Best Places to Visit in Thiruvallur – Temples, Lakes & Cultural Landmarks

1.Pulicat

In Tamil Nadu, Pulicat a town of Tiruvallur district. It is located nearly 60kms north of Chennai city side by side on the coastal side of Sri Harikota island barrier that parts Pulicat Lake from the Bay of Bengal. A narrow water lagoon associated with Pulicat Lake is part of the Pulicat city and also got its name from it.The city of Pulicat has a history behind it. Earlier in 1609 the Dutch settlers had made a fort. As a matter actually this Pulicat city became their primary house location. So many conquistingaers occupied of Pulicat city, the last being British ruling. Pulicat had come under British rule in 1825 and so became an integral part of Madras Presidency. As time rolled into years and years much of Pulicat’s treasures were now forgotten. Still aura has clung to a large extent, to the old lighthouse that was constructed just in-front of the Pulicat Lake.

To draw in travelers from close-by rural areas and also from abroad, travel system of Pulicat city has actually been strengthened for many years. To visit Pulicat nearly 54 kilometers need to cover from Koyambedu CMBT. After that he has to follow 100 feet long road running from Koyambedu. Following straight to “Ennore Port Trust” one splits at Minjur takes a right , takes a second left follows the road nearly 17kms. After one crosses “Ponneri- Pulicat” central road, from where one has to make a right turn and continue driving for 4kms and reach “Pulicat Jetty”.

As for Other Industries, Cottage Craft with gentle Palmary Leaves by Women, specially of Muslim Women in Mainly Pulicat. The local Palmyra Leaf Co-operative Society is into the business of exporting service and articles of beautiful, made from Palmyra. Pulicat has sea food export hub of white and tiger prawns, jellyfish, fin fish & live lagoon etc.
With a history spanning 600 years Pulicat, also known as Pazhaverkaddu lies well 55 km away from Chennai. Pulicat acientally a great settlement of Dutch on the Coromandel coastline. They had constructed a fort called “Geldira” here as early as 1609 to trade with the far East. Climates of other battle for Pulicat, finally British seized it in 1825.

2.Poondi

Poondi Reservoir

Poondi Lake or Sathyamoorthy reservoir is the reservoir which is across Kotralai river in the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu State. It serves as the major water source to the Chennai city that is 60 km far away. There are frequent buses from Chennai & Tiruvallur to reach this place.

Poondi Reservoir (later known as Sathyamoorthy Sagar) was built across Kosathalaiyar River or Kotralai River, Thiruvallur district in the year 1944 with a storage capacity of 2573 MC foot and used to intercept and store Kosathalaiyar river water and brought into operation. Excess water rushes down this river once more intercepted by Tamaraipakkam Anicut and channeled into Sholavaram Lake and Puzhal lake. (Poondi Canal that was later lined in 1972 was excavated to convey water from Poondi Reservoir to Sholavaram Lake). This reservoir was built at a price of Rupees 65 lakhs. Satyamurti who goes by the political mentor of Kumaraswami Kamaraj, was the Chief Minister of the State between 1954-1963. [3] Due to his deep devotion to Satyamurti, Kamaraj brought about a change of name for the Poondi reservoir that was given the name: Satyamurti.

Pre Historic Museum – Poondi

The chain of discoveries began when Sir Robert Bruce Foote by accident discovered stone tool at Pallavaram in the year 1863 CE, after which many number of artefacts were discovered in and around Poondi near Chennai. Such a tremendous find in the arena of pre-historic archaeology has moved the antiquity of man in Tamil Nadu back further even by more Palaeolithic Toolsthan half a million years ago and this very region was placed on the world map of pre historic culture.

Interestingly the Poondi reservoir from where the Chennai derives its water proves to be quite valuable for the world archaeologists and geologists the Gudiyum cave the first of its kind in India discovered by the geologist Sir Robert Bruce Foote is located near Poondi in Tiruvallur taluk of Tiruvallur district it takes some adventurous paths into the silent forests to reach there and can be an pleasant excursion for trekkers even nature lovers.

The Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil nadu is dedicated to the preservation of the exhibits of the prehistoric artefacts found in and around Poondi and other parts of Tamil Nadu. Said Museum was founded on the year 1985. Distance of Tiruvellore Railway station and Tiruvellore District is 13 km from Poondi.

3.Sri Viswaroopa Panchamukha Anjaneyaswami Temple

Lord Hanuman

Lord Hanuman has been worshipped in India in many names such as Anjaneya, Hanumanji, Maruti, Bajrang Bali, Mahavir, Pavan Kumar. He was born to Wind God and Anjana Devi. He belongs to the seven chiranjeevis (immortal ones). The Valmiki Ramayana has a seperate section called Sundara Kandam or Sundar kand which relates the leelas of Lord Hanuman is his search for Sita across the sea under Guru of Surya, the Sun God Surya .

The words Sundara Kandam includes a total of 2885 verses and the meaning of the word Sundara means beautiful. It is important to mention something about the esoteric meaning of the sundara kandam. The ocean here is the ocean of samsara. Lord Rama is the paramatma and Sita Devi is jivatma. Hanuman means the Guru or divine teacher.

Origin of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman

The source of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman can be traced to a story in the Ramayana. During that war between Lord Ram and Ravana, Mahiravana who was the king of pathala helped Ravana for the war. Lord Hanuman in a bid to protect Lord Ram and Lakshman made a fortress using his tail. But Mahiravana took the form of Vibeeshana to take Lord Ram and Lakshman to pathala loka.

