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Tiruchirappalli now called Trichy is situated on the banks of the Cauvery river. Trichy, the fourth largest city in the state was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. But the Pallavas never really managed to retain control of this strategic city and lost it to the Pandyas several times.

Tiruchirappalli is known for its Rock Fort and its temple at a height of over 83 metres. Other renowned temples are, the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam), Siva temple at Tiruvanaikkaval and the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple.

History Of Tiruchirappalli

Tiruchi itself has a long history dating back to the centuries before the Christian era when it was a Chola citadel. During the first millennium AD, it changed hands between the Pallavas and Pandyas many times before being taken by the Cholas in the 10th century AD. When the Chola Empire finally declined, Tiruchi passed into the hands of the Vijayanagar kings of Hampi and remained with them until their defeat, in 1565 AD by the forces of the Deccan Sultans.

The city and its fort, as they stand today, were built by the Nayaks of Madurai. 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.

Places To visit

The Rock Fort Temple:

The temple is dedicated to the Lord Vinayaka. The temple is a land mark of the city and it is situated on the Shores of the Kaveri River, at an attitude of 83 meter from the sea level. To reach such great height the rock cut into 347 steps, which leads to the temple. Start your Trichy tour from this temple will give you the right start.

Thayumanaswamy Temple:

This temple is dedicated to the Lord Shiva, it is situated halfway of the top of Rock Fort temple. The temple has a 100 pillar hall and a vimana covered with gold.

Sri Ranganathaswamy:

this temple is situated 6 km from the Trichy city, at Srirangam. This temple is the most revered shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu in south India, and it has a largest temple complex in the world. The temple is replete with excellent carvings and numerous shrines dedicated to various Gods.

Gangaikondacholapuram, Tirumayam, ST. Johns Church, Sittannavasal Kodumbalur, and Samayapuram Mariamman Temple are some other tourist sites in Trichy.

Area : 480 sq. km.

Population : 973,829

Regional Language : English, Malayalam, Tamil, telugu

Relative Humidity : 70% to 85%

Altitude : Sea Level

Special Things :

For those coming to Pondicherry expecting a Goa-like place there is likely to be a great deal of disappointment. Unlike Goa, Pondicherry does not have a commercial infrastructure to entertain tourists. Pondicherry is a great place to look around, take a walk by the sea, attend a cultural program.

The Pondicherry tourism department uses the punch-line “Give time a break” for their advertisement campaign. And that is indeed one of the more attractive features of this city. So relax, put your feet up, switch off your cell phone, and forget all about returning to work on Monday morning. Enjoy a fine meal with a glass of wine, rent a bicycle and take a ride at the promenade, take a walk in the park. Do something new an interesting that you wouldn’t do in the city you live in. Learn some pottery at the Golden Bridge Pottery.

You can also do some serious meditation at the Auroville, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Or you could visit Aurovilleto watch a cultural event such as a dance organized there by the Auroville Cultural Exchange. You can also go fishing in a Kattaraman- fishing raft of sorts.

Places To Visit :

Statue of Mahatma Gandhi

A statue of Mahatma Gandhi, 13 ft height stands on the beach front, surrounded by carved monolithic pillars built by the famous sculptor Roy Choudhary from Madras School of Art and Crafts. There is also the “French War Memorial” commemorating the sacrifice of the soldiers in the First World War.

Jawahar Toy Museum

The Jawahar Toy Museum is located in the old Light House building near Gandhi Maidan. Here toys and puppets from different parts of India are on display.

Tiruvakkarai

It is about 30 km from Pondicherry town. Large fossil bearing areas fenced in to create the country’s first National Fossil-Wood Park here. These petrified trees lying scattered on low mounds and stream sections, date from the Cretaceous Age (100 million years ago). The Chandramouliswara Temple, a monument of great architectural grandeur dating back to the Chola period, is an added attraction. Every Pournami (Full Moon Day), people gather here to worship Goddess Kali.

Pondicherry Beach

Pondicherry has a lovely beach, 1.5 kms long, where one can relax, sunbathe, swim or take a stroll along the promenade. On the sea-front are two important monuments – Statue of Mahatma Gandhi set amidst eight exquisitely sculptured monolithic pillars and the War Memorial raised by the French to honour the soldiers who died in World War I. The Goubert Salai along the Bay of Bengal is lined with grand colonial buildings.

Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva is situated on the peninsular tip Rameshwaram. It was Lord Rama who installed this Linga there, when he was on his way to attack Ravana he reached this place where he made a linga of sand and worshipped it. It was also believed that when Lord Rama was drinking water on the seashore there was a celestial proclamation – ‘You are drinking water without worshipping me’. Listening to this Lord Rama made a linga of sand and worshipped it and asked to be blessed so that he could vanquish Ravana. Lord Shiva blessed him accordingly. He also requested Lord Shiva to reside eternally here so that entire mankind should benefit from it. Shiva then manifested himself are the Linga and got installed there for eternity.

This Shivastalam is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in India. It represents the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingams of India and has been a time honored pilgirmage center held on par with Banaras. The island-temple town is located off of the Sethu coast of Tamilnadu (south eastern).

The legend bestowed upon the land :

Rameshwaram is where Lord Rama rested and prayed after his triumph over the demon king Ravan. A sacred site for both Vaishnavites and Shaivities, no Hindu pilgrimage is complete without a visit to this holy city. The island of Rameshwaram is one of the most venerable temple towns in India without a visit to which, the pilgrimage of a devout Hindu is not complete. According to the epic Ramayana, Lord Rama(an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the protector), rested here before and after his battles with Ravana, the demon king, in Sri Lanka, just 24 kilometers away. Therefore Rameshwaram tour is a must for every Hindu devotee.

One of The Four Dhams of Hindus :

The great Sage and reformer of 8th century, Sri Shankaracharya(Adi Shankara), grouped the four most important temples towns of India and named them ‘The Char Dham’ (the four abodes). These four temple towns are Puri in east, Dwarka in West, Badrinath in north and Rameshwaram in South. It is said that one who travels to all these Dhams in a single tour, attains the ultimate salvation and is freed from the chain of rebirth cycle. These towns are considered to be the most sacred by Hindu religion and visiting them is considered a must for everyone before they set upon the final journey of their life. Rameshwaram with temples like Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, and Kothandaraswamy Temple is definitely the most important of all the four.

Kollam town, the headquarters of Kollam district and Kollam taluk, has a hoary past. It was an international emporium of trade and even now it is a prosperous commercial centre. It is situated about 71 Kms. north of Thiruvavanathapuram and is linked by rail, road and backwater transport.

The town edges with the famous Ashtamudi lake. Many a foreign traveler has visited Kollam in early medieval period. It was one of the early centres of Christian activity in Kerala. It is said that the present town of Kollam was built by the Syrian Merchant; Sapir Iso, in the 9th Century A.D. The popularity of Kollam has been established by the time honoured proverb once you see Kollam, you will not need home any more. Kollam is an important commercial, industrial and trading centre. It is also the headquarters of Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation. The 144 ft. Thangassery Light House, built in 1902, is a centre of attraction. The Ananda Valleswaram Temple here, attracts people on almost all days. There are several Churches and Mosques in and around Kollam. The Pullichira Church was established in 1700 A.D. One of the oldest and most important Mosques in the Chinnakkada Palli. The Thangal Kunju Musliar College of Engineering, the first of its kind in the private sector in the state, is at Kilikolloor, about 7 Kms. east of Kollam town.

The Government Guest House here is 200 years old. It stands along Ashtamudi lake and is a major attraction for its elegance rates. The adventure park, located in the shores of the Ashtamudi backwaters, is a novel experiment in the country. Different types of boats, including luxury cruise boats, power boats and motor boats, are available on hire from the boat jetty near to the Adventure Park. A budget hotel for tourists, Yatri Nivas, run by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, is also located in this village. The village is just 2 kms. away from the town.

Achencoil

Situated about 80 kms from Punalur is an important pilgrim center. The Sastha temple here, situated amidst dense forest. The idol of Sastha is supposed to have been installed several centuries before the Christian Era. The two important festivals of this temple are Mandala Pooja (December-January) and the festival held at ‘Revathi’(January-February). The two notable features of the festival are the Therotam (chariot festival) and Pushpabhishekam (offering of flowers). In no other temple of the South India are flowers offered to the deity so lavishly as at Achencoil.

Sasthamkotta Lake

Sasthamkotta Lake, situated 19 km from Kollam in the beautiful village of Sasthamkotta, is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala and serves the drinking water needs of about half a million people of the Kollam district. Surrounded by hills on all sides, Kollam is home to the popular Sasthamkotta Dharmasastha Temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, which serves as an important pilgrim centre drawing many devotees on a daily basis.

Mayyanad Village

Mayyanad is a beautiful village, situated 10 km south of Kollam District along the banks of Paravur Lake and along the coastal line of Arabian Sea. The village is an important fishing as well as pilgrim centre with several temples and shrines like Umayanallor, dedicated to Lord Subramanian, Valiyavila Temple, three churches, and a mosque. The shrine is said to have been consecrated by the great Hindu philosopher Sree Shankaracharya of Kaladi.

