamantra while going around the Sarangpur Hanuman Temple.

Mangla Aarti: The word Mangla means auspiciousness.  “Jai Kapi Balvanta” is the Aarti of Sarangpur Hanuman Temple. The Mangala Aarti or Aarti is done by waving a piece of lighted camphor in circles around an idol of God. The Deities offer the first darshan of the day, signifying the auspicious beginning of the day for devotees. It is performed early in the morning and devotees gather together to attend it.

Shangar Aarti: Shangar aarti is the aarti that is performed every Tuesdays and Thursdays in the morning. Shangar means adornments. During this aarti, the Deities are dressed and adorned.

Rajbhog Aarti: During the rajbhog aarti, the darshan is closed for the devotees. The deities are offered with the royal offerings of the midday meal.

Sandhya Aarti: This aarti is performed during the evening depending upon the timings of the sunset. Devotees gather to seek the darshan of the deity and offer their prayers.

Shayan Aarti: After the Shayan Aarti, the darshan is closed for the devotees. It signifies that the Deities are about to retire for the night.

It is believed that the deity gives immense mental and physical strength to the devotees. According to the history, the foundation stone of this shrine is believed to be laid by saint Samartha Ramadas, who was the guru of the great Indian leader Chatrapati Shivaji.
The temple is located on the top of a hill with large open area. A garden is also being developed in the temple premises.

Lord Hanuman Jayanti and Ramanavami festivals are celebrated here in grand scale. Large number of devotees visit this temple on these days.

 

CHINTALA VENKATARAMANA SWAMY TEMPLE TADIPATRI

Sri Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple at a distance of 1 km from Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, 3 km from Tadipatri Railway Station, 57 km from Anantapur, 106 km from Kadapa, 356 km from Hyderabad, 413 km from Vijayawada and 268 km Bangalore, Sri Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple is a famous temple located in Tadipatri town of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is in the divine form of Venkataramana Swamy.

Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple Tadipatri is located within the Town. This temple is dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu which stretches on 5 acres within the town and was built on the banks of Penna river.This Temple was built during the times of Vijayanagar dynasty and had a glorious time.

History Sri Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple:

The town of Tadipatri is a veritable pilgrimage place, with a number of ancient temples to its credit. Right in the centre of this pilgrim town is the Chintala Venkitaramana Temple. Tadipatri or Tadpatri as it is called is a city in the Anantpur District in the state of Andhra Pradesh. This city is famous for gold after Prodattur. People flock to the town to purchase gold because of its purity.

  • Distance (From Anantapur): 57 Kms
  • Visited From: Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple (1 km)
  • Trip Duration (Including Travel): 1 Hour
  • Place Location: 1 Km From Bugga Ramalingeswara Temple
  • Transportation Options: Cab / Auto / Walk/Trek
  • Travel Tips: This place is 1 km from Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple and both places can be visited together

Like the other towns and hamlets in and around Anantpur district, Tadipatri, too has its own slice of history.The temple is right in the heart of the city and has a lofty gopura. The temple is essentially a Vishnu Temple built according to Vaasthu Shilpa. It is stated that the temple was built by Sri Thimma Naidu under the orders of the Vijayanagara kings.It was built in the mid 16th century. It is situated in 5 acres of land. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is being looked after well. An earthquake had destroyed the main gopuram but has been rebuilt recently. The carvings of episodes of the Ramayan, Mahabharatha and Bhagavatha are seen around the Garba Griha, Madhya Ranga,the Astana Mandapa, the Antarala Gopura, the Prakara, the Yagnasala and the Kalyana Mantapa.The carvings are so explicit and they express the story. There is an underground tunnel from this tunnel to Gooty Fort which has been sealed by the Archaelogical Department.

The region around Chintala Venkataramana Temple experiences an extreme type of climate and hence, the temperature remains above the mean level during the summer season. However, if you love exploring the history of any place irrespective of weather, time and conditions, then this marvellous temple is a year-round destination for you. If you are looking to visit it as a tourist, then the best time is from October until the end of March.

Why You Should Visit This Temple?

Unless you show zero interest towards the splendours of ancient India, Chintala Venkataramana Temple is your destination. From beautiful architecture to interesting history and alluring surroundings to a charming environment, there is a lot to enjoy here. You can also visit its nearby temples, such as Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple. Wouldn’t you love to learn a few chapters of the Indian history through this temple? If yes, then you shouldn’t visit this temple as a tourist but as a traveller and as an explorer.

