CHIDAMBARAM - KUMBAKONAM - THANJAVUR - MADURAI - TRICHY (FROM CHENNAI)

About Thillai Nataraja Temple

At a distance of 2 km from Chidambaram Bus Station, Thillai Nataraja Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Chidambaram town of 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 Chidambaram Temple, the temple is dedicated to Nataraja, the cosmic dance form of Lord Shiva. It is one of the five Panchbootha Sthalas of Lord Shiva, representing the element of space. Chidambaram, the name of the city literally means 'stage of consciousness'.

History of Thillai Nataraja Temple

The temple's origins remain shrouded in some mystery, but historical evidence suggests a Shiva shrine existed at the site well before the 7th century AD, when the town was referred to as Thillai. The Chola dynasty, who revered Nataraja as their family deity, significantly .....

About Vaitheeswaran Koil Temple

At a distance of 17 Km from Mayiladuthurai, 27 Km from Chidambaram, 54 Km from Kumbakonam and 94 Km from Thanjavur, Vaitheeswaran Koil is a temple town situated in the Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu. This town is renowned for the Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple, also referred to as Pullirukkuvelur. Among the must-include places in the Chidambaram pilgrimage packages, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped as Vaidyanathar or Vaitheeswaran, meaning 'God of healing', and it is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases. It is one of the Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu associated with the planet Mars (Angaraka), and is the 16th temple of the 276 dedicated to Lord Shiva on the northern bank of River Cauvery called Paadal Petra Sthalams by the Tevaram hymns of 7th-century Saiva nayanars, the Tamil saint poets.

History of Vaitheeswaran Koil Temple

The .....

About Adi Kumbeswarar Temple

At a distance of 2.5 Km from Kumbakonam Railway Station, Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, also known as Thirukudamooku, is a famous Hindu temple located in the center of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is one of the prominent temple in Tamil Nadu, and among the must include places in Kumbakonam tour packages. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Adi Kumbeswarar, represented by a lingam, while his consort Parvati is honored as Mangalambigai Amman. The main deity is celebrated in the 7th-century CE Tamil Saiva scripture, the Tevaram, composed by the Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars. It is recognized as the 26th Paadal Petra Sthalam within the Chola dynasty, which extended south of the River Cauvery.

History of Adi Kumbeswarar Temple

Among the top pilgrimage sites in Tamil Nadu, Adi Kumbakonam Temple was constructed .....

About Ramaswamy Temple

At a distance of 2 Km from Kumbakonam Railway Station, Ramaswamy Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located on the southeastern portion of the Porthamarai Tank in Kumbakonam. This temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and is reagrded as one of the most prominent places to visit in Kumbakonam. It is one of the five Vishnu temples associated with the Mahamaham festival, which occurs every 12 years in Kumbakonam. The other four temples include Sarangapani Temple, Chakrapani Temple, Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and Varahaperumal Temple.

History of Ramaswamy Temple

The Ramaswamy Temple's construction commenced in the 16th century under the leadership of Govinda Dikshitar, a chieftain serving Achutha Nayakar of Thanjavur (1560-1614), and was completed during the rule of Raghunatha Nayak (1600-34). Additionally, he incorporated a commercial .....

About Sarangapani Temple

At a distance of 2 km from Kumbakonam Railway Station, Sarangapani Temple is a Hindu temple situated near Adi Kumbeswarar Temple in Kumbakonam. Also known as Thirukudanthai, or Kumbakonam koyil, the temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Here, the deity is holding a bow in the hand hence the name Sarangapani where Sarangam means bow and pani means hand. The Sarangapani Temple is also one of the Pancha Ranga Khestras located along the banks of the Kaveri River with the other four being Srirangapatnam, Srirangam, Appalarangam, and Vatarangam at Sirkazhi. It is one of the must include places in Kumbakonam pilgrimage packages.

The Sarangapani Temple is acknowledged as the sixth of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu, celebrated in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the twelve poet saints known as Alvars. Additionally, it is esteemed as one of the Pancha Kshethram, where Goddess .....

At a distance of 1 km from Kumbakonam Railway Station, Mahamaham Tank is a huge temple tank located in the heart of Kumbakonam town in Tamil Nadu. It is considered to be the foremost and one of the largest temple tanks in Tamil Nadu, and among the must-visit Kumbakonam tourist places.

