Pilgrimage Trip in Tamilnadu – Tamilnadu is often called the Land of Temples and this state is blessed with more than 33K temples. Gopurams are widespread in South Indian Temples, mainly in Tamil Nadu. When we think about temples in Tamilnadu, the first thing came to our mind is the beautifully structured temple and gopurams. This beautiful state is rich with Hindu culture & heritage and the celebration of innumerable festivals.
Plan a trip to the sacred temples of Tamilnadu and visit the top pilgrimage sites starting from Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple > Srirangam Temple > Jambukeswarar Akhilandeswari Temple > Brihadeeswara Temple > Thillai Nataraja Temple > Annamalaiyar Temple > Kailasanathar Temple > Shri Ekambareswarar Temple> Madurai (Approximately 982 km)
MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE
Meenakshi Amman Temple is located in the heart of Madurai city. The Meenakshi Amman Temple is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Shiva.
Image Credits – Karthick Yuvan
WHO BUILT MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE?
This beautiful temple was built by King Kulasekara Pandya (1190-1216 CE). The central portion of the Goddess Meenakshi Shrine are some of the earliest surviving parts of the temple and the remaining three-storeyed gopura at the entrance of Sundareswarar Shrine was built by the King Kulasekara Pandya.
You require a minimum 2 to 3 hrs to visit the temple completely. Chithirai Festival or Chithirai Thiruvizha is the major festival celebrated during the month of April. The festival of Meenakshi Thirukalyanam celebrates the divine wedding of Lord Sundareswara and Goddess Meenakshi. The temple has 14 towering gateways. Each gateway is a multi-story structure and displays thousands of mythological stories and several other sculptures. The major gopurams of this temple are Kadaka Gopuram, Sundareswarar Shrine Gopuram, Chitra Gopuram, Nadukkattu Gopuram, Mottai Gopuram, and Nayaka Gopuram.
Image Credits – Only ancient Knowledge
The opening timings of Madurai Meenakshi Temple are from 05.00 AM to 12.30 PM. It again opens for darshan at 04.00 PM to 09.30 PM.
When going for darshan at Meenakshi Temple, make a plan for at least two-three hours for a relaxed exploration of the temple and darshan of the deity. During the festival, it takes around 4 to 5 hours to get darshan.
SRIRANGAM TEMPLE
The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a reclining form of the Hindu deity Maha Vishnu, located in Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli.
Image Credits – First Class Travel™
This temple is the foremost of the 108 divya desham kshetras. This temple is on an island surrounded by Kaveri River and this river is known as Daksina Ganga (The Ganges of the South).
WHO BUILT SRIRANGAM TEMPLE?
The construction of the Rajagopuram began during the rule of Achyuta Deva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire. However, construction was halted after his death and the structure of the Rajagopuram remained incomplete for over 400 years. The enormous task of completion of the Rajagopuram was started and completed successfully by Sri Vedanta Desika Yatheendra Mahadesikan, the 44th Jeeyar of Sri Ahobila Matha.
The temple was robbed and destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate armies on various cities of the Pandyan Kingdom in the early 14th century. Don’t miss Srirangam when you are planning a pilgrimage trip in Tamilnadu.
Image Credits – Bharat Balaj
JAMBUKESWARAR AKHILANDESWARI TEMPLE
Jambukeswarar Akhilandeswari Temple, one of the Panchabhoota Sthalams (representing the element water) is one of the popular Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is one of the five major Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu.
Image Credits – PSY?SUNSHINE
WHO BUILT JAMBUKESWARAR AKHILANDESWARI TEMPLE?
The temple was built by King Kocengannan, one of the Early Cholas, around 1,800 years ago. The temple is also the abode of Goddess Akilandeswari, one of the forms of the Goddess Parvati.
This temple is located in the Srirangam Island, which has the famous Ranganathaswamy Temple. Panguni Brahmmotsavam in the month of March & April and Aadi Pooram in the month of July & August are the famous festivals of the temple. The sanctum of Jambukeswara has an underground water stream and in spite of pumping water out, it is always filled with water.
Image Credits – GURU
The opening timings of Jambukeswarar Akhilandeswari Temple are from 05.30 AM to 01.00 PM and 03:00 PM to 09:00 PM.
