Trichy Temple Tour: Top 5 Temples That One Must Visit in Tiruchirappalli (2024)
Tiruchirappalli, earlier known as Trichy or Tiruchi, is a mid-sized religious town in Tamil Nadu. Just like Madurai, Trichy is also a popular spot for religious tourism. A visit to Tiruchirappalli can be a refreshing change from staying in the concrete jungles. The beautiful temples and churches in Trichy will enthrall you with their exquisite architecture and the uniqueness that each of these places brings with them. Trichy is often known as the city of rock and temples, and the town has become famous over the years for the sheer number of well-known temples here.
Trichy Temple Tour: Top 5 Temples That One Must Visit in Tiruchirappalli
Here are some of the best temples in Tiruchirappalli that should definitely be on your list.
1. Ucchi Pillayar Rockfort Temple (also known as the Rockfort Ganpathi Temple)
This is one of the most popular temples and tourist spots in Trichy. The name of the temple is derived from its unique construction style as the temple structure is made up of a huge rock, which is believed to be the oldest rock in the world. Some say that this rock is even older than the Himalayan Mountain Range.
In order to visit Rockfort Ganpathi Temple in Tiruchirappalli, you must be ready to make a steep climb up 344 steps to reach the main temple gate. The temple is built in two sub-parts – the first is the Thayumanaswaamy, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The second part is the Pillayar, which is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The Shiva temple here contains the lingam form of the Lord.
The origins of this temple in Trichy have been traced back all the way to the 7th century. The temple opens at 6 am and closes at 8 pm. This temple does not close in the afternoon, unlike all the other temples in Tiruchi.
2. Samayapuram Amman Temple
The Samayapuram Amman Temple is located around 20 km from the center of the city of Tiruchirappalli. This temple is dedicated to the Goddess Mariamman, who is believed to be the Goddess of power. The goddesses located here are believed to be the forms of Goddess Kali, Durga, and Parvati. The deity here is believed to bring health and prosperity to all her devotees, and there is a strong belief amongst the local population that the Goddess can also cure smallpox and chickenpox.
The temple has constructed individual shrines that houses beautiful images of Goddess Mariamman and Moolavar. The Samayapuram Amman Temple in Trichy is especially famous for the annual festival of Thai Poosam, which sees a lot of devotees gather here from all over Tamil Nadu.
The idol of the Goddess in this temple is built from sand and clay, which is why there is no abhishekam (sacred washing) performed every day. Instead, there is a smaller stone statue of the Goddess placed in front of the main idol, and abhishekam is done on this smaller idol as a mark of respect and devotion.
There is also a famous ritual associated with this temple. Buying small metallic replicas of the main idol of the deity and keeping them at home is believed to bring good luck. Whenever a family member falls sick, it is believed that donating this idol in the donation box of the temple can help cure the illness.
The Samayapuram Amman Temple in Tiruchirappalli or Trichy is believed to be the second wealthiest temple of Tamil Nadu, just after the Meenakshi Amma Temple in Madurai. The temple is open from 4:30 am to 9:00 pm every day.
3. Jambukeswarar Temple
This famous temple in Tiruchirappalli is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known as one of the oldest temples in India. It is estimated that the temple was built over 1800 years ago. The temple was constructed by Kocengannan during the early Chola dynasty.
Located on the Srirangam Island, the Jambukeswarar Temple is one of the five major Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, known as Pancha Bhoota Stalam. Each of these five temples represents the five great elements, with the Jambukeswarar Temple representing the element of water. In fact, keeping with this idea, the sanctum of the Jambukeswarar Temple even has an underground water stream. Despite the water being pumped out regularly, it always remains full of water. Legend has it that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of water here, due to which the Shiva Lingam is known as Appu Lingam in Tamil.
This ancient temple still has inscriptions from the Chola period. There is a story associated with Jambukeswarar temple that says that Goddess Parvati herself worshipped Lord Shiva here and installed the idol in the sanctum. Another unique feature of this temple is that there are a total of nine water bodies linked to this temple in Tiruchirappalli.
The timing of the Jambukeswarar Temple is from 5:30 am to 1:00 pm and then again from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
4. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
Another famous temple of Tiruchi is the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. It is also located near the Jambukeswarar Temple on the island of Srirangam. This temple is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, who is the reclining form of Lord Vishnu himself. The temple complex covers a total area of 156 acres and has been built in the true Dravidian style of architecture. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirappalli is one of the biggest functional temple complexes in the world, including 21 gopurams along with an ornate gateway. This is also the tallest gopuram in all of India.
There is also a royal temple tower in the complex, which has a majestic height of 196 feet. Another unique feature of this temple is the hall containing 1000 decorated and carved pillars. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is known as the largest Hindu temple in the world.
The timings of visiting the temple are from 7:30 am to 1:20 pm, and then again from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
5. Vekkali Amman Temple
The Vekkali Amman Temple is dedicated to an avatar of Goddess Durga known as Goddess Vekkali. Located in the village of Woraiyur in Tiruchirappalli, this temple is very popular amongst locals who throng to the temple complex to offer their prayers, seek blessings of the Goddess and give gratitude for everything they have.
The Goddess is known as being the ultimate epitome of strength, peace, harmony, and willpower. As you walk into the temple, you will definitely feel the divine vibe of the power of the Vekkali Amman. This beautiful and majestic shrine of the Goddess is made of gold and silver in a stunning Ratha or chariot.
There is a widespread practice of devotees writing their wishes on a piece of paper and dropping it in a box placed inside the temple. Many devotees claim that their wishes have actually come true, due to which the faith in the powers of the Goddess Vekkali has only grown with each passing day.
The temple dates back to the Chola dynasty, and the Goddess Vekkali is believed to be the guardian of the locals of the town from the ancient times. Even the Chola kings were known to worship the Goddess before going to every war to pray to be victorious. Even today, thousands of devotees come to Vekkali Amman Temple in Trichy to seek blessings of Goddess Vekkali before beginning any important endeavor in their lives. The temple is open from 7:00 am to 8:30 pm.
Tiruchirappalli or Trichy (Tiruchi) is a famous ancient town in Tamil Nadu that has a recorded history that dates back all the way to the 3rd century. The temples of Trichy are a testament to the various historical kingdoms and empires such as the Cholas, the Pallava, the Pandya, the Carnatic Kingdom, the Vijaynagar Kingdom, and even the British. The city of Tiruchirappalli is today the perfect vision into the glorious past of Tamil Nadu.
