Trichy
Tiruchirappalli is Situated on the banks of the river Cauvery.
Tiruchy is a fine blend of tradition and modernity built around
the Rock Fort. Apart from the fort, there are several churches
colleges and missions dating back to the 1760s. With its
excellent infrastructure facilities, Tiruchy will serve as a good
base to see central Tamilnadu.
Rock Fort -
The view from the fort is spectacular. The
Vinayaka temple at the top is reached by climbing a tunnel in
rock. Half way up is the Sri Thayumanaswamy Temple, dedicated to
Lord Siva. It has a 100-pillar hall and a Vimana covered with
gold. On the southern face of the rock are several beautifully
carved rock-cut cave temples of the Pallava period.
Tiruvanaikkaval
The temple here has a Siva lingam
almost submerged in water, which flows from a subterranean spring
in the sanctum sanctorum. The Lord's name Jambukeswarar is
derived from a legend that an elephant once worshipped Him under
the holy Jambu tree.
Srirangam
The most important pilgrim center in the
district is located in an island just 5kms from Trichy.
Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of the Cauvery on one side
and its tributary Kollidam on the other, is a 600-acre
island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri
Ranganatha Temple. There are not less than 22 gopurams, one of
which is the tallest in India. The 72m high 13-tiered Rajagopuram
was built in 1987 and dominates the landscape for miles around,
while the remaining 21 gopurams were built between the 14th and
17th centuries.
