Tamilnadu Monuments
Tamil Nadu has a great tradition of history and culture. In ancient, early medieval and medieval period, a number of dynasties ruled over the Tamil land. Many of those rulers were very fond of art and architecture and gave generous patronage to men of letters, sculptors, architects and artists. This saw the Tamil land becoming a hub of many beautiful and amazing monuments, which attract tourists from all over the world to this day. These monuments speak volumes about the artistic skills and excellence of the sculptors and architects of that period. The temples with their towering gopurams and the rock cut temples leave the connoisseurs speechless. As a result of such great cultural achievements, the state of Tamil Nadu is referred to as the cradle of Dravidian culture, an ancient culture distinguished by unique languages and customs. Many towns and cities of Tamilnadu are associated with beautiful monuments. Mahabalipuram is one of those places, which boast of numerous architectural wonders. The famous Arjuna's Penance is one such monument at Mahabalipuram. Chennai, the capital city, is home to may monuments such as the Kamaraj Memorial House, Bharathiyar Illam, Madras War Cemetery, Rippon Building, Vivekananda Illam and the Valluvar Kottam while Madurai boasts of Thirumalai Nayak Mahal, a classic example of Indo-Saracenic style. The Rock Fort temple is a prominent landmark in Tiruchirappalli.
Fort St. George
Fort St. George was the first British fortress in India. The construction of the fort at Chennai saw a spurt in settlements and construction activity around the place. The later day Madras/Chennai city evolved around the same fort.
Kailasanath Temple
Kanchipuram is a pilgrimage city. A former Pallava capital (7th - 9th century), Kanchipuram is filled with temples dating from the 8th - 17th centuries. These temples are the perfect study of the evolutionary changes that the South Indian architecture underwent while different reigns made their impressions on them.
Padmanabhapuram Palace
The Padmanabhapuram Palace is one of the most magnificent monuments of Tamilnadu. It is situated in Kanyakumari district, 15 km from Nagercoil and 55 km South-West of Thiruvananthapuram.
Meenakshi Temple
The Meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest in India. The presiding deity at the Meenakshi temple at Madurai, the Athens of South India, is Goddess Meenakshi. The nucleus of the temple is older than the Madurai city.
Mahabalipuram Rathas
Mahabalipuram is a temple town that is situated along the Coromandel Coast 55 kilometers off Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu. The place is famous for its Ratha temples that are a part of the famous shore temple complex.
Vivekananda Rock
Vivekananda Rock Memorial is built on the legendary Vivekanad Rock that juts out of the convergence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
Brihadeswara Temple
The Brihadeswara temple is one of the most ancient and the most celebrated Hindu temple in the world. The temple is located in the city of Thanjavur that is also known as Tanjore, in the Indian province of Tamilnadu.
Fort St. George
| Location: | Chennai |
| Built by: | The British, 1640- 53 |
| Significance: | Oldest British Fort on the East Coast |
Fort St. George was the first British fortress in India. The construction of the fort at Chennai saw a spurt in settlements and construction activity around the place. The later day Madras/Chennai city evolved around the same fort. Fort St. George has the distinction of being the oldest English fort on the East Coast of India. Constructed between 1640 and 1653 and subsequently reconstructed in the year 1783, Fort St. George was once a town, complete with named streets, alleys and roads. Since Fort St. George was completed on April 23rd, coinciding with St. George's Day; the fort was christened Fort St. George, which soon became the hub of merchant activity. The fort led to the development of a new settlement called George Town. Over a period of time Fort St. George helped the British to extend their influence over the Carnatic region. It is interesting to note that many historical personalities like Thomas Pitt, Elihu Yale, Robert Clive and Lord Cornwallis either lived in or frequently visited the Fort during the British period. The fort was thus a home away from home for many British officials of the East India Company. To keep the outsiders away, a moat was built around the fort and the British christened the area inside the moat as "the White Town".
Inside Fort St. George
The St. George Fort houses a number of artifacts belonging to the British colonial period. In addition to the British artifacts, there are also some French antiques inside the Fort St. George.
St. Mary's Church
The foundations of the St. Mary's Church were laid in the year 1678 and the church was completed in a span of two and a half years, in the reign of Charles the second. St. Mary's Church, with its marble plaques, tombstones and dedications has been a silent witness to the bygone era of Chennai/Madras city.