BRIHADEESWARA TEMPLE
Brihadishvara Temple also called Rajarajesvaram Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Great Living Chola temples such as the Brihadeeswara Temple, are listed as World Heritage sites and draw the attention of visitors internationally.
Image Credits – maggie galton
WHO BUILT BRIHADEESWARA TEMPLE?
This temple was built by King Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 AD. This temple completed its 1000 years in the year 2010. This temple and Gangaikonda Cholapuram were built to commemorate their victories in war by Chola Kings. The temple is said to be made up of about 1,30,000 tons of granite.
Image Credits – Jeevan Mohandas
The opening timings of Brihadeeswara Temple are from 06.00 AM to 12.30 PM and 04:00 PM to 09:00 PM.
THILLAI NATARAJA TEMPLE
Thillai Nataraja Temple, also known as Chidambaram Nataraja temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Nataraja – Shiva as the Lord of Dance. This temple is one of the Five most divine Shiva temples, each representing one of the five Pancha Bootha Sthalams (element of Space); Chidambaram represents Akasha.
Image Credits – Mithun Apsingi
WHO BUILT THILLAI NATARAJA TEMPLE?
The temple was constructed during the 10th Century when Chidambaram used to be the capital of the Chola Dynasty. Cholas considered Lord Shiva as Nataraj as their family deity.
Image Credits – G T Krishnan
The opening timings of Thillai Nataraja Temple are from 06.00 AM to 12.00 PM and 05:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
ANNAMALAIYAR TEMPLE
Annamalaiyar Temple, also called Arunachalesvara Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is located at Arunachala Hill in the town of Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. The temple complex covers 10 hectares and is one of the largest in India. It houses four gateway towers known as gopurams.
Image Credits – crazy photographer
The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of 66 meters (217 ft), making it one of the tallest temple towers in India. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai Amman being the most prominent.
WHO BUILT ANNAMALAIYAR TEMPLE?
This temple was constructed in the 9th Century CE when the region was ruled by the Chola Dynasty. This temple is over 1,100 years old. Lord Shiva is worshipped in his Lingam form which is called Agni Lingam. It’s highly recommended to visit this beautiful when you are going on a pilgrimage trip in Tamilnadu.
Don’t miss this beautiful temple if you are planning a pilgrimage trip in Tamilnadu.
The opening timings of Annamalaiyar Temple are from 05.30 AM to 12.30 PM and 03:30 PM to 09:30 PM.
KAILASANATHAR TEMPLE
Kailasanathar Temple (Lord of the Cosmic Mountain) in Kanchipuram is a beautiful temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva with 58 miniature shrines around it. The use of sandstone in constructing the temple became a hit after the popularity of Kailasanathar Temple.
Image Credits – RoH!th
There are also sculptures of several other Gods like Vishnu, Brahma, Ganesha, Durga, and so on inside the temple.
WHO BUILT KAILASANATHAR TEMPLE?
This temple was built from 685-705 CE by a Rajasimha ruler of the Pallava Dynasty. The first structural temple built by Narasimhavarman II. His son, Mahendravarman III, completed the front facade and the Gopuram.
Image Credits – Geo | India ??
Kanchipuram city is well known for its hand-woven Silk Sarees and most of the city’s workforce is involved in the weaving industry.
The opening timings of Kailasanathar Temple are from 06.00 AM to 12.00 PM and 04:00 PM to 07:00 PM.
SHRI EKAMBARESWARAR TEMPLE
Ekambareswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the town of Kanchipuram. This temple is one of the five Pancha Bootha Sthalams (element of earth), dedicated to the earth and hence also called as “Prithvi Lingam”.
Image Credits – Sabyasachi Mishra
WHO BUILT EKAMBARESWARAR TEMPLE?
This temple was built by Raja Krishna Deva Raya. This temple is 1000 years old and this temple was pulled down and rebuilt again by the Kings of the Pallava Dynasty, Pandya Dynasty, Chola Dynasty, and the succeeding Vijayanagar Era.
Image Credits – Devhuti Lakhey
The opening timings of Ekambareswarar Temple are from 06.00 AM to 12.30 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM.