Adventure, Solo Trekking, and Camping in Sathuragiri Hills
Usual, I planned for entire weekdays where to go, finally came to the conclusion to go Sathuragiri Hills
Friday, I left Chennai took a bus to Madurai. From Madurai took a bus to Krishnan kovil, again took a bus from Krishnan kovil to Thaniparai
Thaniparai (Sathuragiri Trek Starting point), 7km trekking from thaniparai to reach Sathuragiri Hiils, Sundara Mahalingam Temple( Siva)
Saturday, fine Saturday new moon is coming, they're gonna be a heavy crowd. Shops were ready to sell fresh items
The parking lot is full, people came early and started trekking. I could be a lazy person, came at 11.
Sambrani aka benzoin Shops are ready with fresh pieces for sale to heavy crowd
Trek starting point aka Entrance, heavy security check no plastics and Matchbox
Peaceful, people peacefully trekking to Sathuragiri hills
Women, wise women come back from the summit. guys If you notice people coming back with the barefoot.
Monkeys, beware of monkeys, they take your food items. People used to carry 5 to 10 kg of rice, voluntary offering to Temple at the Summit, with that temple in charge people will cook, provide free food for all people. Someone dropped the rice in their way, a monkey eating it.
Trekking Pole, people use the trekking pole for balance in rocks.
Children, If you notice you could able to see about six children going trekking with there mom and dad, Awesome right
Family Times, I was so thrilled to see a family trekking to Sathuragiri. I’m so happy to see their curiosity and enthusiasm towards trekking
Fantastic moments, if you see dad and his daughter coming back from trekking. wow, dad giving water to his daughter.
Virudhunagar District, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Big respect, Water facilities everywhere. People don’t need to carry water.
Siva art, someone does in mountain rocks, in the middle of the summit. It was marvelous.
Summit Entrance, welcome with Karupu(Black) Swami(God) temple, We’re not supposed to take the pictures from any temples. He is shouting at me, no snap, please.
Finally, Sri Sundara Mahalingam Temple, Trek End. First, I planned to go all other temples around the mountain.
Dormitory, there's about 5 to 10 dormitory around the mountains for people to stay during the night. Good thing we’re allowed to stay and camping during the night, but beware to chill and fog, Keep the blanket and tent kit along with you.
Sri Santhana Mahalingam Temple (Sandalwood Lingam Temple), these pictures show details about 18 Siddhas and their Origin and Eternity
Slept, Guys you could notice that from pictures, where could be I’m for the past 2 hours, I had free food and slept well, sorry guys :) so tired of trekking.
Night shops, there used to be exactly 40 shops are registered to the government, they used to open for 6 days in a month. They’re very busy on the full moon and no moon day, I think it opens 24 hours. I had paruthi paal(Cotton Seeds Milk), mudakathan soup (Balloon Vine Soup), Tea and heavy food and went for asleep after 11.
Sunday, I was asleep till Eight Thirty, I was so lazy, sun wakes up me, brushed my teeth, cleaned my stomach with help of usual leaves and tissue paper., cleaned my face, didn’t bath, heavy crowd, just face washed and pack up my tent and ready for :)
Sunday, Glorious Morning, enter the temple to see the image of a deity, Sri Sundara Mahalingam
After darshan, I had free food, vegetable biriyani, sambar. Went shopping had Tea then Coffee. Folks, please carry at least five kilograms of rice or vegetables if you can’t able to carry, pay to people who are ready to carry for providing free food for devotees. there used to be a heavy crowd coming every month. Please don’t use a plastic bottle, try not to poop or peep in pathways, every day the pathways are getting dirty due to the heavy crowd, please be prepared for trekking, don’t come alone, have first kid. please, maintain peace, this doesn't place for tourism, it’s a spiritual place.
After an hour, I started trekking back to thaniparai, ended my trekking, took a bus to Madurai, went to Vilakkuthoon had Jigirthanda.
Fantastic experience, peaceful place, gracious people, the sacred mountain, remarkable trekking.
Life. I started living my life. we will see you in the next story, probably Trek to Velliangiri, Coimbatore
