Trichy View

SRI RANGANATHA SWAMI TEMPLE, SRIRANGAM

The district's most important pilgrim centre is located in an island just 7 km from Tiruchy. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of river Cauveri on one inside and its tributary kollidam on the other, is a 600 acre island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic sriranganathaswami Temple.
There are 21 Gopurams, among which the Rajagopuram is the largest in south India. The 72m high 13 tired Gopuram was build in 1987 that dominates the landscape for miles around, while the remaining 20 Gopurams were build 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.

Temple Museum

Ivory sculptures of Lord Vishnu in various poses and the images of Nayak Kings with consorts donated by Nayak kings who ruled Madurai, Thanjavur during the 17th century are available here. Pavai lamps of Marati period , Dress of the period, the Nataraja image in a pearl made screen, Coins of British, Dutch, Tiruvancore, Hydrabad, Gwalior, princely states are available. Palm leaf inscriptions, stone sculptures, very big temple lamps, copper plates of Vijayanagar Kings are available.

AMMA MANDAPAM GHAT,SRIRANGAM

The banks of the river are the site of a series of ceremonies and rituals ,as pilgrims bath for good fortune, priests pray for childbirth ,and mourners scatter ashes .Pilgrims come here to purify themselves before offering further pooja at the temple .Many ceremonies take place on the 10th day after death of the individual hindu.

AYYANAR TEMPLE
This temple is beautifully located on the banks of Cauveri river called Melur which is just 3 kms from Srirangam. Giant claymade horses adorn this temple.Fruit Bats in good numbers are found in the fruit garden at Srirangam.

Sri Ranganathar Sannathi Seva Timings

Viswaroobam seva : 06.15 to 07.30

Pooja time : No seva (07.30 to 08.45)

Seva : 08.45 to 13.00

Pooja time : No seva (13.00 to 14.00 )
Seva : 14.00 to 18.00

Pooja time : No seva (18.00 to 18.45)

Seva : 18.45 to 21.00
Free seva : 20.00 to 21.00
No seva : after 21.00

Viswarooba seva : Rs.50/- per head
General Entrance : Free in all Seva time
Special Entrance : Rs.20/- per head

ROCK FORT

Tiruchy's most famous landmark is 83-m high rock which is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat inland of the city. The most amazing fact about the rock is that it is one of the oldest in the world. The sheer abruptness of its rise is an attention grabber. But the actual centre of attraction is not the fort itself, of which very little remains, but the temple at the summit. 420 steps carved out of rock lead to the top where there are inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C Hardly anything remains of the ramparts but the Main Guard Gate is still intact 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. A top the rock is the Uchipillaiyar Koil, a temple dedicated to Lord Vinayaka from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of Tiruchy. A flight of steps leads to the Mathrubutheswarar or Thayumanaswami temple. Dedicated to Lord Siva where the lingam is the projection of the rock itself. There are two Pallava cave temples that have beautiful sculptures of the 6th and 7th centuries. At the foot of the Rock Fort is a tank and a pavilion which is used during the float festival of the temple. Facilities for boating in the tank is available. Near the tank is the house where Robert Clive lived when he was in Tiruchy . The house is now part of Tiruchy's famous St.Joseph college. The 18th century Christ church build by Schwartz of Denmark is nearby .

The Rock fort Hillock is said to be 2300 million years old. Ponmalai, Ramji Nagar, Nadumalai, Edamalaipatti, rapattimalai,Kuttimalai,Thiruverumbur Erumbeeswarar malai, Thuvakudi malai and Rock fort Hillock are protruded portions of the Rock plates existing below. This is charnokite,considering the plastic flow. It is named as GENISSIC CHARNOKITE. The materials like Quartz used in glass making and feldspar used in ceramic are found in this Rock formation. There has no trace of life in this Rock like the one found in Ariyalur belt nearby. While the age of the earth is 4600 million years old, the age of Rock fort hillock is just half while the age of Himalayas is only 40 million years .