Pongal is the harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God. It is celebrated to mark an auspicious beginning of Uttarayan in South India, Tamil Nadu. Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu is observed for four days where the dish named- Pongal is made (boiling of rice until the pot overflows). Sweet dishes are made with harvested cereals, sugarcane and turmeric during this time. The festival is observed from Sangam Age 200 B.C. to 300 A.D. Explorers who want to know key details can plan a Pongal vacation with IRCTC Tourism.
Pongal tour commences its journey from Madurai at midnight. The Pongal vacation tour package gives travellers an enthralling experience to explore traditions and rituals that are associated with Pongal. The Pongal vacation tour packages on IRCTC covers all the prominent places such as Nanjangud, Melkote, Srirangapatinam, Talacauvery, Coorg, Mysore.
Nanjangud is situated in Mysore district, Karnataka. Nanjangud is dedicated to the Supreme Lord Shiva, also called as Sri Nanjundeshwara, (the lord who drank poison to save the Earth). Talacauvery is the source of Cauveri river, located on Brahmagiri hills near Bhagamandala in Coorg district of Karnataka. Mysore is located in the foothills of the Chamundi Hills about 145.2 kms towards southwest of Bangalore. It was the Kingdom of Mysore that was ruled by the Wadiyar dynasty. It is popularly known as the cultural capital of Karnataka.
The package also includes night stay/fresh up at dharamshalas, halls and dormitories on multi sharing basis. Morning tea/coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner and one litre drinking water is served per day. Tour escort and security is also provided on train.