South India Temples

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Lavishly built and aesthetically designed, the temples of South India are unmatched in architectural brilliance. But more than being mere symbols of architectural genius these temples are living emodiments of rich tradition and culture that has made India proud.

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Brihadeshwara temple : Tanjore (Tanjavur) in Tamil Nadu was the capital of the Cholas and the Rajaraj (985 - 1014), one of its greatest kings, was responsible for the building of the Brihadeshwara temple, the crowning glory of Chola architecture. Dedicated to Shiva, it has been used for worship continously for the last 1000 years. The carvings on the vimana (tower over the sanctum), gopurams ( tower over the gate ) and adjoining shrines are rich in details. Frescoes adorn the walls and ceilings of the passageway that runs around he temple. The Brihadeshwara temple, rected around 1000 AD, has been described as " the most beautiful specimen of Tamil architecture". The 55 metre long main structure of the temple had an 18 metre tall pyramidal tower or shikhara. The temple is composed of several structures combined axially, such as a Nandi Pavilion, a pillared portico and a large assembly hall, all aligned in the centre of a spacious walled enclosure. The temple dominates the entire landscape. There is also an archaeological museum within the temple courtyard, which has some interesting objects on display.

Tamil Nadu photos

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KARNATAKA

BANGALORE - Bull temple at Basavanagudi (6.1 m long and 4.6 m high Nandi), Whitefield (16 km) - Satya Sai Baba ashram.

MYSORE - Chamundi hills (13 km, temple, 4.8 m Nandi statue half way up), NANJANGUD (22 km) - Nanjundeswara temple, SOMNATHPUR (38 km) - Hoysala temple, HALEBID (17 km from Belur) - Hoysaleswara temple and archaeological museum.

HAMPI - World heritage centre, archaeological museum, Vijayanagara ruins - Vithala temple, Vrupaksha temple and Lotus Mahal.

BADAMI - 4 caves, Malegitti Shivalaya temple. 163 km from Bijapur.

PATTADAKAL - World heritage centre, 30 km from Badami, Sangameswara temple, Mallikarjuna temple, Virupaksha temple, Padmanatha temple, Papanatha temple, Dance festival in Jan.

AIHOLE - Meguti temple with inscriptions, Lad Khan temple group, Durga temple, Ravanaphadi cave. 40 km from Badami.

MANGALORE - Mangaladevi temple, Kadri temple, Sringeri - Monastery by Shankaracharya, Vidya Shankara temple.

UDUPI - Sri Krishna temple, DHARMASTALA - Manjunatha temple and Gomateswara statue.

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Hindu Pilgrim centres in Kerala

ALAPUZHA (ALLEPPEY) - Ambalapuzha temple (25 km), Mannarasala temple at Harippad.

ALUVA - Shivratri is celebrated here. Kalady - Birth place of Adi Sankaracharya.

THRISSUR - Pooram at Vadakkunathan Shiv temple (April/ May); Guruvayur temple (30 km, 63 temple elephants).

SABARIMALA - Ayyappa temple 160 km from Kottayam at 914 m, Nov to Jan - Major pilgrim centre, 5 km trek from Pamba. Chengannur - Erumaely - Azhutha route trek to Pamba is worth a visit.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Padmanabhaswami temple.

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Hindu Pilgrim centres in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI (MADRAS) - Kapileswar temple at Mylapore (39 m high).

MAMALLAPURAM/MAHABALIPURAM - World heritage centre, 70 km from Chennai, rock cut temples, shore temple and 'rathas', sculpture, Tirukkalukundrum temple - (16 km).

KANCHIPURAM - City of 1000 temples 60 km from Chennai, One of the seven holy places for Hindus, (others are Dwaraka, Ujjain, Varanasi, Ayodha, Mathura and Haridwar), Vaikundaperumal temple, Ekambaranathar temple (59 m, 540 pillared hall), Kailashnath temple (700 AD), Varadarajaperumal temple (3 km, 100 pillared hall with rock carved chain).

PALANI - Temple & rope way.

