A weekend in Tiruchirappalli

A Weekend in Tiruchirappalli

It is only 120 km from Sivaganga to Tiruchirappalli. Yet, even after completing two years in Sivaganga, we had not managed to make the trip. One evening, on a sudden decision, we set off and reached the Tiruchirappalli Circuit House by 8 pm. The Circuit House stands on a spacious campus. After dinner at Hotel Junior Kupanna nearby, we returned and fell asleep.

The next morning, we had breakfast at Kupanna itself and, with the help of Google Maps, reached Malaikottai. The roads around the fort are narrow, and some are one-way. At the fort gate, a few officials guided our vehicle, and from there we began climbing the steps.

Tiruchirappalli is an ancient city on the banks of the Kaveri River. Malaikottai, rising 273 feet above the city, stands on a rock estimated to be 3.8 billion years old. The Pallavas built the first fort and temple complex in the 6th century, later expanded by the Cholas, the Madurai Nayaks, and the Carnatic rulers. The fort was of great importance in the wars between the Nayaks and the Carnatic Nawabs and later served as a British military base in the 18th century.

At the top of the hill is the Uchi Pillayar Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, while midway stands the Thayumanaswamy Temple for Lord Shiva. The fort walls, cannon, and stairs were built by the Nayaks. There are 400 steps to the summit, and both the fort and temples are carved out of the rock itself. From the top, the panoramic views of the city and the Cauvery are breathtaking.

In hindsight, it would have been better to visit the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam in the morning, enjoy the city views, and then climb Malaikottai in the evening. Due to a planning slip, we reached Srirangam at noon.

The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, located on Srirangam Island between the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers, is one of the foremost Vishnu temples in India. The great Vaishnava philosopher Ramanuja lived here, taught, and attained samadhi. The temple, built in the Dravidian style, covers 156 acres and has seven concentric courtyards symbolizing seven layers of spirituality. Its 21 gopurams include the majestic Rajagopuram, rising 236 feet, the tallest temple tower in Asia. Within the complex are 50 shrines, 39 mandapams, numerous tanks, and the famed thousand-pillared hall. The vimana over the sanctum is covered in gold. Developed over more than two millennia, the temple bears the imprint of the Cholas, Pandyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara kings, and the Nayaks.

After lunch, we went to the newly opened Trichy Bird Park at Kambarasanpet, near the Kudamurutty bridge on the Trichy–Karur road. Built at a cost of ₹18.63 crores and spread over 4 acres, the park has quickly become one of Trichy’s main attractions. The aviary alone covers 60,000 square feet, making it one of the largest in India, and houses over forty species of birds. Among them are exotic pigeons such as the Frillback, Pomeranian Pouter, Shield Pouter, Scandroon, Diamond Dove, Long Face Tumbler, Maltese, Oriental Frill, Jacobin, and Modena, as well as macaws, cockatoos, Amazon parrots, ostriches, emus, finches, sparrows, chickens, and ducks.

The park provides a natural environment with nets and lighting that allow free air circulation. Its thematic sections include mountains, forests, farmlands, beaches, deserts, waterfalls, and ponds. There is also a large aquarium, a 7-D mini-theatre, a toy train, a playground, and a café. The park, open from 9 am to 6 pm, charges ₹200 for adults and ₹150 for children.

By the time we left the park, the sun was beginning to set. We bid farewell to Tiruchirappalli and returned to Sivaganga late at night, carrying with us memories of a delightful trip.