Clive House
The Clive House, also known as the "Admirality House" is the place where Robert Clive stayed with his wife in 1753 and later. The Clive House is a brick and mortar structure and is about 300 years old. The Clive House has wooden floors, beautifully carved wooden staircases and high ceilings. The centerpiece of the Clive House is a huge hall situated on the first floor with Corinthian columns. This was a banquet hall, meant for parties and celebrations.
At present, Fort St. George serves as the administrative headquarters for the Tamil Nadu state Legislative Assembly and also houses a garrison for troops in transit to various locations in South India.
How to Reach Fort St. George at Chennai
By Air
Chennai is well connected to other important cities of India.
By Rail
Chennai is an important Railway junction in South India. The city of Chennai is also well connected to all the major cities in India through a wide network of railways.
By Road
Chennai city is well connected to all the major cities in Tamil Nadu and other neighboring states through an excellent road network
Kailasanath Temple
Kanchipuram is a pilgrimage city. A former Pallava capital (7th - 9th century), Kanchipuram is filled with temples dating from the 8th - 17th centuries. These temples are the perfect study of the evolutionary changes that the South Indian architecture underwent while different reigns made their impressions on them. Among the oldest temples in the temple city of Kanchipuram is Kailasanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. King Rajasimha, of the Pallava dynasty, built this Shiva temple in the early 8th century. An epitome of an early structural temple, Kailasanath Temple reflects the rapidly emerging South Indian style: gopuras, pilastered walls, a pyramidal shikhara, and a perimeter wall enclosing the complex.
Constructed mostly of limestone, the walls and vimaanam of this temple are filled with great sculptures, and paintings. There are 58 small shrines situated around the main shrine. Paintings of Fresco-style adorn the inner walls of the shrines. It has an attractive panel depicting Shiva and Parvathi in the midst of one of their innumerable dance competitions.
It is the only temple at Kanchipuram, which is devoid of any of the recent additions of the Cholas and Vijayanagar rulers. It is believed that the temple also served as the king's shelter during wars and the remains of an escape tunnel in the temple's precincts attests to that fact.
On the auspicious day of Maha-Sivaraathri, thousands of ardent devotees converge to the temple. The temple is far removed from the city and thus quite peaceful. Under the maintenance of the Department of Archeology, Government of India, tourists are allowed to freely photograph the sculptures in and outside the temple, with the exception of the Sanctum and the main Deity.
How to Reach
By Air
Chennai (75 km) is the nearest airport from Kanchipuram.
By Rail
Trains for Kanchipuram are available from Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tirupati, and Bangalore.
By Road
Kanchipuram is well connected by a good network of roads.
Padmanabhapuram Palace
| Location: | Thuckalay, Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu |
| Built in: | 1601 AD |
| Significance: | Elaborate Craftsmanship and Architecture |
| Best Time: | The best time to visit is from November to May |
| Timings: | 9 Am to 4.30 Pm all days except Mondays and National holidays |
The Padmanabhapuram Palace is one of the most magnificent monuments of Tamilnadu. It is situated in Kanyakumari district, 15 km from Nagercoil and 55 km South-West of Thiruvananthapuram. The Padmanabhapuram palace was the seat of power of the rulers of Travancore. The palace is known for its planning and military architecture and remained the center of power till 1790, when the capital was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram. The main attractions of the Padmanabhapuram Palace are its sheer aesthetic beauty, murals, innovative designs and time tested wooden carvings.The palace bears testimony to the architectural excellence reached in this region and commands admiration and awe from the visitor. The exact year of the construction of the fort is shrouded in mystery and it is believed that the fort was built in 1601 A.D. As you enter the Padmanabhapuram palace, a brass lamp hanging from the magnificently carved wooden ceiling greets you. It is interesting to note that the ceiling of the palace has 90 varieties of flowers. A17th century black bed of seven granite stones is housed in the hall of the Padmanabhapuram palace. The walls of the Padmanabhapuram palace have wooden planks, which depict "Anantasyana", Lord Vishnu in reclining posture.
The Council Chamber of the Padmanabhapuram palace is an example of excellence in wood and inspires awe. The floor, which is made up of a mixture of burnt coconut shells, laterite, lime and sand shines to this day. Martanda Verma built the King's quarters in 1744 A.D. It is also known as "Upparika malika". The courtyard, which leads to this building served as a parade ground for recruiting soldiers for the army. There are about 50 murals, depicting Lord Vishnu with his consorts and Lord Krishna with the Gopis, adorn the walls of the prayer hall. There are several paintings, depicting incidents in the life of Martanda Verma, displayed on the corridor leading to the guesthouse. Navarathra Mandapam, an imposing granite structure, is probably the most beautiful part of the Padmanabhapuram palace.
