Palani Murugan Temple

12:03 PM imthiyas arafath


Palani Murugan Temple is one of the most famous Murugan temples in India. It is located in the township of Palani, 100 km southeast of Coimbatore and a similar distance northwest of Madurai, and near the famous hill station, Kodaikanal.
It is one of the major Arupadaiveedu of Lord Muruga. The other Arupadiveedus are Thiruchendur Murugan Temple (100 km south-west of Madurai), Swamimalai Murugan Temple (150 km east of Madurai), Thiruthani Murugan Temple (50 km from Chennai), Pazhamudircholai (10 km north of Madurai) and Tirupparamkunram Murugan Temple (10 km south of Madurai).


As per the Hindu mythology, Sage Narada once visited the divine court of Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash. Lord Shiva was with his consort, Goddess Shakti, and their two children, Lord Ganesha and Lord Subrahmanya. Sage Narada gave Lord Shiva a fruit and told him that it was a special one, the fruit of wisdom (Jnana-Pazham).
Lord Shiva wanted his children to have the fruit of wisdom. However, when he offered it to them to be shared between the two sons, Sage Narada requested not to cut the fruit in two, lest the power be diminished. As a result, they had to decide to conduct a simple competition to decide who should get the fruit. Shiva and Shakti decided that the son who first circled the Earth would get the fruit. Immediately accepting the challenge, Lord Murugan started his journey around the globe on his divine vehicle, the peacock or mayil.
Lord Ganesha, who believed that his parents were his world, simply circumbulated Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti and claimed the mango fruit. Lord Subrahmanya returned to Mount Kailash, only to find that Lord Ganesha had already won the contest. Lord Murugan felt he had been deceived and decided to leave Mount Kailasam. He reached to top of what is today called Pazhani malai (the Hill of Pazhani) and set up his abode there.
Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva rushed to the hill and tried to pacify their son, calling him, Gnana Pazham Nee appa (in Tamil, "you are the fruit - Pazham; of wisdom - Gnana"). Hence this place came to be called Pazhani, or Palani.
Legend also has it that a divine siddhar named Boghar, created the idol of Dhandayuthapaani using navapashanam, an amalgam made from 9 poisonous elements which on getting mixed develops highly curative powers for many ailments of the human body, according to Sidhha Medicine practice. A small portion with a deity, dedicated to Boghar is also placed inside the temple. the adjoining walls depicts the history of the creation and other facts related to the temple.
More information from M.Dhandapani, Auditor, Dindigul, Tamilnadu, India. Even though number of festivals are celebrated in the temple throughout the year, two major festivels of Palani is "Thaipposam" and "Pankuniuthiram". Thaipoosam is the festivel celebrated on the full moon day of the Tamil Month "Thai" and Pankuniuthiram is the festivel celebrated on "Uthiram" star day. In both the festival times thousands of people from all over Tamil nadu come to the Temple by walk. Even from the places which are more than 300 Kms., distance from Palani, people come by walk with out wearing foot wears. Before starting walking yathra to Palani, the devotees must follow some practices such as fasting, avoiding wearing of foot wears, dressing with yellow or red coloured cloths, avoiding smoking, drinking of liquors and etc. On the days nearing to such festival days, we can see a very big crowds of people moving to Palani like river on Dindigul to Palani road, Sempatti to Palani road. Because of such heavy rush, the Tamil nadu Government has paved 6 feet berth road from Dindigul to Palani for the convenience of People. Many people issue on free of cost the Food, Tea, coffee,Breads, Drinking water, fruits and etc to the Devotees who are in Walking Yatra. The very famous such walking yatra group is Karaikudi group. In Karaikudi group hundreds of devotees are coming with one type of decorated wooden article called "Kavadi" on their solders. One Gold Vel (Vel is the weapon used by Lord Muruga to kill enemies)is also brought by this group. Hence the Walking yatra group devotees generally complete their Yatra when "Karaikudi Group" comes. After the Karaikudi group the rush will fall suddenly. Lord Palani Murugan called in other names such as Dhandapani, Dhandayudhapani, Subramaniaswamy, Palaniappan and etc., is very powerful God. If we pray for anything along with Lord Palni Muruga, he must comple it. Hence we are all try to visit Palani even once in our life in order to get his blessings.

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Nilgiri Mountain Railways

11:43 AM imthiyas arafath


The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) connects the town of Mettupalayam with the hill station of Udagamandalam (Ooty), in the Nilgiri Hills of southern India. Both towns are in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is the only rack railway in India, and uses the Abt system.The Nilgiri Mountain railway is one of the oldest mountain railways in India. Under consideration since 1845, the line was finally opened by the British in 1899, and was initially operated by the Madras Railway Company. The railway is one of the few in the world dependent on steam locomotives.
The Southern Railway India, in Tamil Nadu which operates the NMR, incurs an annual shortfall of Rs 4 crores, (~1 million USD). During the Centenary celebrations of Nilgiri Mountain Railway in 1999 Railway Minister Nitish Kumar announced that the line would soon be electrified.
In July 2005, UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the World Heritage Site of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the site then became known as "Mountain Railways of India." after it satisfied the necessary criteria, thus forcing abandonment of modernisation plans.


