Cauvery Delta towns - worth a visit from Kumbakonam?

wichy

In Nov'2009 we're going to visit some of the great Tamil-Nadu temples in Trichy-Tanjore-Kumbakonam-Chidambaram. We're planning to have a base in Kumbakonam. As main attractions of the area are all temples I'm afraid one day my friends will want to see something different So I think about visiting Tranquebar/Velanganni in a day-trip from Kumbakonam in a taxi. But I've met mixed reviews about both places, and don't know if the day-trip from Kumbakonam is possible and not very exhausted. So I'll be very grateful for any reviews about both Tranquebar and Velanganni and any tips about the mentioned day-trip (how long does the trip takes and what is the road condition).

Thanks in advance!

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Past the point of no return...

Digital Drifter

Well, you can use Kumbakonam as a base town, though there aren't a lot of good quality hotels. Staying within the town limits is ideal even if the hotel is not that good because every big temple is a walkable distance away. It's hot and dusty and the lanes are narrow so beware of close brushes with vehicles.

Since there are a lot of temples, you can easily get "temple"d out. And while the temples themselves are gorgeous, you'd need be really deep into hindu religion myths and chola arch. for you to enjoy it all. err...I mean, if you've seen one, you've pretty much seen it all.

It'll take about 3-4 hours to velankanni by car and it can be really hot in terms of weather. Apart from the church, the beach at Velankanni or nearby thiruppondi is so so.

There are a few passenger day trains to nagapattinam which are dead slow, so slow that it tests your patience.

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wichy

I think we don't need too much quality hotels, one is enough - and as I know Hotel Raya's have a good reputation? And we hope we'll not spend too much time in Kumbakonam itself, as we're going to visit so many places around We just don't want to check-in - check-out from town to town, it's easier for me to use one place as a base and make a day-trip to surrounding area.

Google maps says that the distance between Kumbakonam and Velanganni by road is about 75 km. Is the road condition or traffic is so bad that the car speed could be only 20-25 km per hour??? They say that the bus trip to Velanganni takes about 2-2.5 hours...

hvkumar

Road from Kumbakonam to Velankanni is good, but narrow and winds through paddy fields, and you can't go very fast. You can go from Kumbakonam direct to Tarangambadi (Tranquebar)and via Karaikal and Nagapattinam to Velankanni. If interested, you can also visit Poompuhar, a small detour off the route. You can return direct to Kumbakonam via Tiruvarur. Either way, journey time should be 2-3 hours.

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H V Kumar

hermetic

I have been to velankani on my trip to cauvery delta, you may find some information here

Mahabalipuram,Pondicherry and Cauvery Delta

wichy

hvkumar, thanks a lot for your idea, I think it could be a great day-trip

hermetic - what a great and informative travelogue! I think we sould visit the same temples in Kumbakonam as you visited.

tamilashokkumar

hotel rayas is the best option

and you are welcome to temple city.

you can reach velankanni from kumbakonam via

Thiruvarur (State Highway - 35 kms, very very good road and new laid road from kumbakonam )

then thiruvarur to nagapattinam (24 kms in National Highway 67 and good road )

From nagapattinam to Velankanni (7 kms East coast road with good condition road )

I assure you that the roads stated by me will save your time and will be fine.

When about time.,

Kumbakonam to thiruvarur will take 1 hour 30 minutes (varies about mode of transport., i have reached in 35 minutes in my bike)

Thiruvarur to nagapattinam will take 40 minutes in bus.

Nagapattinam to velankanni will take 20 minutes in bus.

After visiting velankanni if you want to move to tranquebar you have to travel back to nagapattinam.

Then you have to catch the road to karaikal which is also good.

from nagapattinam to karaikal 25 kms and it will take 1 hour in the peak hour. Traffic will be high.

Then from karaikal to tranquebar approximately 15 kms and can be reached in 30 minutes.

then if you want to go to kumbakonam., you can reach easily from tranquebar.

You have to travel tranquebar to akkur (tranquebar to sirkazhi raod)

At akkur, there is a road to mayiladuthurai and u can reach in 20 minutes and then from mayiladuthurai to kumbakonam.

So, you can easily finish your journey in a day.

Dont worry i am in nagapattinam. you can write me back for any more information.

Note one thing from nagapattinam to kumbakonam ., via thiruvarur is best.

then when returning from tranquebar via mayiladuthurai to kumbakonam is best.

regards.,

ashokkumar. t

santos_g15

If you think the temples will bore you there is mangrove forest near chidambaram called pichavaram.take a boat ride there.your boat will go between thick vegetation submerged in water and sometimes my mom keeps telling me the experience how she felt scary when her boat was the only one amidst thick vegetation.my father was with her though.lol.see google images for how they look.

wichy

Yes, Pichavaram is already in our itinerary I love boatrides - so I'll try not to miss this opportunity. Thanks for advice anyway All the tour to Chidambaram via Gangakondacholapuram (what a name! ) and with addition of Pichavaram seems to be one of highlights of our trip