2009-03-21

Shri Lakshmi Narasimhar Sthalangal



Ohm Namo Naaraayanaaya:

Shri Lakshmi Narasimhar sthalangal

As there are a quite a few blogs available to enlighten us with the magnanimity of Lord Shri Lakshmi Narasimhar of Singrigudi, PoovarasanKuppam and Parikkal, I’ve taken this opportunity to delve upon the accessibility of these Sthalas.

As I travelled by car, I am not attempting here to talk about the public transportation services. As I am from Kariamanikkam, a village on the route, (now settled in Chennai) I’ve decided to come up with a few more details of the route and landmarks. I’ve also included a bmp image of the route map and the significance of these three Sthalas. This route map is taken from the book “Parikkal Sthala History” by Mr. Va. Govindhan M.A., Chandra Publishers, PudhuPettai. It’s my hope that these little details about landmarks and the map make you confident enough to hit the road for a wonderful journey. May the Lord bless you with a blissful darshan!

Now, let’s take the journey from Pondicherry.

From Pondicherry to Singrigudi

Singrigudi is now known as Singri Kovil; probably ‘gudi’ in Telugu translates to “Kovil” in Tamil & ‘temple’ in English. What is the meaning of ‘Singri’? Anyone know of this, please drop off a line.

SingriKovil Village is located in Cuddalore district, even though it’s very close to Pondicherry. Probably, it’s in the border of Pondicherry and TamilNadu States.

How to reach there?
Take Pondicherry – Cuddalore Highways. You pass through Ariyankuppam, Chunnambaar bridge and Thavalakuppam. Once you reach Thavalakuppam, if you are traveling from Pondicherry, on your right side, you should see a big campus of Arvind Eye Hospital. Just around 200metres from this landmark, you should come across a traffic signal. If you proceed further down south, this road takes you to Cuddalore. But, take a right turn here. You will reach AbishekaPakkam village within a couple of Kilometers from this junction. Yes! It’s Abishek + Pakkam = AbishekaPakkam. AbishekaPakkam and SingriKovil are one and the same. An enquiry here would lead you to the temple.

Beware: There are quite a few speed breakers (quite bigger ones) which are almost invisible on this road and also on the route from here to PoovarasanKuppam, the second “sthalam” of Shri Lakshmi Narasimhar, we are going to visit on this blog. On this route from Thavalakuppam to PoovarasanKuppam, the road is well laid as of now (early parts of 2009); trees lining up on both the sides; which gives a nice shade; at the same time the shade makes it a little trickier to spot the above mentioned speed breaker bumps; also with a quite a few blind turns with grown up bushy fences of the road; so don’t be scared to honk your horns.

From SingriKovil to PoovarasanKuppam

You pass through Pudhukkadai, Karikkalaambakkam, Embalam, Pakkam KootRoad (Crossroad), KalMandapam, Kariamanikkam, Madukarai, Siruvandhaadu and PoovarasanKuppam. Basically you will be traveling towards west till Kariamanikkam. Once you reach Kariamanikkam & Madukarai, please enquire again about which route takes you to Siruvandhaadu. Siruvandhaadu is a little village and you should see a small pond at the entrance of the village itself. Siruvandhaadu village is known for Mokshakulam Hand-woven Silk sarees. Actually, you’ll pass through these Silk saree shops on the way to PoovarasanKuppam. From here as well, please enquire and proceed again to PoovarasanKuppam. It’ll be another couple of Kilometers only.

Filling up fuel on the route:

Usually, the fuel price is cheaper in Pondicherry State. If you prefer to fill up the fuel in Pondicherry itself, fine. Also, there are a few places where you might want to top up the fuel.

Kariamanikkam and Madukarai being the bordering villages of Pondicherry State with TamilNadu, there are about five petrol bunks you might come across.

Kariamanikkam: There is an IOC outlet by the name of “JK Service Station”. Well, you’ve guessed it; as I’ve mentioned earlier, being a native of Kariamanikkam, how can I miss out an opportunity to mention my friend’s petrol bunk.

Madukarai: Essar, HP, BP

Rest room facilities may be used at these petrol bunks. There aren’t any facilities available near any of the temple sites.

From PoovarasanKuppam to Parikkal
PoovarasanKuppam – Cross the river – turn right and travel through Kallippattu village along the river – turn left on the Chennai : Kumbakonam Highways to Panruti – Panruti – take tirukovilur main road to Madappattu – Madappattu – turn left on the NH45 once you reach Madappattu (towards Trichy) – after about a couple of kms from Madappattu, you’ll see a big statue of Lord Anjaneya on your left side – Here, just opposite the Lord Anjaneya, there is a small road leading to Parikkal – Please take that road. Basically, on the Chennai : Trichy NH 45, after Madappattu, once you see the Lord Anjaneya statue, turn right to go to Parikkal.