The NMR track is 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge and the railway is isolated from other narrow gauge lines.Between Mettupalayam and Coonoor, the line uses the rack and pinion system to climb the steep gradient. On this rack section trains are operated by 'X' Class steam rack locomotives manufactured by the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works of Winterthur in Switzerland. These steam locomotives can be used on any part of the line (either with or without the rack section), but the newer diesel locomotives can only operate on the upper section, between Coonoor and Udagamandalam. The steam locomotives are always marshalled at the downhill (Mettupalayam) end of the train. The average gradient in this rack section is 1 in 24.5, with a maximum of 1 in 12. Between Coonoor and Udagamandalam the train is operated by a YDM4 diesel locomotive using conventional rail adhesion principles. On this section the locomotive is always at the Coonoor end of the train as although the line is not steep enough to need a rack rail, the ruling gradient out of Coonoor is still very steep at 1 in 25.
As of 2007, there is one train a day over the rack section, which starts from Mettupalayam at 07:10 reaches Ooty at noon. The return train starts from Ooty at 15:00, and reaches Mettupalayam at 18:35. The train is scheduled to connect to the Nilgiri Express, which travels from Mettupalayam to Chennai. A summer special service is also run during the months of April and May, starting from Mettupalayam at 09:30 and from Ooty at 12:15. Between Coonoor and Udagamandalam there are four daily trains each way.

NMR issues old style tickets, keeping in line with the World Heritage Site status.
Even though the NMR stations have networked computerised ticketing systems for onward journeys, it still issues old style manual tickets for the Ooty-Mettupalayam journey to preserve the World Heritage Site status of the railway. However, Ticket booking is similar to other conventional trains and can also be done via the Indian Railways' website. It is advisable to book tickets for this railway in advance, especially during peak season.
The majority of repairs to the locomotives are carried out at the Coonoor shed but many of the steam locomotives have been rebuilt at the Golden Rock Workshops. Carriages are repaired at Mettupalayam but, like the locomotives, are taken to one of the big railway workshops for major work. Due to its popularity, a number of passengers using the NMR have requested that the Southern Railways should covert the section from Coonoor to Udagamandalam to steam locomotive,extending the present steam traction between Mettupalayam and Coonoor


The train covers a distance of 46 km (28 miles), travels through 208 curves, 16 tunnels, and 250 bridges. The uphill journey takes around 290 minutes (4.8 hours), and the downhill journey takes 215 minutes (3.6 hours)

An excited crowd receives the Nilgiri Mountain Train at the Ooty station
Mettupalayam - 0 km, 1069ft above sea level - Junction with the Broad Gauge line from Coimbatore. Passengers cross the platform to the Nilgiri train. There is a small locomotive shed here and the carriage workshops for the line.
Leaving Mettupalayum, the line is adhesion worked and actually drops for a short distance before crossing the River Bhavaani, after which it starts to climb gently.
Kallar - 8 km, 1260ft - Closed as a passenger station, this is where the rack rail begins. As the train leaves the station, the gradient is 1 in 12.
Adderly - 13 km, 2390ft - Closed as a passenger station but is still a water stop.

Journey by the NMR provides spectacular views of the Nilgiri Hills
Hillgrove - 18 km, 3580ft - Block post and water stop, also has refreshments for passengers.
Runneymede - 21 km, 4612ft - Closed as a passenger station but is still a water stop.
Kateri Road - 25 km, 5070ft - Closed as a passenger station, trains do not stop here.
Coonoor - 28 km, 5616ft - main intermediate station on the line at site of the locomotive workshops as well as the top end of the rack rail. Trains must reverse a short distance before continuing their climb to Ooty. It is normal for the locomotive to be changed here with diesel traction, being normal for all trains to Ooty.
Wellington - 29 km, 5804ft
Aruvankadu - 32 km, 6144ft
Ketti - 38 km, 6864ft
Lovedale - 42 km, 7694ft

The Lovedale railway station
From a short distance before Lovedale, the line descends into Ooty.
Ooty- 46 km, 7228ft (2200 m).

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Valluvar Kottam Chennai

11:33 AM imthiyas arafath


Valluvar Kottam, located at the intersection of the Kodambakkam High road and the Village road, is one of the modern landmarks of Chennai, India.
It is important to note that Valluvar Kottam now stands in the point which was the deepest point of a lake which was located in the area. Notice how all the roads around the area are associated with tank. It was referred to as the Mylapore Long tank .
The monument was constructed in 1976 in the memory of Thiruvalluvar, the classical Tamil poet and saint who wrote his famous Thirukkurals about 2,000 years before. All the 133 chapters of the Thirukkural which include 1330 verses are inscribed on bas-relief in the front hall corridors.
The construction of Valluvar Kottam is like a temple chariot, and it is a replica of the temple chariot in Thiruvarur. A life-size statue of the Thiruvalluvar stands atop the 39 metre high chariot. The auditorium of Valluvar Kottam can accommodate around 4,000 people.
The architect of the memorial is South Indian traditional architect Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati.
It consists of many temples.