When you come out from the gates of the palace into the open, you get this strange feeling of having relived history and leave Padmanabhapuram with a bit of history with you.
How to Reach Padmanabhapuram
By Road
Padmanabhapuram is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Thiruvananthapuram on the highway to Kanyakumari. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation runs a daily tour to Kanyakumari that stops at Padmanabhapuram. You can also hire a cab from Thiruvananthapuram.
By Rail
The nearest railway station from Padmanabhapuram is at Nagercoil, 15 Km away.
By Air
Nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram, 6 km from Thiruvananthapuram city. There are flights to Gulf, Europe, USA, Sri Lanka, Maldives etc and Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai (Madras), Bangalore and Cochin.
Meenakshi Temple
| Location: | Madurai |
| Dedicated to: | Goddess Meenakshi |
| Best Time: | November to March |
| Other Attractions: | Mariamman Teppakulam, Tirumalai Naik |
The Meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest in India. The presiding deity at the Meenakshi temple at Madurai, the Athens of South India, is Goddess Meenakshi. The nucleus of the temple is older than the Madurai city. The splendor of the Meenakshi temple has remained intact for the past so many centuries. The Meenakshi temple complex at Madurai is not only an architectural marvel but also the epitome of Indian culture and civilization. Madurai is one of the ancient cities of India and truly personifies the cultural ethos of India. Madurai has been closely associated with the literary wealth of Tamil. It is interesting to note that four of the 6 major streams as codified by Sankaracharya (i.e. Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and the worship of Skanda) converge in this historic city especially during festivals and celebrations.
The Meenakshi temple complex is spread over an area of about 6 hectares. The temple has 12 gateways (Gopurams), which range in height from 45 to 50 m and the tallest Gopuram is the southern. The southern gateway is nine stories high and has images of gods and goddesses. A unique feature of the ancient Dravidian culture of South India is that people paint their gods in brilliant and bright colors. This is very much evident atop the gateways of the Meenakshi temple.
How to Reach the Meenakshi Temple Madurai
Air
Madurai is connected by air with Mumbai and Chennai. Madurai airport is 10 Km away from the city.
Rail
Madurai has direct rail connections to cities like Bangalore, Kollam, Coimbatore, Chennai, Thanjavur, Rameshwaram, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli, Tirupathi and Tuticorin.
Road
Madurai is well connected by road to all parts of South India. From Madurai town buses, taxis, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are easily available to reach the Meenakshi temple.
Mahabalipuram Rathas
| Location: | Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu |
| Significance: | Pioneer in Dravidian style monoliths |
| Other Nearby Attractions: | Shore Temple, Krishna Mandapa and Varaha Cave. |
| Best Time: | Throughout the year |
Mahabalipuram is a temple town that is situated along the Coromandel Coast 55 kilometers off Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu. The place is famous for its Ratha temples that are a part of the famous shore temple complex. The Pallava king Narsimha built the magnificent 'Ratha' cave temples of Mahabalipuram. The beauty of the sculptural art of the rock-cut temples tells about the architectural contribution of the erstwhile Pallava rulers. These 7th century temples are regarded the pioneer of an entirely revolutionary style of architecture that came to be known as Dravidian architecture style. These 'Ratha' temples of Mahabalipuram are commonly called the Pancha Pandava Ratha. These temples are considered pioneer of the Dravidian monolith era and mark the point of transition between the earlier tradition of rock-carved temples and the later tradition of freestanding stone structures. There are actually eight Rathas at Mahabalipuram out of which five are named after the five Pandavas of Mahabharata and one after Draupadi. The five rathas that can be seen are Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Draupadi Ratha and Nakul Sahadev Ratha.
The interesting features among all these Ratha temples are the fact that all of them are monolith and are based on the Buddhist Viharas and Chaityas. The largest and the smallest among them are three-storied Dharmaraja Ratha and one-storied Draupadi Ratha respectively. The magnificent way in which these Monolithic Cave Temples were excavated by scooping out the scarp of the hill from front to back is a real treat for the eyes.
Apart from the famous Rathas, there are other magnificent temples in Mahabalipuram too. These temples are renowned for their Mandapas (cave sanctuaries). A Mandapa is an open pavilion or a hall with cells in the back wall and is cut out of a single piece of rock. The giant open-air relief such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges' and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva, are the most attractive. Both of these temples attract a lot of crowd every year.
