Virupaksha cave is one of the ancient caves in India with its history dating back to the 13th century. The cave is located on the eastern slopes of the Arunachala Hill. The history of the cave dates back to the time when it was the abode of Sage Virupaksha Deva. It later gained importance after Sri Ramana Maharshi stayed in the cave for 16 years.

History of Virupaksha Cave

The cave derives its name from Virupaksha Deva, who was a renowned 13th century saint. It is believed that Saint Virupaksha spent most of his life in this cave and its surroundings. It is also said that his body turned into ashes just after his Samadhi (a state of complete oneness). The holy ash is supposed to be preserved here on the altar.

Sri Ramana Maharshi & the Cave

Sri Ramana Maharshi spent 16 years in the cave from 1899 to 1916. Many significant events took place in his place during his stay in the cave. While at Virupaksha, Sri Ramana Maharshi also wrote in prose a Tamil translation of Vivekachudamani, a sacred scripture composed by Adi Sankara. He also wrote ‘Self-inquiry’ and ‘Who am I’ while residing in the cave.

More about the Virupaksha cave

Virupaksha cave is protected by constructed premises that also allow its visitors to have a peaceful time and a spiritual experience. Many devotees come here to meditate and feel the spiritual vibrations within. The Ashram is open at 8:00 AM. The cave is a year round destination and one of the popular places for Sri Ramana Maharshi devotees. It gets really hot during the day and hence it is advisable to climb up to the cave before daybreak. It is also advisable for tourists to wear trekking shoes. From the cave surroundings, one can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Thiruvannamalai Temple.

How to reach Virupaksha cave

The cave can be reached through two routes. One is through Ramana Ashram and the other is by walk from Thiruvannamalai Temple. The area also has some trekking routes. Thiruvannamalai town is well connected to major cities in Tamil Nadu through roadways. Thiruvannamalai Railway Station is connected to cities including Chennai, Madurai, Pondicherry, Vellore and Tirupati. Chennai International Airport is the nearest airport to Thiruvannamalai (around 155 kilometres away).

Thirugokarnam Temple or Kokarneswarar Temple

Thirugokarnam or Kokarneswarar Temple is located in the heart of Pudukkottai city. The chief deity of the temple is Lord Shiva worshipped as Gokarneeswarar and his consort Goddess Parvathi is worshipped as Bragadambal. This rock cut temple, built by Pallava king Mahendravarma is one of the oldest temples in South India dating back to the 7th century A.D. Later additions to the temple were made at different periods of times by Pandyas, Cholas and Thondaman Dynasty.

Legend behind the Temple

The Lord here is known as Gokarneswarar, meaning ‘the Lord of the cow’s ears’. According to the legend of the temple, it is believed that Kamadhenu, the holy cow on being cursed by Lord Indra started worshipping Lord Shiva at this place. She used to bring water from Ganges by holding it in her ears and perform Abhishekam (ablution of deity) to Lord Shiva.

One day, while she was bringing Ganges water in her ears, she was confronted by a tiger that was determined to kill her. When she pleaded with the tiger to let go of her, the tiger agreed on the condition that she would come back after performing Abhishekam to the Lord. Kamadhenu returned as promised, only to see that the Tiger was transformed to Lord Shiva and Parvathi. She was blessed by them and attained salvation after which she returned to Heaven.

More Facts about the Kokarneswarar Temple

• The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is rock cut which hosts the chief deity of the temple Lord Gokarneeswarar in Lingam form.
• Another main deity of the temple is Lord Vakulaveneswarar or the Lord of Vakula tree.
• The Goddess Bragathambal shrine is east facing and is relatively a recent one.
• Just before entering Lord Gokarneswarar’s shrine, to the left is the images of the Saptha Kannigal (the seven virgins in the world).
• The entrance of the temple has Lord Ganesha as is customary for every Hindu temple, after which follows a long corridor that is decked with carved pillars and sculptures.
• The pradakshina veranda (circumambulation path) has idols of 63 Nayanmars and shrines of Maha Gnapathi, Rishaba Rudra and Kasi Lingam.
• The temple has an upper tier that houses shrines of Lord Subramanya, Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Annapurani, Rudraksha Lingam, Brahma, Bhairava, Surya and Nalvars (Gnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar).