This temple is believed to have been built in 16th century by Timma Naidu, son of Ramalinga Naidu, a chieftain of Vijayanagar Kingdom. It was built during the same time as the Vittala Temple of Hampi in a similar manner. Most of the features of these two temples bear close resemblance to each other, being built on a similar ground plan. While the stone chariot here is compact and small in size when compared to the famous stone chariot at Hampi.

Originally the temple was called Chintala Tiruvengala Natha Swamy Temple. Spread across 5 acres of land, this temple is built according to the Silpa Sastras. The carvings of episodes of the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavatha are seen around the Garba Griha, Ranga Mandapa, Mukha Mandapa, Main Gopura and the Prakaraa.

The Mukhamandapa has forty pillars in the Vijayanagar style. Beyond the Mukhamandapa is a Rangamandapa, which has scenes of the Ramayana and rare sculptures of the Vishnu avatars. The idol of Lord Venkataramana Swamy is very beautiful and is a classical master piece of the Vijayanagar Kingdom. There are two other temples inside the complex, one dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and the other to Lord Anjaneya. There is a secret underground passage which believed to be leading to Gooty Fort. Currently, the tunnel is closed by the ASI. There is also a Thulabharam pillar, a typical trademark of the Vijayanagar culture. Inside the temple, every wall is covered with beautiful and delicate carvings of gods and puranic scenes.

The raja gopuram faces the east and is a solid structure, built using stone and brick. The stone part contains figures of Vidyadhara, Apsaras and Avatars, Elephants, Horses arrange in different levels.

The important festivals held in this temple are Diwali, Ramanavami and Brahmotsava that falls in the month of October.

Timings:

06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and from 04:00 PM – 08:00 PM

Temple Rituals:

Morning pooja and arati starts from 06:30 AM onwards

Address:

Gandhi Katta, Tadipatri, Andhra Pradesh 515411

 

 

 

Hemakuta Hill Temple Hampi

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Hemakuta Hill is one among the best places in Hampi to see the sunrise and sunset; and not as tedious to reach the top say compared to the Matanga Hill nearby, which is boasted as the best location to watch sunset in Hampi. So if you find it difficult to make it to Matanga Hill for sunset view, try from Hemakuta Hill.

Distance (From Hampi Bus Station): 0.6 Kms

Visited From: Hampi Bus Station

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 1 Hour

Place Location: Adjacent To Virupaksha Temple

Transportation Options: Walk/Trek

Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM

At a distance of 600 m from Hampi Bus Stand, The Hemakuta group of temples is a cluster of ancient temples situated on the Hemakuta hill in Hampi adjacent to Virupaksha Temple.

Hemakuta, literally meaning golden hillock is one of the most charming hillocks in Hampi. It is dotted by over fifty structures of different types including temples, mandapas, galleries and gateways of various sizes. Hemakuta Hill offers excellent view of Hampi Bazaar and Virupaksha temple.

The Hemakuta hill has three entry points, one on the south-eastern side, one on the south and the other on the eastern side of the hill which leads to the street near the Virupaksha temple. There are more than 35 temples on Hemakuta Hill. These temples are built in pre-Vijayanagara and Vijayanagara periods (9th to 14th century AD). These are referred as Jain Temples, but many of these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Two of the temples have inscriptions noting their origin. The trikuta Shiva temples on the east has an inscription recording that Vira Kampiladeva, son of Mummadi Singeya Nayaka, built the Sivalaya and installed in it three Lingas. Two inscriptions on the rock near the Prasanna Anjaneya temple dated 1398 AD mention that Virupaksha Panditha and his brother constructed a temple of Virupaksha and dug a tank. Another inscription on a rock base records the setting of a lamp pillar in the temple of Jadeya Sankaradeva by Bukkave, the queen of Harihara II in the year 1397 AD.

According to legend, Lord Shiva did penance on the Hemakuta Hill before he married Parvati. This was also the place where Lord Shiva burnt Manmadha, the God of lust. Sri Gayathri Peetha Maha Samsthana is also located on this hill.