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Senate House Chennai

2:25 AM imthiyas arafath

Senate House of Chennai is definitely a worth watching monument in Tamil Nadu. It is located at the campus of University of Madras, near the Marina Beach. It is truly an architectural marvel and was constructed under the supervision of one of the greatest architects of the 19th century, Robert Fellowes Chisholm. The foundation of this monument was laid in 1869 and was successfully completed by the year 1873. The Senate House was once the hallmark of the ancient city of Madras. Its structure is a creative and harmonious blend of Indo-Saracenic style, with Byzantine architectural features. The central room of Senate Hall is huge in measurement and is supported with six mammoth stone pillars on each side. The building is surrounded by four spearing towers, flanked by exquisite domes, painted in different colors. This adds to the magnanimity and splendor of the monument. Apart from this, there is an entrance towards the north, which leads to the convocation hall. The entrance towards the south is linked with rooms on the southern wing. Besides, there are two entrances on east and west side of the Senate House. The front side of these entrances was marked with elegant porticos. At the corner of these porticos, there is a small domed size structure which adds up to the beauty of the arrangement. The Senate House had a great utility once, as it housed some of the university departments as well as the offices of the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar. With time this magnificent structure has been withering away and losing its age old charm. Ignorance and the fury of the nature are responsible for its deteriorating condition. However, some effort have been made to reinstate is initial beauty with the help of renovation. But, in order to avoid any tampering with its original structure, the university is making earnest efforts. It has researched into the matter and has appealed to alumni, lovers of art, philanthropists, the public and private organizations to come forward to preserve the grand Senate House.
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Rippon Building

1:47 AM imthiyas arafath


The Rippon Building Chennai is one of the most elegant buildings in the city and reminds the tourists of the colonial past of India. The office of Madras Corporation or the Chennai Corporation, this structure was built in 1913 and is a part of a large municipal complex. The complex includes parks and gardens, the Nehru Stadium, Victoria Public Hall and Moore Market. Location: The Rippon Building is located on the West of the Central Station in Chennai.Features of the Rippon Building in Chennai: The Rippon Building in Chennai is one of the most elegant examples of British architecture and has still preserved its vintage look. The building also has been a witness to a number of historical events of the past. No wonder, the Rippon Building in Chennai is one of its most interesting historical monuments. The Municipal Corporation of Chennai which was then called Madras settled in this building from the year 1913. The foundation stone of this building was laid in the year 1909. It covers an area of 9628 square meters which was built at an approximate cost of around 8 lakhs.The high ceilings of the Rippon Building are supported by Teak wood joists and the floors which have Cuddapah flooring is now decorated by marble flooring. The special attraction of this building is West Minister Quarter Chiming Clock which quite an age old watch belonging to the year 1913..

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Sivaganga Palace

11:13 PM imthiyas arafath

The Sivaganga palace, also called "Gowri Vilasam", is situated in the Sivaganga district about 40 km from Madurai. It was once the seat of Marava kings. At present the palace is in dilapidated condition but the architectural beauty can still be appreciated. The architectural style of the palace reflects elements borrowed from the Thirumalai Nayak's period and infused with Rajputana arts. Inside the Palace The Temple of Sri Raja Rajeshwari.It is built in the year of 1730s.

Inside the palace : The Temple of Sri Raja Rajeshwari

The only portion intact at the Gowri Vilasam is the temple of Sri Raja Rajeshwari. It is the family deity of the royal family. Sri Raja Rajeshwari temple is open for the public only in the evenings and on auspicious days. On the Southern part of the temple there is a huge hall supported with numerous pillars. It is believed that the entire royal household functions used to take place there. There is a palanquin in the front facade of the palace that lies in a decrepit condition. Nadai KinaruNadai Kinaru is another important and interesting feature in the Sivaganga palace. It is actually a miniature swimming pool. It is believed that the tank had direct connections so that fresh water could be provided and also fill two huge tanks beside the Nadai Kinaru. It was apparently meant for the womenfolk of the royal family.
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Nagore Dharga

