State :
Tamil Nadu
Climate
:
The climate of Trichy is Tropical. Temperature Range (deg C): Summer- Max.
37.1°C Min. 26.4°C; Winter- Max. 31.3°C Min. 20.6°C;
Rainfall: 835 mm.
Significance :
A historical and pilgrimage site
Tiruchirappalli - the city of temples :
Tiruchirappalli, stationed in the center of Tamil Nadu, on the shores of
the Cauvery river is 320 km from Madras and 150 km from Madurai and is
famous for the Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam, 10 km away. The Rock fort
forms the center of the city and is a miraculous structure which is 83
meters in height. The Uchi pillaiyer Temple devoted to lord Vinayaka or
Ganesha has a total of 344 steps cut into the rock and lead to the temple.
One can also visit the Tyaumanaswami Temple of lord Shiva half way up the
hillock. One should not miss the two cave temples in the fort with
sculptures dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries. The Sri Jambukeswara
Temple, at Tiruvankkaikaval, Srirangam is an island in the Kaveri river,
north of Tiruchirapalli. The Ranganathaswami Temple built during 13th-14th
centuries features 21 towers and stone pillars covered with fine carvings.
History :
Tiruchirappalli was a Chola fort during the Sangam Age and was dictated by
the Pallavas and the Pandyas for a short period of time. Today, the city is
a combination of history, a pilgrim center and a thriving commercial city.
Tiruchirapalli, also referred as Tiruchi or Trichy in short, was built by
the Nayak rulers of Madurai around a rock fort.
Famous for - the Rock Fort Temple :
The Rock Fort Temple, is the most famous feature of this ancient city, a
spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises
abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city.
» Rock Fort - It gives a spectacular view and the
Vinayaka temple at the top can be reached by climbing a tunnel in rock. Half
way up is the Sri Thayumanaswamy Temple, devoted to Lord Siva which has a
100-pillar hall and a Vimana covered with gold. On the southern side of the
rock are many ravishing carved rock-cut cave temples of the Pallava period.
Connectivity
:
» By Air - Tiruchirapalli is well connected by air
to Madras, Madurai, Bangalore and Colombo. The airport is 07 kms from the
city centre.
» By Rail - Tiruchirappalli is an important junction
on the Southern Railway. It connects Chennai, Thanjavur, Chidambaram and
Madurai.
» By Road - Tiruchirappalli is well connected by
road to Madurai (150kms), Madras (320 kms), Pondicherry (255 kms) and
Thanjavur (56 kms).
Additional Highlights of the City :
» Viralimalai Sanctuary - A small town, located at a
distance of 30-km from Tiruchirappalli and 40-km from Pudukkottai is famous
for its Murugan temple and the Peacock sanctuary. The town is blessed with a
large number of wild peacocks, which roam around the Murugan temple and ad
to its devine beauty.
» Sittanavasal - 58-km from Trichy is Sittanavasal,
a place of an ancient Jain monastery with awesome fresco paintings in a rock
cave. Most of them are prevalent of the 9th century Pandyan period and
include elegantly detailed pictures of animals, fish, ducks, people
gathering lotuses from a pond and two dancing figures. One can also find
inscriptions dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries. Fresco paintings
from the 7th century can be viewed on the ceiling of the Ardhamandapam.
» Tiruvanaikkaval - Situated at a distance of 7 kms
from the city is Tiruvanaikkaval. The temple here has a Siva lingam almost
submerged in water, which flows from a rock sheltered spring in the sanctum
sanatorium. The Lord's name Jambukeswarar is derived from a legend that an
elephant once worshiped Him under the holy Jambu tree.
