My Arupadai Veedu Pilgrimage – A Family Road Trip to
Remember(8th Nov - 11th Nov 25)
Day 1: Chennai to Tiruttani, Swamimalai & Palani –
The Journey Begins
Our Arupadai Veedu trip kicked off from Chennai in
the early morning, my mom and both sisters along for this deeply spiritual
journey. First stop: Tiruttani.
Despite the early hour, we completed darshan peacefully
by 8 am. Breakfast fuelled us for the long drive onwards to Swamimalai,
reaching there by 3 pm. After a restful break, we had our darshan by 4:45 pm.
Rejuvenated, we headed to Palani and
checked into Selvam
Imperial Hotel by 10:30 pm. The first day ended with a sense of
accomplishment and gratitude, having covered two of Lord Murugan’s sacred
abodes with my beloved family.
Day 2: Palani, Pillayarpatti & Thiruparankundram –
Navigating Crowds & Finding Peace
Sunday, 9th November 2025, was bustling at Palani—crowds
everywhere! We managed our darshan and checked out around noon. Next, we drove
to the renowned Pillayarpatti temple, famous for its powerful Pillayar.
With time running tight and Pazhamudircholai’s
6 pm closure looming, we decided instead to proceed to Thiruparankundram. The
peaceful darshan here contrasted beautifully with the earlier crowds. That
night, we settled into Hotel
Boopathi near Madurai
Meenakshi Amman Temple. Though car parking was tricky, we managed. Day two
wound down with the fulfillment of hitting key spiritual milestones in our
journey.
Day 3: Pazhamudircholai & Tiruchendur –
Serene Darshans and Beachside Bliss
We checked out early from Hotel Boopathi and made for
Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple. Being Sashti, I expected rush, but the temple
was surprisingly quiet—almost magical in its serenity. Darshan was quick, and
we carried that blessed feeling straight on to Tiruchendur, arriving by 11:30
am. Checked into New
LS Lodge (great service, value-for-money, and just a short walk from
the temple). Parking was manageable, thankfully. Even for a Monday, the temple
had a gentle crowd. We refreshed ourselves with a sea bath, visited the
sacred Nazhi
Kinaru, and opted for the ₹100 special queue for Senthil Andavan darshan,
giving us plenty of time before the deity. Ending the day by the ocean, I felt
our pilgrimage was reaching its peaceful, joyous climax.
Day 4: Homeward Bound – Returning with Full Hearts
On the final morning, we left New LS Lodge around 8 am,
content and spiritually recharged. Breakfast was at Shanmuga Restaurant; lunch,
though average in taste, at Gowari Parvati Hotel near Samapuram toll, delivered
sparkling clean restrooms and easy parking. We reached Chennai around 8 pm
after nearly 12 hours in the car, grateful to have completed the sacred circuit
with Lord Murugan’s blessings.
A few numbers for memory: our Baleno petrol cost ₹9700,
tolls ₹1865, hotels ₹7625, and essentials like food & tickets ₹6000. But
those numbers pale in comparison to the experiences, laughter, challenges, and
moments of peace that marked this unforgettable family pilgrimage.
Truly, the journey to Arupadai Veedu with family is one for
my heart’s album—each temple, each road, each darshan, a step closer to
spiritual fulfillment.
