Tiruchirappalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. It was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. Trichy is a fine blend of tradition and modernity built around the Rock Fort. Apart from the Fort, there are several Churches, Colleges and Missions dating back to the 1760s. The town and its fort, now in Trichy were built by the Nayaks of Madurai. This city has given great Tamil scholars whose contributions to the Tamil literature have been very significant.

The most famous land mark of this bustling town is the Rockfort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. 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. The city is a thriving commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is famous for artificial diamonds, cigars, handloom cloth, glass bangles and wooden and clay toys.

Places of interest

Rock Fort
Trichy's most famed landmark is an 83 m high rock which is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city. The most amazing fact about the rock is that it is one of the oldest in the world - approaximately 3,800 million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas.

Government Museum
This located on 19, Bharathidasan road. Bronze and stone sculptures are on display here. Admission is free; the museum is open an all days except Fridays.

St John's Church
This church built in 1812 has louvre doors which open to convert it into airy pavillion and is located near the Theppakulam.

Srirangam ( 7 km )
The districts most important pilgrims centre is located in an island just 7 km from Trichy. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of the Cauvery on one side and its tributary Kollidam 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 Rajagopuram is the largest one. The 72m high 13-tiered Rajagopuram was built in 1987 and dominates the landscape for miles around, while the remaining 20 gopurams were built between the 14th and 17th centuries.

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

Sittannavasal ( 58 Km )
In this village are the remains of a 2nd century BC Jain cave temple. Fresco paintings reminiscent of Ajanta adorn the walls. Many of them are typical of the 9th century Pandyan period and include exquisetely detailed pictures of animals, fish, ducks, people gathering lotuses from a pond and two dancing figures. There are also inscriptions dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries. Fresco paintings from the 7th century can be seen on the ceiling of the Ardhamandapam.

Gangaikondacholapuram ( 100 Km )
The Brahadeeswarar temple at Gangaikondacholapuram was conceived and constructed by the chola King Rajendra - 1 after his victory over the kingdoms bordering the river Ganges. Apart from the huge Nandi, there are some beautiful sculptures including a dancing Ganesha, a lion-headed well and a stunning frieze depicting Rajendra being crowned by Siva and Parvati.

Tiruvanaikkaval Or Jambukeswarar Temple
Situated 2 km east of Srirangam, this beautiful Siva temple steals the show from the larger Ranganathaswami temple due to its excellent architectural design. The temple is named after the elephant which is beleived to have worshipped Lord Siva here. Installed under an ancient Jumbu tree, the lingam is partially submerged by water and is meant to represent God-incarnate as Water.

Excursions
Grand Anicut (Kallanai)
(24 kms) An irrigation dam built across the Cauvery by Karikal Cholan in the second Century AD and strengthened by the British.

Mukkombu (Upper Anicut)(18 kms.)
The River Kollidam branches off from the Cauvery here. This is another picnic spot with lush greenery and a park.

How to get there ?
Air
The airport at Trichy has flights to Chennai, Sharjah, Kuwait and Colombo.
Rail
It is a major junction on the metre and broad gauge of Southern Railway and is connected to Chennai, Madurai, Thanjavur, Bangalore,Mysore,Tirupathi, Rameswaram and Kochi.
Road
Trichy is connected by a good network of roads to all important places in Tamil Nadu.