Thirugokarnam Temple Timings

The temple is open for devotees from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM in the morning
and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the evening.

Thirugokarnam Temple Festivals

The major festivals observed in the temple include-

• Thai Poosam – in the Tamil month of Thai (January-February)
• 10 day Chithirai Festival – in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May)
• 11 day Aadi Pooram Festival – in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-August)
• Vinayakar Chaturthi – in the Tamil month of Aavani (August-September)
• 10 day Navarathri Festival – in the Tamil month of Purattasi
  (September-October)
• Skanda Shasti Festival- in the Tamil month of Aippasi
  (October-November)
• Karthigai Deepam Festival – in the Tamil month of Karthigai
  (November-December)

How to reach Thirugokarnam Temple

The temple is located at the heart of Pudukkottai town that is well connected by road to major cities in Tamil Nadu. The nearest railway station is at Pudukottai (3 kilometres away). The nearest airport is at Trichy (around 45 kilometres away).

Sri Ramanasramam was home to Sri Ramana Maharshi, a master of Advaita Vedanta (a school of Hindu Philosophy). He stayed in the Ashram from 1922 until his death in 1950. The Ashram is located at the foot of Arunachala hill in Tiruvannamalai District.

Image Attribution : Vyacheslav Argenberg

The Ramanasramam

• The Ashram has a huge courtyard bounded by shady trees. To the left, stands two towers built in the traditional Dravidian style of architecture. One of these towers leads to the Matrubhuteswara Shrine and the other tower over the New Hall.
• The New Hall was used by Sri Maharshi for a few months leading to his Mahanirvana. The hall has a life-sized statue of Sri Maharshi and a large couch that was used by him. This hall was built to accommodate the increasing number of devotees. The hall is open everyday from 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
• Towards the west of the New Hall is the Matrubhuteswara Shrine. The impressive shrine was constructed under the supervision of the famous temple sculptor, Vaidyanath Stapati. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses a Shiva Linga and a Sri Chakra Meru consecrated by Sri Maharshi, with Nandi facing the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. The outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum are the sculpted images of Dakshinamurthi, Lingodbhava Murthi, Lord Vishnu and his consort Goddess Lakshmi. The temple also has little shrines of Lord Ganesha and Lord Murugan. The Navagrahas and Chandikeswara shrine find their place on the northern side. The temple is open everyday from 5:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
• Through the northern wall of the temple, one reaches the Samadhi Hall. This hall consists of a raised platform or Mandapam with a tower above it. The Mandapam has a Shiva Linga installed in it and is surrounded by a large marble-floored meditation hall. This hall is open everyday from 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
• A door on the north side of the Samadhi Hall leads to the Old Hall. Sri Maharshi spent almost all his time here until about a year before his passing. The hall is open from 4:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
• To the north of this hall is a large open area with some shady trees, a flower garden, a large dining kitchen block to the east, a dispensary on the west and a path leading to Skandasramam on the Arunachala Hill.
• To the east of the New Hall is the small Nirvana Room. This is the room where Maharshi spent his last days.
• Guest rooms are available in and outside the Ashram.
• A dispensary providing free medical aid for the ashram inmates and local people is found within the Ashram.
• Sri Ramana Library has Sri Ramana literary works, photographs, souvenirs, audio-tapes and videos. An extensive collection of books on spirituality is also available in many languages.

How to reach Ramanasramam

The town of Tiruvannamalai is connected to various cities in Tamil Nadu through roadways. It is located on the Villupuram-Katpadi branch line. The Ashram is at a distance of 3 kilometres from Tiruvannamalai Railway Station. The nearest airport is at Chennai (around 175 kilometres away).