10:57 PM imthiyas arafath

The Dargha in Nagore of Meeran Sahib Abdul Qadir Shahul Hamid Badshah(the Lord of Andavar) is a holy place and is one of the popular pilgrimage centres for Muslims. The Dargah is located about 4km north of Nagapattinam and is visited by people from other religions also. So the Nagore Dargah stands as a symbol of religious harmony. The dargah sheltered thousands of people at the time of 2004 tsunami and buried a number of bodies of Hindus in their graveyards. The Nagore Dargah shrines are situated at three locations, Nagore, Vanjur and Silladi. The main campus is at Nagore. Dargah is situated in 5 acres of land surrounded by compound walls and four attractive entrances. Infront of the western gate, there is a large tower about 131 feet tall, called 'Periya Minara'.The golden dome building houses three tombs in three separate chambers, inside the compound of the main campus. In the tombs lay buried the mortal remains of Meeran Sahib, his son Syed Mohammed Yusuf and his daughter-in-law Saeeda Sultana Biwi.Adjacent to the golden dome building is the 'Peer Mandap' where the 'Peer of the Dargah' stays fasting for three days during festive season of the Dargah. A mosque is located some distance away from here where regular prayers are held. The Friday congregations in this Mosque are massive. The second part of the dargah, the Vanjur Shrine where Meeran Sahib reportedly stayed in meditation for 40 days inside an underground cave, is about 2 km from the main dargah. The third campus Silladi Shrine is loacted about a km east of the main dargah.The rituals and architecture in the Nagore shrine has strong Hindu influences. The main festival 'Kandhuri Urs' falls in the lunar month of Jumada al-Thani.
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THANJAVUR PALACE

10:50 PM imthiyas arafath


Thanjavur, the capital city of Cholas, is a flourishing city from the 7th century CE. At present there are two important forts namely Chinna Kottai (Little fort) and Periya Kottai (Big fort). Thanjavur Palace is situated within the Big Fort Complex. This fort was erected by the Vijayaraghava Nayakkar (1633-74 CE) who was the last king of Thanjai Nayak dynasty.The State Department of Archaeology protects the important monuments in the palace complex, such as Arsenal Tower, Bell Tower, Darbar hall of the Marathas and Sadar Madi ( Sarjah Madi).Arsenal Tower is a structure, which attracts the visitors to Thanjavur even as the Tower of the Big Temple does. This Arsenal Tower is 190 feet height with eight storeys and was constructed in 1855 CE during the period of Marathas. It was used for storing weapons, armouries and ammunition, and was also serving as a watchtower.
View of Darbar Hall
View of Thanjavur Palace
Several varieties of weapons were stored inside the building including those imported from European countries. When the English in 1855 CE captured the palace all items of arsenal stored in the building were transferred to Tiruchirappalli, in 1863.Bell tower is situated in the Northwestern side of the Arsenal Tower. This tower is also known as “the wide holed ear pavilion” to the public. It is also believed that the Vijayaraghava Nayakkar offered worship in the direction of Srirangam from the top terrace of this tower.
This tower, which is having seven storeys, is stated to have initially held more number of storeys, which were damaged by thunder and rain. A research note informs that there was a novel clock of sizable dimensions, forming part of the structure in which the figure of a monkey used to strike the gong every hour. The tower is fashioned in the style of Gingee Nayaks.
Sadar Madi
Portraits of several Maratha rulers including Sarfoji are painted in the Darbar hall. The octagonal columns, marvellous arches and wall of the hall are adorned with images of deities like Siva, Vishnu, Indra with their consort etc. Thanjavur Palace with its architectural beauty reflects the ‘Marathas’ and ‘Nayaks’ patronage towards art and culture. Paintings in the Darbar hall depict the scenes from epic Ramayana and stucco figures of Gods and Goddesses are well projected on the walls and ceiling
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Chidambaram Nataraja Temple

