Ripon Building, Chennai
The magnificent white color building was commissioned in 1913 and was built by Loganatha Muthaliyar which took 4 years to complete. The inaugural function was huge and massive which was attended by around 3000 elite people of the city. It was beautiful in the structure in white color.
The tower in the middle of the building with the clock is remarkable. The building is constructed with stock bricks and roof is made of teak wood and marble flooring to add grace. It is more than 100 years old building located near Central railway station. The pure white color building is one of the architectural masterpieces.
It is the seat of the Chennai Corporation and generally, entry is restricted. A new block has been constructed, to look like the original, but with all the glass facade, it cannot dream of being a clone.
It is now renovated after metro work. It looks like a white palace with a beautiful garden. Must visit place for architecture lovers.
The lighthouse is located on Kamarajar Salai (Beach Road) opposite to the office of the Director General of Tamil Nadu Police and All India Radio’s Chennai station.
It is a triangular cylindrical, red-and-white-banded, concrete one with lantern and double gallery and is 11 stories high. The last floor has the best view of the city. The tower is attached to a three-story circular harbor-control building. The total height of the tower is 45.72 meters (150.0 ft) with the light source standing at a height of 57 meters (187 ft) from the mean sea level. The source consists of 440V 50 Hz main supply, with a range of 28 nautical miles. It is built in 1976, during the British Colonial era. And also we can know about the history of the lighthouse in Chennai on the ground floor which is printed and pasted in a banner in the wall.
It is the only lighthouse in the country within city limits. It has an elevator that runs on solar power, making it a green Lighthouse. This is the only lighthouse with a lift open to the public in India The location on the beach gives visitors numerous activities to indulge in, such as swimming, beach sports, and trying out the local eateries. It has got a very good air-conditioned museum will showcase the history of marine navigation, where oil-bearing large wicks, kerosene lights, petroleum vapor, and electrical lamps used in the past takes us to old golden days.
Even on hot afternoons the top of the lighthouse is breezy and cool. We can enjoy a comfortable stay at a more reasonably priced range of hotels near Lighthouse.
It is worth spending a few extra minutes to go up Marina to the lighthouse for a spectacular 360-degree view of the sea and the city views of Chennai at a reasonable fare of Rs. 20 per adult. The decades-old architecture still stands strong. A beauty!!
This town hall is a historical momentum of Chennai. It is one of the finest examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture.
It was located on EVR Periyar Salai near Moore market and between Ripon Building and Chennai central railway station.
It was constructed with red brick and painted with lime mortar. It is the rectangular building has an Italianate tower capped by Travancore style roof. It has been a venue of important public and social events.
Eminent personalities including Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda, Gokul Krishna Gokhale, Subramania Bharathi, and Sardar Vallabhai Patel have addressed meetings in the hall. Many famous artists staged their play in this hall.
The first cinema show in Chennai held in this hall. In later years, it has been a site for sale of literature. Lilypond behind was the scene of much beauty.
This is the heritage building escaped from demolition for metro rail project now houses the South Indian Athletic Association Club. It is a must visit place for architecture admirers.
Image Attribution : Sudhamshu
Mettur Dam – Salem
Mettur Dam situated in Salem is one of the largest dams in India and is the largest dam as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned.
With a capacity of 93tmcft, it caters to the water needs of Tamil Nadu for drinking and other purposes. Constructed across the river Cauvery, in the year 1935, it creates the Stanley reservoir and the construction of the dam took 9 long years to be completed. The maximum height and width of the Dam are 214 and 171 feet respectively.
The maximum storage height is 120 feet. With all that, the Mettur dam has two hydroelectric power stations which are big and was constructed during the British rule and the other one was constructed by the Indian Republic.
The dam is surrounded by hills, a park called Ellis Park etc., which has made the place the best place to visit in Salem.
Hogenakal Falls is close to this Dam. Mettur Dam is two times larger than the KRS dam located in Karnataka that was built by Sir M. Vishveswaraiah. Visit the place and explore the area for your reviews. If you visit during the monsoon season, you can spend more time to see around.
Mettur Dam Park
Mettur Park is located below the foot of the Mettur dam. Maintenance is very good, more games there and Kids will love it.
Samanar Hills, mainly tell us about Jains and Jainism.
It is believed that Samanar (Tamil Jains) saints lived here. So, it was named Samanar hills (Malai). It is situated at Keelakuilkudi village that is 15kms away from Madurai.
The hill shows many inscriptions and sculptures that dates back to the 9th century BCE.
There are two main sculptures Settipodavu and Pechipallam that show Tirthankaras of Jain monks.
Settipodavu shows the image of Mahavira Jain, the last Tirthankara. Pechipallam shows eight sculptures that include Mahavira Jain and Bahubali. It is said that Jains believe that even their breath can kill organisms such as bacteria etc.
Hence, they would kill themselves by fasting and without breathing. Here, evidence of the same can be witnessed in the form of inscriptions.
Stone beds can be seen, where the monks used to rest. The main place to know about Jains and Jainism.
To have a different experience, you must visit this place.
Madurai Gandhi Museum
Gandhi Memorial Museum is situated at Tallakulam, Madurai. This place takes you back to the moments that every citizen of India should remember and should be thankful for.
Many pictures of Gandhi from his childhood to his last journey to the crematorium have been depicted in the Museum.
A few years after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the government requested donations from the public to start a trust and construct a museum. Both poor and rich people contributed to the cause.
Here, it is believed that the last piece of cloth worn by Gandhiji is preserved with the bloodstains on it in a vacuum glass box.
