STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES OF INDIA
TAMIL NADU
Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirapalli
also known popularly as Trichy is located on the banks of the river Cauvery.
It is situated 320 kms from Chennai, 150 kms from Madurai.
Trichy was
originally under the early Cholas & then passed into the hands of the
Pallavas. There was an ongoing struggle between the Pandyas and the
Pallavas to gain Trichy, and finally the Cholas took control. Later
Trichy was under the control of the Nayaks of Madurai, the Marathas,
the Nawabs of Carnatic, the French and finally the British. The Nayaks
contributed the most and built the town and the Rock Fort. This fort
played a major role in the 18th century Carnatic wars.
Rock Fort
(Uchhi Pilliar Koil)
The Rock Fort
(Malai Kottai - Tamil)is a prominent landmark in Trichy. The 83m
high rock is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land. This rock is
one of the oldest in the world, almost 3,800 years old, as old as the rocks
of Greenland and older than the Himalayas. Four hundred and thirty four
steps lead to the ancient temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha - Ucchi Pilliar
Koil.
Half way to
the top is located a shrine for Lord Siva - Thayumanaswamy or Mathrubutheswarar.
The Lingam is a natural projection of the rock. The history of the
temple is inscribed on the walls & the Lingam has a golden roof.
There is a hundred pillared hall.
At the foot
of the rock is the Teppakulam where the annual float festival takes place
in teh month of March.
There are two
excavated cave temples of the Pallava era. The Government of Tamil
Nadu Museum located on Bharathiar road houses a wonderful collection of
bronze and granite sculptures, hand woven cottons, glass bangles, anklets,
palm leaf boxes, wooden and clay toys, mats. Nearby is the St. John's
church built in 1812.
Srirangam
Srirangam is located
8 kms from Trichy. It is an island that is formed by the bifurcation
of the river Cauvery at a place called Mukkombu(upper Anicut). The southern
brach is called Cauvery, and the northern branch is called Kollidam or
coleroon.
Srirangam
Vaishnav temple is the most important among the 108 Divya Desams;
one
among the Pancharanga Kshetrams along the course of the Kaveri(the other
kshetrams are Koyiladi (Anbil) and Kumbhakonam, Indalur (Mayiladuturai)
and Srirangapatnam (Karnataka);
and
the foremost among the eight spontaneous shrines of Lord Vishnu.
The
temple, one of the largest in India boasts of 21 magnificient towers built
around the 13th and 14th century, the biggest & most beautiful ones
being the ones on the south (at the entrance -236 ft) and east (Vellai
Gopuram-146 ft) of the 4th prakaram. It is surrounded by seven walls,
within which the town is located. The island town is connected with
the mainland by a bridge with 32 arches.
The main sannadhi
of the Lord is crowned with a gold plated Vimanam. There are a total
of 7 concentric prakarams around this shrine, with several mandapams, tanks
and mini shrines. There is a 1000 pillared hall of the later Chola
period in the 4th prakaram.
The eight pillars
with the huge horses belong to the Vijayanagar period. There is a
Garuda mandapam in the 3rd prakaram & its pillars were additions by
the Nayaks of Madurai.
The Moolavar
is Sri Ranganathar seen in Bujanaga Sayanam (reclining) posture facing
south. Thaayaar is Sri Ranganayagi. Utsavar is Nam Perumal
in standing posture. The theerthams are Chandra and Surya Pushkarini(in
the third prakaram), Cauvery, Kollidam, Vedasrungam.
Jambukeswarar
Temple - Thiruvanaikaval
This temple, 2kms
from Srirangam is dedicated to Lord Siva. This is the Appu Sthalam
among the Pancha Bootha Sthalams (the others are - Tiruvannamalai(Thejo
sthalam - Fire, Kanchipuram (Prithvi sthalam - Earth), Kalahasti
(Vayu sthalam - Air) & Chidambaram (Akasa sthalam - Space). The Siva
Lingam (Appu Lingam) under a holy Jambu tree is submerged in water from
a spring. There are 7 gopurams and is surrounded by 5 walls.
The sculptures & carvings are of the Chola period. It is believed
that an elephant worhsipped the Lord in this sthalam & hence the Thiruvaanaikaval
(Aanai in Tamil - Elephant). The Goddess is Akhilandeswari.
Details
Kallanai
Kallanai or the
Grand Anaicut is an ancient dam across the river Cauvery. The work
was started by Karikala Cholan in the 2nd century. This is a peaceful
picnic spot.
Mukkombu
(Upper Anaicut)
Mukkombu or Upper
Anaicut is situated 18 kms from Tiruchy and is a wonderful picnic spot.
The Kollidam branches off from the river Cauvery here. This is also
a beautiful picnic spot.
Sittannavaasal
This is the site
of ancient Jain caves, the monastries of the Jain monks, located 58 kms
from Tiruchy. There are frescoes, images of the Jain Teerthankaras
on the cave walls.
Details
Murugan temple
at Vayaloor (8 kms), Maariamman temple at Samayapuram (20 kms), Murugan
temple and peacock sanctuary at Viralimalai (30 kms) are other interesting
locations near Tiruchy.
Gangaikondacholapuram
This temple
was constructed by the king Rajendra Cholan to celebrate his victories.
It is built in the style of the Thanjai Peria Koil. The gopuram is
3mts shorter than the Thanjai Peria koil gopuram, but the Lingam here is
4 mts taller. The sculptures and carvings in this temple are a wonderful
testimony to the craftsmanship of the Chola period. Some of the interesting
sculptures in this temple are the Nartana Ganesha, a lion-headed well and
a wonderful image of king Rajendra being crowned by Siva & Parvati.
Details
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