Places to Visit

Trichy Rock Fort
The 83 meter high Rock Fort is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city. The rock is one of the oldest in the world approximately 3,800 million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas. 344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where there are inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C. The fort played an important part during the Carnatic wars and according to an inscription mainly contributed to lay the foundations of the British Empire in India Atop the rock is the Uchipillaiyar koil, a temple dedicated to Lord Vinayaka from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of Trichy. A flight of steps leads to the mathrubutheswarar or Thayumanaswami temple, dedicated to Lord Siva where the lingam is a projection of the rock itself. Below the Siva temple are two Pallava cave temples that have beautiful sculptures of the 6th and 7th centuries. At the foot of the Rock Fort are a tank and a pavilion which are used furring the float festival of the temples. Near the tank is the house where Robert Clive lived. The fine sculptures and bronzes of various periods are the attractive items of the Museum. Open on all clays except Mondays and Government Holidays from 8 am, to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ph: 0431-270462

Thiruvanaikkaval (Jambu)
Thiruvanaikkaval is located 5 km away from Trichy. The Sri Jambukeshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and has five concentric walls and seven Gopurams. It is built around a Siva Lingam partly submerged in water that comes from a spring in the sanctum sanctorum, Non Hindus are not allowed inside the temple.The complex was built at the same time when Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple was also built, open daily between 6 am to 1 pm & between 4pm to 9.30 pm.

Ayyapan Temple
The temple is located near the district court of Trichy, is a peaceful temple and attracts many people in all week days. This temple is famous for it discipline and neatness. Special pooja’s are conducted for unmarried, child expecting peoples. Open : 5 a.m. to 10.50 a.m. & 5 p.m. to 8.50 p.m.

Athmanathaswamy Temple
This temple contains graceful life-size sculptures and is noted for its zephyr (granite roof) work. This temple was built in the 10th century A.D.

Samayapuram Temple
The State of Tamil Nadu has several divine abodes of Goddess Shakthi. Shakthi cults prevalent in different ages are manifested in the temples. One of such divine abodes is Arulmighu Mariamman, Samayapuram in Trichy District. This Temple is known to occupy a prominent position among the temples dedicated to Goddess Shakthi. This temple is situated in beautiful land scape enriched by the Holy River Cauvery.

The Temple is Situated in the Chennai - Trichy National Highway 15 K.M. from Trichy. Trichy can be reached by train from Chennai, Madurai, and places, and also by airways from Chennai. The Goddess Mariamman is very powerful, devotees. wishes are fulfilled by the Goddess. Persons affected by Chickenpox and Smallpox come to this place, stay here and pray the Goddess for speedy recovery. Abisheka Theertham (Divine Water) is sprinkled on them after Pooja and they get recovered very quickly. There is a separate rest hall for their stay in the temple.

In ancient time This region was ruled by Chola Kings. Samayapuram is also known by the names Kannanur, Kannanpuram, Vikramapuram and Mahalipuram in ancient times. Flower sprinkling (Poochoridal) festival is conducted during the month of March and Chithirai Car festival is conducted during the month of April. Devotees offer prayer by rolling themselves around the temple prakaram (corridor) known as Angapradatchinam.

Oomaiyan Kottai
This is here captured rebels were imprisoned by the British. It was built in the year 1687 by King Sethupathi of Ramanathupuram. The Siva temple has some inscriptions of music. There are two shrines in the Vishnu temple, and one here the Lord is represented in a reclining posture is particularly remarkable as it is the largest of its kind in the country. On the walls behind the idol arc beautiful carvings depicting Vishnu and the serpent Adisesha chasing away rakshasas (demons) by spewing fire and poison

Gunaseelam
24 km from Trichy on the North bank of Cauvery River. in Triuchirapalli Musiri Road. There is a Vaishnavite Temple and the name of the God is Lord Prasanna Venkateshwarar. Gunaseelam Temple is a place for worship, festivals and also for mental relief or alleviation.

Sri Kokarneswarar Temple
The rock-cut cave temple of Sri Lokarneswarar Brahadambal at Tirukokarnam is believed to have built during Mahendravarma Pallava’s period.

Thiruvellarai
Sri Pundareekaksha Perumal Temple, at Thiruvellarai, 25 km away from Tiruchirapalli town, is very ancient and it is the foremost of the 108 Divya Desams sanctified by the songs rendered by Azhwars. Mangalasasanam has been made to this shrine by Periazhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar.

VVayalur Murugan Temple
8 km from Trichy. Located on the outskirts of Trichy. There is a small Lord Muruga Temple set in the midst of lush green vegetation.

Erakudi - Sirunavallur, Granarey
There is an ancient granary in this village. This was built for emergency storage during the Nawab of Aicot period. This stucco granary has lot of fine sculptures.

