The Hindu Temples of Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), India Central Tamil Nadu is a treasure trove of sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites and historically significant cities.  Cities such as Chidambaram (pop. 70,000), Kumbakonam (pop. 160,000), Thanjavur (pop. 215,000), Madurai (pop. 1.19 million) and Tiruchirappalli (pop. 850,000) all boast imprtant Hindu temples.  We decided to visit Tiruchirappalli, thakfully shortened to Trichy, to see some of these wondrous structures.

The most recognizable feature in Trichy is the Rock Fort Temple set atop a massive rock overlooking the Cauvery River.  There are actually two temples located on the rock, one dedicatd to Shiva and one dedicated to Ganesh.  The short climb up 437 rock hewn steps is not strenuous and pleasant with plenty of things to see along the way.  Trichy is a popular pilgrimage spot and there are usually big groups of devotees climbing the rock or appreciating the view from the top.  There are two different yet beautiful views from the top of the rock.  Gazing north, you will see the Cauvery River either swollen with the monsoon rains or dry and dusty as we witnessed it.  To every other direction, you see the hypnotic, geometric patterns of Trichy's urban sprawl.

View of one of the temples that make up the historic Rock Fort Temple.

From this vantage point, the urban sprawl is artistically geometric.  It is a totally different experience when you are actually on the ground.

Another main attraction for visitors is the enormous Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, also known as Srirangam.  The gigantic temple complex is considered by some to be the largest in India, there must be at least a dozen temples in India that claim to be the largest.  The temple consists of 21 gopurams (decorative tower gates) and seven concentric walls that you must pass through to reach the inner sanctum.  We recommend taking your time, getting lost in the cavernous complex and appreciating the smaller details of this overwhelming structure.  The best part of a visit to Srirangam, or any temple in India, is the people watching.  Each devotee seems to have a unique way in which they worship at the temple - some light candles, some smear ghee (clarified butter) on statues, some wail and moan and some howl with laughter.  Once your head is spinning with all of the wonderful sights, sounds and smells, you can, for a small fee, climb to the rooftop of on the buildings in the complex.  From this vatange point, you can catch an aerial view of all the action and get a closer look at the details of one the gopurams.

One of the 21 gopurams in the Srirangam Temple, this one is significantly shorter than most of the looming gopurams.

A detail of a beautiful stone carved statue of a Hindu diety.

Colorful offerings that can be bought on the temple grounds for a small price.

Karen in her salwar kameez in one of the cavernous covered halls of the Srirangam.

One of the many worshipers who come from all over India to the Srirangam.

A gigantic statue looking down on all that pass.

One of the multi-colored and detailed ceilings of thh Srirangam.

A gopuram on one of the outer walls among the overgrown shrubs

A devotee of the temple preparing flower offerings for worshipers.

Stone carving on one of the columns of Srirangam.

Details that make this massive temple structure really come to life.

As a final note about Trichy, we want to give a shout out to the Kavitha Hotel.  After visiting all the historic sites in Trichy, you must have a thali at this restaurant.  In our opinion, the Kavitha Hotel quite possibly has the best thali in South India, especially the spicy sambar.  Indulging in the delicious food of South India is just as important to understanding the country as a visit to the majestic temples and historic cities.

This happy cow was always hanging outside the Kavitha Hotel in the middle of traffic.

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