In a proposal to promote religious tourism in Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has introduced a new temple tour bus service covering Navagraha temples in and around the Cauvery Delta districts. The inaugural service was launched by Transport Minister S S Sivasankar and has received an overwhelming response from the public.
TNSTC Navagraha Temple Tour
- Route: The bus service will cover Navagraha temples located in the Cauvery delta districts.
- Duration: The tour will be completed in a day, starting at 6 am from the Kumbakonam bus stand and returning by 7.30 pm.
- Ticket Price: Priced at Rs 750 per head, the ticket includes travel, breakfast, lunch, and visits to each of the nine temples.
- Schedule: The tour will run on weekends, with online tickets already sold out for the entire month due to high demand.
Minister Sivasankar expressed satisfaction with the response to the Navagraha temple tour and announced plans for a similar bus service to cover the six prominent temples of lord Murugan, known as Arupadai Veedu, located in various districts of Tamil Nadu.
TNSTC Arupadai Veedu Bus Service
- Temples Covered: The service will connect six major Murugan temples – Palani, Swamimalai, Tiruchendur, Thirupparankundram, Pazhamudhircholai, and Tiruttani.
- Duration: Unlike the Navagraha temple tour, the Arupadai Veedu bus service will take a few days, involving different divisions of TNSTC.
The Navagraha temple tour is operated using one of the newly inducted Bharat Stage (BS-VI) buses, ensuring a comfortable and eco-friendly travel experience. Passengers will be allowed to spend 30 minutes to 2 hours at each temple, with adequate time allocated for breakfast and lunch breaks.
With these initiatives, TNSTC aims to boost tourism and provide pilgrims with a convenient and affordable mode of transport to visit these sacred sites.
Source : timesofindia
