Vadapalani Temple

Speaking about the temples we would like to give you all the different types of temples situated in and around Chennai. It will help to make your travel list in and around Madras. Also after knowing all the information about the city you can decide the travel list and discuss it with the family members so that the tastes and preferences of the whole family is highlighted. In this section as we are speaking about temples so over here we will be giving you information about a famous temple of Chennai which is known as the Vadapalani temple.

Travelling to the Vadapalani temple is quite easy as it is situated in the Andavar Koil Street in Chennai. You can just hire any local transport like a luxurious cab, or a 'call taxi' or the cheap auto rickshaws. The auto rickshaws are quite troublesome in terms of the negotiation of fares. Even if they are metered it better to settle the fare first and then begin your travel. You can also hire an call taxi or the luxurious cabs and complete your Chennai city tour in a day. For hiring the call taxis you need to call and fix your travel-tour.

The main deity of the Vadapalani temple is Lord Muruga. This ancient temple has its origin some 125 years back and also it has an interesting history behind it. Primarily the Muruga deity resided in a humble thatched roof shed and the god was worshipped in the form of a painted picture. A humble worshipper of Muruga named as Annaswami Tambiran worshipped this painted picture of Muruga with the help of all his limited offerings.

Kapaleeswarar Temple

Visiting to temples can serve many purposes. It just depends on your preference. Like if you are curious to know about the ancient culture of Hindus you can visit temples. If you are giving some spiritual touch to your tour then you can also visit the temple. Also if you want to understand ancient India with all its political, cultural principles then also you can tour to the temples. So if any of these topics are your interest then in your Chennai temple tour list you can add a visit to the Kapaleeswarar temple in Chennai

The Kapleeswarar temple is situated in Kutchery Road, Mylapore. Mylapore is located in the city of Madras. So you can tour to this temple either by auto rickshaw or 'call taxis' or the deluxe cabs. If you are hiring auto rickshaw, which is the cheapest mode of transport, you need to negotiate the fare carefully. The standard charge for auto rickshaws is Rs.8 for every kilometre you travel. The call taxis charge higher but they are very prompt service and they will pick you up from your doorstep. You can also tour by deluxe cabs. If you prefer you can drive the deluxe cabs yourself.

The Kapleeswarar temple is an emblem of Dravidian style and architecture. The notable feature of this structure is the 37-meter tall gopuram i.e. the pyramidical shaped temple top trying to touch the ultimate cool blue-sky surface which is spread all over the universe. As you enter the temple you can view a sculpture, which has an interesting story behind it. It is believed that a saint known as Gnanasambandar sung and brought a dead girl back to life.

The goddess Parvati is believed to be the wife of Shiva according to the Hindu religious belief. Here in this Kapaleeshwarar temple you can view goddess Parvati been depicted as peacock and she is worshipping the lingam or the idol of Lord Shiva. You can also see the bronze carvings of the 63-Shaivate saints, which are carried in procession during the Aruvathumoovar festival, which is held in March-April. In the courtyard of the temple there is a holy Punnai tree, which is one of the oldest trees of Chennai city.

Parthasarathy Temple

To add some variety to your temple journey visit the Parthasarathy temple in Chennai. Though the common features of ancient temples are very much prevalent in this ancestral temple but it has some striking features, which makes the temple outstanding among others.

Journey to the Parthasarathy temple in Madras is very easy as it is situated in the heart of the Chennai city. Madras is the earlier name of the present Chennai city. Parthasarathy temple is in the Peter's Road, which is at Triplicane. You can visit this temple either by bus or auto rickshaw or by hired luxurious cabs. If you are going by auto rickshaw be careful about the fares. The standard charge for the auto rickshaws Rs. 8 for every kilometre you travel. Even if it is metered it is better to negotiate the fare first. The same concept applies for the luxurious cabs.

The Parthasarathy temple in Chennai has its origin back in 8th century. It was generally built by the Pallavas and later reformed by the Vijayanagar Kings during 11th century. The literal meaning of 'Parthasarathy' is the charioteer. According to the great Indian epic 'Mahabharata' 'Partha' meant Arjuna while sarathy is meant as charioteer. In the epic it is said during the great battle of Mahabharata Lord Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna. In the epic Arjuna or partha was a brave warrior and Lord Krishna was a good friend, philosopher and guide to the Partha or Arjuna.

Though the Parthasarathy temple is devoted to the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu the main deity is 'Lord Krishna' one of the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Also the other exquisite feature of this Parthasarathy temple is the colored gopuram. 'Gopuram' is said to the pyramidical shaped temple top which is a stereotyped feature of the South Indian temples.

Tiruvannamalai temple

City: Tiruvannamalai
State: Tamil Nadu
Location: South India
Type of Building: Temple
Dedicated To: Lord Shiva
Religion: Hinduism
Accommodation: Accommodations are available at Thiruvanamallai.
Accessibility: Thiruvanamallai is connected to the other cities by road.

