Travelers spending a week or more in Pondicherry should take a break to visit this mystical shrine at least once. If you worship the presiding deity, who is another form of Lord Ganesha, with complete dedication and desire, it is claimed that he will remove all barriers from your life and grant all of your requests.
History of Manakula Vinayagar Temple:
There are two intriguing legends associated with the Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple, which has a history that dates back at least 500 years. It is reported that in 1688 when France was still in power, the French constructed a fort next to the shrine.
They began tossing the Ganesha statue into the sea in an attempt to attack their fort by shifting the Vinayagar Temple from its present location. To their amazement, though, the idol would magically resurface each time they did. When the French people saw this, they gave up and devotedly followed the Lord.
An additional old legend surrounding this temple claims that some 300 years ago, a saint with a broad forehead and sparkling eyes achieved samadhi at this sacred location after being freed. Ever since, it has been regarded as a fortunate location for newborns.
Architecture of Manakula Vinayagar Temple:
The Vinayagar Temple, which boasts a typical Dravidian architecture deserving of high respect, is exquisitely embellished with a variety of friezes and stucco sculptures that enhance the entire structure’s remarkable appearance.
Encompassing an expansive 7913 square feet, the focal point of this temple is the 18-foot-tall gold-laminated Kodi kambam. The deity of Lord Ganesha perched atop the golden chariot is another intriguing element. The golden chariot was constructed completely out of teak wood and gold racks, using only donations offered by temple followers. Just to give you an idea, this chariot costs roughly 75 lakhs and weighs 7.5 kg of gold overall.
The exquisite architectural layout also includes a prahara, raja gopuram, and mandapam where the gods’ statues are housed. In addition to Ganesha, the temple houses the idols of numerous other significant deities, such as Shiva, Parvati, Murugan, and Shri Krishna. In addition, there is an elephant named Lakshmi who, every day from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, blesses individuals with her trunk.
Timings of Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Pondicherry
It is accessible to its followers every day from 9:30 PM to 12:30 PM during the day and from 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM. An hour is the suggested amount of time to explore. The Temple in Pondicherry Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar does not charge admission.
How to Reach Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple:
By Air: Experience hassle-free travel with a direct trip to Pondicherry Airport from Hyderabad or Bangalore. Only these two cities’ planes arrive at the city’s domestic airport. If you’re from a different city, though, it should be easy to find a connecting flight from places like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Udaipur, Kochi, etc.
The Chennai International Airport is thought to be the closest escape for travelers from abroad. After landing at either of the airports, visitors can tour their preferred destination by renting a private cab from the top Pondicherry car rental companies list.
By Train: Taking the train is another easy way to get to Pondicherry. The closest station, Pondicherry Railway Station, is barely 1.7 kilometers away and provides excellent train access to other major Indian cities. You can then search for local transportation to get to the various parts of the city.
By Road/Self-Drive: If you want to take in the breathtaking vistas and captivating landscape all along the trip, opt to drive yourself to Pondicherry. For someone who enjoys driving and the outdoors, taking a road trip to the city is nothing short of a fantasy. Additionally, there is a fleet of both state-owned and private buses that run frequently to and from the location. Thus, you need not be concerned about anything. Visit official website of liturgical temples to know more about Temples in Chennai.