SathuraGiri trip guide-Gnanasiddhar

A Trip to SathuraGiri

Cost of Travel (from Chennai) 
Total estimated cost per person would come to Rs. 1500 (Indian Rupee) (for a period of 3 days) - including train reservation (second sleeper) to and fro Chennai, break fast, lunch, evening snacks & Tea, supper at the hills. This excludes the food and other expenses in the plains.

Sample Plan/Itinerary: 
         Travel by Train from Chennai (Pothigai Express (Train No.2661) from Egmore) to Srivilliputhur
         3 days plan (5 days including Departure and Arrival days) 

Day 1:-
    19.30 Hrs    Arrive Chennai Egmore - occupy berth in Pothigai Express
    20.00 Hrs    Leave Chennai Egmore (by Train No.2661, Pothigai Express) to Srivilliputhur
                        Bogie No:            Berth No:

Day 2:-
    06.20 Hrs    Arrive at Srivillipputhur.
    06.30 Hrs    Reach Srivilliputhur busstand. Have Breakfast. Pack food items for lunch.
    07.15 Hrs    Leave by bus/taxi from busstand to Vathirairuppu
    08.30 Hrs    Arrive at Vathirairuppu. Take a Auto/Bus to Thaanipaarai (foot of the Hills)
    09.20.Hrs    Arrive at Thanipparai- Handover luggage to luggage carriers. Start climbing hills in groups (Optional: Doli
                             for those who cannot climb) with your hand bag and water-bottle, snacks, food items etc. Can have lunch at
                             around 12 noon near Gorakkar cave.
    14.00 Hrs    Arrive top of the hills. Stay at Kanji Mutt. Have bath, snacks and settle down/rest. 
    16.30 Hrs    Tea & Snacks 
    17.00 Hrs    Darshan at Sundara Mahalingam Temple
    17.45 Hrs    Start climbing hills to reach Santhana Mahalingam Temple-Darshan- Bhajan, etc.
    19.30 Hrs    Return to Kanji Mutt-Dinner
    20.30 Hrs    Rest

Day 3:-
    05.30 Hrs    Wake-up
    06.30.Hrs    Sukku coffee, Bath etc.
    07.30 Hrs    Breakfast. Pack food for lunch.
    08.30 Hrs    Leave for Thavasi Paarai (a cave/gukai where Siddhas assemble incognito - quite difficult to climb)
    11.30 Hrs    Reach Thavasi Paarai. Enter cave, meditate, visit Nava Graha rock-idols. Have Lunch.
    14.00 Hrs    Start descent. Towards Big Mahalingam
    16.30 Hrs    Return to Kanji Mutt from Big Mahalingam
    17.15 Hrs    Tea and Snacks
    17.30 Hrs    Free time to visit and go round the hills and have darshan at Sundara Mahalingam/Santhana Mahalingam                              temples.
    20.00 Hrs    Dinner
    21.00 Hrs    Rest. Pack up things and be ready to leave next day early Morning to down hills.

Day 4:-
    05.30 Hrs    Wake-up 
    06.30 Hrs    Sukku coffee 
    07.00 Hrs    Collect break-fast packets (for enroute)
    07.30 Hrs    Leave for Thaanipaarai.
    11.30 Hrs    Arrive Thaanipaarai.
    12.00 Hrs    Leave by auto to Vathirairuppu
    13.00 Hrs    Take bus to Srivalliputhur (enroute devotees can also visit Sri Kalimuthu Swamigal Ashram at                              S.Ramachandrapuram).
    15.00 Hrs    Arrive Srivilliputhur - free time till train departure. Visit temples (Andal Temple), shopping (purchase 
                             palgova etc), dinner etc
    19.45 Hrs    After finishing dinner reach Srivilliputhur Railway station
    20.30 Hrs    Board train No 2662 Pothigai express to Chennai.
                        Bogie No:            Berth No:

