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Trichy Temple
Tiruchirappalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. It was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. Trichy 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. The town and its fort, now in Trichy were built by the Nayaks of Madurai. This city has given great Tamil scholars whose contributions to the Tamil literature have been very significant.
The most famous land mark of this bustling town is the Rockfort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. It was one of the main centers around which the wars of the Carnatic were fought in the 18th century during the British-French struggle for supremacy in India. The city is a thriving commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is famous for artificial diamonds, cigars, handloom cloth, glass bangles and wooden and clay toys.
Apart from many tourist centres in Trichy, it is known for a large number of places of worship among devotees for eternal powers and wish fullfilment . There are many temples, churches and mosques around Trichy.
Temples of Trichy.
Venkatasalapathi Temple - Thuraiyur: Prasanna Venkatasalapathi temple lies at the top of Perumalmalai that lies 960 feet above ground level in Pachamalai hills, 3 kms from Thuraiyur in Tiruchirappalli district. This temple is said to be constructed by the grand son of Karikal Chozhan. The kings are later named as Karuppannar and Veeraswamy and they are worshipped in the temple. Musical pillars are available here. The stone sculptures of ten avathars of Lord Vishnu are seen here.The Goddess here is named as Alamelumangai Thayar. All the Saturdays of tamil month of 'puratasi' (September-October ) are celebrated in a grand manner, during that time more number of pilgrims will be visiting this temple. Hundreds of devotees will take part in the Girivalam procession around the Perumalmalai hillock on all full-moon days.
Koranganatha Temple - Srinivasanallur: Koranganatha temple situated on the banks of the river Cauvery at Srinivasanallur about 50 kms from Trichy. On the Trichy - Salem highway, there are some of the finest early Chola stone sculptures and with good architecture .The temple declared as a monument by ASI , is not a living temple.
Venkatesa Perumal Temple - Gunaseelam:Arulmigu Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple lies 16 Kms from Tiruchirappalli at Gunaseelam, on the northern banks of the river cauvery. During the uchi kala pooja ( 11:30 am to 12:30 hrs ) and Artha Jama Pooja ( 08: 30 ) the holy water is sprinked on the devottee which is said to be expaiting all kinds of evils effects and mind diseases. During the whole Dhanu month( Dec - Jan ) kootaravalli and Vaikununta Ekatasi festivals take place. Apart from that purattasi saturdays and float festival and Bramotstavam are also important festivals here . Annual festival is celebrated during the month of September-October with the famous car festival.The devotees from various parts of Tamilnadu are visiting this temple to pray the Lord Prasanna Vekatesa Peruamal to get rid of the mental depression.
Neellivaneswarar Temple - Thirupaingili: Arulmigu Viswanathar temple, otherwise called Neellivaneswarar temple lies 20 kms north-west of Tiruchirappalli.The sorudaieswarar shrine associated with the divine poet appar , athikara vallavar ( somaskander ) cave shrine who gave rebirth to yama ( god of death ). The siva rock hewn shrine is said to be done by Mahendraverma pallava, otherwise called gunabaram ,during 640 AD.
There is also a good fresh water spring, 2 kms north of the temple on the way to arulmigu pundarikatsha perumal temple. Thiruvellarai 2 kms from the water spring, a plaintain tree which has been decorated and worshipped . There are many stone incriptions in this temple.
Rajendra chola - I Rajadhirajan-I and chola kings donated for regular daily poojas and maintenance of the temple. There is no navagraha shrines separately as the steps leading to the main shrine is said to be navagrahas. Chinnandavar & Periyandavar, rural guardian deities are also located in the temple premises. Infront of statue of the nandhi, the navagrahas are prayed by lighting the stone cavern hole lamps made on the floor. The name of the goddess is vishalakshi/ Neellnedunkannammal. Kartigai festival is a noted festival here. This temple is also called ' south kailash'. The statue of sudha mahamunivar lies in the outer precins of the temple. The shrine of lord vishnu named senthamarikanan lies inside the temple. Both men and women, including christians and even muslims perform poojas especially on the sundays and fridays. All the articles needed for the special poojas are also available in the temple campus itself. The temple has preserved hundreds of invitations received from those whose marriages have been solemnised after they performed the poojas.
Maragathaleswaraswami Temple - Thiruengoimalai
Thiruengoimalai Arulmigu Maragathaleswaraswami Temple lies 40 km from Tiruchirappalli and 5 kms from Musiri, Taluk headquarters in Tiruchirappalli District. Thiruengoimalai lies between Musiri and Thottiam.The hillock is otherwise called Maragathamalai /Thenkailayam /Sivasakthimalai /Malaikovil / Erattimalai. Name of the Goddess is Maragathambigai / Maragathavalli. God is also named as Aragathasalanathar/ Malaikozhnthar / Achutheeswarar / Birameswarar / Indreekarar / Threethar.
The river cauvery passes nearby the hillock.The river 'Surpanathi' passes adjoining the hillock. The river is otherwise called Kondayurumarai or Kondamarai. The name is said to be a corruption of Thiru-i-ongaimalai ('the' holy high bees 'mountains')and to have been so called because the sage Agastya , finding the gates of the Siva temple closed one evening, turned himself into a bee and so obtained entrance to perform his worship. The lingam of the temple is said to be transparent and also to throw a green shadow when camphor is burned. It is therefore called the 'emerald' (marakata) lingam.The god is connected with the deities of kadambarkovil and Ratnagiri. At all three temples special poojas are performed in Kartigai and the Taipusam day. Devaram songs will be sung in temple. At the base of the temple lies Bogar Sidhatemple. 500 vertical steps leads to the temple at the top of the hillock. Poet Nakkeerar has sung a booklet named Engoi-Elupathu ( 70 Engoi songs).
Matrari Varathar Temple - Thiruvasi
Tiruvasi (the corruption of its ancient name of Tiruppachil Asramam) is on the northern bank of river Kollidam (Colernoon). There lies Matrarivaradar and Balambigai temple 12 kms from Tiruchy on the road to Musiri and Salem. On the northern bank of Kollidam and on the south side of the main road, there is an ancient early Chola temple of the period of Aditya I called that of Tiruk-Kadambatturai Udaiya Mahadevar (now named Matsyapurisvarar temple) at Tudaiyar.
Air : Trichy has an airport (5 kms from the city). Indian Airlines connects Trichy with Chennai, Sharjah, Kuwait and Colombo. Air Lanka Service connects Tiruchirapalli with Colombo.
Rail : Trichy is an important junction on the Southern Railway. It connects Chennai, Thanjavur, Chidambaram, Madurai, Tirupathi, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, Quilon and Rameswaram on the metre gauge and Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore, Kochi, Kanyakumari and Mangalore.
Road : Trichy is well connected by road with important places and Southern Cities. City Bus service to all places of tourist interest from Central Bus Stand and from Chinthamani - Mani Guard Gate Bus Stand. Tourist Taxis, Auto Rickshaws and Cycle Rickshaws are also available.
