One fine day, Amma and I were discussing buying sarees for my brother Arun's wedding. We had planned to shop at a few stores in Kerala, but one of our family members suggested that we go to Chennai instead, considering the cost and the amount of shopping we had to do.
Amma liked the idea because she had always wanted to take us to the Periya Kovil in Thanjavur, which she had visited before. So, our trip planning began.
We decided to travel to Thanjavur first and end our trip in Chennai. On 28 November 2018, we flew from Dubai to Tiruchirappalli. We reached early in the morning on 29 November. It was our first time travelling on a propeller aircraft, which made the journey a little more exciting. From Tiruchirappalli, we travelled by car to Thanjavur.
Trichy welcomed us with a pleasant shower of rain, making the weather cool and refreshing.
After checking into our hotel in Thanjavur, we went straight to the Periya Kovil.
After reading Google reviews, I chose Hotel Yagappa. At that time, I wasn't familiar with booking platforms like MakeMyTrip or Agoda. Instead, I contacted the hotel directly by phone and email and reserved a room for three adults and one child.
To be honest, Hotel Yagappa turned out to be a great choice. The hotel was clean, comfortable, and very welcoming. The front office staff were friendly and helpful, making our short stay pleasant.
Our initial plan was to hire a taxi ourselves and visit the Periya Kovil. However, while waiting at the reception, I noticed that the hotel offered local sightseeing and taxi packages. We spoke to the front office staff, and they were happy to arrange a taxi for a full-day trip around Thanjavur. I don't remember the exact amount we paid, but it was convenient and saved us the trouble of making separate arrangements.
The package included not only the Periya Kovil but also a few other famous temples in and around Thanjavur. Since I was travelling with my parents, the trip naturally became a pilgrimage tour. I have always enjoyed such trips too. The architecture of South Indian temples has always fascinated me, and I feel a special connection whenever I visit these magnificent structures.
While writing this blog, I looked up Hotel Yagappa again on Google and MakeMyTrip. I was happy to see that, even after all these years, the hotel has continued to maintain its good ratings. It was nice to know that our positive experience was not just a one-time thing.
We reached the Periya Kovil, also known as the Brihadisvara Temple, Rajarajesvaram, or Thanjai Periya Kovil, at around 10 a.m. Before entering the temple, we were asked to leave our footwear at the designated shoe stand.
It was my first time seeing such a magnificent temple gopuram. The entire place had an earthy and timeless feel, as if it was welcoming us into a different era. The weather made the experience even more special. There was a light drizzle, the air was cool, and a gentle mist surrounded the temple, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
The Periya Kovil is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a protected monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. At the same time, it continues to be an active place of worship, where Lord Shiva is worshipped as Rajarajeshwar with regular poojas conducted every day. The temple also hosts cultural programmes, including classical dance performances. During our visit, we noticed that preservation and restoration work was being carried out in parts of the temple complex.
The massive Nandi and the Nandi Mandapam were truly a sight to behold. Every part of the temple reflects the brilliance of Chola architecture, and it is easy to understand why it is admired by people from all over the world.
We spent about one and a half hours exploring the temple complex, had a peaceful darshan of the huge Shiva Linga, and then continued to our next destination, the Thanjavur Palace, which is located nearby.
Walking through the temple brought back memories of my school days. During my social studies classes, especially between Grades 4 and 7, we had separate books on Indian History and Civics. Indian History was one of my favorite subjects. I also remember working on social studies vacation projects, for which I collected Labour India study books and other reference & project books from India. One of those projects was about the Chola dynasty.
I don't remember every detail from those lessons, but I clearly remember seeing pictures and models of this magnificent temple in my those reference magazines. Standing there in person years later felt surreal. It was wonderful to finally see, with my own eyes, a monument that I had only read about as a child.
I hope to write a detailed blog about the Periya Kovil soon.