Hanuman went to seek Rama and Lakshmana in pathala loka. He discovered that, to kill Mahiravana, he had to put out 5 lamps at once. So with Hanuman, Hayagriva, Narasimha, Garuda and Varaha faces he adopted the Panchamukha form and extinguished the lamps. Mahiravana was killed immediately.

Sri Panchamukha Hanuman was the gods upasana deity apart from the story the saint of mantralaya Sri Ragavendra was. The site at which he meditated on Panchamukha Hanuman is now referred to as Panchamukhi, a temple for Panchamukha Hanuman has been built here.

Significance of the Five Faces

• East facing face is “Sri Anjaneyaswami Mukha” which cleanses all impurities of sin and makes the mind pure.
• The Shakti of the South facing mukha of “Sri Marasimhaswami” removes fear of enemies and affords victory.
• The west facing mukha of “Sri Mahaviragarudaswami” sprinkles all kinds of evil spells and black magic influences, along with all poisonous effects in one’s body.
• The North facing mukha of “Sri Lakshmi Varahamurthyswami” protects you from the mischief that the bad influences of the planets create and blesses you with all prosperity ashta aishwarya.
• Face looking upwards of “Sri Hayagreevaswami” grants knowledge, victory, progeny and mukthi.

4.Bhavani Amman Temple

Bhavani Amman Temple by Periyapalayam near Chennai is an attraction to many devotees, here Bhavani Amman is the main deity of the temple and thousands of people crowd here in weekends and in the month of Aadi and Avani. The Temple is well located near Chennai in about 45kms in kolkata-Chennai turnpike near Red Hills people can reach Periyapalayam. The temple is busy for all the year round and people visit the temple along with their families and seek the blessings of Bhavani Amman and especially on weekends groups of people visit here and have a divine get together here.

The Temple is well maintained and well organized to enable the devotees have memorable Dharshan of Sri Bhavani Amman. As per the legend people name Amman as the sister of Lord Krishna who was also able to escape the custody of Kamsan (Demon King) and after warning Kamsan about his death she decide to reside at this place as Sri Bhavani.

The temple after recent renovation shines as of Bhavani Amman, when entering the temple Vinayagar has a separate Sanidhi in name of Sri Arpudha Sakthi Vinayagar, followed by Sri Sarva Sakthi Mathangi Amman, now people can enter the queue to start their Dharshan towards Bhavani Amman, free Dharshan and Special Dharshan for Rs.5 & Rs.25 are also available (Rs.25 ticket is the best option to have a closer view of Amman). In the Moolasthanam

Amman seen with Sangu Chakram in upper hands while sword and Amirtha Kalasam on her lower hands 1000 watts vision (be prepared to withstand the power in Amman eyes). Crossing the Moolasthanam Utsavar Amman greets us as we sit in a beautifully decorated seat with Kungumam and Theertham served as Prasadham, which heals many human body ailments.

Having the Dharshan people can now enjoy Sannidhis of Sri Subrammaniyar, Srinivasa Perumal with Mahalakshmi, Anjaneyar and Sri Prasuramar (one among the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu), and Naga Sannidhi. People do are offering their prayers also thanking their Amman for her blessings, they use Neem leaves as clothes (Vaepanjalai), they perform Pongal, they shave their heads and they do Angapradakshinam. Timings are 5am – 9 am for Angapradkashinam, 5am – 12pm and 4pm – 6pm for Vaepanjalai and 5 am 12pm for Garagam.

5.Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple

Greatness of Tirutanikai – Puranic value
Tirutanikai is the headline as if the crown jewel of our Lord in the six Padaiveedus of Lord Murugan. When we actually propitiate our Lord in this holy shrine, his Vraja Dham, then He gives us the feeling of mental peace and bodily happiness as its very name itself shows. Here, his indignation in relation to cruelty of asuras is believed to have been reduced and cooled, which is by this reason naming it as Shantipuri (Abode of Peace). This hill is also called Chanikasalamas because the prayers and yearnings of the congregations that will worship our Lord Tanikesan at this hill with unserving belief and intense adoration are answered at once.

After wedding Goddess Valli at Vallimalai when Lord Murugan arrived to this hill, She pleaded with Him to enlighten Her on importance and greatness of this hill. In response, our Lord said that if a person chanted Him heart and soul for five days straight at this hill temple, the person would be blessed with everything best in life and after.

In Treta Yuga after putting a close to Ravana, Lord Rama worshipped Lord Siva at Rameswaram, at whose request Rama came to Tiruttani and found perfect peace of mind by worshipping our Lord Subrahmanya here. During Dwapara Yuga, Arjuna offered prayers to Him on his way to the South for Teertha Yatra, and he got here blessings of Lord Murugan. Lord Vishnu prayed to our Lord from this place and got back His powerful Cakra (sacred wheel), and Shanku (sacred conch) which forcibly seized from him by Tarakasura brother of Soorapadma.

Literary Importance

Other than the puranic splendor of Tirutanikai, Saint Arunagirinathar, the great devotee of Lord Muruga who was alive 600 years ago, praised this hill as the chosen place for worship by devas and the favorite abode of saints performing long term tapas (austerities). He also compared this hill to Sivaloka (Bhuloka) and as the very soul of the world. Saint Ramalinga Swamigal (Arutprakasa Vallalar) lived a hundred and fifty years, but he was invited to visit us from here (here he mentions Hill of Tanikai to which our Lord appearing as the man in the mirror of his puja room at Madras not only said u dupped us but also sang out the sour stirring arutpa songs as from a torrential stream in chaste Tamil.

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