Overview

Arunachaleswarar or Annamalaiyar Temple is located at the base of Arunachala Hills (2668 feet tall) in Tiruvannamalai. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is of immense importance to the Hindu sect of Saivism. The temple is one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalangal of Lord Shiva who is worshipped as Agni Lingam, symbolizing fire – one of the five primordial elements. His consort Parvati is worshipped as Unnamalai Amman.

The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Govt. of Tamil Nadu.

History of Arunachaleswarar Temple

Let’s have a look at the history of the temple under the various ruling dynasties –

• The temple was initially built by the Chola kings back in the 9th century CE.
• The inscriptions in the temple reflect that further expansions were made during the reign of Vijayanagara kings.
• Subsequently, the temple came under Hindu and Muslim stewardship at different periods of time.
• The town of Tiruvannamalai came under the control of the French in 1757 before it was occupied by the British in the year 1760.
• The town was later captured by Tipu Sultan in 1790 CE.
• During the first half of the 19th century, the town along with the temple came under British rule.
• From 1951, the temple has been maintained by the Hindu Religions and Endowment Board.

Legend

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma once argued amongst themselves about who was supreme, ignoring their duties. On seeing this, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of fire and told them that whoever it is that finds the top or bottom of the fire is the greatest. While Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar (Varaha) and delved into the earth to find the bottom of flame, Lord Brahma took the form of a swan (Annam) and flew up towards the skies. Both their efforts were in vain and when finally they gave up their ego, Lord Shiva appeared before them. The day on which Lord Shiva appeared as a pillar of fire is celebrated as Thirukarthigai/Karthigai Deepam.

Reference to Literature

Lord Shiva at this temple is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ‘Tevaram’ written by the Tamil poets Nayanars. The temple is revered as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The famous work of Manikkavasagar, ‘Tiruvemparai’ was composed here.

The Arunachaleswarar Temple Structure and Shrines

The temple is one of the largest in India covering around 10 hectares of land. One of the main attractions of the temple is its four Gopurams. The tallest Gopuram is at the Eastern side with 11 stories and a height of 217 feet.
The most prominent features of the temple its numerous halls (the thousand-pillared hall being the most notable one) and its numerous shrines.

Arunachaleswarar Temple Timings

The temple is open from 5:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 3:30 AM to 9:30 PM.

Arunachaleswarar Temple Pooja Timings

Name of the Pooja	Timing
Ushakala	5:30 AM
Kalasandhi	8:00 AM
Uchikalam	11:30 AM
Saayaratchai	5:30 PM
Irandam Kalam	7:30 PM
Artha Jama Pooja	9:00 PM

Arunachaleswarar Temple Festivals

Major festivals observed in the temple are:

• Chitirai Utsavam – 10 days festival during the Tamil month of Chitirai (April-May)
• Ani Brahmotsavam – 10 days festival during the Tamil month of Ani (June-July)
• Adi Pooram Brahmotsavan – 10 days festival during the Tamil month of Adi (July-August)
• Kanda Shashti Utsavam – 6 days festival during the Tamil month of Aippasi (October-November)
• Karthigai Deepam Brahmotsavam – 17 days festival during the Tamil month of Karthigai (November-December)
• Uthrayana Punyakala Brahmotsavam – 10 days festival during the Tamil month of Thai (January-February)
• Panguni Uthiram Thirukalyana Utsavam – 6 days festival during the Tamil month of Panguni (March-April)

Tiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam is observed during the Tamil month of Karthigai (November-December). To mark the festival, a huge fire lamp (Mahadeepam) is lit up on the Arunachala hills, which is visible for several kilometres around the area. Thousands of devotees throng Tiruvannamalai during Karthigai Deepam.

Girivalam

Girivalam or circumambulation path around the Arunachala hill covers a distance of 14 kilometres. The term ‘Arunam’, in Tamil language, means sun and denotes the red colour of fire. ‘Asalam’ means mountain or hill. Thus ‘Arunachalam’ is the holy hill which is red in colour denoting fire (the form in which Lord Shiva graces this place).
Pilgrims are engaged in Girivalam throughout the year. Every full moon day, pilgrims from various parts of the State worship Arunachaleswarar by circumambulating the hill barefoot. By doing this, it is believed that one’s desires are fulfilled. There are eight lingams devotees offer their worship to, in the 14 kilometres circumference of the hill. These lingams are associated with the 15 moon signs and are collectively termed as Ashta Lingam.

How to reach Tiruvannalamai Arunachaleswarar Temple

Buses to Tiruvannalamai are available from all major towns in Tamil Nadu. Tiruvannamalai Bus Station and Railway Station is at walkable distance from the temple (2 kilometres away). Chennai is the nearest airport at a distance of around 185 kilometres

Epilogue

One of the largest temple complexes in the country, the Annamalaiyar Temple leaves its devotees mesmerized with its beauty and elegance. The air of spirituality around the hill and the intricately embellished halls and shrines, not only satisfies one’s religious pursuits but also offers an experience of peace and tranquility.

Overview of Chidambaram Thillai Nataraja Temple

Chidambaram Nataraja Temple or Thillai Nataraja Temple, one of the oldest temples of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraja – the Lord of Dance. The temple is administered by learned Brahmins called Dikshitars who live in Chidambaram.
Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram is one of the Pancha Sabhai (representing the five primordial elements symbolizing earth) marking the place where Lord Shiva performed the Cosmic Dance in the form of Lord Nataraja. Of the Pancha Sabhai, Chidambaram denotes the Skies or Aakasha.
Chidambaram is a temple town located 5 kilometres north of the Kollidam River and 15 kilometres west from the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Image Attribution : Richard Mortel

Etymology behind Chidambaram Town

The town of Chidambaram was originally known as Thillai. The word Thillai is derived from the mangrove of Thillai trees that grow in the region.
The place was renamed Chidambaram after it became the capital of Cholas in the 10th century. The Cholas built the current temple dedicating it to their family deity, Lord Nataraja.
The word Chidambaram is derived from the Tamil word ‘Chitrambalam’. ‘Chitthu’ means ‘consciousness’ or ‘wisdom’ and ‘ampalam’ means ‘atmosphere’. The term literally means ‘atmosphere of wisdom’ and relates to the atmosphere of art.

Chidambaram temple history

The earliest textual evidence trace the ancient existence of Lord Shiva temple at Chidambaram.

• Texts belonging to the Sangam tradition (pre 5th century) suggest the existence of a temple at this site. Although the texts do not show the town being named as Chidambaram.
• The 6th and early 7th century texts by Appar and Sambandar mention the ‘dancing God of Chidambaram’ as Lord Shiva.
• The Skanda Purana dated in the period between 7th and 10th century includes the Suta Samhita that mentions the Chidambaram Dance.
• Inscriptions and texts found during the rule of Aditya Chola I in the early 10th century and the rule of Chola king Parantaka provides a historical evidence of Shiva temple at Chidambaram.
• It is believed that Raja Raj Chola I traced the hymns of the 63 Nyanmars inside the chambers of the second precinct in the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple.
• The structures, mandapas, pillar carvings, gopurams, water pool, shrines and sculptures were built during the reign of late Chola and early Pandya kings in the 12th and 13th century.
• The various legends associated with the temple are contained in the 12th century text – Chidambara Mahatmya.

Legend

According to the text contained in Chidambara Mahatmya, Lord Shiva (in the form of a beggar) is said to have visited sages in a pine forest accompanied by Mohini (an avatar of Lord Vishnu). Mohini provokes lustful temptations among the sages while Lord Shiva performs the ‘dance of bliss’ or Thandava. Thus the triggered sages realize how outward their austerities were and that God cannot be controlled by rituals or magic. The sages by name Patanjali and Vyaghrapada wanted to see Lord Shiva’s ‘dance of bliss’, for which they meditated on Lord Shiva. Impressed by their penance, Lord Shiva appeared before them in Chidambaram and performed the dance.