The tank covers an area of 6.2 acres and is trapezoidal in shape. The tank is surrounded by 16 small Mandapams (shrines) and has 21 wells inside the tank. Govinda Dikshitar, the chieftain of Ragunatha Nayak of Thanjavur, constructed the sixteen Mandapams and stone steps around this tank. Brahmatheerthesar, Mukunthar, Thalesar, Rishakesar, Umaipakesar, Nairuthesar, Brahmeesar, Gangatheerthesar, and Seshtra Paleesar, are the names of deities located in these Mandapams. It is one of the most prominent places to visit as part of Kumbakonam trip.

There are 21 wells .....

About Darasuram Airavatheswar Temple

At a distance of 8 Km from Kumbakonam, and 34 Km from Thanjavur, Airavatheswar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Darasuram town near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the popular heritage sites in Tamil Nadu, and among the best places to visit as part of Kumbakonam tour. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, alongside the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur and the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, collectively known as the Great Living Chola Temples. It is part of a group of 18 significant medieval Hindu temples in the Kumbakonam region. The temple also honors the traditions of Vaishnavism and Shaktism within Hinduism, along with the narratives associated with the Nayanmars of Shaivism.

History of Darasuram Airavatheswar Temple

Popularly called as Darasuram Temple, .....

About Dhenupureeswarar Temple

At a distance of 8 Km from Kumbakonam, the Sri Dhenupureeswarar, also known as Thenupureeswarar Temple, is a Hindu temple located in the village of Patteeswaram, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the popular places to visit as part of the Kumbakonam heritage packages. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshiped here as Thenupureeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century CE Tamil Saiva canonical text, the Tevaram, composed by the Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars, and is recognized as a Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple is linked to the legend of Sambandar, who is said to have prompted Nandi to reposition himself for a direct view of the presiding deity.

History of Dhenupureeswarar Temple

Patteeswaram Temple is thought to have been constructed by the Chola dynasty between 866 and 1004 CE. Architectural .....

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 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 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. .....

About Thiruparankundram Temple

At a distance of 8 km from Madurai Junction Railway Station, Thiruparankundram Temple, also known as Tirupparamkunram Murugan Kovil is a 8th century rock cut cave temple situated at Thiruparankundram. Dedicated to Lord Murugan, also known as Subrahmanya, it is one of the major places to visit as part of the Madurai pilgrimage tour. The Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple is recognized as one of the six revered temples of Lord Murugan in Tamil Nadu, that are collectively referred to as the Arupadaiveedu. These temples are regarded as the foremost places of worship for followers of Lord Murugan, with each temple possessing significant religious and historical value.

History of Thiruparankundram Temple

As per the historical records, the Murugan temple existed much before the 6th century. Initially known as the Kudaivari temple, it was established during the era of .....

About Thiruvanaikoi l/ Jambukeshwar Temple

At a distance of 2.5 km from Srirangam Temple and 11 km from Trichy Railway Junction, Thiruvanaikaval, also known as Jambukeshwar Temple, is a Hindu temple located in Srirangam. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is one of the five major Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu known as Panchabhoota Sthalas representing element of water. The sanctum has Shiva Lingam in the form of Appu lingam (water lingam). The sanctum of Lord Jambukeshwar has an underground water stream and one can see water coming out of that stream all the time. The presiding goddess is Devi Akilandeshwari Amman. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams of Lord, and among the must include places in Srirangam tour packages.

History of Thiruvanaikoil / Jambukeshwar Temple

Sri Jambukeshwar Temple was established by Kochengon Chola, a prominent figure among the Early Cholas, over 1800 years ago. This ruler is credited .....

About Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

At a distance of 1 Km from Srirangam Railway Station, and 9 Km from Trichy Railway Junction, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is a prominent Hindu temple situated at Srirangam, an island formed by the twin Rivers Cauvery and Kollidam. It is one of the famous temples in South India, and among the most visited pilgrimage places in Tamilnadu. This temple is dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Lord Vishnu. This temple is also known by other names such as Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam, and Bhogamandapam.

The temple is celebrated in the works of the Tamil poet-saints known as the Alvars, particularly in their revered text, the Naalayira Divya Prabhandam. It holds the unique honor of being the foremost among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Furthermore, the Srirangam Temple is recognized as the largest religious complex in the world that is actively .....

About Rock Fort Temple

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 atop one of the oldest rock formations in the world, dating back over 3.8 billion years, the Rock Fort stands as a remarkable example of ancient engineering and military strategy. Throughout history, it has served as a significant stronghold for various South Indian dynasties, including the Pallavas, Cholas, Vijayanagara Empire, and the Nayaks of Madurai, each leaving their mark on its extensive and varied history. The fort complex is not just a historical site but also a lively cultural center. It is home to two principal temples namely the Ucchi Pillayar Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, and the Thayumanavar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, both of which continue to serve as active sites of worship and .....