CHIDAMBARAM - THANJAVUR - MADURAI - RAMESHWARAM - KANYAKUMARI - TRICHY (FROM CHENNAI)

At a distance of 2 km from Chidambaram Bus Station, Nataraja Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Chidambaram town in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the ancient temples in South India, and among the must include places in Chidambaram tour packages.

Also referred to as the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple or Thillai Nataraja Temple, the Nataraja Temple is dedicated to Nataraja - Shiva as the lord of the dance. It is one of the five Panchbootha Sthalas of Lord Shiva, and it denotes the Skies. The temple has mythical roots and a Shiva shrine existed at the site when the town was known as Thillai. Chidambaram, the name of the city and the temple literally means 'atmosphere of wisdom' or 'clothed in thought', the temple architecture symbolizes the connection between the arts and spirituality, creative activity, and the divine.

The temple was constructed during the 10th Century .....

At a distance of 17 km from Mayiladuthurai, 27 km from Chidambaram, 45 kms from Karaikal, 54 km from Kumbakonam and 94 km from Thanjavur, Vaitheeswaran Koil is town in Nagapattinam district which is famous for the Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple. The temple is also known as Pullirukkuvelur.

Vaidyanatha Swamy and Thaiyalnayaki are the presiding deities of this temple. The Selva Muthukumara Swamy shrine here is also considered to be of important. There are Shiva lingas said to have been worshipped by Rama, Jatayu, Skanda, Surya and Angaraka. It is believed that Rama and his brother Lakshmana cremated the vulture king Jatayu who was killed by Ravana when he tried to prevent the abduction of Sita at this place. There is a pond at this temple called Jatayu kundam.

It is one of the Navagraha temples associated with the planet Mars (Angaraka). According to legend, Planet Mars was once afflicted with leprosy and was cured by Vaidyanatha .....

About Brihadeeswarar Temple

At a distance of 2 km from Thanjavur Junction Railway Station, the Brihadeeswarar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located on the banks of the Kaveri River in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Also known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil or Periya Kovil, it is one of the famous heritage places to visit in Tamilnadu, and among the must include places in Thanjavur tour packages. Also known as The Big Temple, Brihadeeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is famous for its grandeur and beautiful sculptures.

It is one of the largest Hindu temples in India, and an exemplar of Tamil architecture. It is also called Dakshina Meru (Meru of the South). The temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the 'Great Living Chola Temples', along with the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple and Airavatesvara Temple. It is one of the most visited heritage sites in Tamil Nadu.

History .....

At a distance of 2 km from Thanjavur Railway Station, and 1.5 km from Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur Palace is a wonderful historical structure in the town of Thanjavur. It is one of the famous Thanjavur tourist places.

Also known as Maratha Palace or Nayak Palace, it was the official residence of the Maratha rulers from 1674 to 1855. It was constructed partly by Thanjavur Nayaks around 1550 CE and expanded by the Marathas. The palace is noted for its huge halls, spacious corridors, observation and arsenal towers, and a shady courtyard. This palace is a must-visit place for history buffs to understand the history and lifestyle of its rulers as part of Thanjavur tour.

The entrance to the palace is a large quadrangular courtyard which is encircled by walls with big gateways to the north and the east. The courtyard leads to a many-pillared hall. .....

At a distance of 2 km from Thanjavur Junction Railway Station & 0.5 km from Old Bus Station, the Art Gallery is located within Thanjavur Palace. The gallery houses a treasured collection of bronze icons, stone sculptures and other artifacts, which today stand testimony to that golden age in Tamil history.

The gallery is situated in the second part of the palace behind bell tower. The galley consists of Stone sculptures arrange in a hall at the entrance and in the hall towards southern side of the complex near Manimandapam. The bronze sculptures inside the Nayak's Durbar Hall showcase excellent craftsmanship. Durbar Hall is an excellent structure with beautiful paintings & sculptures on upper part of the walls and the ceiling. The hall also houses a marble sculpture of Raja Serfoji, popular Maratha ruler.

The examples of art that we see today at this gallery are the finest. Most of the pieces belong to Chola period between the 9th and the 13th centuries AD, to the post-Chola .....

About Thiruvaiyaru

At a distance of 13 Km from Thanjavur & 44 Km from Kumbakonam, Thiruvaiyaru, also spelt as Tiruvaiyaru, is a panchayat town in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. The name Thiruvaiyaru signifies the five rivers that flow around the town, namely Arisilaaru, Vennaaru, Vettaaru, Kudamurutti, and Kaveri. Tiruvaiyaru is considered to be the 51st in the successions of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom situated north of the river Kaveri.