Chidambaram temple architecture

• The temple is built in Dravidian style of architecture and covers 40-acres of area. The temple is embedded within 4 concentric courtyards.
• The temple is believed to have been constructed in such a way so as to resemble the human body.
• The temple has 5 Sabhas or halls:
  • The Chit Sabha – the sanctum sanctorum housing idol of Lord Nataraja and his consort Goddess Shivagamasundari.
  • The Kanaka Sabha – in front of Chit Sabha
  • The Natya Sabha – to the south of temple’s flag mast
  • The Raja Sabha – 1000 pillared hall
  • The Deva Sabha – housing the Pancha Moorthis
• The core part of the vast temple complex is the gathering halls called Chit Sabha and Kanak Sabha.
• The temple dedicated to Lord Nataraja Shiva consists of mandapams, pillared halls, nine Gopurams, several water pools and various shrines.
• Each of the Gopurams has been designed colourfully narrating stories from Hindu traditions.
• Apart from the main shrine of Lord Nataraja, the temple includes other shrines of Goddess Devi, Lord Vishnu, Subramanyar, Ganesha, Nandi, and Lord Surya.
• The main form of Lord Shiva in the temple is as Nataraja. Two other forms of Lord Shiva represented in the temple are Lingam form and as an empty space.

Chidambara Rahasyam

Chidamabara Rahasyam has been an ever mysterious Hindu belief. Rahasyam in Tamil means ‘secret’. Chidambara Rahasyam is the formess representation of Lord Shiva as the divine self that is present everywhere and in everything.
The sanctum sanctorum houses the idol of Lord Nataraja and an empty curtained space which is opened for special poojas. Many myths and interpretations about the Rahasyam have been stated over time.

Temple Timings of Chidambaram Nataraja Temple

The temple is open in the morning from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM and in the evening from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Pooja Timings in Chidambaram Nataraja Temple

Pooja	Timings
Paal Nivedyam	6:30 AM
Maha arathi	7:00 AM
Kalasandhi Pooja	7:45 AM to 9:00 AM
Irandam Kalam	10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Uchikalam	11:30 AM to 12:00 NOON
Saayaratchai	5:15 PM to 6:00 PM
Irandam Kalam	7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Artha Jama Pooja	9:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Chidambaram Nataraja Temple Festivals

The major festivals observed in the temple are –

• Marghazhi Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Thiruvadhirai (December-January)
• Chaturdasi or fourteenth day after new moon in the Tamil month of Masi (February-March)
• Chitirai Thiruvonam in the Tamil month of Chitirai (April-May)
• Aani Thirumanjanam in the Tamil month of Aani (June-July)
• Chaturdasi in the Tamil month of Aavani (August-September)
• Chaturdasi in the Tamil month of Puratasi (October-November)

How to Reach Chidambaram Nataraja Temple

Frequent buses to Chidambaram are available from all major cities in Tamil Nadu. It’s a four hour drive from Chennai to Chidambaram. Chidambaram has its own railway station (at walkable distance) which is connected to other cities. The other railways stations close to Chidambaram are at Mayiladuthurai (41 kilometres away) and at Villupuram (65 kilometres away).
The nearest airport is at Trichy (195 kilometres away) and Chennai (235 kilometres away).

Overview

Papanasam is a village located in Tirunelveli district, around 60 kilometres from Tirunelveli town.
Papanasanathar Temple in Papanasam is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshipped as Papanasanathar and his consort Parvati as Ulagambigai. The temple has been constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture.
The temple lies on the banks of the Thamirabarani River and is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Govt. of Tamil Nadu.

Image Attribution : MariSelvam

Legend behind the Temple

There are many legends stating the significance of the Papanasanathar Temple. The most strongly believed mythological story being that of Sage Agasthiyar who had prayed to get a glimpse of the divine wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Lord Shiva, pleased by his devotion, appeared with his consort Parvati at Papasanathar, which he made his abode. The falls nearby was named Papanasam or Agasthiyar Falls.
The temple is believed to have been built during the Pandya rule with further additions made by the Nayak and Vijayanagar rulers.