Original letters written by Gandhi addressed to Narayanan Sathsangi of Devakottai is preserved here. Gandhi’s letter congratulating Bharathi, a freedom fighter too, and also a letter written to Mr. Adolf Hitler that starts with ‘Dear friend’ are also preserved here.
This place will let us understand the significance of Babuji and the sacrifice he did for our Nation.
Thirumalai Nayak Palace
Thirumalai Nayakkkar Mahal is one of the oldest palace of the country. King Thirumalai Nayak, a popular king of the Nayak dynasty, built this palace during the 17th century, in the year 1636 AD. Thirumalai Nayak, who ruled Madurai between 1623-59, built the Mahal mixing of both Rajput and Dravidian style of Architecture.
Even to this day, this palace is one of the best spots of Tourism in Madurai though the actual Mahal was four times larger than what is now. The palace was the place where Nayak kings used to reside.
The place holds such great significance. It is located at about 2kms from the great Meenakshi Temple.
Thirumalai Nayak has said to have bought architects from Italy in order to get the palace constructed.
Image Attribution : Suresh, Madurai
Thirupparankunram Murugan Temple is one of the oldest temples that belong to the 6th or 7th century. A famous temple that is situated 8kms away from Madurai, and is carved on a rock totally.
Built by Pandyas, the main shrine of the temple is Lord Muruga along with other deities namely: Lord Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha and Goddess Durga.
Well, Surapadman asura is said to have got a boon that he wished from Lord Shiva on account of his penance. Hence, he started ruling the 1008 lokas, built an empire under the sea and started troubling the devas too. Though married and had several sons, Surapadman, laid his eye on Indrani, wife of Lord Indra. Then Lord Indra sought help from Lord Muruga who slayed the demon and saved the devas too. Thirupparamkunram is the place where the demon was killed by Lord Muruga and also Lord Shiva was worshipped by his son Muruga in the name of Parangirinathar. The asura was cut into two halves and both the pieces became the vehicles of Lord Muruga namely: peacock and rooster.
As a token of Gratitude, Lord Indra got his daughter Devayani married to Lord Muruga here. In remembrance of the destruction of demon surapadman, kandha Shasti festival is celebrated at all Murugan temple during Aippasi month of Tamil calendar.
Daily six rituals are performed in the temple. Here Vishnu deity faces Shiva deity unlike any other temple and this is the specialty of the temple.
There is a tank outside the temple where the devotees can give the fish with Aval and salt.
Quite a renowned temple which you must not miss visiting when you are at Madurai.
Image Attribution : Richard Mortel
Koodal Azhagar Temple is also the oldest temple of Madurai and is situated at the Periyar Bus Stand.
Granite walls surround the Temple and the temple is one among the 108 Divyadesams that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The main deity here is Lord Vishnu in the name “Koodal Azhagar” and Goddess Lakshmi in the name of “Maruthavalli”.
Koodal is another name for Madurai and Azhagar means handsome. Thus, the name ‘Koodal Azhagar’. This temple was built by Pandyas and modifications to the temple were later made by Madurai Nayak and Vijayanagar kings.
The Architecture that can be experienced here is the Dravidian style of Architecture. It is a temple with five tiered gopurams as tall as 125 ft. The temple follows Vadakalai principles and is very popular among Vaishnavites.
As per Mythology, King Vallabhadeva used to roam around in disguise during the night. One scholar told him “Work during summer and save for winter” which means the end goal of life is “Work when young and save for future”. So, to understand this deeply, the King conducted a competition.
Vishnuchitta from Srivilliputhur who later became Periazhwar explained many things from various Vedas which was convincing. Hence, he was awarded a bag of Gold by Vallabhadeva. Periazhwar is believed to be an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu and the father of Andal, a form of Goddess Lakshmi.
The temple rituals are performed 6 times daily and the 14 days Brahmotsavam celebrations that happen during the Vaigasi month of Tamil calendar, attracts people from various places.
If you are resident or a visitor, of Madurai, you must make time to see Koodal Azhagar and get his divine blessings.
Meenakshi Amman Temple dates back to the 7th century and is quite an old temple in Madurai.
Located on the banks of the vaigai river, the temple has 14 Gopurams which is the specialty of the temple.
The height of the Gopuram ranges from 45 to 50metres and the tallest among them is the southern Gopuram which is 170 feet high.
The temple was reconstructed in the 16th century by Vishwanatha Nayak and was nominated one among the “New Seven Wonders of the World” out of the 30 nominees.
Being a prominent temple, it attracts people from all over the world and has 33,000 sculptures for the people to see and get amazed.
The main deity here is Goddess Meenakshi, the form of Parvathi unlike other temples and her consort is Lord Shiva in the name of Sundareswarar. Mythologically, it is believed that Indra was the one who recognized the temple and the story says that Goddess Parvathi had promised Kanchanamalai, the wife of Malayadwaja Pandya that she will be born to them.
Goddess was born with three breasts and a Godly voice said that the third breast will disappear when she sees her future husband. She was named ‘Taadagai’ and was made to learn 64 sastras. She conquered the three worlds and moved towards the Shiva Loka during her crowning ceremony, where she couldn’t fight Lord Shiva and was filled with Shyness. Then she realized she was Goddess Shakthi and the third breast disappeared at the sight of Lord Shiva. Later, on the Earth, they got married with a great pomp. The marriage is celebrated every year as Chthirai Thiruvizha.
After their tenure as Prince and Princess, they occupied the temple for the Goodness of People.
Meenakshi means ‘Fish Eyed’, Meena(Fish) and Akshi (Eye). If you visit Madurai, 14 Gopurams will never let you go without seeing Meenakshi as they are so inviting and pleasing.
Image Attribution : Bombman
