If you want to travel to any place by road, what will you do? Either you may go in your own vehicle or hire a taxi. You’ll book a hotel within your budget, right?
But what about a person with a disability? What do we need to do?
I want to share my recent personal experience. For a long time, I’ve wanted to visit the Bruhadeeswara Temple in Tanjavur. I planned to go along with my mom, niece, and her husband.
I started searching for accessible hotels in Tanjavur, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find any. Yathumagi Tours & Travels helped me find a hotel in Kumbhakonam, which is an hour away from Tanjavur. I had to accept that option, as managing in an inaccessible hotel would be impossible for me.
On the day of travel, right at the moment we were about to leave, my vehicle suddenly stopped working. I decided to send it for repair and book a taxi. But here came another challenge—It’s difficult for me to use Innova-type vehicles due to their height. I needed a sedan with a large boot space and a carriage for all the luggage. But none of the taxis (sedan models) had a carriage. With all the assistive devices for both me and mom, we needed more space. At that moment, I realised that my own vehicle was the only real option for me. After contacting Hyundai officials, I finally got the vehicle the next afternoon. However, since we had planned the trip over a weekend, our journey was cut short by a day.
On the way, we had to stop for food and to use the restroom, but finding accessible restaurants was another struggle. Many restaurants that claim to be accessible online only have a wheelchair and ramp outside, while their restrooms remain inaccessible. Some people seem to think that having a wheelchair on-site makes them accessible—what an irony!
Luckily, we found an accessible restroom at a petrol bunk, which was a relief.
The hotel where we stayed in Kumbhakonam was fully accessible, and I am so grateful to Yathumagi Tours &Travels for finding that place.
From there, we finally headed to Tanjavur, and I could visit the Tanjavur Big Temple. What an incredible monument it is! I was awestruck by the talent of the sculptors and the sheer size of the granite stones they used.
Since this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, I expected it to be accessible. But to pray to Lord Shiva, we had to climb around 20 large steps—yet another obstacle. I had almost resigned myself to praying from outside due to the inaccessibility, but my mom wasn’t ready to accept that. She urged the guide to find a way to take me inside. After checking with a few visitors, some kind-hearted students stepped forward and offered to lift me in my wheelchair. With their help, I was able to go inside and see the great Siva Lingam. It was a powerful moment, but I still left with a heavy heart knowing my mom couldn’t go inside with me.
With the help of my niece Sahithi and her husband Krishna, we successfully completed the journey, despite all the challenges we faced.
Through this entire experience, I realised once again that I cannot choose a hotel—whether to stay or eat—based on my budget or proximity. I also can’t travel by road comfortably unless it’s in my own vehicle.
Sometimes, I have to pay more just to find accessible facilities, and at other times, even if I have the money, accessible options simply aren’t available.
Can we work together to create a world where accessibility is not a privilege but a right for everyone?