Papanasanathar Temple Architecture

The temple has a seven-tiered Gopuram or gateway tower. The temple complex is surrounded by a granite wall. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses the shrine of Lord Shiva as Papanasanathar in the form of a Lingam. The shrine of Goddess Ulagambigai is found towards the west. Other shrines found in the temple are that of Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan, Dakshinamurthy, Goddess Durga Navagrahas and Lord Nataraja.

Papanasanathar Temple Timings

The temple is open from 5:30 AM to 12:00 PM and from 4:30 AM to 7:30 PM. The temple remains open for the whole day during the festival days.

Pooja Timings in Papanasanathar Temple

Pooja	Timing
Thiruvananthal	6:30 AM
Sirualasanthi	7:00 AM
Kalasandhi	8:30 AM
Uchikalam	11:30 AM
Saayaratchai	6:00 PM
Artha Jama Pooja	8:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Papanasanathar Temple Festivals

The prominent temple festivals observed in the temple are the Brahmotsavam festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April-May) and Thaipoosam during the Tamil month of Thai (January-February).

How to reach Papanasanathar Temple

By road, Papanasam is well connected to Tirunelveli (60 kilometres), Ambasamudram (16 kilometres), Tenkasi (34 kilometres) and Madurai (215 kilometres). Tirunelveli is the nearest rail head (around 50 kilometres) and nearest airport is at Madurai (around 210 kilometres).

Overview

Karpaga Vinayagar or Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar Temple is located at Pillaiyarpatti in Sivagangai District. The temple is an ancient rock-cut cave shrine dedicated to Karpaga Vinayagar(Lord Ganesha).
The temple is maintained by the Chettiyar or Nagarathar community through an NGO Trust.

Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple – Etymology

Lord Ganesha presides in the temple with two arms and a twirling trunk in Valampuri posture, and so the name Valampuri Vinayagar.According to Hindu mythology, Karpaga Tree (Kalpavriksha) is a wish fulfilling divine tree. Lord Ganesha is believed to fulfill the wishes of his devotees and hence he is also referred to as Karpaga Vinayagar.

Architecture of Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple

Pillaiyarpatti Temple is a cave formation built in the era of early Pandyas. The stone inscriptions found in the temple indicate the temple to date between the years 1091 and 1238 B.C.
The images of Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva were carved out of a stone by a sculptor by name Ekkatur Koon Peruparanam. Other than the images of Lord Shiva and Ganesha, the temple houses shrines of other Gods as well.
The sanctum sanctorum (Vinayagar Sannidhi) apparently has no path for Parikrama or circumambulation. The presiding deity of Karpaga Vinayagar is 6 feet tall with the trunk curling towards the right (Valampuri Vinayagar). Other deities found in the temple are that of Goddess Karthiyayini, Nagalingam and Lord Pasupatheeswarar.

Temple Timings in Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar

The temple is open from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 8.30 PM.

Karpaga Vinayagar Pooja Timings

Name of the Pooja	Pooja Timing
Thiruvanandal Abhishekam	6:00 AM to 6:30 AM
Kalasandhi	8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Uchikalam	11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Saayaratchai	5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Artha Jama Pooja	7:45 PM to 8:30 PM

Festivals of Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple

Vinayagar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (August-September) is the major festival observed in the temple.The festival is held for 10 days and the temple attracts many devotees during this time.

How to reach Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple

Pillaiyarpatti is located at a distance of around 73 kilometres from Madurai and 16 kilometres from Karaikudi. The nearest railway station is at Karaikudi at a distance of around 18 kilometres. The nearest airport is at Madurai (about 94 kilometres away) and Trichy (about 89 kilometres away).

