Places Around Trichy

Srirangam (7 km)
The district's most important pilgrim centre is located in an island just 7 km from Trichy. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of river Kaveri on one side and its tributary kollidan on the other, is a 600 acre island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami Temple. There are 21 gopurams, among which the Rajagopuram is the largest in South India.


Kudumiyanmalai (25 km)

The Siva temple here has some interesting inscriptions as well as beautiful sculptures. One of the inscriptions deals with the musical treatise of Mahendravarman Pallava and his experimentation with an eight-stringed instrument called Parivadini.


Sittannavasal (58 km)

In this village are the remains of a 2nd century B.C. Jain cave temple. Fresco paintings reminiscent of Ajanta adorn the walls. Many of them are typical of the 9th century Pandyan period and include exquisitely detailed pictures of animals, fish, ducks, people gathering lotuses from a pond and two dancing figures.


Manora (72 km)

The name 'Mannora' is derived from the word minaret meaning small minar. From this 30 metre high tower one can have a panoramic view of the palm fringed Bay of Bengal. This tower also served as a light house.


Gangaikondacholapuram (100 km)

The Brahadeeswarar temple at Gangaikondacholapuram was conceived and constructed by the Chola King Rajendra-I after his victory over the kingdoms bordering the river Ganga. Apart from the huge Nandi, there are some beautiful sculptures including a dancing Ganesha, a lion-headed well and a stunning figure of King Rajendra being crowned by Siva and
Parvati.


Thanjavur (54 km)

The capital of the imperial Chola dynasty a thousand years ago. The magnificent Brahadeeswarar temple dedicated to Lord Siva bears witness to the glory of Chola architecture, sculpture and paintings. A museum in the temple countyard has interesting Chola artefacts. The Saraswathi Mahal Palace was started by the Nayaks of Madurai around 1550 AD and completed by the Maratha rulers of Thanjavur. The Palace Library instituted by Maharaja Serfoji has a collection of 30,000 palm leaf manuscripts and many rare European books. The Thanjavur Art Gallery has priceless collection of bronze icons and granite sculptures dating from the 9th century AD. Thanjavur is a good place to shop for Thanjavur Art Plates, handicrafts, handwoven silk, bronze icons, intricately inlaid brass work and bejewelled paintings.
Grand Anaicut - Kallanai

Not far from the island is one of the greatest engineering marvels of India. Made of stone, the dam is 329 m long and 20m wide and still very much in use. Additions have been made in the form of a road bridge on top of the dam. This is a good picnic spot.


Mukkombu (Upper Anaicut) (18 km)

At the head of the Srirangam Island, there is another dam called Upper Anaicut or Mukkombu which is about 685 m long. Constructed in the 19th century across Kollidam, this dam has been forced into three sections instead of one long stretch because of the shape of the island. This is also good spot for picnics.


Narthamalai (17 km)

Narthamalai has some of the oldest structural stone temples. This temple has six large skillfully carved statues of Vishnu in the central hall.