SRI RANGANATHA SAWAMI TEMPLE, SRIRANGAM

The district's most important pilgrim centre is located in an island just 7 km from Tiruchy. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of river Cauveri on one inside and its tributary kollidam on the other, is a 600 acre island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic sriranganathaswami Temple.

There are 21 Gopurams, among which the Rajagopuram is the largest in south India. The 72m high 13 tired Gopuram was build in 1987 that dominates the landscape for miles around, while the remaining 20 Gopurams were build between the 14th and 17th centuries. Originally, there was just a small shrine where the temple is today, but it was added on to and expanded by the Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas, Hoysalas, the Vijayanagar kings and Nayaks of Madurai and today Srirangam stands as the biggest temple complex in the country.
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Temple Museum
Ivory sculptures of Lord Vishnu in various poses and the images of Nayak Kings with consorts donated by Nayak kings who ruled Madurai, Thanjavur during the 17th century are available here. Pavai lamps of Marati period , Dress of the period, the Nataraja image in a pearl made screen, Coins of British, Dutch, Tiruvancore, Hydrabad, Gwalior, princely states are available. Palm leaf inscriptions, stone sculptures, very big temple lamps, copper plates of Vijayanagar Kings are available.

Opening Hours : 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
                               2.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Entry Fee           : Re.1.00 for all

For Srirangam temple Camera Ticket Rs 50,Video Ticket Rs 100 . Tel . 2432194.


AMMA MANDAPAM GHAT,SRIRANGAM

The banks of the river are the site of a series of ceremonies and rituals ,as pilgrims bath for good fortune, priests pray for childbirth ,and mourners scatter ashes .Pilgrims come here to purify themselves before offering further pooja at the temple .Many ceremonies take place on the 10th day after death of the individual hindu .
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AYYANAR TEMPLE

This temple is beautifully located on the banks of Cauveri river called Melur which is just 3 kms from Srirangam. Giant claymade horses adorn this temple.
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Fruit Bats in good numbers are found in the fruit garden at Srirangam.
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