An Insight :
Tiruchirappalli is situated in center Tamil Nadu, on the banks of the
Cauvery river. It is 320 km from Madras and 150 km from Madurai. It was a
Chola citadel during the Sangam Age and was also briefly ruled by the
Pallavas and the Pandyas. Today, Trichy is a blend of history, a pilgrim
center and a thriving commercial city.
Tiruchirapalli, called Tiruchi or Trichy in short, was built by the Nayak
rulers of Madurai around a rock fort. Tiruchi is on the banks of the Kaveri
river and is famous for the Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam, 10 km away. The
Rock fort is the center of the city and is a remarkable structure. About 83
meters high, the fort dominates the landscape. The Uchi pillaiyer Temple
dedicated to lord Vinayaka or Ganesha. A total of 344 steps, cut into the
rock lead to the temple. There is also the Tyaumanaswami Temple of lord
Shiva half way up the hillock. There are also 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 here,
built around 13th-14th centuries has 21 towers and stone pillars covered
with fine carvings.
The Landmark Of The City :
The most famous landmark of Tiruchirappalli is the Rock Fort Temple, a
spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises
abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city.
Lets Explore :
» Viralimalai Sanctuary - Viralimalai is a small
town situated at a distance of 30-km from Tiruchirappalli and 40-km from
Pudukkottai. It is famous for its Murugan temple and the Peacock sanctuary.
The town is bestowed with a large number of wild peacocks, which roam around
the Murugan temple.
» Sittanavasal - Located at a distance of 58-km
from Trichy is Sittanavasal, a site of an ancient Jain monastery with fine
fresco paintings in a rock cave. Many of them are typical of the 9th century
Pandyan period and include exquisitely detailed pictures of animals, fish,
ducks, people gathering lotuses from a pond and two dancing figures. There
are also inscriptions dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries. Fresco
paintings from the 7th century can be seen on the ceiling of the
Ardhamandapam.
» Rock Fort - the view from the fort is
spectacular. The Vinayaka temple at the top is reached by climbing a tunnel
in rock. Half way up is the Sri Thayumanaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord
Siva. It has a 100-pillar hall and a Vimana covered with gold. On the
southern face of the rock are several beautifully carved rock-cut cave
temples of the Pallava period.
» Tiruvanaikkaval:(7 kms.) - The temple here has a
Siva lingam almost submerged in water, which flows from a subterranean
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.

Where is Triuchirapalli?
» 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).