A Rough Guide on the aradhana; accommodation, travel options

The aradhana is generally held in the third / fourth week of January, and this is the best time of the year to tour these parts. Tiruvaiyyaru, a quaint village near Thanjavur, seems to live just for the festival. A reasonably full Cauvery, cool mornings and the vast tracts of mist covered paddy fields complement the divine music at the aaradhana.

Thyagaraja aradhana 2013

Thanjavur, the nearest town to Tiruvaiyyaru, is 13 kilometres away and is easily accessible. State transport buses from Thanjavur take nearly 45 minutes to reach Carnatic music's own pilgrimage destination. There is a bus every 20 minutes.

Autorickshaws can take you ride to Tiruvaiyyaru but this can cost a bit. Meter systems are non-existent for this route - so make sure you have fixed the fare before you jump in!

The aaradhana is not the only attraction at Tiruvaiyyaru. The much forgotten and neglected tenth century Shiva temple of Panchanadeeshwarar and Dharmasamvardhani Ambal is a treasure trove of Chola architecture and paintings.

As the name of the presiding deity and the town suggest, Tiruvaiyyaru has as many as five rivers running nearby.

There are some interesting lores associated with this ancient temple. For example doing a pradakshinam of the Tiruvaiyyaru temple is not allowed because it is believed that Lord Shiva's holy locks grow here. Having a local resident on your side will help you gather lots of wonderful tidbits like these.

Get your lodging organised at Thanjavur as there are virtually no facilities in Tiruvaiyyaru. The good hotels are

Hotel Sangam:
Contact No:  04362 239455
Website: www.hotelsangam.com

Hotel Abi's Inn:
Contact No:  04362 232208
Website: www.hotelabisinn.com

Hotel Gnanam:
Contact No:  04362 278501
Website: www.hotelgnanam.com

Flights Available to Thanjavur:
[The nearest airport is Trichy. Tanjavur is a one hour journey from there.]
Spice Jet-SG 3165 [10:35-11:45]
Jet Konnect S2-3798 [06:05-07:10]
Jet Konnect S2-3405 [13:45-14:55]

Flights Available to Chennai:

Jet Konnect S2-3799 [07:40-08-45]
Jet Konnect S2-3406 [15:20-16:25]
Jet Konnect S2-3790 [20:00-21:10]
Spice Jet SG-3166 [12:00-12:55]

Trains Available to Thanjavur:

Train No: 16853
Train Name: Trichy Express
Departs from: Chennai Egmore station
Departure: 08:15
Arrival: 14:43

Train No: 16701
Train Name: Rameswaram Express
Departs from: Chennai Egmore station
Departure: 21:40
Arrival: 03:38

Train No: 16101
Train Name: Rameswaram Express
Departs from: Chennai Egmore station
Departure: 21:40
Arrival: 03:38

Train No: 16179
Train Name: Mannai Express
Departs from: Chennai Egmore station
Departure: 22:00
Arrival: 04:35

Train No: 16183
Train Name: Thanjavur Express
Departs from: Chennai Egmore station
Departure: 23:30
Arrival: 07:15

Train No: 12793
Train Name: Madurai Express
Departs from: Chennai Egmore station
Departure: 22:45
Arrival: 04:53

Train No: 22623
Train Name: Madurai Express
Departs from: Chennai Egmore station
Departure: 22:45
Arrival: 04:53

Trains Available to Chennai:

Train No: 16180
Train Name: Mannai Express
Departs from: Thanjavur station
Departure: 22:45
Arrival: 05:50

Train No: 16702
Train Name: Chennai Express
Departs from: Thanjavur station
Departure: 23:27
Arrival: 06:30

Train No: 16102
Train Name: Chennai Express
Departs from: Thanjavur station
Departure: 23:27
Arrival: 06:30

Train No: 16180
Train Name: Chennai Express
Departs from: Thanjavur station
Departure: 00:45
Arrival: 07:20

Train No: 16180
Train Name: Chennai Express
Departs from: Thanjavur station
Departure: 00:47
Arrival: 07:20

Many aaradhana pilgrims opt to spend the nights under the pandal inside the Thyagaraja Temple. The smart traveller can befriend a local and be his guest for a couple of days but paying guests are not exactly the rage here - drop the idea if you are not the adventurous type! Walking is the best way of getting around in Thiruvaiyyaru. Autos charge Rs.15 even for short distances!

Hotel Ganesh Bhavan, near the town bus stand, is the only good restaurant in Tiruvaiyyaru. But here too, as the aradhana approaches, the water levels in the chutney and sambar go up drastically! You can eat at the Thyagaraja memorial campus but only if you are prepared to fight it out for a place inside the dining hall. Don't miss the mouth-watering local speciality called Asoka Halwa.

Veterans of Thiruvaiyyaru bring their food packed from nearby towns. Otherwise, be prepared to survive on oily snacks, tender coconut water, fruits and hot coffee.

Communication is not a problem at Tiruvaiyyaru, there are lots of STD booths around but don't expect the luxury of a speedy Internet.

Fax is your best bet for an urgent message. Arm yourself with a good camera for some great photo opportunities.

Every village enroute to Tiruvaiyyaru from Thanjavur has a temple whose history dates back to a few centuries!