Main aim of the trip was to spend the Saturday, visit the temple, purchase saree for Deepavali.
As usual trip started from home by 7.00 am picked up my friend from Chromepet, First halt was the customary Eraniamman at Vnadalur. Worshipped from outside the temple as there was screen put for the idol.
GST road was with normal traffic for 7.30 am, neither dense nor a freeway.
Previous day recharged Axis fastag with Axis bank net pay, amount deducted from bank but not added to the fastag, strange ways Axis fastag works, it doesn't have a complaint page, so nobody can find out what happened to the payment. Strange ways axis bank works.
To raise a complaint one needs a service request number, to get a service request number one should register a complaint. If it is a person who designed the website, i think he/she has never encountered a cyclical reference in excel in his life. Anyways they are paid to design that way so what else to say. Only wish, improve axis bank improve.
Reached Paranur queue length was 3 vehicles, but it didn't move for some strange reason, cleared and moved out by 8.20am. Tollbooth counter person told to move, on moving another staff jumped in front signalling to stop, understood the axis magic was working, but luckily fastag was scanned with a gunreader and allowed to go.
As usual Axis fastag didn't care to send a SMS, not sure whether toll was double deducted, or balance is available. Strange are the ways of Axis fastag working.
My friend told he has booked a Celerio and awaiting delivery on Oct 13, and told paid 2000 for a fastag, Advised him to get any Fatag of his choice but clearly stay away from Axis fastag at any cost. He asked me if the dealer gets Axis fastag what to do, my reply cancel the car booking. He was looking awestruck. I told in that way you will have a joyful ownership.
Started searching for a restaurant for breakfast and usual there was not a favourite one, more of the Kumbakonam coffee type, moved on and on with a roving eye for a breakfast stop.
At Melmaruvathur found Balajee bhavan and halted for a breakfast. Food was tasty service was good, washrooms were ok. Completed the favourite dosa , poori took a pitstop snap. and moved on.
Next toll Athur was crossed at 9.40 here cleared without issues as many lanes were fastag enabled.
Entered Tindivanam town and looked for Lakshmi narasimha temple, Google map has strange ways of direction, directed me to the bus stand, which was blocked by buses at the exit, reversed came out and reached the temple through narrow street where only two two wheelers can go.
Friend completed darshan and proceeded towards Vikravandi, again google map took us to the railway station dead end, found the way and touched GST road to reach Vikravandi by 10.56. Fastag was free of vehicles crossed out and no sms for transaction came.
Took vikravandi to kumbakonam road, 4 lane widening was going on, no sign of progress, in an embankment formation 5 excavators were standing in a row idle. not sure for how many days.
The road condition was horrible, it is a nice way to explain, because other words will add adjectives to the road.
Cursed again for choosing this road, reached Koliyanur took a left turn to proceed on Pondicherry road towards Valavanur, rushing to reach Poovarasankuppam before the temple closes.
Took the turn at Valavanur bus stand and reached Poovarasankuppam by 11.10 am . Finished the darshan in twenty minutes, took some photos, and started towards Siruvanthadu.
By 12 pm reached the famous silk shops town and entered one shop to purchase the silk sarees. spent about 3 hours in two shops and came out with a heavy purchase. Good thing now many shops started accepting credit cards, when visited previous time had to look out for ATM to get cash for payment.
Feeling hungry started towards Vikravandi, as there were no restaurants worth mentioning, Doubtful of lunch reached Vikravandi Vasantha Bhavan by 3.30 pm, ordered 4 Lunch, as expected Lunch was available only for 3, took whatever was available and started by 3.50 pm from Vikravandi.
Road was relatively free for a saturday afternoon ride, reached Athur by 4.25pm and Paranur by 5.10 pm and Home by 5.40 pm.
Still the time of Publishing this blog 7th Oct 3.30 pm no fastag sms received.
Day well spent
