The initiative of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), Kumbakonam Division, to run a one-day weekend pilgrimage tour of the Navagraha temples in the Delta region could be a trendsetter, provided the State government undertaking identifies one or two potential religious tour packages and offers it at an affordable package.
According to sources, normally the transport corporations operate regular bus services connecting important towns in their jurisdictions such as Dindigul-Palani, Thanjavur-Velankanni, Kumbakonam-Karaikal, Madurai-Rameswaram and so on.
Devotees who cannot afford time and money involved in going for the religious tour packages offered by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) such as the two-day Navagraha tour from Tiruchi that costs about ₹5,000 a person with a night stay on the first day of the tour at Thirukkadaiyur or engage private tourist operators, might opt for the TNSTC’s one-day Navagraha temple tour from Kumbakonam, as the package would cost them around ₹800 per person only.