Epilogue

Pillaiyarpatti Vinayagar Temple is one of the oldest cave temples in Tamil Nadu. The Agamic texts (collection of scriptures-Vedic and Non Vedic) found in the temple not only helps to date the temple but also depicts the vivid culture of Tamil Nadu passed down through centuries.

Overview of Chettinad Palace

Chettinad Palace is located in Kanadukathan, a small town in Karaikudi Taluk, Sivaganga District. Known for its grandeur and architectural beauty, the majestic edifice is located 10 kilometres away from Karaikudi.
The palace was designed and established in the year 1912 by Dr. Annamalai Chettiyar, the founder of Annamalai University and Indian Bank.

Chettinad Community

Chettinad is a community that is home for the Nattokottai Chettiars (Nagarathar community), a mercantile community involved in banking and money lending. The Vallambar (Vellalar) community also forms a part of Chettinad. Chettinadu is also well known for its palatial houses with wide courtyards and spacious rooms, temples in traditional style and the popular Chettinad cuisine.

More facts about the Chettinad Palace

• The palace belongs to Sri MAM Ramaswamy and family and one needs prior permission to get inside the palace.
• Chettinad Palace is a finest example of the widely famed mansions of Chettinad region.
• The elegant palace is adorned with impeccably carved figurines and wood carvings.
• The palace has a pleasant ambience and green surroundings.
• The interiors, furnishings and construction materials used for constructing the palace were brought from East Asian countries and Europe. Italian marbles, teak from Burma, colourful handmade Athangudi tiles together add to the picturesque beauty of the palace.

How to reach Chettinad Palace

Karaikudi is the nearest town from the palace which is well connected by road to different parts of the state. Frequent buses ply from Karaikudi to Chettinad. Karaikudi Railway Junction is the nearest rail head. The nearest airports are at Madurai (81 kilometres away) and Tiruchirapalli (87 kilometres away)

Epilogue

The palace is an ideal place for history enthusiasts, photographers and people looking for some quality time with friends and families. A day at this historical mansion with its pleasing surroundings is worth experiencing.

Want to break away from your corporate life for a while, seeking different travelling opportunities that you can opt for a travelling spree out of Chennai? Here are a few of the best places that you can travel to for your weekend break. We have created this list based on the experiences shared by travelers online, and hence, we are pretty sure that these would satiate all your exploration carvings at once.

Freedom is of profound importance while travelling, it’s the sheer feeling of being able to command your way through a city unfettered and unhindered that soothes the soul. But, opting for public transport buses and auto’s often hampers your personal travelling goals, so why not opt for Self Drive Car Rentals in Chennai. Being able to drive yourself would empower you to choose your own destination and route freely.

List of places that you should visit from Chennai:

Pondicherry

Nothing could beat the beautiful and serene surroundings of Pondicherry for a weekend trip. The town offers an eclectic mix of beautiful beaches, invigorating nightlife, and the infusion of French culture with an Indian demeanour.

If you are planning to visit Pondicherry, here are a few of the places that you should not miss: the Promenade Beach (witness the sunset in the evening at the beach), and the boat ride to Paradise Island Beach, which offers the most mesmerizing views of the endless sea that surrounds you.

Pichavaram Mangrove Forests

Located in the Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu, the place offers an experience of the most beautiful mangrove forests, along with the backwaters running amongst them. The Pichvaram backwaters span all the way to the precipice of Killai backwaters along with the Vellar and Coleroon estuaries.

The location is about 225 km from Chennai, and hence, you can easily reach here after a drive of only about 4 hours; the boat rides along the mangrove forests would bring you closer to nature, and bird enthusiasts would be able to spot some of the rarest bird species along these backwaters. November to February would be the best time to visit the place as then you would be able to spot some of the most beautiful birds.
View more: Pichavaram Mangrove Forests

Pulicat

A small and quaint town in the Thiruvallur District of Tamil, the town has a history of Dutch Colonization which adds to the cultural diaspora.

The place has further gained recognition due to the second-largest Brackish Water Lagoon that presides here. Some of the other major attractions of Pulicat are the exotic birds that often fly here during the winter season. These include Flamingoes, Spotted Pelican, Gray Horn Little Terns and other birds that fly here all the way from Siberia and the Himalayan Regions.

Yelagiri

If lakes and waterbodies are not your ideal for a relaxing environment, then the lush green mountains of Yelagiri would surely seem amenable to you. If that’s not all, the mountain ranges are quite popular amongst trekking adventurers and are often flocked by adventure enthusiasts from all over India.

Some of the must-visit places here are Fundera Bird Park, the shores of Attaru River that cascades over rocks and plunges down mountain ranges to form the spectacular Jalagamparai Falls. Some of the other attractions that you must visit are Velavan Temple, Yelagiri Herbal Garden and the beautiful Nature park.
View more: Yelagiri

Horsely Hills

Cascading waterfalls, tranquil lakes, winding roads, and pleasant weather combine to offer a place that offers everything you need for relaxation. Some of the most beautiful attractions are Legal Falls, Lush Greenery, and Elephant Camp. Located close by the Horsley Hills is Gangotri Lake, the Whisper Winds Viewpoint, Galibanda Viewpoint, and other panoramic views of the mountains.

Arignar Anna Zoological Park

If you want to keep your trip short and sweet, this could be a perfect location, with thrill and adventure all rolled into a single experience where you get to come close to the local wildlife as well. You can explore and witness the diverse wildlife specific to this place.
Apart from being a full-on Zoo it’s a famous picnic spot where you can easily relax and have a good time. The destination is a must- visit for wildlife enthusiasts. You can indulge in Elephant joyrides, Children’s Parks and the Education Centre. You can also take part in Elephant Safari as well as Deer Safari.
View more: Arignar Anna Zoological Park

This place is a must-visit if you have any interest in birds or wildlife, located closer to Mahabalipuram, this place is one of the best tourist places that you can visit. This is one of the prime bird sanctuaries of India and is home to about 330,000 birds, quite a few of them fly to be here from all around the world.
You can easily spot Spoonbills, Storks, Egrets, Herons and more over here. This place is located a distance of about 89 km from Chennai, and the best time to visit the place would be from November to February.
View more: Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

Vellore Fort

Most prominent landmarks in the city, Vellore as a city has its own unique prospects for travelers, such as rich cultural heritage and architectural marvels from the Dravidian Civilization. This could be a perfect weekend spot for you if you have an interest in History.

Distance from Chennai to the Vellore fort is only about 136 km and the best time to visit the place would be from October to March. A few other places that you can visit nearby are Sri Lakshmi Golden Temple and Sri Venkateshwara Museum. These are some of the best places that we recommend you visit from Chennai.

To roam around you can either use public transport or if you don’t want to miss out on the places and want to roam freely we would recommend you to opt for an self drive rental cars. A lot of local Car Rental providers these days provide travelers with self drive cars but if you are looking for any reliable Car rental company you can opt one from RenTrip Rentals. RenTrip is a renowned brand which offers self-drive Cars in more than 35 cities. Further their easy-to-use Mobile application and website make booking a rental cars more easy and wide options and range to choose from.

We hope you have a wonderful time travelling to all the places listed in the blog, further we would recommend that you try and be safe and enjoy your travelling spree.

The monuments at Mahabalipuram are monolith beautiful sculptures depicting our rich history and culture. The monuments and temples at Mahabalipuram including the Shore Temple complex were collectively classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

The Mahabalipuram stone sculptures carved in stone have been inspired by the Pallava style of art. Each of the monuments at Mahabalipuram is dedicated to a deity or character from Hindu mythology and thereby represents Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism.

The monuments include – Rathas (chariot shaped temples), Mandapas (cave temples), Rock Reliefs, Structural Temples and Excavations.

The monuments at Mahabalipuram have lots in store for art lovers and history buffs. Mahabalipuram falls in Kanchipuram District and is well connected to all major cities through road. The nearest airport is at Chennai (around 60 kilometres away).