How to Reach Rathas Temples
Air
Chennai is the nearest airport from Mahabalipuram. Flights are available for almost all major destinations in India and abroad.
Rail
The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu. You can easily get trains for Chennai and several other south-Indian cities.
Road
Mahabalipuram is well connected by road to Chennai, Kanchipuram, Pondicherry, Madurai and other towns and cities of Tamilnadu.
Vivekananda Rock
| Location: | At the convergence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean in Kanyakumari |
| Specialty: | Dhyan Mandapan, a meditation zone |
| Attraction: | Vivekanand Mandapam, Dhyan Mandapam, Kumari Amman Temple |
| How to reach: | Ferry services that connect the island to the mainland |
| Best Time: | Throughout the year |
| Timings: | Open from 7am to 5pm, closed on Tuesday |
Vivekananda Rock Memorial is built on the legendary Vivekanad Rock that juts out of the convergence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. About 400 mts offshore the two rocky islands became the seat of enlightenment for Swami Vivekanand, an Indian philosopher and social reformer. It is believed that in the year 1892, Swami Vivekanand swam across the sea and meditated on this isolated rock island, imparting the spiritual charisma to him.Kanyakumari is famous all across the world for Vivekanand rock that houses a memorial dedicated to Swami Vivekanand. The memorial has two structures in its precincts - Vivekananda Mandapam and Sripada Mandapam on two rocks facing each other. The smaller rock called 'Sripada Parai' is revered as a sacred spot where Goddess Kanya Kumari did meditation. The rock has an impression of a human footprint, which is revered to be that of Goddess Kanya Kumari.
Vivekananda Mandapam is thronged by tourists from across the world and all those who seek mystical enlightenment come to meditate here. It has a Meditation Hall called Dhyan Mandapam where one can meditate in peace. In the Assembly Hall or Sabha Mandapam there is a statue of Swami Vivekanand. The design of mandapam has different styles of temple architectures of India, instilling a complete Indian essence within itself.
How to Reach Vivekanand Rock Memorial
Reaching Vivekanand Rock Memorial is quite easy. There are regular ferry services connecting the rock island to the mainland. You can reach Kanyakumari by air, rail and road, whichever mode of communication suits you. The nearest airport is at Trivandrum about 86kms from Kanyakumari. If trains are your choice then its good to know that Kanyakumari railway station on a broad gauge line that is situated about 1km from the port and connected to Trivandrum. An extensive road network and public, private transport operators ensure an easy travel connecting you to Kanyakumari from almost all the major cities of the South.
Brihadeswara Temple
| Location: | Tanjore or Thanjavur, Tamilnadu |
| Significance: | One of the biggest Dravidian Temples in the world |
| Other Nearby Attractions: | Shore Temple, Pancha Pandava Rathas, Krishna Mandapa, Varaha Cave and Krishna's Butterball |
| Best Time: | Throughout the year |
The Brihadeswara temple is one of the most ancient and the most celebrated Hindu temple in the world. The temple is located in the city of Thanjavur that is also known as Tanjore, in the Indian province of Tamilnadu. The UNESCO has adjudged this thousand years old temple a "World Heritage Site".Brihadeswara is the most illustrious and a brilliant example of the Dravidian style temple architecture. The building that carries the main sanctum is known as the 'Periya Kovil'. This stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The 'Vimana' of the temple is about 70 meters and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The 'Shikharam' (crown) of Brihadeswara temple is itself very large and heavy (81.25 tons) and has been carved out of a single stone.
The great Tamil ruler, Rajaraja Chola I of the Chola dynasty, built the Brihadeswara temple. Later various additions were made in the temple but the most prominent one among these was the addition of a copper pot over the tower by King Rajaraja Chola II. The main deity that is worshiped in this temple is Lord Shiva. He is worshipped in the form of Lingam. This was originally called Adavallan that meant an expert dancer. The same name occurs in Thiruvisaipa as the name of the deity at Chidambaram. The tower over the shrine is named Dakshina Meru after the abode of Lord Shiva at Kailash that is also called Meru Mountain in Hindu scriptures.
Another remarkable feature of the temple is the great Nandi (stone bull) that is established at the entrance of the temple as well as ceiling of its enclosure that is decorated with frescoes in the typical Thanjavur style of painting. The Nandi weighs 27 tons and is probably the largest of its kind in the world.