Uraiyur
This is the second of the two Sthalams in Tiruchirappalli, the first being the Rock Fort Temple. Uraiyur was the ancient capital of the early Cholas and the ancient city is believed to have been destroyed by a sand storm. Pugazh Chola Nayanar and Go Chenkan Cholan were born here, as was Tiruppaanaazhwar. Uraiyur is alsoknown as Kozhimanagaram as legend holds that a fowl blessed with divine powers defeated an elephant in a duel. Go Chenkan Cholan the builder of 78 Maadakkovils is said to have born here. Ph 0431-2761869.

Uthamar Koil
Uthamar Koil in Karumbanur is one of the most famous shrines in 108 Vaishnavik Padalshtalam. This temple is situated eight kilometers North of Trichy Fort Station , 4 km North of Srirangam Railway station. Here is the temple where the Lord Creator – Brahma, the lord for the well being of the universe – Vishnu and the destroyer of universe – Siva take their abode. This place is also known as “ Kadambavanam” or “Trimurthishektram”.

JalliKattu
In Suriyur, Manama and a few villages around Tiruchy, during the Pongal festival, Bull catching (Jallikattu) is taking place on mostly Kanum Pongal days. SILLAMBATAM in ancient days is being used for defense and for good physic. In this district Chola vadiyar is familiar for this art. Almost every village is having training centers for this martial art. One grandmaster named Chola vadiyar at Tiruchirapalli, is giving good training in this martial art.

Grand Anaicut – Kallanai
Not far from the island is one of the greatest engineering marvels of India. The Grand Anaicut built by Karikalan Chola in the 2nd century A.D. to harness the waters of the cauvery. Made of stone, the dam is 329 m long and 20 m wide and still very much in use. Additions have been made in the form of a road bridge on top of the dam. This is a good picnic spot.

Government Museum
This is located on Bharathidasan Road. Bronze and stone sculptures are on display here. The museum is open on all days except Fridays. Time 10.00 Hrs to 17 Hrs. Entrance fee for Indians Adult Rs. 5 Children Rs. 3 Students Rs 2 Foreigners Rs. 100 There are so many sculptures like Mahavirar, Buddha, and Vishnu etc.

Mukkombu (Upper Anaicut)
18 km from Trichy. At the head of the Srirangam Island, there is another dam called Upper Anaicut or Mukkombu which is about 685 m long. Constructed in the 19th century across Kollidam. This dam has been forced into three sections instead of one long stretch 1’ because of the shape of the island. This is also good spot for picnics.

Pachamalai
80 km from Trichy. Pachamalai is a spreading green hill range via Thuraiyur. It is a picnic spot to enjoy nature. Pachai means green and the place is Lush green and is known for the tribal.

Nadhirsha Dharga
The dharga is the important holy place for muslims in Trichy. It was built more than 1000 years. A famous festival ‘urs’ is celebrated in the mosque. Devotees from many places visit this Dharga and believe that they get self satisfaction.

Planetarium
5 Km from Trichy. Anna Science Centre/Planetarium is located on Pudukkottai Road, near Airport . Programmed in Tamil and English versions are shown daily. Time: In Tamil 10.30am, 1.00pm, and 3.30p.m. In English 11.45a.m., 2.15p.m. and 4.45p.m. Ph: 0431-2331921.

Puliancholai
72 km from Trichy. a place of scenic beauty. This forest area is cool and green with I the added attraction of the small water falls and a stream. Puliancholai is a beautiful place for one day excursion.

Lourdes Church
This church is located near to Rock-Fort Teppakulam. Church of our Lady of Lourdes is the replica of the Basillica of Lourdes, the world famous place of pilgrimage in Southern France.

Srirangam
Srirangam is located 7 km from Trichy. Which is the district’s most important pilgrim centre. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of river 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 Ranganathaswami Temple. There are 21 Gopurams, among which the Rajagopuram is the largest in South India. The 72m high 13-tiered Gopuram was built in 1987 and dominates the landscape for miles around, while the remaining 20 Gopurams were built between the 14th and 17th centuries. Originally, there was just a small shrine where the temple is today, but it was added on to and expanded by the Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas, Hoysalas, the Vijayanagar Kings and Nayaks of Madurai and today Srirangam stands as the biggest temple complex in the country. Srirangam Historical Background:
The temple of Sri Ranganathaswami at Srirangam is situated in an area which boasts an historic past rich in conquest and a civilization thousands of years old containing the most ancient, genuine and recognizable traces left by the aboriginal Indians in the period before the Aryans settled throughout the Indian sub- continent. Here also are to be found many great Hindu temples, of which the best known are those of kanchipuram (Conjeeveram) Chidambaram, Thanjavur (Tanjore) and Madurai-and the largest of all, the temple of Srirangam.