Situated on the banks of the river Kaveri, Thiruvaiyaru is home to an ancient Siva temple dedicated to Aiyarappar, also known as Panchanatheeswar. However, the town is particularly famous for its connection to Saint Thyagaraja, who, alongside Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri, forms the Trinity of Carnatic music. Saint Thyagaraja composed numerous devotional songs, primarily in honor of the Hindu deity Lord Rama. It was in Thiruvaiyaru that he resided and ultimately attained samadhi. Each January, a significant musical .....

About Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple

At a distance of 2 km from Madurai Junction Railway Station, Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, also known as Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Thirukkovil, is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the biggest and most popular temples in India, and among the must-visit places as part of Madurai tour packages. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, her consort Sundareswarar, a form of Shiva and her brother Alagar, a form of Vishnu. The temple is theologically significant as it represents a confluence of the Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism denominations of Hinduism. It was shortlisted as one of the top 30 nominees for New Seven Wonders of the World. It is one of the the prime places of Pilgrimage in Tamilnadu. This temple is one .....

At a distance of 3 km from Madurai Junction Railway Station and 1 km from Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayak Mahal is an ancient palace situated in Madurai. It is one of the popular places of heritage in Tamilnadu, and among the major Madurai tourist places.

Thirumalai Nayak Mahal was constructed in the Indo-Saracen style by Thirumalai Nayak in the year 1636. After Independence, this palace was declared as a national monument and to date continues to be one of the spectacular monuments of Southern India. It is one of the must include places in Madurai packages. The original palace complex was four times bigger than the present structure. The palace was designed by an Italian architect.

The main palace is divided into two parts, Swargavilasa and Rangavilasa and only the Swargavilasa is survived today. .....

At a distance of 1 km from Madurai Junction Railway Station & 1.5 km Meenakshi Temple, The Koodal Alagar Temple, also known as Arulmigu Koodalazhagar Thirukoil, is another important temple in Madurai and among prime sightseeing to be included in your Madurai Trip. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple is believed to be older than the Meenakshi temple. It is one of the important places to visit in Madurai.

A unique feature of this temple is the three different postures of the same God. The three figures of Vishnu are in standing, sitting and reclining postures. These three figures of the deity are known by three different names. The most venerated of the three figures is Lord Vishnu in the seated posture. The seated Lord Vishnu is locally known as Lord Koodal Alagar from whom the temple derives its name. The reclining idol is known as Sri Ranganatha. Sri .....

At a distance of 2 km from Rameshwaram Railway Station (just 100 meters away from east entrance of Rameshwaram Temple), Agnitheertham is said to be the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to wash off his sins of killing Ravana. It is one of the prime place to visit on a Rameshwaram trip.

It is a sacred place and piligrims believe that taking a bath in Bay of Bengal at Agniteertham will washout one's sins of life time. It is visited by the followers of Lord Shiva as well as Vishnu, whose incarnation was lord Rama.

The sea here is very calm and ideal for bathing.

About Ramanatha Swamy Temple

At a distance of 2 km from Rameswaram Railway Station, Ramanatha Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple located on Rameswaram Island in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the top pilgrimage sites in India, and among the must include places in Rameshwaram tour packages. Ramanathaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve jyotirlinga temples in India. It is also recognized as one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, which are revered sites glorified by the Nayanars (Shaivite poet-saints) such as Appar, Sundarar, and Sambandar through their devotional songs. Additionally, it is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage destinations, and among the most prominent pilgrimage sites in Tamil Nadu. The religious importance of this temple can be seen from the popular belief according to which a visit to pilgrimage Kashi is incomplete without .....

At a distance of 18 km from Rameswaram, Dhanushkodi, Dhanushkodi is an abandoned town at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the must-include places in Rameswaram heritage packages.

Dhanushkodi is located at the southern tip of Pamban Island, separated from the mainland by the Palk Strait, approximately 24 kilometers west of Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. The town was entirely devastated by the Rameswaram cyclone in 1964 and has remained uninhabited since that disaster. The only remnant of the cyclone is the Kodanda Rama Swamy Temple. Following the storm, the Government declared the town as Ghost town and unfit for living. Although devoid of inhabitants, Dhanushkodi continues to attract tourists due to its significant historical and mythological associations.

The name Dhanushkodi translates to 'Tip of the Bow'. The location known as 'Arichal Munai' marks the convergence of the Indian .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Kanyakumari Bus Station & 1.5 km from Kanyakumari Railway Station, Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a memorial located on a small island off Kanyakumari. It is one of the picturesque Kanyakumari places to visit.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial was built in 1970 in honor of Swami Vivekananda on one of the two adjacent rocks projecting out of the Lakshadweep Sea. This is the site where Vivekananda attained enlightenment. Below the statue was mentioned the year of death of Swamiji and the 'probable' dates when Swamiji attained Samadhi on the rock. Vivekananda's Rock also holds religious significance to the locals. It is believed that Goddess Devi Kumari blessed the rock while performing austerity.

