A quick plan to cover some nearby location from Chennai to drive . This thought was there for some time and finally zeroed into a plan which suits 2 days and one night plan . This includes a plan to keep Turuvannamalai as the base and to see around . As part of this first spot was Gingee fort . I will cover this in part 1 and as early possible will publish Tiruvannamalai and Sathanur Dam in subsequent publish
Decided to start the journey early in the morning . But however when you are driving there is no hard time like a flight and train and bound to get some delay . So from planned 6 am departure the journey started only by 6.45
Tripometer made to 0 and ready for start . To Gingee it is around 140 km and overall Tiruvannamalai around 175km . You can plan overall trip around 3hrs 30 mins plus . Unexpected traffic snarl at tambaram . So many buses piled up and took some decent time away . This was not expected on a Sunday morning . After that again slowed down near the first toll . They started opening up further counter to avoid rush . In that process some of the cars in front of me and behind me were let off free . Thanks for the policeman 😏
It was crossing 8am and kids started hinting on breakfast halt . I told them we should hit at least Chengalpet or Madurantakam to have bfast . That worked and they were silent till crossed Madurantakam . But luckily saw ad of Murugan idly a newly opened restaurant in that belt post madurantakam . My initial list of choices were Manoj Bhavan , Balajee Bhavan and Arya Bhavan . These were usual breakfast stops in that road and for a change tried to taste at the new Murugan idly one . This is 70 km from Guindy . Took one hour 30 mins because of Tambaram delay
This place has been done nicely . Parking is available and rest room are net and clean (might be because it is still new) . It is built away from the main building which gives lot of freshness feel .
Had to wait as there was crowd . Looks lot of people are experimenting the new outlet .
Then charging with breakfast car took off to Tindivanam from where a right turn(while driving from Chennao) to be taken towards Tiruvannamalai . From that point another 32 kms to Gingee fort and 66 kms to Tiruvannamalai . You will see a sudden increase in people and traffic when reaching around Gingee . It is speacial graded town and you can see some extra shops . After that you can see two signs one is Raja Mahal and Rani Mahal . These are the entrance point for the Gingee fort . Raja on the left side and Rani on the right . if you just want to do a quick trek of 1 hr then get into Rani . I took the left as the there are many places see and 3 hours trek . However finally I had to avoid trek as in the bassement itself it took 2 hours .
Parking took 40 Rs and entry tickets of 25Rs . No tickets for kids . Amazed to see a fort near Chennai and too in a different style apart from Chola and Pallava which we see usually . There are different description about it but really liked the place and the maintenance . Main spots which you should not miss inside are Marraige Hall , Elephant Talk , bamboo trees , Granaries .
Marraige Hall view are below
Elephant Tank
Banyan Trees .
Good to see a lot of banyan trees which is a rare sight in Chennai . Also we all used its hanging roots and did some swings
Granaries
Huge granaries with different compartments and different holes to see from outside to see levels . There is also provision to go and see
Really enjoyed this place for 2 hours . There were lot of people who were coming back after visiting the top . Kids were not in a mood to do 3 hrs trek (up and down inclusive) . But everyone was giving a good remark on the top view .
With that we returned to the car and I could see lot of barricade work being done to prevent the crowd for Kaanum Pongal . They exppect a huge turn out at this fort during those days . So better to avoid . I would definitely recommend this with kids and family trip .
Decided to start the journey early in the morning . But however when you are driving there is no hard time like a flight and train and bound to get some delay . So from planned 6 am departure the journey started only by 6.45
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| Trip meter all set to start |
It was crossing 8am and kids started hinting on breakfast halt . I told them we should hit at least Chengalpet or Madurantakam to have bfast . That worked and they were silent till crossed Madurantakam . But luckily saw ad of Murugan idly a newly opened restaurant in that belt post madurantakam . My initial list of choices were Manoj Bhavan , Balajee Bhavan and Arya Bhavan . These were usual breakfast stops in that road and for a change tried to taste at the new Murugan idly one . This is 70 km from Guindy . Took one hour 30 mins because of Tambaram delay
This place has been done nicely . Parking is available and rest room are net and clean (might be because it is still new) . It is built away from the main building which gives lot of freshness feel .
Had to wait as there was crowd . Looks lot of people are experimenting the new outlet .
 |
| Murugan Idly Hotel at Madurantakam |
Parking took 40 Rs and entry tickets of 25Rs . No tickets for kids . Amazed to see a fort near Chennai and too in a different style apart from Chola and Pallava which we see usually . There are different description about it but really liked the place and the maintenance . Main spots which you should not miss inside are Marraige Hall , Elephant Talk , bamboo trees , Granaries .
Marraige Hall view are below
 |
| tower building |
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| Marraige hall stage view from top of the tower |
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| view of granariies from top |
Elephant Tank
Banyan Trees .
Good to see a lot of banyan trees which is a rare sight in Chennai . Also we all used its hanging roots and did some swings
Granaries
Huge granaries with different compartments and different holes to see from outside to see levels . There is also provision to go and see
Really enjoyed this place for 2 hours . There were lot of people who were coming back after visiting the top . Kids were not in a mood to do 3 hrs trek (up and down inclusive) . But everyone was giving a good remark on the top view .
With that we returned to the car and I could see lot of barricade work being done to prevent the crowd for Kaanum Pongal . They exppect a huge turn out at this fort during those days . So better to avoid . I would definitely recommend this with kids and family trip .
