Pray about it as much as you think of it.
Towards the end of September, I made a pilgrim trip to Velankanni in Tamil Nadu. It is a coastal town located in the district of Nagapattinam. Famously known to be a Catholic pilgrim centre, it houses the ‘Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health’.
Also commonly called as Our Lady of Velankanni, the shrine grew in popluarity and devotion following the three miracles – the apparition of the Madonna and Child to a slumbering shepherd boy, the healing of a handicapped buttermilk vendor, and the rescue of Portuguese sailors from a deadly sea storm.
When we arrived in town, we stayed at the SPT Lodge, which is near the Velankanni Bus Stop. The room was clean, decent, air conditioned and good enough for our 2-day stay. Our room was on the third floor & could see the church from above. Later we had dinner at the Sea Shell Hotel, which is next to the lodge. We relished Dosa-Sambhar & Parotta with Chicken Curry.
In the morning, we visited the Naduthitu Church, Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, and the Ave Maria Building. We had our brunch in Hotel Saravana Bhavan Pure Veg Restaurant located on the Main Road. If you want to relish South Indian meal, you must visit this restaurant.
Near the Main church there are several shops selling holy items like candles, metal offerings, medals, rosaries, novena books, etc. At night, we had dinner at the Velankanni Church Canteen.
On Day 2, I had Chicken Noodles at the Sea Shell Hotel. This time we visited the Old Velankanni Church. It was so hot in the afternoon and I was dehydrated. Near this church you can collect holy water which is sourced from the well in front of it.
In the evening, we visited the Annai Shopping Centre & Beach Road, and did some shopping. We had Chicken Noodles and Chicken Biryani served with Curd Rice, Lemon Rice, Sheera, Egg Curry, Raita & Biseleri Pop Orange for dinner at Hotel Chandra.
We also visited Karaikal Iyangars, where I bought Chocolate Bar Loaf, Butter Cream Cake Pack and Brownie. It was delicious, I wish I had more brownie. Next we ventured into Uma Bakery. There we found several brand name snacks that you would not find in town.
☆ Tips for your next visit to Velankanni :
- Wear Sunscreen every two to three hours. 🧴
- If you roam in the afternoon sun keep your head covered. Keep headgear with you. (Cap, scarves, shawls, sunglasses) 🧢
- Stay hydrated. 💧
- Support local businesses. 🛍
- Embrace local food & cuisine. 🥘
☆ Locations of Places Mentioned Above :
- Velankanni
- Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
- SPT Lodge
- Hotel Saravana Bhavan Pure Veg Restaurant
- Annai Shopping Centre
- Hotel Chandra
- Karaikal Iyangars
- Uma Bakery
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