The architecture of the temples on the Hemakuta Hill is quite different from the typical Vijayanagara style of architecture. The Hemakuta temples are compact triple chambered structures with pyramid like roofs made from granite. Some of the temples located on the northern side of the hill are built in the Trikutachala style of architecture where three shrines are placed in perpendicular position to each other face a common central hall.

SRI VARADARAJA PERUMAL TEMPLE – KEEZHA THIRUPATHI

Keezha Thiruvenkatanathapuram is a village located some 10 km away from Tirunelveli. The temple that is located here was known as “Sengani”, which literally translates to Red Land. But the title has since been changed to “Sangani”.

Distance (From Tirunelveli Railway Station): 9 Kms

Commonly Visited From: Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram Temple (1 km)

Trip Duration (From Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram Temple , Including Travel): 30 Mins

Place Location: At Keezha Thirupathi

Transportation Options: Cab / Walk/Trek

Timings: 7 AM – 11 AM & 5 PM – 7.30 PM

At a distance of 1 km from Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram Temple and 9 km from Tirunelveli, Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple is an ancient temple situated on the banks of the Thamirabarani River in Keezha Tiruvenkatanathapuram or Keezha Tirupathi.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Varadaraja Perumal. It was built by King Verapandian in the 12th century AD. Due to the abundant presence of Red Soil around the temple, this place got the name Sengani, where Sen meaning Red and Kani meaning Land in Tamil. The name later changed to Sangani. The Kubera vassal, the main entrance of the temple is constructed on the northern side of the shrine. This is followed by Maha mandapam, Artha mandapam and Garbhagriha.

The presiding deity Sri Varadaraja Perumal stands in the center with Sridevi to the right and Bhudevi to the left in the sanctum sanctorum. He has ‘chakra and dhana rekha’ in his right hands and ‘sankhu and kadayutham’ in his lefts hands. The lord was placed in this location by Saint Brighu. There are also shrines for Garuda and Anjaneya in this temple. The main tree also known as sthala vriksham of the temple is a bamboo tree.

According to the history, once in the 14th century a miracle occurred. A king who ruled Tirunelveli at that time came to the temple to get blessings from the God. But the priest was unavailable due to illness. At that time the God disguised himself as the priest and performed the pooja, saving the priest from the king’s punishment. Hence the God is often called ‘Vaazha Veikum Perumal’ (the one who saves). As the Dhana Rekha (prosperity line) runs on the right hand of Varadaraja Perumal, the belief is that if a devotee places a coin in the hand of the Lord, it will multiply. Hence, the Lord is called Dhana Rekha Perumal. The temple was recently renovated. The Kotha Parameswarar Temple also known as Then Kalahasthi or Nava Kailasam is located 200 m from this temple.

The Purattasi Shravanam- Garuda Seva, Margazhi Utsavam and Thai Dolotsavam are the important festivals celebrated in this temple.

ALAMPUR JOGULAMBA TEMPLE

Alampur Jogulamba Temple is a cluster of temples dedicated to Nava Brahmas. Bala Brahmeswara is the presiding deity here. The Nine brahma temples here are known as Bala Brahma, Kumara Brahma, Arka Brahma, Veera Brahma, Viswa Brahma, Taraka Brahma, Garuda Brahma, Swarga Brahma and Padma Brahma.

  • Ideal Trip Duration: 4 Hours/Half Day
  • Base Station: Kurnool (22 Kms)
  • Nearest City to Alampur: Kurnool (22 Kms), Hyderabad (218 Kms)
  • Best Time to Visit Alampur: September to March
  • Peak Season: September to October & January to February
  •  Timings
    Morning Hours: 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
    Evening Hours: 2:00 pm – 8:30 pm 

Alampur Jogulamba Childless Couple Pooja Timings:

Tue to Fri Morning 08:00 to 11:00

Note:
1) Tickets for Childless Couple Pooja can be purchased from the temple counter by 7:00 AM.
2) Childless Couple Pooja Tickets Cost is Rs 800.
3) Pooja Materials Required for Childless Couple Pooja are Kumkum 1 Packet, Turmeric 1
Packet, Blouse Piece 1, Bangle and Butter 100gm.