Day 5:-
    07.00 Hrs    Arrive Chennai Egmore - with Happy Memories




Important Instructions: 
1. Avoid heavy luggages. LESS LUGGAGE makes TRAVEL a PLEASURE and COMFORTABLE 
2. Luggage can be a medium haversack bag or backpack (preferable) 
3. Please ensure that you carry these utilities
            3.1 Toilet kit containing soap, tooth brush, tooth paste and others. 
            3.2. Comfortable clothing for three days 
            3.3. A small torch light with new cells. Always carry a torch light, when venturing into the jungle. 
            3.4. Cellphone + charger (Mostly does not work in the hills. But certain spots are known to recieve signals. No
                     electricity too.) 
            3.5. A pen knife & small pair of scissors 
            3.6. An air pillow 
            3.7. 2 Bedsheets (1 spread + 1 to cover) 
            3.8. Sweater/shawl - Sometimes the hilltop can be quite cold at night. Warm clothing is a must for winter. 
            3.9. Camera (loaded) 
            3.10. Medicine kit: including balms 
            3.11. Water-bottle 
            3.12. Mug 
            3.13. Cleaning cloth 
            3.14. Locks, keys and chains 
            3.15. Pen and paper pad: 
            3.16. Waist-pouch or Cash-bag 
            3.17. Snacks for the hills: chips, biscuits, chocolates etc., Nothing will be available on the hills, which is a forest area.
            3.18. Match box and candles 
4. Since it is a forest area no enclosures for toilet/ bath are available. One should take shelter under nature (bushes/trees)
5. Water points for bathing, drinking are provided by a philanthropist.
6. There is no provision for electricity at the top of the hills. Please bring small torches, matches and candles.
7. Luggage carriers are available. They accept luggages weighing upto 35 Kgs and normally charge somewhere between 100-150 Rs per person. Beyond 35 Kg it is Rs.150+ per person. 
8. Sathuragiri is a very holy place. Still lot of Spiritual aspirants and Siddha do penance there. So pilgrims are requested not to disturb the environment (do not talk loudly, do not litter, do not pluck flowers, leaves, plants etc or do not break branches etc). Decency and decorum should be maintained on all occasions and at all levels. It is a Pilgrimage and Not a Tour. Let us have devotion in our heart and sweetness in our speech and temperament. 
9. The mountain environment is very fragile. So please do not litter plastic covers, bottles and other waste materials. Always carry a plastic bag with you and dump all the waste generated (waste papers, plastic bottles etc) into it. You can later dump the plastic bag either at Sathuragiri or at Thaanipaarai (i.e. in a waste bin). 
10. Once at Sathuragiri, pilgrims are requested not to venture on their own into the jungle. Fine guides with indepth knowledge about the mountains are available and it is advisable to take their services and strictly follow their instructions. 
11. If any animals happen to cross your path, do not panic. Stay still and wait for the animals to leave to proceed further. 
12. Sathuragiri hill does not have any electricity, hotels, lodges etc. There is an ashram called Sri Kalimuthu Swamigal Madam or Kanji Madam, which provides free food and also provides place for pilgrims to stay. 
13. During full moon and new moon days, lakhs of devotees visit the hills. The new moon during the month of July-August (Aadi Amavasai) attracts about 10 to 15 lakhs devotees.



Ascending/Descending the Hills (Instructions for Handling Dolis) 
1. To reach Sathuragiri, one has to cross seven hills (some pathways are steep) and walk for 9 to 10 kilometers. Never overestimate your level of fitness. Those who are aware of their limitations, can arrange for DOLIs. 
2. The DOLI charges each way could be between 2000 to 3000 Rs. per person, i.e.for both ways Rs.4000/- to Rs.6000/-. 
3. Those who want to use the DOLI facility are requested to bring with them. 
            3.1 a big THICK, bed-spread - 61/2' x 4' and 
            3.2 two numbers of 6 feet rope each- preferably coir one or twine one or thick nylon one to be tied in a bamboo stick as
                    a hanging bed. Bamboo will be provided by the Doli carriers.
            3.3 The things (bed spread, rope, etc.), should be collected back by the individual from the DOLI men on arrival at the
                     landing points each way.
            3.4 Each DOLI is carried by a set of two persons. Another set of two persons might exchange in the middle.