Trichy is an ancient city, believed to be the 3rd oldest city in India that can truly take you back in time. The city is dominated by beautiful temples and monuments. That’s why you’re bound to find yourself standing in awe of elaborately adorned temples dating all the way back to the 1760s! Let’s take you over the 5 best temples to visit in Trichy for their pure and positive atmosphere.
Ucchi Pillayar Rockfort is a temple that is fascinating because its perched high up on a rock at a height of roughly 272 feet. From here, you’ll get a mesmerizing view of the city of Trichy, the Kaveri River, and Srirangam island. To reach the main temple area, all the devotees have to climb over 400 steps of the temple. Although the climb to this temple is difficult, the soothing breeze and therapeutic atmosphere that flows here will certainly gear you up with all the energy you need.
The other thing that’s also interesting about the temple is that the huge rock is believed to be even older than the Himalayan mountain ranges. All in all you must pay a visit to this temple to get a beautiful view of almost all of Trichy.
Ucchi Pillayar Rockfort Temple Timings: 6 am to 8 pm.
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Samayapuram Amman Temple is one of the oldest and more serene temples in India, located around 20 km from the center of Trichy. This temple is devoted to Goddesses Mariamman, Kali, Durga, and Parvati. Many devotees not just from India, but other places like Srilanka, Malaysia, and Singapore come to pay their respects at this temple.
The reason is that the Goddess Mariamman of this temple is considered to be the Goddess of Power. So a lot of visitors come here with the belief that their deity will cure them. Devotees also buy replicas of metallic idols of the deity and troubled body parts and donate them to the temple. This is done by people to seek divine intervention in their healing. Some devotees also keep the replicas at home as it’s believed to bring good luck.
You should also know that if you visit the Samayapuram Amman Temple during their annual festival called ‘Thai Poosam’, the temple is flocked by the lot of devotees in and outside the state of Tamil Nadu. Should you feel like staying then there is a massive resting hall to accommodate devotees that come from far.
Samayapuram Amman Temple Timings: 4:30 am to 9 pm.
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Jambukeswarar Temple, also known as Thiruvanaikovil Arulvingul Jambukeswarar, is located just 2 km away from the island of Srirangam. The temple is believed to be constructed by Kochenga Chola, during the early Chola dynasty, almost 1800 years ago! (Yes, its that ancient!)
This temple is known to be one of the five major Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu. Each of these five temples are believed to represent different elements of nature. The Jambukeswarar Temple represents ‘Neer’ which translates to water. That’s why you’ll find that the temple’s sanctum has an underground water stream where devotees rush to witness the sight of an unusual waterflow here.
Legend has it that Goddess Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva and herself made the Shiva Lingam using the holy waters of Kaveri River. It’s also believed that Lord Shiva acknowledged Goddess Parvati’s adoration and gave her a ‘darshan’ (appearance) at this temple.
Jambukeswarar Temple is also a part of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams (temples that are sung in the verses of Saiva Nayanars, between 6th-9th centuries). There are inscriptions at this temple, which can be dated back to the Chola period. Whether you want to go for a religious tour, or know more about the culture of Tamil Nadu, this temple is a must-visit!
Jambukeswarar Temple Timings: 5:30 am to 1 pm, 3 pm to 9 pm.
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Sri RangaNathaswamy temple is one of the most holy and prominent Hindu temples of Trichy. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, the reclining form of Lord Vishnu. One can’t help but marvel at the Dravidian architecture of this temple. It is spread across an area of 156 acres. One of the many notable features of this temple is its main entrance. There’s a Rajagopuram (temple tower) that stands at a height of 72 m above the ground in splendor.
Any devotee or tourist who visits the temple for the first time is sure to be blown away by its stunning architecture. The 7 defensive walls of this temple are built with granite stones along with 12 ornamented Gopurams (towers). The temple has artwork of mythological images and legends. There’s also the temple hall that has 1,000 decorated pillars. Another astounding thing about Sri RangaNathaswamy Temple is that it’s considered to be one of the largest Hindu temples in the world.
The best time to visit Sri RangaNathaswamy is in December, when the temple celebrates its ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ festival (Festival Of Paradise). Another popular festival that follows in January is ‘Ratholsavam’ which is the Temple Chariot Festival. During this time, a huge crowd visits the temple to witness the devotees carry the deities on a decorated chariot.
Sri RangaNathaswamy Temple Timings: 7:30 am to 1:30 pm, 4 pm to 8 pm.
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Vekkali Amman Temple is located in the village of Woraiyur in Trichy. It’s dedicated to Goddess Vekkeli , who is an avatar of Goddess Durga. Many devotees visit this temple to seek the divine blessings of Goddess Vekkeli. She’s known to be the epitome of strength, willpower, peace, and harmony. The devotees who come here put forth their petitions in a box at this temple. Many devotees of this temple even claim that their wishes come true because of their true faith in Goddess Vekkali.
The shrine of Goddess Vekkali is made of gold and silver in a beautiful ‘Ratha’ or chariot. A ‘trishul’ (divine weapon of Lord Shiva), ‘udukkai’ (small drum), ‘Akshaya Patra’ (a sacred thread with an eternal vessel) are placed in the four hands of the Goddess. She also has a majestic crown on her head, a pearl necklace, and gold bangles on her hands that seem to accentuate her beauty.
The origin of Vekkali Amman Temple can be traced back to the Chola dynasty. It’s said that this temple was even visited by the Chola kings to pay their respects to the Goddess. All ardent followers of Goddess Vekkali come here to worship here before beginning any important endeavor in their lives.
Vekkali Amman Temple Timings: 7 am to 8:30 pm.
Summing Up
If you’re thinking of traveling to Trichy, don’t forget to visit these 5 best temples in Trichy for a spiritual experience. You will be be captivated by the architecture of the temples here and it gives you a peek into the cultural traditions of the people residing in Trichy.
What Are The Famous Temples In Trichy?
Here’s a list of the famous temples in Trichy:
How Many Steps Are There In The Uchi Pillayar Temple?
The Uchi Pillayar Temple is known to have over 400 steps that devotees need to climb in order to reach the temple.
What Food Is Special In Trichy?
One of the most famous foods in Trichy is Paruppu which is made by boiling lentils. It can be had with chapati or rice. Other famous foods in Trichy are Rasam, Sambar, Dosa, etc.
What Can We Buy In Trichy?
Some of the best things you can buy in Trichy are silk sarees, sandalwood carvings, cast utensils, wooden toys, etc.
How Long Does It Take To Climb Uchi Pillayar Temple?
It takes around 2-3 hours to climb up and down Uchi Pillayar Temple.
Which State Is Called Land Of Temples?
Tamil Nadu is called the ‘Land Of Temples’ in India.
What Is The Old Name Of Trichy?
Trichy or Tiruchirappalli was also known as ‘Trichinopoly’.
Why Is Tiruchirappalli Famous?
Tiruchirappalli is famous for its many historical monuments and temples.
