Most beautiful temple in India

**Perfection** · 09-21-2009, 01:36 AM

The Brihadishwara Temple at Thanjavur, is the world's first complete granite temple by patron RajaRaja Chola I. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples". The temple stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The 'Vimana' - or the temple tower - is 66 m high, the Kalash or 'Shikhara' (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is of monolithic granite weighing 81.25 tons. There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, at the entrance measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet high. The entire temple structure is made out of hard granite stones, a material sparsely available currently in Thanjavur area where the temple is located. The surrounding shrines has a number of Shivlingas. It is still a place of worship. One can have 'laddu' as prasad from the temple counter.

How to Reach

Tiruchirappally is the nearest Airport. Tanjavur is located 65 km from Tiruchirappally, which is well connected by rail to rest of the country. There is frequent buses to Tanjavur, Kumbakonam, Chidambaram, Velankanni, Nagore etc.

**Perfection** · 09-21-2009, 01:51 AM

The famous Hindu festival of Mahamaham is associated with Adi Kumbeswarar Temple of Kumbakonam. The Mahamaham festival takes place once every 12 years during the Tamil Month of Masi (February/March), when lakhs of pilgrims from various parts of India visit Kumbakonam to take a holy bath in the sacred Mahamaham tank which is located in the heart of the town.

Shri Adhi Kumbeswara (Lord Shiva) is the presiding deity of Kumbakonam and Manthrapeeteswari Mangalambika is the Lord's Consort. The temple complex is huge (area of 2,803.9 m2) and has beautiful artwork, is more than 1300 years old.

Famous Dasuram temple is 3 km from Kumbakonam.

How to Reach

It is 40 km north of Tanjavur by NH 45 C, well connected by road transport.

**Perfection** · 09-21-2009, 02:02 AM

Chidambaram is a major pilgrimage site for Shaivites as well as Vaishnavites in Cuddalore district. The historic Chidambaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in His form of the Cosmic Dancer as well as to Lord Govindaraja Perumal, making it one of the few temples where both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite deities are enshrined in one place. It is one of the panchabhoota sthalam - representing five basic elements. This is the Akasa Sthalam representing 'Space' among the Pancha Bootha Sthalams. The others are - Tiruvannamalai (Thejo sthalam - Fire), Kanchipuram (Prithvi sthalam - Earth), Kalahasti (Vayu sthalam - Air), Tiruvanaikaval (Appu sthalam - Water). The temple houses the Akasha Lingam of Shiva. The Govindaraja shrine was opened in 1639 C.E. by a Telugu/Kannada Nayak chief of that area. It hosts the most ancient set of 108 Karana stone carvings, the key dance movements of Nataraja. The temple complex is spread over 40 acres in the heart of the city.

How to Reach

It is 240 km south of Chennai by rail. It is 75 km (north) from Kumbakonam by NH 45 C/227. Pichavaram forest is nearby.

**Perfection** · 09-21-2009, 02:32 AM

Ramanathaswamy Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to god Shiva located in the island of Rameswaram in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. According to Shaiva mythology, god Rama is believed to have prayed to Shiva here to absolve any sins that he might have committed during his war against the demon king Ravana. The temple along with Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the holiest Hindu Char Dham shrines that has to be visited in one's lifetime and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas the holy abodes of Lord Shiva.

Like all ancient temples in South India, there is a high compound wall (madil) on all four sides of the temple premises measuring about 865 feet from east to west and 657 feet from north to south with huge towers (Gopurams) at the east and west and finished gate towers on the north and south. The temple has striking long corridors in its interior, running between huge colonnades on platforms above five feet high.

The junction of the third corridor on the west and the paved way leading from the western gopuram to Setumadhava shrine forms a unique structure in the form of chess board and it is popularly known as Chokkattan Madapam where the Utsva deities are adorned and kept during the Vasntotsavam (Spring festival) and on the 6th day festival in Adi (July-August) and Masi (February-March) conducted by the Setupati of Ramnad.

The outer set of corridors is reputed to be the longest in the world being about 400 feet in each in the east and west and about 640 feet in north and south and inner corridors are about 224 feet in east and west and about 352 feet each in north and south. Their width varies from 15.5 feet to 17 feet in the east and west about 172 feet on the north and south with width varying 14.5 feet to 17 feet. The total length of those corridors is thus 3850 feet. There are 1212 pillars in the outer corridor. Their height is about 30 feet from the floor to the center of the roof.

How to Reach

Rameswaram (island) is 150 km from Madurai, well connected by rail and road via Pamban bridge.
Rameswaram island, is located in the Palk Strait between peninsular India and Sri Lanka in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. Rameswaram is situated at the centre of the island, around 11 km from the township of Pamban and 18 km from Dhanushkodi (north end). Sri Lanka is 15 km away from here. Dhanushkodi is the place of Annular Solar Eclipse of 15th January 2010.

Gulf of Mannar Marine sanctuary

**Perfection** · 09-21-2009, 02:48 AM

The Pamban Bridge (Indira Gandhi Setu) on the Palk Strait connects Rameswaram to mainland India. It refers to both the road bridge and the cantilever railway bridge, though primarily it means the latter. It was India's first sea bridge and the second longest sea bridge in India (after Bandra-Worli Sea Link) at a length of about 2.3 km. From the elevated two-lane road bridge, adjoining islands and the parallel rail bridge below can be viewed.

The railway bridge is 2,065 m and was opened for traffic in 1914. The railroad bridge is a still-functioning double-leaf bascule bridge section that can be raised to let ships pass under the bridge.

The railway bridge historically carried meter gauge trains on it, but Indian Railways upgraded the bridge to carry broad gauge trains in 2007. Until recently, the two leaves of the bridge were opened manually using levers by workers. About 10 ships - cargo carriers, coast guard ships, fishing vessels and oil tankers - pass through the bridge every month. The location is also a cyclone prone high wind velocity zone.