Festivals:

Shivaratri – February/March

Navaratri – September/October

Vijayadashami – October

At a distance of 218 kms from Hyderabad, 22 Kms from Kurnool, 126 Kms from Mahbubnagar & 200 kms from Srisailam, Alampur is a historical place located in Mahbubnagar district of Telangana. Alampur is famous for Jogulamba Temple (a Shakti Peetha), Navabrahma temples and Sangameswara Temple built in 7th century. Alampur is considered as the western gateway to the famous pilgrimage town Srisailam. The temple consists of several inscriptions dated between 7th and 16th centuries. Alampur is one of the famous places to experience Telangana tourism.

The Sacredness of Alampur Temple is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. It is said that Alampur is the western gate of Srisailam which is one of the most significant of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is mentioned that Brahma performed a strict penance here for Lord Siva. Lord Siva appeared before him and blessed him with the powers of creation. Therefore, the name Brahmeswara. Here in this shrine goddess Parvati is known by Yogini or Jogulamba.

One day while the King was wandering in the forest in search of food and water, he came across a hunter who offered him some food. The hunter went into the forest in search of food. He saw a deer and tried to kill it. The deer requested him not to kill and told him that it would come back after feeding its young ones. The deer also told the hunter to believe in its words and that if it did not act up according to its words, it was prepared to suffer the same sin as that of King Vilasat who ruined Siva temples. The hunterleft the deer and told this to the King. The king followed the hunter and came to see if the deer would
come back. The deer, which came back as per its words, on seeing the King Vilasat, turned its face awayfrom the King, saying that it would not see such as sinful man. The king repented for his sins and begged the deer to tell him as to how he could get rid of them. The deer told the King that he should go to Brahmeswara Kshetra and do penance there for some time and rebuild all the temples. On one of the sculptures of the temple, this story is depicted. The deer also told him that by the time when the image of the King on the stone becomes spoiled in courses of time, the king would be relieved of the greatest sin.

ADDRESS:
  • Alampur Jogulamba Temple in Mahbubnagar District Telangana
    Kurnool, Telengana – 509125

Nataraja Temple Chidambaram

Nataraja Temple, also referred to as the Chidambaram Nataraja temple or Thillai Nataraja temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Nataraja – Shiva as the lord of dance – in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India.

Ideal Trip Duration   : 2 Full Days.

Base Station        : Chidambaram

Nearest City to Chidambaram      : Tiruchirappalli (168 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Chidambaram  : July & October to March

Peak Season: July & December to February

State: Tamil Nadu | District    : Cuddalore

Chidambaram Weather: Maximum   : 37°C
Minimum   : Below 20°C

At a distance of 217 km from Chennai, 189 km from Kanchipuram, 43 km Cuddalore, 66 km from Pondicherry, 43 km Mayiladuthurai, 85 km from Nagapattinam, 303 km from Madurai and 173 km from Trichy, Chidambaram is a pilgrimage town in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Well known for Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram is one of the most celebrated shrines in South India and also one of the famous Tamilnadu places to visit.

Chidambaram is also known as Thillai. The name Chidambaram comes from the Tamil word Chitrambalam which means the small hall or stage of wisdom. According to legend, it was once a forest of thillai, a mangrove species of trees. There was once a small shrine on the banks of a tank. The saints Vyagrapada and Patanjali are said to have worshipped at this shrine, now called Thirumoolanathar. It is believed that their penance attained perfection with the revelation of Shiva’s cosmic dance by Lord Nataraja on the auspicious Thai Poosam day.

The town of Chidambaram has been ruled by many kingdoms over the centuries, most notably the Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Pandyas, Vijaynagar Kingdom, the Marathas, and the British. The town is known for the Thillai Nataraja Temple and the annual chariot festival held in the month of April. Chidambaram Nataraja Temple was built during the 11th century and is one of the most celebrated Shaivite Temples in South India. Lord Nataraja is the family deity of Vikrama Chola (1128 CE) and his successors. The golden hall of dance was built and covered with gold plates by Jatavarman Sundra Pandya.

AGNITEERTHAM IN RAMESWARAM

Agni Tirtham is one of the Tirthas of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The beach east of Ramanathaswamy Temple is known by this name.One of the 64 sacred baths in Rameshwaram, the Agnitheertham is one of the most important theertham and receives a large number of tourists each day. Located on the beach side of Sri Ramanathaswamy temple, Agnitheertham is the only theertham sited outside the temple complex.

