It was rather an eventful trip to Srirangam this weekend. After a long wait to realize this dream (??), an opportunity finally came through a friend’s marriage at Srirangam. After standing in the queue for over an hour at Koyumbedu CMBT, I could finally manage a ticket to Trichy on a SETC (State Express Transport Corporation) bus. With the scorching sun spitting venom and the temperature soaring in the direction of the sky, I could luckily manage a seat for myself in an AC bus.
The bus started sharp at 10 on a bright Sunday morning and so did the TV in the bus (it was a Video coach for god’s sake). In a journey spanning close to over 6 hours (with a short 15 mins lunch break at Tindivanam), the bus reached Srirangam at around 4.15 in the evening. The journey was fantastic with the roads being excellent for most part of the journey. I was a bit awestruck seeing a number of over bridges/ flyovers coming up on the highway (trust me, I could count atleast 10-12 of these)
It would have been totally unjust on my part and also that my visit to Srirangam would have not been complete if I did not visit the Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple. This temple is an architectural wonder, a real beauty. The Rajagopuram [see pic below] is a colossal structure combined with beautiful architecture. I was just wondering whether any DLF or a GMR could ever build such a lovely structure without deploying any sort of modern technologies. This Gopuram was built hundreds of years ago, during a period when the word “Technology” in itself was unknown. Then the Sannidhanam, with Lord Ranganatha Swamy is a rare position was even more mind blowing.
The bus started sharp at 10 on a bright Sunday morning and so did the TV in the bus (it was a Video coach for god’s sake). In a journey spanning close to over 6 hours (with a short 15 mins lunch break at Tindivanam), the bus reached Srirangam at around 4.15 in the evening. The journey was fantastic with the roads being excellent for most part of the journey. I was a bit awestruck seeing a number of over bridges/ flyovers coming up on the highway (trust me, I could count atleast 10-12 of these)
It would have been totally unjust on my part and also that my visit to Srirangam would have not been complete if I did not visit the Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple. This temple is an architectural wonder, a real beauty. The Rajagopuram [see pic below] is a colossal structure combined with beautiful architecture. I was just wondering whether any DLF or a GMR could ever build such a lovely structure without deploying any sort of modern technologies. This Gopuram was built hundreds of years ago, during a period when the word “Technology” in itself was unknown. Then the Sannidhanam, with Lord Ranganatha Swamy is a rare position was even more mind blowing.
I rushed back to the Kalyana Mandapam for the muhurtham. By 10 the marriage was over and so was my Srirangam trip. I realized that it was time to return back to Chennai. I took a bus from Srirangam to the Trichy Central Bus Terminus. I initially boarded a non-AC deluxe bus, but was tempted when I saw the AC bus which just arrived in the adjacent platform. I immediately disembarked from the deluxe bus and got into the AC bus. The bus was supposed to start at 1, but what followed was something that took me by surprise, a Government bus being seized by a private party (heard that they had some Court Attachment Order in hand).
I was a bit baffled but nevertheless had to disembark from the bus and got into another bus waiting just behind. I realize that this is not the first time such a thing has happened. Sometime in 2007, a TNSTC bus had killed a passer-by and the legal heirs of the deceased had filed a case against the State Transport Corporation seeking compensation. The Court had ordered compensation payable to the victim and when TNSTC failed to pay up the compensation, the Court had ordered attachment of the buses.
The Order of the Court is inarguably correct. But my only feeling was that the buses should have been seized from the depot rather than from the bus terminus and moreso when the bus is loaded with passengers. Probably they never realize the amount of hardship and trouble it would cause to the general public (the passengers). I had no other choice but to disembark the bus. Luckily for me and others travelling with me, we could find another AC bus waiting for us.
Overall, the Srirangam trip was eventful. I hope to visit Srirangam again to explore the Ranganathaswamy temple better and perhaps also visit other nearby places and maybe also take a plunge in the Cauvery river (of course subject to Karnataka’s generosity)
