SRIRANGAM | RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE | TEMPLES & PLACES IN SRIRANGAM
Pilgrimage | 
Heritage
About Srirangam
#4 of 25 Places to visit in Tamilnadu
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Nearest City to Srirangam: Tiruchirappalli (13 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Srirangam: October to March
Peak Season: November to February
At a distance of 13 km from Trichy, 61 km from Thanjavur, 136 km from Madurai, 211 km from Coimbatore, and 326 km from Chennai, Srirangam is a beautiful river island in the Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the prominent places of pilgrimage in Tamilnadu, and among the best places to visit near Trichy.
Srirangam, a town nestled between the Kaveri River and Kollidam River, holds great cultural and religious significance in South India. The town is home to the world's grandest operational Hindu shrine, the Srirangam Temple, among the must-include places in Srirangam tour packages. This temple, also known as Ranganathaswamy Temple, Thiruvarangam, or Periya Kovil, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is revered as one of the most important temples in India. It is considered the foremost among the 108 Divya Desams, which are the holy abodes of Lord Vishnu.
The captivating town of Srirangam was once known as Vellithirumuthagramam in ancient times. In Tamil language, it is commonly referred to as Thiruvarangam. The name Srirangam originated from the legend that the holy vimana (Sriranga vimana) of Lord Vishnu got stranded at this place. In Tamil, an isle situated amidst the winding branches of a river is called arangam. Hence, the spot came to be known as Srirangam in Sanskrit and Tiruvarangam in Tamil.
The Srirangam temple is the first one among the eight self-manifested temples of Lord Vishnu and is also considered the main shrine among the 108 temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is vast, covering an area of 156 acres. Its unique setting includes seven enclosures, known as prakaras in the local language, which devotees walk through during their visit. These enclosures are surrounded by thick and grand walls that form a circular pattern around the sanctum. The enclosures boast 21 majestic towers, making the entire structure an architectural marvel.
In addition to the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam offers a plethora of other attractions for visitors to explore. These include the Jambukeswarar temple at Thiruvanaikaval, Uthamar Kovil, Uraiyur Vekkali Amman Temple, Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, Kumara Vayalur Temple, Gunaseelam Temple, Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple, and the Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Temple, among others. Furthermore, there are also other notable places to visit in Srirangam such as the Butterfly Park, Kallanai Dam, St. Joseph's Church, Kanjanoor, Darasuram, Alangudi, Karur, Namakkal, Poompuhar, Swamimalai, and Thirunageshwaram.
Srirangam is renowned for its year-round festivities. The Chithirai car festival, Vasantotsavam, Jyeshtaabhishekam, Pavitrotsavam, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Teppostavam, and many more are celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Srirangam temple.
About 15 km away, Tiruchirappalli International airport is the nearest airport to Srirangam that has regular flight connectivity with cities like Chennai, and Bengaluru. Srirangam also has its own railway station, accessible from Chennai through major trains on the Chennai-Kanyakumari railway line. However, it is important to note that only selected trains stop at Srirangam, while the rest stop at Tiruchirappalli junction. Additionally, the Tiruchirappalli Central Bus Stand, located about 8 km from Srirangam, serves as the nearest major bus stand with direct services to various parts of Tamil Nadu. From the bus stand, tourists can easily avail local buses, taxis, and autorickshaws to reach Srirangam.
The ideal time to visit Srirangam is between the months of October and March, when the weather is pleasant and suitable for sightseeing. It is advisable to avoid the scorching heat of summer and the heavy monsoon rains.
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