PANCHA BHOOTA STHALAS (CHIDAMBARAM - TRICHY - THIRUVANNAMALAI - KANCHIPURAM - SRIKALAHASTHI)

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 Gangai Konda Cholapuram Temple

At a distance of 42 km Chidambaram, 76 km from Thanjavur, and 110 km from Trichy, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a historical town situated near Chidambaram in the Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu. It is home to the magnificent Brihadeeshwara Temple, one of the three living Chola Temples in Tamil Nadu that were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site, the other two being Brihadeeshwara Temple in Thanjavur, and Darasuram Temple. It is one of the popular heritage sites in Tamil Nadu. , and among the must visit places as part of Chidambaram tour packages.

History of Gangai Konda Cholapuram Temple

Gangaikonda Cholapuram was established as the capital of the Chola dynasty during the rule of Rajendra Chola I in 1025 CE, remaining the Chola capital for approximately 250 years. This site, of significant historical importance, marked .....

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 .....

About Annamalaiyar Temple / Arunachaleshwarar Temple

At a distance of 2 km from Thiruvannamalai Bus Station, the Arunachaleswara Temple is a sacred Hindu shrine situated at Thiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu. It is one of the prominent Shiva temples in South India and among the must-include places in Tiruvannamalai tour packages. The Arunachaleshwara Temple, also known as Annamalaiyar Temple, holds great importance for the Hindu sect of Saivism as one of the pancha bhoota sthalams, symbolizing the 5 elements of nature - land, water, air, sky, and fire. The temple's presiding deity is highly revered and is mentioned in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, authored by the nayanars, a group of Tamil saint poets. This sacred site is also classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. This temple is considered the eighth-largest Hindu temple globally and is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Tamil Nadu.

History .....

About Kamakshi Amman Temple

At a distance of 1 km from Kanchipuram Bus Station, Kamakshi Amman Temple, also known as Kamakoti Nayaki Kovil, is an ancient Hindu temple located in the town of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the popular temples in South India, and among the famous places to visit as part of Kanchipuram tour packages. The Kanchi Kamakshi Temple is dedicated to goddess Kamakshi, who is believed to be an incarnation of Parvati, the Hindu goddess of love, fertility, and strength. It is one of the prominent pilgrimage sites in Tamil Nadu, and one among the 51 Shakti Peethas, which are sacred shrines built around the falling body parts from the corpse of Goddess Sati from heaven. It is believed the naval part of her body fell at this site, thus making it a holy abode. The temple is also the center for the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

History of Kamakshi .....

About Sri Ekambarnathar Temple

At a distance of 2 km from Kanchipuram Bus Station, Sri Ekambaranathar Temple, also known as Ekambareswarar Temple is ancient Hindu temple located in the town of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, India. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is significant to the Hindu sect of Saivism as it is one of the temples associated with the five elements, the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, and specifically the element of earth, or Prithvi, and among the must visit places as part of the Kanchipuram pilgrimage packages. The presiding deity Ekambareswarar or Ekambaranathar is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

History of Sri Ekambarnathar Temple

Among the most famous pilgrimage sites in Tamil Nadu, the Ekambareswara Temple .....

About Kailasanathar Temple

At a distance of 3 km from Kanchipuram Bus Station, the Kailasanathar Temple, also referred to as the Kailasanatha Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated in the sacred town of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. Located on the banks of the Vegavathi River, it is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Tamilnadu, and among the must include places in Kanchi tour. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Kailasanatha Temple is distinguished by its grandeur and exquisite architectural design. As the oldest surviving temple in Kanchipuram, it set a precedent for similar temples throughout southern India. This historic temple, dating back to the Pallava dynasty, was considered one of the largest Hindu temples in India at the time of its establishment.

History of Kailasanathar Temple

The Kailasanathar Temple was constructed between 685 AD and 705 AD by the Pallava king Narasimha II Rajasimha, which is why .....

About Varadarajaswami Temple

At a distance of 3 Km from Kanchipuram Bus Station, Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, or Sri Varadarajaswami Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in the Vishnu Kanchi suburb of Kanchipuram. Also known as Devarajaswami Temple, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and is one of the must visit pilgrimage sites in Tamil Nadu. It ranks as the fourth among the Divya Desams, which are the 108 temples dedicated Lord Vishnu that are said to have been visited by the twelve poet saints known as the Alvars. This is also one of the 3 most sacred Vishnu shrines and is referred to in the Vaishnava parlance as 'Perumal Koil,' with the other 2 being Srirangam known as 'Koil,' and Tirupathi, as 'Tirumalai.' The temple is also notable for its association with Ramanuja, one of the foremost scholars of the Vaishnava Vishishtadvaita philosophy, who is believed to have lived here.

