Anantya in the Village – Vakula
Older than 2 millennia, Tirunelveli is an ancient place that has stood the test of time, many different rulers, and held on to its never wavering faith. A village close by stands testament to these thousands of years of history; Alwarthirunagiri is the birthplace of the revered Alwar saint Nammalwar; ‘Alwar’ in Tamil means ‘the immersed’, and this village, like the great saint, is immersed in Vaishnavik devotion and spirituality. Nammalvar is the 5th and one of the most important Alwar of the 12 Alwars, Vishnu worshiping poet-saints of the Bhakti movement in Tamil Nadu more than 1,500 years ago.
The village has a beautiful temple where Nammalwar is believed to have worshiped and composed poems in praise of Vishnu. This temple is one of the 108 Divyashetram (108 Holy Vishnu Temples that all Vishnu worshipers should try to visit in their lifetime). The temple is also one of the Nava Thirupati, 9 temples, each one associated with one of the Nava Grahams (nine planets or cosmic bodies), which are all said to have been worshipped by Nammalvar.
Nammalwar was a prolific composer, composing more than 1000 poems. His poems are rich in philosophy, mythology, spiritual realization and descriptions of sacred temples. His poems that speak of love capture the imagination with their play on love, the love of God being presented in terms of the earthly love between a man and a woman.
The homestay stands right at the side of the temple, a temple which was prominent even in the times of Nammalvar and after his death at the age of 35 became even more revered. The street outside the house, has reverberated with the footsteps of every important Alvar saint who followed Nammalvar. Inscriptions in the temple tell us that emperors like Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola, Maravarman Sundara Pandya and the Venad Rulers of Kerala have passed by in procession on the very street outside the house.
Anantya In the Village is a project of the love of the literary brilliance of Nammalvar, a tribute to his bhakti and a hope to give traveler’s a home to stay, to be enveloped around and within by Nammalwar’s verses, to visit the sacred temple in the village and to experience village life in the comfort of modern amenities. This homestay promoted by Anantya Resorts is called “Vakula” , after the flower which was Nammalwar’s favourite.
This boutique homestay was brought together by Pradeep Chakravarty, a published writer and an avid historian who loves to talk about the temples of Tamil Nadu and the family who owns Anantya Resorts. Pradeep and the Anantya family both hail from the Tirunelveli region and together they hope to showcase this area, its vibrancy, its heritage and unique culture to travellers. Vakula will pay homage to the literary brilliance of the saint “Nammalwar”, his bhakti and poetry, and be the warm home where a traveller can stay, enveloped in Nammalwar’s moving verses. Pradeep and the Anantya family also urge people to return to their roots, by experiencing life in an ancient village seeped in spirituality and tradition, while staying in the comfort of modern amenities. A closer look at the rural life of temple towns in Tamil Nadu will reveal how these religious places have influenced and curated the culture, food and traditions of the region. These nuances that can very often be overlooked when visiting the larger, bustling and more popular temple structures; where the local flavour is lost in the sea of tourists. Have a wonderful guided introduction to this inspiring and deeply spiritual place.
With scrumptious and fresh food that reflects the palette of the Vishnu worshipping communities of Tamil Nadu, access to the local handicrafts of the area, art, architecture and spirituality, a stay at Vakula will be unique and memorable.
Experience the old world charm of a traditional Tamil Nadu house, with all the modern amenities for a comfortable stay.
Number of rooms : 8 , 4 on the ground level and 4 on first floor
Common spaces : Reception, Common hall , Restaurant and a Courtyard
Large and spacious rooms are tastefully furnished to evoke a sense of timelessness. The comfortable wooden beds, spacious old style almirahs and a quaint writing desk give it a heritage quality that any traveller will enjoy experiencing along with the beautiful stained glass windows. The thick wooden beams, the lime washed walls, and the small but beautiful courtyard with a tree offer a glimpse into rural Tamilnadu houses.
Each room has a spacious and well appointed attached bathroom.
Dining
Taste authentic Tamil cuisine that excite your taste buds with an incredible variety of dishes. Flavourful and simple vegetarian food that reflects the regional specialities of Tamil Nadu is served at Vakula. Understand the culture of the local region through a culinary experience.
Location
Nearest Airport :
- Tuticorin : 22kms and a 35-40 mins drive
- Trivandrum : 180 kms , 41/2 hours drive
Nearest Railhead
- Alwar Thirunagari : 5 mins drive
- Thirunelveli : 42 kms and an hours drive
Distances from other tourist attractions
Madurai : 180 kms , 3 1/2 hours drive
Anantya by the lake ( chittar ): 135 kms, 3 hours drive
Kanyakumari : 107 kms , 2 hours drive
