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Trichy City Guide 
Tiruchirappalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth
largest city in Tamil Nadu. It was a citadel of the early Cholas which later
fell to the Pallavas. Trichy is a fine blend of tradition and modernity
built around the Rock Fort. Apart from the Fort, there are several Churches,
Colleges and Missions dating back to the 1760s. The town and its fort, now
in Trichy were built by the Nayaks of Madurai. This city has given great
Tamil scholars whose contributions to the Tamil literature have been very
significant.
The most famous land mark of this bustling town is the Rockfort Temple,
a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises abruptly
from the plain to tower over the old city. It was one of the main centers
around which the wars of the Carnatic were fought in the 18th century during
the British-French struggle for supremacy in India. The city is a thriving
commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is famous for artificial diamonds, cigars,
handloom cloth, glass bangles and wooden and clay toys.
Places to See in Trichy
Rock Fort
The 83m high Rock Fort is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of
the city. The rock is one of the oldest in the world-approximately 3.800
million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older
than the Himalayas. The sheer abruptness of its rise is a thrill in itself,
but the actual centre of attraction is not the fort itself, of which very
little remains, but the temple at the summit. 344 steps hewn out of rock
lead to the top where there are inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century.B.C.
Hardly anything remains of the ramparts but the Main Guard Gate is still
intact. The fort played an important part during the Carnatic wars and according
to an inscription, mainly contributed to lay the foundations of the British
Empire in India.
Srirangam
The district's most important pilgrim centre is located in an island just
7 kms from Tiruchi. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of river Cauveri
on one side and its tributary kollidam on the other, is a 600 acre island-town
enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sriranganathaswami Temple.Most
of it dates from the 14th to 17th centuries, and many people have had a
hand in its construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas
and rulers from Vijayanagar. The largest gopuram in the first wall on the
southern side was completed as recently as 1987, and now measures 73m.
Thiruvanaikkaval
This is one of the most revered temples to Shiva; it is one of the Panchabhoota
Stalams signifying the 5 elements of wind (Kalahasti), water (Tiruvanaikka),
fire (Tiruvannamalai), earth (Kanchipuram) and space (Chidambaram). The
primordial element water, is represented by an undying natural spring in
the sanctum.
Samayapuram
Samayapuram Mariamman Temple is situated on Tiruchirappalli Chennai NH 45,
just 20 kms north of Tiruchirappalli town.The Maariamman Temple here, is
one of the well visited shrines in Tamilnadu, dedicated to Maariamman, a
manifestation of the primeval energy Shakti as the mother Goddess all sundays,
tuesdays and fridays hundreds of devotees throng the temple and perform
Poojas. The offerings are in various forms.The most common offering is the
Mavilakku Mavu made of jagery, riceflour,dhal and ghee. Mariamman is a form
of Shakti worshipped in Tamilnadu, and is associated with prosperity and
health. Local beliefs associate this deity with cures for diseases such
as small pox and chicken pox.
How to Reach Trichy
By Air 
Trichy has an airport (5 kms from the city). Indian Airlines connects Trichy
with Chennai, Sharjah, Kuwait and Colombo. Air Lanka Service connects Tiruchirapalli
with Colombo.
Indian Airlines-Railway Co-operative Mansion, Dindigul Road, Trichy - 620
001. Phone: Office-23116, Airport-27563 Air Lanka-C/o Hotel Lakshmi, Trichy.
By Train
Trichy is an important junction on the Southern Railway. It connects Chennai,
Thanjavur, Chidambaram, Madurai, Tirupathi, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, Quilon
and Rameswaram on the metre gauge and Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore, Kochi,
Kanyakumari and Mangalore.
By Road
Trichy is well connected by road with important places and Southern Cities.
Local Transport : City Bus service to all places of tourist interest from
Central Bus Stand and from Chinthamani - Mani Guard Gate Bus Stand. Tourist
Taxis, Auto Rickshaws and Cycle Rickshaws are also available.
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