Nataraja by the sea. Review on Chidambaram

I have been thinking of visiting Chidambaram - the Nataraja temple for some time.

With three consequetive days of leave - I drove down along with my family to Chidambaram - 230 kms from Chennai.

Take ECR through Pondicherry - Cuddalore - Chidambaram. The drive is good till Pondicherry and then in pocket through to Chidamabaram.

If you are driving down with your family, I would suggest that you stay in Hotel Sharadaram [ opposite Chidambaram bus stand ] - good location, fair on counts of ambience and food etc. [ A family room is Rs 1800 / 12 noon check out time ]

I had started at 7 a.m and checked in at 11.30 a.m.

I am lucky to have a family who are simply crazy about travel and absolutely adaptable to the immediate situations.

With that in mind when I asked my family whether we should leave for Pichavaram immediately - they agreed.

Pichavaram is 25 kms from town - it is a back water with boating facilities.

Ask any body and they would show you the way. it takes a bit longer [ I reached at 1 p.m ] due to the road conditions.

The first thing that strikes you is why doesn't the tourist department have a decent place to stay in this nice location?

All around you is water with some trees lining the edges. Its hot - but you can see some tourists in boats.

There are a couple of choices - have an hour ride to the mangrove forest - Rs 150 or take a four hour ride to the SEA @ Rs 600 . YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS RIDE - AN ABSOLUTE MUST! If you disagree - do let me know:)

The boat is not a motorised one - so does take time:) But as soon as your enter the mangrove zone - you would be amazed at the cool breeze blowing .

You might come accross some fishing trawlers - but that's it . absolute pin drop silence .

. all around you are large trees - mangroves - water and the sound of oars hitting the green water.

. birds were few - Feb till June - is the nesting season.

Hire umbrellas @ Rs 5 each from the booking counter - it does help:)

The ride through the mangrove involves crossing two intersection - and for some seconds you hold your breath seeing the vastness of the water body.

After going around 1 hour - I hear the sounds of the ocean waves breaking against the shores.

Ahoy! I see the coast!

There is not a SINGLE SOUL in the beach!

You, your family and the boat man - that's it!

Again - not a single soul. Turn right - you would see vast tracts of barren land covered with bushes!

Ahead of you is a small track of raised land that leads you through some knee deep troughs of water to the coast.

Left of you - same .

Wasn't I frightened or scared for a moment - yes I was!

My boys march ahead - full steam through the pool of water . remove your slippers - these puddles are treacherous.

It would be around half a kilometre before you reach the sea - again no body around!

Spend time collecting shells, observing crabs - red and gray - scurrying for cover or discover dead turtle shell lying beneath trees.

I was feeling like Jack Sparrow:)

My boatman mentioned that there was a fisherman village which got washed away in Tsunami. [ I saw a lot of rehab work in this area ]

I spend around 45 mins in this place and it was four when I reached back . Definitely a journey worth trying!

Having consumed some hot cups of tea and snacks - we took an auto to the main temple [ Fare Rs 30 ].

I was lucky to visit the main temple when the arati was being offered to the lord. I have seen Lord Shiva being worshipped in the form of Shivaling - but was amazed to see the lord being worshipped in Nirakar roop and in murti form with big eyes!

The arati is very good and you really enjoy the ambience. In case you have seen Lord Jagannath in Puri - you would be struck by the similarity of the idols.

My mother and wife enjoyed the darshan - and so did I. [ entrance ticket - Rs 50 / head ]

There are some more dieties around the main temple and covering the place I reached back around 9.30 p.m. [ return auto fare Rs 25 ]

Next day I checked out around around 10 a.m and drove 40 kms to Poompuhar. All Tamil Nadu state handicrafts emporiums are named Poompuhar! So I decided to see what's there in this place - but couldn't find much. I believe its Tsunami and government apathy to be blamed.

The road to the town ends straight at the sea coast . boulders separate the ocean from the sand filled land.

Spending around 45 mins, I started off for Tarangambadi [ Tranqebar ] - 40 kms from Poompuhar.

Tranqebar is famous for a 1620 Danish fort - again visit this place only if you feel like visiting forts or historical places.

The effects of tsunami are there visible on the fort ramparts. There is a small museum on the first floor with documents as the main exhibits. The ground floor is empty rooms only.

Just opposite in Neemrana - they have converted the Danish collector's bunglow into a heritage hotel. Have you lunch there - that's the only viable option!

I walked around the beach - kids collected shells!

Spending around 3 hours in the place - I started around 3 p.m.

Ensure you reach Pondicherry by evening - since before that the roads are not that good.

Having enjoyed nature, history and almightly in two days - I reached Chennai around 9 p.m on the same day.

I had covered a total distance of 580 kms with an average mileage of 15 kms in my Santro.