9:59 PM imthiyas arafath

Chidambaram, the heart of the universe (chit-heart, ambaram-universe), is where Shiva, manifesting as Nataraja, one of the trinity of Hindu deities, performs the cosmic dance. It is also the heart of a world that is a manifestation of purusha, the eternal, cosmic man. As you approach the Nataraja temple in this quaint town of Tamil Nadu, 250 km south of Chennai in southern India, you are taken aback by four gigantic towers (135 ft) with seven storeys that guard it on four sides. The architecture inside is no less fascinating. Rows after rows of pillars with intricate carvings, surrounded by 10 sacred pools, seem to create an ambiance of space—vast, limitless. You are drawn in, deeper and deeper, until you stand at the center of the universe, facing Nataraja, the creator, the destroyer, the keeper. The shrine is spread over an area of 51 acres and houses a rare crystal lingam. There is also a Ratnasabhapati Nataraja made of gems, rubies, emerald and stone. The main shrine or the Chitrambalam (also known as Chit Sabha) is the place where Nataraja dances the tandava of creation, destruction, grace, dissolution and blessing.
According to mythology, Shiva first performed Ananda Tandava (the dance of bliss), to enlighten some sages who had been so immersed in their scholasticism that they had forgotten the existence of God. This Ananda Tandava was later revealed at the Jnana Sabha, one of the shrines of Chidambaram. Myth has it that, at a particular time every year, Shiva still performs the dance here. At first glance, the statue of Nataraja is like any other classic piece of art—graceful and eye-catching. The beauty begins to unfold, layer by layer, as the magnificence of creation and the wonder of destruction are understood. Nataraja symbolizes the ultimate reality that is eternally molding this world of maya or illusion, creating myriad nebulae with the beat of a drum and destroying a mega-universe with a graceful turn of the finger. The dance of Shiva is the dancing universe, the ceaseless flow of energy that mingles and meanders into the infinite cosmic soul. It is the dance of sub-atomic particles—the building blocks of creation. Here, the Ardhanarishwar Shiva, symbolized by a male earring in the left and a female earring in the right ear, blends the yin and the yang and transcends them.
This transcendence is mirrored in the ultimate balance of Nataraja. As the upper right hand, holding a drum, strikes the primal sound, nebulae after nebulae shoot out from the dancing form, stars are born and shaped, and the first seeds of life germinate in the cosmic cradle, waiting to bloom. The right lower hand showers blessings on the blossoming creation, asking it to arise and understand its purpose. With knowledge comes truth and Nataraja crushes Mulayaka, ignorance manifest, with his right foot—his left lower hand pointing at his raised left foot, defying the law of gravity, symbolic of liberation, moksha. With life, death can't be far behind. The awakening is now symbolized by a deluge of fire leaping out from his left upper hand, devouring the trembling cosmos with licking tongues of flame. One by one stars die, burning suns extinguish their lights. In the eternal darkness, Shiva unties his matted hair and dances the tandava, trampling upon the entire universe—a raging, raving force demolishing existence. Destruction was never so beautiful.
In the final silence, when there is neither existence nor non-existence, enlightenment dawns. Free at last from the fetters of delusion, Nataraja dances the Ananda Tandava, the ultimate dance of joy. The primal sound of the drum echoes again, a tiny spark bursts into a star. Another universe is born. The cycle repeats itself. And Nataraja, blissful in the ecstasy of existence, dances to eternity.
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Velankanni Church

11:14 AM imthiyas arafath

A small hamlet in Tamil Nadu, Velankanni is a popular pilgrim center, especially renowned for the Church of Mother Mary. As a great number of pilgrims turn up here, like Lourdes in France, Velankanni is nicknamed as Lourdes of the East. Velankanni is also famous for its delicate handlooms and silk.And it located at the Placed on the sandy shore of the Bay of Bengal, Velankanni is 350 km far from Chennai and 12 km south of Nagapattinam.
According to popular legend, Mother Mary appeared with Infant Jesus in Velankanni at the end of the 16th or early 17th century. Since then, for all pilgrims of the world, Velankanni has been the most important destination and almost the synthesis of all Marian Sanctuaries. Thus, the Pope in the Vatican City has declared Velankanni as a Holy City.
The shrine here is dedicated to Our Lady of Health, the Madonna of Velankanni, and is well-known as Sacred Arogya Matha Church. Fully consecrated to Virgin Mary and the Heavenly Mother, this church has an extended Basilica. There is also a shrine of Our Lady of Sorrow, where the sorrowing Mother is portrayed carrying Infant Jesus in her arms.
Church Museum: Situated opposite the Basilica, this museum has diverse exhibits, with biblical incidents depicted on both sidewalls. Also, the precious offerings made by the devotees are displayed as well. Places around Velankanni Explore the land of Velankanni, visiting the places around it, while on a Tour to Velankanni – Nagapattinam: One of the popular harbors of India, Nagapattinam on the Coromandel Coast is home to the Shri Kayahorana Swami Neelayathatchi Amman Temple, Sowriraja Perumal Temple, and Nellukkadai Mariamman Temple. Other places worth a visit here are the mini museum, the lofty lighthouse and the sprawling golden beach.
Arokkaiyamatha festival: Commencing on 29th of August, this 10-day grand festival commemorating the Feast of Our Lady is celebrated at the Velankanni Church. Pilgrims from different parts of India and even abroad throng to the site, bathe religiously in the sea, and tonsuring their heads walk on their knees or roll up to the shrine as rituals.
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Rock Fort Temple

11:03 AM imthiyas arafath

As the name suggests, the Rock Fort Temple is situated on 83m high outcrops. The Pallavas initially built this temple, but the Nayaks made use of its naturally fortified position and designed it again. It is a stiff climb, up the 437 steps cut into the stone to the top. The Rock Fort Temple complex in Tiruchirappalli is a collection of three temples, the Manikka Vinayakar temple at the foot of the hill, the Uchhi Pillayar Koyil at the top of the hill and the Taayumaanavar Koyil Shivastalam on the hill. Shivastalam is a rock cut temple on a hill and the most prominent landmark in Tiruchirappalli, reached by a flight of steps on the way to the famous Ucchi Pillayar temple.There is a rock cut Pallava temple called Lalitankura Pallaveswaram in this hill temple complex, with several inscriptions here attributed to Mahendravarma Pallavan. In addition the Cholas, the Vijayanagar rulers and the Nayaks of Madurai have made extensive contributions here. The two storeyed Taayumaanava temples, built on a hill is a masterpiece of construction. Six worship services are offered each day here. This well endowed temple celebrates the annual Brahmotsavam in Chithirai. Aadi Pooram and the float festival in Panguni are also of significance here. Built by the Nayaks of Madurai, it holds two temples dedicated to Shiva and Ganesha.This rock also contains excavated cave temples dating to the 7th century A.D, famous for the fine sculptures.
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Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple

10:07 AM imthiyas arafath

The city of Coimbatore is situated in the western part of the state of Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India. The city of Coimbatore is popularly known as the Manchester of South India. The city of Coimbatore covers an area of 105.5 square kilometers and the city is the district headquarters as well. Coimbatore is well known for its textile industries and the city has outstanding potential for industrial growth. The city of Coimbatore lies in close proximity to the hills of the Western Ghats. This is the reason why the city of Coimbatore enjoys a healthy climate throughout the year.
About Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple the Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple is located in the city of Coimbatore in the state of Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India. The Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple was built by Karikala Cholan. The Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple remains in a state of colorful best during the month of March. In the month of March, the ‘Panguni Uthiram’ is celebrated ceremoniously. The presiding god of the Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple in Coimbatore is Lord Shiva. In this temple, Lord Shiva is known as ‘Patteeswarar’ and his consort Parvathi is known as ‘Panchanayaki’. There are huge statues in the temple.On the walls of the Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple there are innumerable sculptures called ‘Kanagasabai’. These sculptures clearly reflect the distinction of the sculptors of that time. The famous statues of Gajasamhara, Virabadra, Bikshadana, Oordhva Thandava, and the Saraswathi with Veena, can all challenge one another in artistic perfection. The Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple, Coimbatore is located at a distance of 7 kilometers from Coimbatore. The temple is situated on the banks of River Noyyal. The Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple is kept open from 5 o’clock in the morning to 12 p.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 8 o’clock in the evening.
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Vivekananda Rock

7:32 AM imthiyas arafath

Vivekananda Rock Memorial is built on the legendary Vivekanad Rock that juts out of the convergence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. About 400 mts offshore the two rocky islands became the seat of enlightenment for Swami Vivekanand, an Indian philosopher and social reformer. It is believed that in the year 1892, Swami Vivekanand swam across the sea and meditated on this isolated rock island, imparting the spiritual charisma to him.Kanyakumari is famous all across the world for Vivekanand rock that houses a memorial dedicated to Swami Vivekanand. The memorial has two structures in its precincts - Vivekananda Mandapam and Sripada Mandapam on two rocks facing each other. The smaller rock called 'Sripada Parai' is revered as a sacred spot where Goddess Kanya Kumari did meditation. The rock has an impression of a human footprint, which is revered to be that of Goddess Kanya Kumari.Vivekananda Mandapam is thronged by tourists from across the world and all those who seek mystical enlightenment come to meditate here. It has a Meditation Hall called Dhyan Mandapam where one can meditate in peace. In the Assembly Hall or Sabha Mandapam there is a statue of Swami Vivekanand. The design of mandapam has different styles of temple architectures of India, instilling a complete Indian essence within itself.
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Brihadeswara Temple

7:05 AM imthiyas arafath

The Brihadeswara temple is one of the most ancient and the most celebrated Hindu temple in the world. The temple is located in the city of Thanjavur that is also known as Tanjore, in the Indian province of Tamilnadu. The UNESCO has adjudged this thousand years old temple a "World Heritage Site".Brihadeswara is the most illustrious and a brilliant example of the Dravidian style temple architecture. The building that carries the main sanctum is known as the 'Periya Kovil'. This stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The 'Vimana' of the temple is about 70 meters and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The 'Shikharam' (crown) of Brihadeswara temple is itself very large and heavy (81.25 tons) and has been carved out of a single stone. The great Tamil ruler, Rajaraja Chola I of the Chola dynasty, built the Brihadeswara temple. Later various additions were made in the temple but the most prominent one among these was the addition of a copper pot over the tower by King Rajaraja Chola II. The main deity that is worshiped in this temple is Lord Shiva. He is worshipped in the form of Lingam. This was originally called Adavallan that meant an expert dancer. The same name occurs in Thiruvisaipa as the name of the deity at Chidambaram. The tower over the shrine is named Dakshina Meru after the abode of Lord Shiva at Kailash that is also called Meru Mountain in Hindu scriptures.Another remarkable feature of the temple is the great Nandi (stone bull) that is established at the entrance of the temple as well as ceiling of its enclosure that is decorated with frescoes in the typical Thanjavur style of painting. The Nandi weighs 27 tons and is probably the largest of its kind in the world.
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Padmanabhapuram Palace