Location: 67-km From Chittoor, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh
Famous For Having: World’s Richest Temple
Famous As: A Pilgrimage Centre

Tirupati Balaji is a sacred town and is famous for the shrine of Lord Venkateshwara, which is visited by a large number of pilgrimages from far corners of India. The breathtakingly beautiful setting of this holy town makes it another lure for the tourists who want to experience a spiritual tinge on their tour of Tirupati-Balaji. There are many tourist attractions in Tirupati-Balaji among which the notable ones are:

Konai Waterfalls:
On Chennai-Uthukottai- Tirupati Rd, if one goes 90 km to the S-West of Chennai, immediately after Nagalpuram one reaches Narayanawanam. Getting down then moving about 2 ken, he will find this waterfall at a deserted place. It can be seen while on the move. Between October to February flow increases in view of rain, whereas during winter visitor increases. According to local legend, Lord Venkateswar a married Padmavati here only. A temple was built to commemorate the event.

Pushpagiri :
Pushpagiri, i.e, mountain offlowers. There are 8 well decorated temples on the hill and about a dozen down the hill. Episodes of Gita, Ramayana & Mahabharata are depicted in these temples. Carving is unique. II km to the south of Tirupati is Renigunta & 131 km to the east of Renigunta is Kudappa, 16 km to N-East of Kudappa is Pushpagiri.

Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple:
It is located three kms to the north, at the foot of the Tirumala Hill and is devoted to Lord Shiva. This is one of the most remarkable among the tourist attractions in Tirupati-Balaji and has a gorgeous setting. There is also a sacred waterfall called Kapila Teertham located beside the temple that adds to its beauty quotient.

Sri Govindrajaswamy Temple:
This temple dedicated to Sri Venkateshwara remains the most visited one and is characterized by its imposing spire that captures the interest of everyone with its massive size. You should not miss out this captivating temple whose presiding deities are Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu).

TRANSPORT FACILITIES :

Air:
Indian Airlines IC aircraft on 46day leaves Tirupati at 9-20 and arrives Hyderabad at 10-15. It arrives Tirupati at 17-45 from Hyderabad. Jet Aitways 9W aircraft leaves Tirupati at 14-Flemingo dance at Plllikllt Lake a Ph-Tourism Dept. 45 and arrives Hyderabad at 16-05. It arrives at Tirupati from Hyderabad at 12-55.

Train:
Tirupati is directly connected by bus and train from hyderabad and Secundarabad. Tirupati is connected by railway with rest of lndia via Renigunta on Bangalore-Chennai railway line. 7406 Krishna Exp leaves Hyderabad at5- 30 and arrives Tirupati (532 km) at 21-30 via Secundrabad (6-05), Vijayawada (13-15), Gudur(19-10); 7429 Royla seema Exp leaves Hyderabad at 17-25 and reaches Tirupati at 9-00 Next day via Raichur(23-17), Guntakol (2-25 nextday), Raniglinta (8-37). 7424 Narayanadri Exp leaves Secundrabad at 18-00 & arrives at Tirupati at 7-30 (next day) via Guntur (23-25), Gudur (5-00, next day), Renigunta (7-05); 7497 Vennkatadri Exp leaves Kacheguda at 20-00 and reaches Tirupati at 8-30 (next day) via Kurnool-Guntakol. 2764 Padmavati Exp leaves Secunderabad (2 4 5 6 7 day) at 19-00 and reaches Tirupati at7-40 (next day). Krishna at 5-30, Padmavati Exp. (13 5 67) at 17-05; Venkatadri at 17-40; Narayanadri Exp at 19-15. Royalseema Exp (18-50) return from. In 6351 Nagerkoel Exp leaves Tirupati at 13-00 (37 days) and reaches Nagerkoel at 6-00 (next day) via Trichi, Madurai- Tirunelveli on 47 day; it returns to Tirupati from Nagerkoel at 4-50. 1081 Mumbai-Kannyakumari Exp leaves Tirupati 16-30 and reches at 12-40. 6354 Mumbai Exp leaves Tirupati at 21-40 (15 day). From Mumbai Tirupati Exp returns to Tirupati at 12-1O (26day).