MADURAI - Sri Meenakshi temple with 30 million sculptures, one of the largest temples in India, Kapiliswarar temple, Parthasarthy temple, Thirupparankundram temple (8 km).

SRIVILLIPUTUR - Highest temple tower, 74 km from Madurai.

RAMESWARAM - temple with longest corridor (197 m), One of the four most sacred Hindu pilgrim centres.

TIRUCHIRAPALLI - Rock fort temple (84 m with 437 steps cut into a tunnel through rock, in 1660), Jambukeshwar temple, SRIRANGAM temple (10 km) : World's biggest Hindu temple with 21 gopurams and 904 pillared hall, tallest tower is 72 m high.

TANJAVUR - Brihadeshwara temple, a world heritage centre. 63 m high temple has a single piece of granite weighing 80 tonnes as dome, 6 m high Nandi statue, temple museum, Kumbhakonam temple (30 km).

CHIDAMBARAM (106 km from Tanjavur) - Natraja temple with 1000 pillared hall, four 49 m gopurams and a huge chariot, Thillai Kali Amman temple.

TIRUVANNAMALAI - Arunachal temple tower of 66 m with 1000 pillared hall, Ginjee fort (40 km).

TIRUNELVELI - Kantimati and Nellaipapper temples, Tiruchendur shore temple (13 km).

KANYAKUMARI (CAPE COMORIN) - Guganatha sami temple, Gandhi memorial, Vivekananda rock (via boat 200 m from shore), temple, Suchindram temple (13 km) : Musical pillar and 5.3 m Hanuman statue, Padmanabhapuram (30 km) - Palace, museum, temple.

CHENNAI (MADRAS) - Kapileswar temple at Mylapore (39 m high).

MAMALLAPURAM/MAHABALIPURAM - World heritage centre, 70 km from Chennai, rock cut temples, shore temple and 'rathas', sculpture, Tirukkalukundrum temple - (16 km).

KANCHIPURAM - City of 1000 temples 60 km from Chennai, One of the seven holy places for Hindus, (others are Dwaraka, Ujjain, Varanasi, Ayodha, Mathura and Haridwar), Vaikundaperumal temple, Ekambaranathar temple (59 m, 540 pillared hall), Kailashnath temple (700 AD), Varadarajaperumal temple (3 km, 100 pillared hall with rock carved chain).

PALANI - Temple & rope way.

MADURAI - Sri Meenakshi temple with 30 million sculptures, one of the largest temples in India, Kapiliswarar temple, Parthasarthy temple, Thirupparankundram temple (8 km).

SRIVILLIPUTUR - Highest temple tower, 74 km from Madurai.

RAMESWARAM - temple with longest corridor (197 m), One of the four most sacred Hindu pilgrim centres.

TIRUCHIRAPALLI - Rock fort temple (84 m with 437 steps cut into a tunnel through rock, in 1660), Jambukeshwar temple, SRIRANGAM temple (10 km) : World's biggest Hindu temple with 21 gopurams and 904 pillared hall, tallest tower is 72 m high.

TANJAVUR - Brihadeshwara temple, a world heritage centre. 63 m high temple has a single piece of granite weighing 80 tonnes as dome, 6 m high Nandi statue, temple museum, Kumbhakonam temple (30 km).

CHIDAMBARAM (106 km from Tanjavur) - Natraja temple with 1000 pillared hall, four 49 m gopurams and a huge chariot, Thillai Kali Amman temple.

TIRUVANNAMALAI - Arunachal temple tower of 66 m with 1000 pillared hall, Ginjee fort (40 km).

TIRUNELVELI - Kantimati and Nellaipapper temples, Tiruchendur shore temple (13 km).

KANYAKUMARI (CAPE COMORIN) - Guganatha sami temple, Gandhi memorial, Vivekananda rock (via boat 200 m from shore), temple, Suchindram temple (13 km) : Musical pillar and 5.3 m Hanuman statue, Padmanabhapuram (30 km) - Palace, museum, temple.