The memorial consists of two main structures, the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam. The Shripada Mandapam has a study hall and a museum, where you can explore Vivekananda's .....

At a distance of 1.5 kms from Kanyakumari Bus Station & 1.5 km from Kanyakumari Railway Station (situated on Vivekananda Rock), Thiruvalluvar Statue is dedicated to the greatest Tamil poet, philosopher and saint - Thiruvalluvar.

The pedestal of the statue is of 38 feet height and the statue over it is 95 feet tall with a grand total of 133 feet for the entire sculpture. The 3 tier pedestal known as Atharapeedam is surrounded by an artistic Mandapa with 38 feet height. To help the tourists to worship the holy feet of Thiruvalluvar 140 steps are constructed inside the Mandapa.

The view from this point is quite breathtaking! It is a very entertaining and enlightening piece of work and inspires one to lead a very principled and moral life.

Visting Hours are 8 AM To 4 PM. The ticket fare is 20/- for boat transfer.

Vivekananda Memorial is also located on the adjacent island.

At a distance of 1 km from Kanyakumari Bus Station & 1 km from Kanyakumari Railway Station, the Kumari Amman Temple is an ancient temple situated in Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Tamilnadu, and among the top places to visit in Kanyakumari.

The temple is dedicated to Devi Kanya Kumari, an adolescent girl child form of Goddess Parvati. The diety is also known as Shree Baala Bhadra or Shree Baala. Kanyakumari Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethams. It is believed that the right shoulder and (back) spine area of Sati's corpse fell here creating the presence of kundalini Sakthi in the region. Sage Parashurama is said to have performed the consecration of the temple. This is one of the prime places to visit as part of Kanyakumari tour packages.

The .....

At a distance of 1 km from Kanyakumari Bus Station & 1 km from Kanyakumari Railway Station (situated at the entrance of Beach Road), The Gandhi Memorial completed in 1956 is built in the memory of the Father of the Nation.

An urn of Mahatma Gandhi was kept here for public to pay homage before immersion. Mahatma Gandhi visited Kanyakumari twice in 1925 and 1937. In 1948 his ashes were immersed in the sea waters in Kanyakumari. In commemoration of this event a beautiful monument has been constructed here. It's central shape is 79 feet high representing the age of the Mahatma at that time. The sun at Mid day on 2nd October would fall on the peedam through a hole in the roof.

Visting Hours 7 AM To 7 PM, entrance is Free.

At a distance of 2.5 km from Srirangam Temple and 11 km from Trichy Railway Junction, Sri Thiruvanaikoil or Thiruvanaikaval, is famous for Jambukeswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple was built by Kochengon, one of the Early Cholas around 1800 years ago on Srirangam Island.

Thiruvanaikoil Temple is one of the five major Shiva Temples known as Panchabhoota Sthala representing element of water. The sanctum has Shiva Lingam in the form of Appu lingam (water lingam). The sanctum of Lord Jambukeshwara has an underground water stream and one can see water coming out of that stream all the time. The presiding goddess is Devi Akilandeswari Amman.

According to legend, Parvathi performed penance in the form of Akilandeswari in the Jambu forest. She made the lingam out of the water of river Kaveri, installed it under the Venn Naaval tree evolved out of Saint Jambu and commenced her worship. Lord Siva at last gave darshan to Devi Akhilandeswari and taught her Siva Gnana.

According .....

At a distance of 1 km from Srirangam Railway Station, 9 km from Trichy Railway Junction, 62 km from Thanjavur, 145 km from Madurai & 327 km from Chennai, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is a prominent Hindu temple situated at Srirangam near Trichy. It is one of the famous temples in South India, and among the most visited places in Tamilnadu.

Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines of Lord Vishnu, and among the important places of pilgrimage in Tamilnadu. Built across an area of 156 acres, this temple is dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Hindu deity, Lord Vishnu. This temple lies on an island formed by the twin Rivers Cauvery and Kollidam. Though the temple existing since the 2nd century BC, the archaeological inscriptions are available only .....

At a distance of 5 km from Trichy Railway Junction, the Rock Fort is a historic fort and temple complex situated in Trichy. It is one of the important places to visit as part of Trichy packages.

Perched on a large rock with a height of 85 meters, the temple was initially built by the Pallavas but the Nayaks made use of its naturally fortified position and designed it as a fort. There are 344 steps carved out of rock lead to the top. The fort complex has witnessed fierce battles between Madurai Nayakas and Bijapur, Carnatic, and Maratha forces. The fort played an important part during the Carnatic wars, helping lay the foundations of the British Empire in India. The Rockfort is the most prominent landmark of the city.

There are three Hindu temples inside the Rockfort, the Ucchi Pillaiyar Temple, Thayumanavar Temple, and the Manikka Vinayakar Temple. The Manikka Vinayakar Temple is located at the foot of the hill, dedicated .....