Buses:
From Gowliguda bus terminus Hyderabad Govt. buses and from railway station private buses travel to Tirupati in 9 hr’s. However it is convenient to board the APSRTC buses from TIC bus stand in Chennai for Tirupati. First starts at 4-30 and last service at 20-00. Bus leaves at an interval of 1 hr. The distance by road from Chennai to Tirupati is 170 km via Renigunta. Fare Rs 70 to 175 depending on the quality of service. From Chennai, one can return on the sameday after visiting Tirupati. The distance by road from Tirupati. Gudur (94 km), Bangalore (260), Hyderabad (617), Vijayawada (385 km).

Kodaikanal’s emergence on India’s map as a major tourist destination is mainly due to the ancient ruins and the lovely scenery. These remains, dating back to 5000 BC, make it a significant source of curiosity and interest for historians and tourists alike. Offering several tourist attractions in Kodaikanal, the place is positioned on the southern region of the greater Palani Hills. One of the finest hill stations in India, it occupies a sprawling area of 21.45 sq km at an elevation of 2133 meters above sea level.

Situated on the southern tip of the greater Palani Hills, the offshoot of the Western Ghats, Kodaikanal is one of the finest hills stations in India. The hill station, scattered across an area of 21.45 sq km, is situated at an altitude of 2133 meters above the sea level.

Kodaikanal has seen a major uphill trend in tourism division of late with tourists largely favoring hill stations for their vacations. There are numerous interesting tourist sites in and around the region. Some of them have been discussed below:

Bryant Park – One of the excellent tourist attractions of Kodaikanal, the Bryant Park, occupying an area of 20.5 acres, is particularly famous for growing rare assortment of flowers.

Waterfalls – The waterfalls, some of the major Kodaikanal tourist attractions found around the town include the Bear Shola Falls, Glen Falls, Silver Cascade, and the Fairy Falls. The most eminent of them, 975-feet high Thalaiyar Falls is located close by.

Green Value View – Placed on the grand River Vaigai, 5 km away from the Kodaikanal Lake, Green Value View offers an enchanting view of the Vaigai Dam.

Pillar Rocks – This area stands at almost seven kilometers from the center of Kodaikanal. There are three rocks, each pointing to the sky presenting a captivating view, and rising to an altitude of about 400 meters.

Shenbaganur Museum – The museum is sited just 5 kilometers away from the Kodaikanal Lake.

The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam is the biggest zoo that is surrounded by natural reserve. The region covers an area of 625 acres and is placed between two hills and the Bay of Bengal on the east. The beauty of the natural surroundings and the presence of various kinds of animals and birds attract many tourists to the zoo.

The zoo started on 19th May in the year 1977. The zoo has a collection of over 80 species animals who are placed in different sections of carnivores, lesser carnivores, primates, small mammals, reptiles, ungulates and aves. The section for carnivores contain ferocious animals like the lions, tigers, panthers, pumas, bears, and jaguars. Among the lesser mammals rest the wolves, jackals, hyenas, wild dogs and the hippopotamus. The zoo has a separate section for the crocodiles and reptiles. The zoological park preserves all three kinds of crocodiles in its premises. The visitors may glance through the pythons and water lizards in the reptile section. The primates section houses different species of monkeys. The zoo also has a rare collection of birds that are unknown to the region. The animals are placed under the strict supervision of the authorities and trainers who are particular about the rules and regulations which the visitors must abide. The zoo also offers an opportunity to the visitors to ride the elephant’s back.

The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam remains open for public viewing on all days of the week excepting Mondays between 9.00 A.M in the morning to 5 P.M in the evening. While in Visakhapatnam a visit to the zoo is a must for all tourists.

How to reach Neyyar Dam

From Trivandrum city, the route to Neyyar Dam is through Pangode – Thirumala – Kattakkada. Neyyar Dam is around 35 Km from the city. KSRTC operates regular bus services from Trivandrum city.
Nearest airport – Trivandrum Airport and Railway station is Trivandrum Central. Neyyar dam is around 10 minutes drive from Kattakkada bus station.

Things to do at Neyyar Dam

Visit Lion Safari Park, Deer Park, Crocodile Park and boating through the Neyyar dam reservoir. It is best to book the lion safari seat in advance.

Neyyar Dam is a popular picnic spot near Trivandrum. It is within 35 Km from Trivandrum city. The major attraction of Neyyar Dam is Lion Safari Park, where 7 lions are housed in their natural habitat. These lions are not bound in cages. Kerala forest department operates special bus through the Lion Safari Park where one can watch lions very closely in their natural surroundings. Other attractions at Neyyar Dam are crocodile park and deer park. Forest department also operates boat cruises through the Neyyar Dam reservoir which is a rejuvenating experience. There is also a park near the dam. Neyyar Dam offers a calm and enjoyable visit to tourists.