6:56 AM imthiyas arafath

The Padmanabhapuram Palace is one of the most magnificent monuments of Tamilnadu. It is situated in Kanyakumari district, 15 km from Nagercoil and 55 km South-West of Thiruvananthapuram. The Padmanabhapuram palace was the seat of power of the rulers of Travancore. The palace is known for its planning and military architecture and remained the center of power till 1790, when the capital was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram. The main attractions of the Padmanabhapuram Palace are its sheer aesthetic beauty, murals, innovative designs and time tested wooden carvings.The palace bears testimony to the architectural excellence reached in this region and commands admiration and awe from the visitor. The exact year of the construction of the fort is shrouded in mystery and it is believed that the fort was built in 1601 A.D. As you enter the Padmanabhapuram palace, a brass lamp hanging from the magnificently carved wooden ceiling greets you. It is interesting to note that the ceiling of the palace has 90 varieties of flowers. A17th century black bed of seven granite stones is housed in the hall of the Padmanabhapuram palace. The walls of the Padmanabhapuram palace have wooden planks, which depict "Anantasyana", Lord Vishnu in reclining posture. The Council Chamber of the Padmanabhapuram palace is an example of excellence in wood and inspires awe. The floor, which is made up of a mixture of burnt coconut shells, laterite, lime and sand shines to this day. Martanda Verma built the King's quarters in 1744 A.D. It is also known as "Upparika malika". The courtyard, which leads to this building served as a parade ground for recruiting soldiers for the army. There are about 50 murals, depicting Lord Vishnu with his consorts and Lord Krishna with the Gopis, adorn the walls of the prayer hall. There are several paintings, depicting incidents in the life of Martanda Verma, displayed on the corridor leading to the guesthouse. Navarathra Mandapam, an imposing granite structure, is probably the most beautiful part of the Padmanabhapuram palace. When you come out from the gates of the palace into the open, you get this strange feeling of having relived history and leave Padmanabhapuram with a bit of history with you.
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Mahabalipuram Rathas

6:49 AM imthiyas arafath

Mahabalipuram is a temple town that is situated along the Coromandel Coast 55 kilometers off Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu. The place is famous for its Ratha temples that are a part of the famous shore temple complex. The Pallava king Narsimha built the magnificent 'Ratha' cave temples of Mahabalipuram. The beauty of the sculptural art of the rock-cut temples tells about the architectural contribution of the erstwhile Pallava rulers. These 7th century temples are regarded the pioneer of an entirely revolutionary style of architecture that came to be known as Dravidian architecture style. These 'Ratha' temples of Mahabalipuram are commonly called the Pancha Pandava Ratha. These temples are considered pioneer of the Dravidian monolith era and mark the point of transition between the earlier tradition of rock-carved temples and the later tradition of freestanding stone structures. There are actually eight Rathas at Mahabalipuram out of which five are named after the five Pandavas of Mahabharata and one after Draupadi. The five rathas that can be seen are Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Draupadi Ratha and Nakul Sahadev Ratha. The interesting features among all these Ratha temples are the fact that all of them are monolith and are based on the Buddhist Viharas and Chaityas. The largest and the smallest among them are three-storied Dharmaraja Ratha and one-storied Draupadi Ratha respectively. The magnificent way in which these Monolithic Cave Temples were excavated by scooping out the scarp of the hill from front to back is a real treat for the eyes.Apart from the famous Rathas, there are other magnificent temples in Mahabalipuram too. These temples are renowned for their Mandapas (cave sanctuaries). A Mandapa is an open pavilion or a hall with cells in the back wall and is cut out of a single piece of rock. The giant open-air relief such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges' and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva, are the most attractive. Both of these temples attract a lot of crowd every year.
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Kailasanath Temple

6:40 AM imthiyas arafath

Kanchipuram is a pilgrimage city. A former Pallava capital (7th - 9th century), Kanchipuram is filled with temples dating from the 8th - 17th centuries. These temples are the perfect study of the evolutionary changes that the South Indian architecture underwent while different reigns made their impressions on them. Among the oldest temples in the temple city of Kanchipuram is Kailasanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. King Rajasimha, of the Pallava dynasty, built this Shiva temple in the early 8th century. An epitome of an early structural temple, Kailasanath Temple reflects the rapidly emerging South Indian style: gopuras, pilastered walls, a pyramidal shikhara, and a perimeter wall enclosing the complex. Constructed mostly of limestone, the walls and vimaanam of this temple are filled with great sculptures, and paintings. There are 58 small shrines situated around the main shrine. Paintings of Fresco-style adorn the inner walls of the shrines. It has an attractive panel depicting Shiva and Parvathi in the midst of one of their innumerable dance competitions.It is the only temple at Kanchipuram, which is devoid of any of the recent additions of the Cholas and Vijayanagar rulers. It is believed that the temple also served as the king's shelter during wars and the remains of an escape tunnel in the temple's precincts attests to that fact.On the auspicious day of Maha-Sivaraathri, thousands of ardent devotees converge to the temple. The temple is far removed from the city and thus quite peaceful. Under the maintenance of the Department of Archeology, Government of India, tourists are allowed to freely photograph the sculptures in and outside the temple, with the exception of the Sanctum and the main Deity.
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Fort St. George in chennai