Distance (From Rameswaram Railway Station): 2 Kms

Visited From: Ramanatha Swamy temple

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 30 Mins

Place Location: Near RamanathaSwamy Temple

Transportation Options: Walk/Trek

At a distance of 2 km from Rameshwaram Railway Station (just 100 meters away from east entrance of Rameshwaram Temple), Agnitheertham is said to be the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to wash off his sins of killing Ravana. It is one of the important places to visit in Rameshwaram.

It is a sacred place and piligrims believe that taking a bath in Bay of Bengal at Agniteertham will washout one’s sins of life time. It is visited by the followers of Lord Shiva as well as Vishnu, whose incarnation was lord Rama.

The sea here is very calm and ideal for bathing.

In the Sanskrit language, the word agni means fire; while the word theertham means holy water. Agnitheertham has been mentioned several times in the ancient texts and mythological legends as a pilgrimage of significant importance among the Hindus. The devotees visiting the theertham offer their prayers to the deity and atone their sins by taking a dip in the holy waters.

SURYANARAYANA TEMPLE KUMBAKONAM

Suryanar Kovil (or) Suryanar Temple is located at Aduthurai, Tanjore district of Tamilnadu, dedicated to Sun God and hence named as Sun Temple. Suryanar Kovil is considered as one of the Navagraha temples, which houses the Sun God (Surya god). Navagraha temples are the nine temples dedicated to Navagrahas (nine planets or nine celestial bodies). The Navagrahas are believed to be the transmitters of Universal, quintessential energy or power.

  • Distance (From Kumbakonam Railway Station): 15 Kms
  • Visited From: Prananadeswarar Temple – Thirumangalakudi (1 km)
  • Trip Duration (Including Travel): 30 Mins – 1 Hr
  • Place Location: At Suryanar Koil
  • Transportation Options: Cab / Auto

History Suryanar Temple:

At a distance of 1 km from Thirumangalakudi Bus Stop and 15 km from Kumbakonam Railway Station, Suryanar Kovil or Suryanarayana Temple is an ancient temple located in Suryanar Kovil. It is situated on Kumbakonam – Kadhiramangalam road.

The present masonry structure was built during the reign of Kulottunga Chola in the 11th century and was called Kulottunga Chola-Marttandalaya, while the later additions were done by the Vijayanagar Kings. The Suryanarayana Temple at Suryanar Kovil is one of the Navagraha temples and is dedicated to Suryan. The temple also has separate shrines for the other eight planetary deities.

According to the legend, once Sage Kalava was suffering from leprosy, he prayed to Navagrahas. The planets were pleased by his devotion and granted his wish. Brahma was furious because nobody had the right to change the destiny of a person. He cursed the nine planets to suffer from leprosy. On being cursed, all the nine planets performed severe penance to please Lord Shiva here. Lord Shiva was apparently pleased with their penance and appeared before them. He blessed the planets that they should do all good to those who pray them with full faith and devotion.

Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the west facing temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram and a gateway tower. The presiding deity is in a chariot like vimanam, representing the sun’s chariot. The image of Suryanarayana is in a standing position with his two consorts, Usha & Prathyusha (Chaya). There are also shrines dedicated to Kasiviswanathar, Visalakshi and Guru Bhagavan in the sanctum.

Rath Saptami in the Tamil month of Thai and the first Sundays in the months of Aavani (Leo) and Kartikai (Scorpio) and Vijayadashami are celebrated with great devotion in this temple.

Timings: 6 AM – 12.30 PM and 4 PM – 8 PM

THIRUPPARANKUNDRAM TEMPLE MADURAI

Tirupparankunram Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple and one of the Six Abodes of Murugan, located at Tirupparankunram.

Distance (From Madurai Junction): 8 Kms

Commonly Visited From: Madurai Junction

Trip Duration (From Madurai Junction, Including Travel): 1-2 Hours

Transportation Options: Bus / Cab / Auto

Timings : 5:30 AM to 1 PM and 4 to 9:30 PM

At a distance of 8 km from Madurai Junction Railway Station, Thiruparankundram Temple, also known as Tirupparamkunram Murugan Kovil is renowned for its 8th century rock cut cave temple dedicated to Lord Murugan (Subrahmanya). It is one of the major sacred places to visit in Madurai.

A curious feature of this temple is that the Gods Shiva and Vishnu face each other in the main shrine, which is a rare scene in ancient Hindu temples. Outside the temple there is a beautiful pond where, according to Temple tradition, the fishes are served with salt and rice flakes by the devotees.

