Tiruchchirappalli Things to Do

The rock Fort temple is an imposing structure built on a gigantic rock right in the middle of the town.The vijayanagara kings built it in the 14th century.400 odd steps lead you to the rock Fort Temple.There are flea markets at the base of the rock where you can buy temple offerings and other souvenirs.

The largest temple site anywhere in India , the Srirangam is on a 600 Acre island formed by the Cauvery and the Kollidam rivers.The Ranganathar temple was built over many centuries ( the 11th to the 17th ) by the Vijayanagara Kings .Spend atleast three hours here to sink in the amazing variety of temple art and architecture on display here.The temple is also the foremost among the 108 Vishnu sites in India.

A copy of the famous Basilica in Lourdes, France. The exterior is quite impressive . The church is located inside a college campus and the entrance is from the college main gate.The church is located on a very noisy street in Tiruchirappalli.

'Grove of the Holy Elephant' - this temple has five prakarams representing the five elements - Earth, Water,Air , Fire and Ether. The lingam worshipped here is always semi-submerged in water.During monsoon rains it is always fully submerged in water.

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Built in 1812 and dedicated in 1816, this is a lovely Anglican Church set in a leafy area near the train station. The speciality of the church is its louvered doors which, upon opening, turns the church interior into an airy pavilion.

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This is another very large temple complex in Srirangam, about 2km east of the main Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. It was first built by Kocengannan (Kochenga Chola), one of the Early Cholas, around 1,800 years ago but the present complex dates from the 10th century. The temple is dedicated to the Vishnu deity, Jambukeswara, representing the element water. The massive outer wall, known as the Vibudi Prakara, stretches over a mile long, and is two feet thick and over 25 feet in height. Legend has it that the wall was built by Shiva working along with the labourers.

Open: 6am-1pm & 3-9pm. Camera fee: Rs20.

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The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is located in Srirangam, about 6km north of the city. It is among the most revered shrines dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, a reclining form of Lord Vishnu, in South India, and is the largest active Hindu temple complex in the world. The temple is built on an island in the middle of the River Cauvery and covers an area of 156 acres (631,000 m²) with a perimeter of 1,116m. It's enclosed by seven rectangular walled courtyards that represent the seven worlds, and has 21 gopurams (towers), the largest of which was completed in 1987 and measures 73m in height. Among the marvels of the temple is a "hall of 1000 pillars" (actually 953). Non-Hindus can only go up to the sixth wall but not inside the gold topped sanctum. Instead, you can view it from a rooftop platform. The temple is a must-see-thing if you're visiting Trichy.

Open: 6am-1pm & 3-9pm. Camera fee: Rs50 & Rs10 for rooftop platform.

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St Joseph's College Museum is located on the premises of St Joseph College, just to the west of the Rock Fort and close to the Lourdes Church. It houses exhibits relating to biology, archaeology, arts and crafts and natural history.

Open: 10am-12pm & 2-4pm.

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Built in 1896 in the Gothic architectural style, this large church, located at a busy junction near the Rock Fort Temple within the St Joseph’s College complex, is a replica of the world famous Basilica of Lourdes, situated in southern France. The interior is lovely with some nice stained glass windows and altar pieces.

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These are the views from the top of the 83-metre high Rock Fort Temple that offers a chance to see virtually the whole city and even the gopurams (towers) of the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, 3km away.