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The Stately Temple

One of the sacred shrines in Tamil Nadu is Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore, in Chennai City.
It is a Siva Temple, and the name of the Lord is ARULMIGU KAPALEESWARAR. The name of the Goddess is ARULMIGU KARPAGAMBAL.
It is a loverly temple with a Stately Spire or ‘Gopuram’ as it is called. There is a big tank on its West. The temple and the tank are surrounded by Broad streets on the four sides. The view of the temple and the tank is picturesque.
Mylapore is on the sea coast and the shore is away by half a mile of thickly populated residential area.

The Legend Behind The Temple

The name Mylapore is derived from the legend that the Goddess Uma worshipped Siva in the form of a peacock (or mayil in Tamil). We can see a representation of this legend on stone in a small Shrine under a Punnai tree (Sthala Vriksha) in the Courtyard of the temple.

Mylapore's Ancient Past

Ptolemy, the Creek Geographer (A.D. 90-168) has referred to Mylapore in his books as ‘Millarpha;,. It was apparently a weel-known sea port town with a flourishing trade. It must have also been a place of culture, as Saint, Tiruvalluvar the celebrated author of Tirukkurl, the Wordl-famous ethical treatise, lived in Mylapore nearly 2,000 years ago. The Saivite Saints of the 7th Century, Saint Sambandar and Saint Appar, have sung about the Shrine in their hymns.
St. Thomas, one of the aposties of Jesus, is reported to have visited Mylapore in the 2nd Century A.D. His tomb is in the St. Thomas basilica, a beautiful Cathedral about half a mile from the temple.
Mylapore fell into the hands of the Portuguese in A.D.1566, when the temple suffered demolition. The presne temple was rebuilt 300 years ago. There are some fragmentary inscriptions from the old temple, still found in the present Shrine and in St. Thomas Cathedral.
One enters the hall then, where Arulmigu Karpagambal is enshrined. In front of the Goddess, outside, is a Stone sculpture of a Lion, the mount of the Goddess. (Just as Nandi or the Bull is for Lord).

Daily And Special Servies

There are six daily Puja Services. Kala Santhi (morning) Uchchikala (Mid-day) Sayamkala (Evening) and Ardhajama (late Night). The evening Service will be picturesque as the Shodasa Upacharas (16 Propitiations) with waving of lights. etc. ared performed. Other special occasions are Pradhosa (13th day of new moon-full moon) Panchaparva. etc.

Marina Beach of Chennai is a popular destination. Marina Beach is one of the longest urban beaches in the world. Stretched along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal for about 12 km, Marina Beach is bordered by St. George Fort in the North and Besant Nagar in the South.Marina Beach is a popular picnic spot since the 1880s. Famous for its long stretch of silver sands and blue sea, Marina Beach provides a clear view of sunrise and sunset. The side drive of the beach is fringed by palms and casuarinas which provide shade. The lighthouse, situated at the southern end of the beach, provides panoramic views of the city of Chennai.Marina Beach has become a centre for activities like wind surfing, fishing, sun bathing, kit flying and beach volley ball. But the strong current of water makes Marina Beach unsuitable for swimming.The Marina Beach drive is home to popular landmarks of the city like the Senate House, Ice House, Anna Square, MGR Memorial, etc. Marina Beach also has an Aquarium, artificial water fountain, a swimming pool and a park. The park at Marina Beach is very popular as it has sculptures of many leaders and celebrities like Mahatma Gandhi, B.G. Tilak, Bharathidasan, Tiruvalluvar, Kamaraj, Swami Sivananda, Sir Thomas Munro, the Statue of Labour, Thanthai Periyar, etc.

At a distance of 4 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (located at Kamarajar Road, near local Chepauk Railway Station), the famous Marina beach is the second longest beach in the World and runs to a length of 13 Km. This is one of the top tourist places to visit in Chennai city.

Situated on the beach, the Anna Park, named after the founder of D.M.K Anna durai and the tomb of M.G. Ramachandran who was a film star (both were former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu) and the Statue of Labour is a splendid sculpture depicting the efforts of a team of labourers who are at hard manual labour.

The beach can be ideally visited in the early mornings or in the late evenings when the area becomes a virtual ground with food stalls and other entertainments.

"Beaches, Sunsets and Crazy Nights"

Goa Tourism At A Glance

Neatly tucked into the Western coast of India, Goa is the state associated most with touristy beaches, a happening nightlife and over 300-year old Portuguese architecture.

Referred to as the city of churches by many, the culture of Goa has the lingering effect of being a Portugal colony. Visibly different from the rest of the country, Goa has characteristic colourful houses, lush green fields and a soothing languidness in the atmosphere. The charming villages of Goa are ideal for a laidback morning walk or an aimless evening stroll.

North and South regions of the place are strikingly different - the former is a cultural hub with traditional eateries and markets, while the latter makes for an idyllic vacation with its 5-star hotels, private beaches and a mix of white sand and clean blue water. Under the star-laden skies, each festivity becomes more alive. Goa greens and wildlife makes for a nature lover's ideal hotspot. If you are a food adventurer, you may want to visit the gorgeous spice gardens and try a glassful of cashew feni. Goa provides a respite, not just for the tourists on an appointment with nature, it is also the place for crazy parties and a vivacious night-life. The ultimate tourist destination of India, Goa promises to be something special for all types of travellers.

Top Things To Do In Goa

Anjuna beach

Baga Beach

Calangute Beach

Photos of Goa

Places to Stay in Goa

Goa has good and many places to stay for all categories of travellers. Whether you're on a shoestring budget and want a cheap shack or you're on the splurging spree and want to have the luxurious 5 star stay, you will find options.

North Goa has a lot of options to stay around Baga, Calangute and Anjuna beaches. For someone looking to enjoy nightlife, water sports and don't mind the crowd, this is a good area to stay. South Goa is good if you are looking to roam around more serene options.

Commuting Within Goa

Beaches in Goa are far apart and it stretches more than 100 km from north to south. Bus connectivity is good for popular areas of Goa and fares are low and still gives you a great view of the city. But buses are not a great option if you are looking for beach hopping or going to hang around til late night. You could rent a motorcycle or a scooter if you have a valid license. The rent starts from 250 per day per bike like Honda Activa or around 400 per day for Royal Enfield bikes. This excludes petrol costs. Riding on bikes is the most popular way of commuting in Goa for young tourists, including foreigners. You can also hire a cab, with or without a chauffeur to roam around. It starts from Rs.1000 per day for a simple hatchback. However, finding parking spots close to all beaches could be a problem whereas bikes give you the flexibility of going pretty close to the beach to park.

How often does one boast about walking on a frozen river in a dreamlike destination? Stamped as one of the most thrilling experiences for an adventure aficionado, the Chadar trek route connects villages in the Zanskar valley deep in the mountains with Chilling and the frozen Zanskar River.

Bringing back the vigour of younger days, the once-in-a-lifetime experience will make you come across breathtaking sights. It also gives you the much-needed nudge to be physically fit before you even get there.