Temple is an externalized aspect of faith, and it is a place to restore peace and harmony. What great seers have visualized has been made outwardly real in a temple. This temple is safely edifice consecrated to the Lord of Light and other deities, built centuries ago at the foot of the hill to form the seat of worship. The main entrance to the sanctum sanctorum is in the eastern tower, the tallest structure in proportion to the other dimensions of this largest temple forming part of it. The tower rising heavenward is marvellously massive and magnificently majestic one with its imposing structural elegance and inviting architectural excellence and awes people at a distance.
Temple is the world's only social hope and the sole promise of peace and harmony; it purifies the society, and looks at the world with the intention of serving it, and strengthening society spiritually uniting people. The temple stands for the eternal, and the great glory of god where people praise the name of god and sing his glory. The temple offers you something you simply cannot get else where.
Daily Poojas at Temple
05.30 AM Ushathkalam
08.00 AM Kalasanthi
10.00 AM Uchikalam
06.00 PM Sayarakshai
08.00 PM IrandamKalam
09.30 PM Artha Jamam

Thanjavur big temple

City: Thanjavur
State: Tamil Nadu
Location: South India
Year of Construction 1003 and 1010 A.D.
Constructed By Raja Raja Cholan
Type of Construction Ancient
Type of Building Temple
Religion Hinduism
Best Time Winter
Visit Timings 9 a.m to 1. p.m, 2.p.m. to 6.p.m.
Entry Formalities Ticket Rs.3
Accessibility: Thanjavur is accessible by road and train from most cities of Tamil Nadu, which includes of course Madras. Trichy has an airport with flights from Madras and Colombo (Sri Lanka), and is also an important railhead. Gangaikondacholapuram is 71 kilometres from Thanjavur. The city of Kumbakonam is 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and a further five kilometres brings you to Darasuram.

Templenet focuses this week on the glorious temples attributed to the reign of Raja Raja Chola and his successors in the Thanjavur Cauvery belt of South India.

Historically speaking, these temples are not as ancient as the 274 odd Saivite temples and the 108 Vaishnavite Shrines sung by the Nayanmars and Alwars of the 7th through the 9th centuries; however they stand out as towering monuments proclaiming the glory of the Chola regime and its committment to the arts and culture.

The districts of Thanjavur, Kumbhakonam and Nagappattinam (constituting the erstwhile Thanjauvr district) boast of hundreds of ancient temples. The town of Thanjavur was the seat of the glorious Chola Empire of Tamilnadu, and was later on the seat of the Nayaks and the Marathas. True to art historian Fergusson, the Chola artists conceived like giants and finished like jewellers.

Rameshwaram temple

City: Rameshwaram
State: Tamil Nadu
Location: South India
Year of Construction: 17th Century
Type of Construction: Ancient
Type of Building: Temple
Dedicated To: Lord Shiva
Religion: Hinduism
Importance: According to the Hindu mythology i.e. the story of Ramayana Lord Rama performed thanksgiving rituals to Lord Shiva after the battle at Sri Lanka and his triumph over the demon king Ravana. Owing to this Rameshwaram attracts Vaishnavites (worshippers of Lord Vishnu) and Saivites (worshippers of Lord Shiva) alike.
Famous For: The Linga of Sri Ranganatha, A Pilgrimage To Kashi Is Not Considered Complete Without A Pilgrimage To Rameshwaram.
Accommodation: Accommodation is available at the moderate and economy class hotels, devasthanam cottages and choultries in Rameshwaram.
Accessibility: The nearest airport is at Madurai, at a distance of 154-km. Rameshwaram is well connected by trains from all the major cities of India. State transport buses are available from the railway station to the various places in and around Rameshwaram. For local transportation taxis, auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws and tongas are available. Also city bus service is available in the island.

Madurai Meenakshi Temple

City: Madurai
State: Tamil Nadu
Location: South India
Year of Construction: 16th to the 18th Century
Constructed By: The Pandyan King, Kulasekhara
Type of Construction: Ancient
Type of Building: Temple
Dedicated To: Lord Shiva
Other Deities: Goddess Meenakshi
Religion: Hinduism
Importance: According to legend Madurai is the actual site where the wedding between Shiva and Meenakshi took place.
Festival: Meenakshi Kalyanam in April-May and the Teppam Festival
Best Time: April-May
Accommodation: There are several reasonably priced clean places to stay in along Town Hall Road and Dindigul Road. The bigger hotels, and there are some pretty good national chains which have deluxe hotels here, are across the Vaigai River to its northern side.
Accessibility: Madurai is connected by air with Mumbai and Chennai. Madurai airport is 10-km away from the city. Madurai has direct rail connections to Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kollam, Chennai, Rameshwaram, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Tirupathi and Tuticorin. There are excellent roads connecting Madurai to all parts of South India. Madurai city has 5 Major Bus Stands- Periyar Bus Stand, Anna Bus Stand, Palanganatham Bus Stand, Arapalayam Bus Stand, and Mattuthavani Bus Stand. From Madurai town buses, suburban buses, taxis, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are available to reach the temple.