There is nothing worse than being stuck in a jam right at the start of your driving holiday. So the first rule is to get out of town before the morning rush. Start out just before the sun wakes up for the day, and you will have a great start. We took the scenic East Coast Road that goes past Mahabalipuram and Puducherry. The road surface is smooth, and the drive is scenic but you need to be really careful since the road is not very wide. And don’t discount the fact that there might be a bus coming on the wrong side of the road on a blind turn. Be alert, keep your speed in check and you should be okay. There are enough fuel pumps on the route, but it’s always advisable to tank up whenever the fuel level drops to less than half a tank. It’s a good idea to carry a packed breakfast that you can make a picnic of on the way. It’s about an eight-hour drive to Chidambaram, so if you leave early you can be there for lunch.
The history of Chidambaram is lost in the mist of history. Legend has it that the two famous saints of South India, Vyagrapada and Patanjali, worshipped Lord Shiva here. Their collective penance bore fruit in the form of Shiva’s cosmic dance. Lord Shiva descended on Earth as Nataraja, the King of Dance, and performed the ananda tandavam, the cosmic dance. The place where Nataraja danced became a sacred ground.
Rishaad Sam Mehta