Annual festival is celebrated in the Tamil month of Panguni (March / April) which attracts large number of devotees. Lord Muruga from here is taken in procession to Madurai to celebrate Minakshi’s wedding (Chittirai festival in April / May).

Bus from Madurai to Thiruparankundram start at Periyar bus station located near Railway Station.

Tirupparankundram Temple is one of the six abodes of Murugan and considered as the first and foremost temple of Lord Muruga. Several myths and legends are associated with this temple and one of them says that it is at this place that the Lord Muruga defeated the demon Surapadman and got married to Deivayani, daughter of the king of heaven, Indra and worshipped Lord Shiva.

The main shrine is an early rock cut temple which has cells that house the sanctums of Subramanya, Durga, Vinayakar, Shiva and Vishnu. There are several mandapas in this temple known as Kambathadi Mandapam, Ardha Mandapam, and Mahamandapam situated at different levels connected by steps. There are several architectural features of interest, especially the rock cut portions of this hill temple dating back to the Pandya period and the life sized sculptures in the mandapams of the Nayakar period.

An Aasthaana Mandapam with several artistically carved pillars lead one to the Rajagopuram which is 150 feet high. The shrine, having 48 artistic carved pillars, is a large rectangular chamber excavated into the huge main rock. The sanctum sanctorum is constructed by a combination of nine minerals called Navabashana and has the statue of lord Murugan carved in his standing position.

Peddamma Temple

Peddamma temple is an Hindu temple located at Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad. It is very famous during the festive season of Bonaalu.

  • Distance (From Hyderabad – Nampally Railway Station): 10 Kms
  • Visited From: Hyderabad – Nampally Railway Station
  • Trip Duration (Including Travel): 2-3 Hours
  • Transportation Options: Cab / Auto / Bus
  • Peddamma Gudi Temple Timings:
    – Weekdays – 6.00 AM to 1.00 PM and 3:00 PM to 8:00PM
    – Sundays – 6:00AM to 8:30PM

Neary by Tourist Attractions:
– Shilparamam (Handicrafts village)
– Hi-Tech City
– KBR Park

Distance:
– 12.5 Kms from Secunderabad Railway Station (30-35 min drive)
– 14 Kms from MGBS Bus Stop, Hyderabad ( 50-60 min drive)

Public Transport:
– Buses from Secunderabad – 10H (direct bus), 5K-127P, 5T-127K
– Buses from MGBS Bus Stop, Hyderabad – 127K (direct bus)

Location of Peddamma Gudi: Located in Road No. 55, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

Food Facilities: There are many hotels and restuarants in Hyderabad with various cuisines.

Festivals at Peddamma temple

Peddamma Temple is also famous for various festivals during which devotees from various parts of the state visit to seek blessings. Bonalu Festival that is celebrated in the month of June-July is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm in this temple. During this festival, women carry earthen pot covered with neem leaves along with turmeric and kumkum, containing items such as rice, jaggery, milk and curd. These earthen pots are carried as an offering to the Goddess. Rathotsavam that is organized on Ratha Saptami is another major festival of Peddamma Gudi Temple.

According to another legend, a demon named Mahishasur who was the son of demon king Rambha and water buffalo, had dethroned Indra, the king of Heavens. He had the blessings of Lord Brahma that neither man nor can God kill him, owing to which he had became increasingly vindictive. To end his cruelties, upon the request of other Gods and blessings of the holy Trinity- Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga came into being. Goddess with great might along with the powers from Trinity and other Gods, killed demon Mahishasura in a fierce battle.

Another major festival celebrated in Peddamma Gudi temple is Rathotsavam on the auspicious occasion of Ratha Sapthami. Rath literally means chariot and thus in this 3 day annual festival, the deity is decorated with beautiful flowers and ornaments and the well-lit, beautiful chariot is taken around the temple complex, for the devotees to see. It is said that the wishes of the devotees who worship Goddess Peddamma come true, and thus devotees come in flocks, every year from all over the world.

There are special prayers on every Thursday which begin with “Abhishekam” at 3:00 am and are followed by a series of other prayers viz. Navagraha Homam,’ `Rudra,’ `Chandi Homam,’ `Dikpala Bhairava Baliharanam,’ `Purnahuti’ and `Annadanam’.