History of Varadarajaswami .....

About Vaikunta Perumal Temple

At a distance of 1 km from Kanchipuram Bus Station, Vaikunta Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple located in Kanchipuram. Also known as Parameswara Vinnagaram, the temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and is one of the exquisite temples in Kanchipuram on par with Kailasanatha temple. Vishnu is worshipped as Vaikunta Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Anandavalli. Also referred to as Parameswara Vinnagaram, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is regarded as one of the most remarkable temples in Kanchipuram, comparable to the Kailasanatha temple. In this sacred site, Lord Vishnu is revered as Vaikunta Perumal, while his consort, Lakshmi, is honored as Anandavalli. It is one of the must-include places in Kanchi packages, and is recognized as one of the Divya Desams of Vaishnavism, which comprises 108 temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, believed to have been visited by the twelve poet saints known .....

At a distance of 5 km from Tirupati Railway Station & 27 km from Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple, Tiruchanur also called as Alimelumangapuram is famous for Alimelu Manga Temple dedicated to goddess Padmavati, the consort of Lord Venkateswara. It is believed that pilgrimage to Tirumala is incomplete without a visit to Sri Padmavati Ammavari Temple at Tiruchanur.

According to ancient scripts, as Lord Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala was not easily accessible, a new temple called Tiruvalan Koil was constructed at Tiruchanur near Tirupathi to house Lord Venkateswara in 8th century by Pallavas. The temple was later dedicated to Padmavati Devi by Yadava Rayas in 12th century.

According to the legend, Lord Vishnu showed his reverence towards the sage Bhrigu, even though the sage had insulted Vishnu. In anger, Sri Maha Lakshmi immersed herself for 12 years here in pushkarini the banks of Swarnamukhi River and emerged from it in a Golden .....

At a distance of 1 km from Tirupati Railway Station & 22 km from Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple, Sri Govindaraja Swami Temple is one of the important temples in Tirupati, located in the heart of the city. It is one of the best places to visit in Tirupati city.

The original temple had Sri Parthasarathi as the main deity. Sri Ramanuja added the Sri Govindaraja deity in 1130 AD. Yadavaraya Dynasty made several gifts for decoration of the chariot and carrying necessary repairs of the temple. The temple came in for greater importance in 1506 AD during the rule of Vijayanagara Dynasty and from then onwards different rulers in a different way developed the temple.

This famous temple in Tirupathi is a remarkable achievement of the ancient south Indian architecture. It has an impressive outer gopura and an inner gopura. The inner most gopura is the earliest one, dating from the 14th century and has carvings that depict scenes from Ramayana and Lord Krishna's life. The temple has two .....

At a distance of 4 km from Tirupati Railway Station & 25 km from Tirumala Tirupati Temple of Lord Venkateswara, Kapila Theertham is a famous waterfall situated inside Kapileswara Swamy Temple at the foot of Sheshadri Hills in Tirupati. This is a unique waterfall where the water of mountain streams drop from a height of over 100 feet into a large pond in the temple premises. It is one of the must visit tourist places in Tirupati and a major pilgrimage site in Tirupati city.

Kapila Theertham temple is the only Shiva temple in the vicinity of Tirupati. It is also said to be one of the 108 sacred teerthas (springs) on Tirumala hills. The Siva lingam here is made of brass. A huge stone statue of a seated bull Nandhi, greets devotees at the entrance to the temple.

According to legend, Saint Kapila Maharishi was said to have lived here, worshipped and meditated in the cave in front of the .....

At a distance of 2 km from Srikalahasti Bus Station, Srikalahasteeswara Temple (referred as Srikalahasti Temple) is one of the famous Shiva temples in South India. It is said to be the site where Kannappa, a great devotee of Shiva, was ready to offer both his eyes to cover blood flowing from the Siva linga before the Lord Siva stopped him and granted mukti.

The ancient Shiva temple of Sri Kalahasti finds reference in the three ancient epics the Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana and the Linga Purana. According to Skanda Purana, Arjuna came to this place to worship Kalahastheeswara (Lord Shiva) and met Rishi Bharadwaja on the peak of a hill.

This temple is one of the most impressive Siva temples in South India. This temple features 120 feet high enormous and ancient gopura over the main gate. The entire temple is carved out of the side of a huge stone hill. The initial structure of this temple was constructed by Pallava dynasty in .....