Please note, while in PoovarasanKuppam, please ask for directions to cross the river to go to Panruti via Kallippattu village. Literally, you’ll be driving through the dry river; it’s safe to drive through to cross the river as the sand has been hardened to ease the vehicular traffic. So, if you are visiting the temples during the monsoon, please ask the locals if it is safe to cross the river in your vehicle.

If it is advised against crossing the river, then you need to take another route. That route will be, coming back to Siruvandhaadu – Pancha Maa Devi (Here you will take the Chennai: Kumbakonam Highways) – turn left for Panruti and from here onwards it’s the same route as above to Parikkal. The distance might increase by another 10 or 12 Kms; I’m not sure about it.

Distances Chart

From To Kms
Pondicherry Singrigudi 12
Singrigudi PoovarasanKuppam 26
PoovarasanKuppam Parikkal 39
Total distance from Pondicherry to Parikkal 77 Kms
Parikkal to Villupuram is another 26 Kms.


This distance chart is calculated using the route I mentioned above. There are different routes available to travel from PoovarasanKuppam to Parikkal. The route I frequent is as above, through Kallippattu village.

Please note, while in PoovarasanKuppam, please ask for directions to cross the river to go to Panruti via Kallippattu village. Literally, you’ll be driving through the dry river; it’s safe to drive through to cross the river as the sand has been hardened to ease the vehicular traffic. So, if you are visiting the temples during the monsoon, please ask the locals if it is safe to cross the river in your vehicle.

If it is advised against crossing the river, then you need to take another route. That route will be, coming back to Siruvandhaadu – Pancha Maa Devi (Here you will take the Chennai: Kumbakonam Highways) – turn left for Panruti and from here onwards it’s the same route as above to Parikkal. The distance might increase by another 10 or 12 Kms; I’m not sure about it.


“Swathi” nakshtra dates for year 2009 – 2010

Tamil dates Gregorian Calendar Day
Maasi 3 -15/1/2009 Sunday
Panguni 1 -14/3/2009 Saturday
Panguni 29 -11/4/2009 Saturday
Chitthirai 25- 8/5/2009 Friday
Vaikasi 21 -4/6/2009 Thursday
Aani 18 -2/7/2009 Thursday
Aadi 13 -29/7/2009 Wednesday
Aavani 9 -25/8/2009 Tuesday
Purattaasi 6 -22/9/2009 Tuesday
Ippasi 2- 19/10/2009 Monday
Ippasi 29- 15/11/2009 Sunday
Kaarthikai 27 -13/12/2009 Sunday
Maargazhi 25 -9/1/2010 Saturday
Thai 23 -5/2/2010 Friday
Maasi 21 -5/3/2010 Friday
Panguni 18 -1/4/2010 Thursday


Our younger daughter was traveling with us. She posed a question, “Mummy, we’ve so many temples in our place itself. We don’t visit those temples as much as we visit these temples today. We get up early; get ready; travel a long way; why don’t we visit the temples in our area?”
As a father, I tried to reason saying, “Yes ma!. We can also pray in those temples in our area but these three ‘Sthalas’ have a specific coincidence of being on a straight line. So that offering prayers and worshipping Lord Shri Lakshmi Narasimhar on Swathi Nakshtra day makes the children of the family to study well; long term disease just get cured; and debts if any, will be solved within reasonable limits.”

My answer must have made a good reasoning to her. That’s what I thought. But immediately came another question. “Dad, if these three temples are said to be on a straight line, then why are you giving instructions to the driver to turn left here, right here like that”.



For this question, the answer came in form of a book (Parikkal Sthala varalaaru – Parikkal Location History) at Parikkal Kovil itself. Let me give you that sketch here. I've also mapped these three Sthalas on Google earth.


I would like to thank my wife who had encouraged me to take this divine trip and my younger daughter as she gave her fullest cooperation during the entire trip (around 450 kms in one day) by remaining hassle-free and jovial.

I also thank Lord Shri Lakshmi Narasimhar for giving our family to get his darshan.

Ohm Namo Naaraayanaaya:

7 comments:

  1. YES your blog is really useful. i visited the temples during last september as per route map given and suggested by you. we got fantastic darshan of LORD. this May, we are going once again. thank u.
    sundar/delhi

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Mr. Sundar for your kind words. It's just a little effort from my end to help the others. I'm glad that you've found my article useful.

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Thanks Mr.Babu @divine blessings; I am giving a link of your post, which has a lot more useful information. I am also updating the map with your latest update. Thanks again.

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  4. Thanks a lot. Very useful info. I am planning to take my parents to these 3 temples this weekend. And proceeding to Namakkal.

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  5. Hello sir, just read your blog. Iam planning to visit the temples in marghazhi month, from Chennai. Any idea on the temple timings. thanks

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello sir, just read your blog. Iam planning to visit the temples in marghazhi month, from Chennai. Any idea on the temple timings. thanks

    ReplyDelete