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.

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.

There are many pre-historic burial sites around Sittanavasal and among the relics unearthed are burial urns, cists and Kurangupatarai.

Rock Fort Temple : The Rock Fort temple complex in Tiruchirappalli is a collection of three temples - the Manikka Vinayakar temple at the foot of the hill, the Uchhi Pillayar Koyil at the top of the hill and the Taayumaanavar Koyil (Shivastalam) on the hill. This Shivastalam is a rock cut temple on a hill and is the most prominent landmark in Tiruchirappalli that can be reached by a flight of steps on the way to the famous Ucchi Pillayar temple.

Sri Ranganathaswami Temple : Located 7-km from Trichy is Srirangam, the abode of the Supreme Lord, Sri Ranganatha, the reclining form of Lord Vishnu. The temple of Ranganatha, the largest in India, is of particular reverence to all Hindus. Srirangam is also listed as one of the Nava Graha Sthalas, or temples representing the planets.

How to get there

Air : Tiruchirappalli has an airport (5-km) from the city. Various airlines connect Tiruchi with Chennai, Sharjah, Kuwait and Colombo.

Rail : Tiruchi is an important junction on the Southern Railway. It connects Chennai, Thanjavur, Madurai, Tirupati, Tuticorin and Rameshwaram on the metre gauge, and Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore, Kochi, Kannyakumarai and Mangalore on the broad gauge.

Road : Tiruchi is well connected by road with important places of South India. City bus service, tourist taxis, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are available for local transportation.