6:10 AM imthiyas arafath

Fort St. George was the first British fortress in India. The construction of the fort at Chennai saw a spurt in settlements and construction activity around the place. The later day Madras/Chennai city evolved around the same fort. Fort St. George has the distinction of being the oldest English fort on the East Coast of India. Constructed between 1640 and 1653 and subsequently reconstructed in the year 1783, Fort St. George was once a town, complete with named streets, alleys and roads. Since Fort St. George was completed on April 23rd, coinciding with St. George's Day; the fort was christened Fort St. George, which soon became the hub of merchant activity. The fort led to the development of a new settlement called George Town. Over a period of time Fort St. George helped the British to extend their influence over the Carnatic region. It is interesting to note that many historical personalities like Thomas Pitt, Elihu Yale, Robert Clive and Lord Cornwallis either lived in or frequently visited the Fort during the British period. The fort was thus a home away from home for many British officials of the East India Company. To keep the outsiders away, a moat was built around the fort and the British christened the area inside the moat as "the White Town". Inside Fort St. GeorgeThe St. George Fort houses a number of artifacts belonging to the British colonial period. In addition to the British artifacts, there are also some French antiques inside the Fort St. George. St. Mary's ChurchThe foundations of the St. Mary's Church were laid in the year 1678 and the church was completed in a span of two and a half years, in the reign of Charles the second. St. Mary's Church, with its marble plaques, tombstones and dedications has been a silent witness to the bygone era of Chennai/Madras city. Clive HouseThe Clive House, also known as the "Admirality House" is the place where Robert Clive stayed with his wife in 1753 and later. The Clive House is a brick and mortar structure and is about 300 years old. The Clive House has wooden floors, beautifully carved wooden staircases and high ceilings. The centerpiece of the Clive House is a huge hall situated on the first floor with Corinthian columns. This was a banquet hall, meant for parties and celebrations. At present, Fort St. George serves as the administrative headquarters for the Tamil Nadu state Legislative Assembly and also houses a garrison for troops in transit to various locations in South India.
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Madhurai Meenakshi Amman Temple

5:04 AM imthiyas arafath



Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple' is a historic Hindu temple located in the holy city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva (in the form of Sundareswarar or Beautiful Lord) and his consort, Goddess Parvati (in the form of Meenakshi). The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city of Madurai. This temple has a stunning architecture and a significant testimony for Vishwakarma Brahmins for their master architecture in sculpting this temple. The complex houses 14 magnificent Gopurams or towers including two golden Gopurams for the main deities, that are elaborately sculptured and painted. The temple is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, and has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature, though the present structure is believed to have been built only recently in the early 17th century. The temple was a frontrunner in the election for the modern seven wonders of the world for its architectural importance.In 2009, the temple was selected one of the Seven Wonders of India by ndtv.
HISTORY:
According to Hindu legend, Shiva came down to earth in the form of Sundareswarar to marry Meenakshi, an incarnation of [Parvati]. Parvati had earlier descended to earth in the form of a small child in response to the great penance of Malayadwaja Pandya, the ruler of Madurai. After growing up to adulthood, she began ruling the city. The Lord appeared on earth and proposed to her. The marriage was supposed to be the biggest event on earth, with the whole earth gathering near Madurai. Vishnu, the brother of Meenakshi, was traveling to preside over the marriage from his holy abode at Vaikuntam. Due to a divine play, he was tricked by god [Indra] and delayed on the way. Meanwhile, the marriage was presided over by a local god [Koodal Azhaghar]. This is celebrated anually as 'Chitirai Thiruvizha' in Madurai. During the period of Nayakar rule in Madurai,in order to link the 'Azhakar Thiruvizha' and the 'Chitirai Thiruvizha' a story was added that Vishnu was angered and swore he'd never cross 'Vaigai' Later he was pacified by the other lords. Hence born the 'Azhaghar Thiruvizha'.
In modern history the original structure is not properly known, but Tamil literature speaks about the temple for the last couple of millennia. [Thirugnanasambandar], the famous Hindu saint of [Shaiva] philosophy, has mentioned this temple as early as the 7th century, and describes the Lord as Aalavai Iraivan. The temple was believed to have been sacked by the infamous Muslim invader Malik Kafur in 1310and all the ancient elements were destroyed. The initiative to rebuild the structure was taken by [Arya Natha Mudaliyar] , the Prime Minister of the first Nayak of Madurai (1559-1600 A.D.), the founder of 'Poligar System'. Then came the most valuable contributions of Thirumalai Nayak circa 1623 to 1659. He took considerable interest in erecting the Vasantha Mandapa of the temple complex.
TEMPLE STRUCTURE:
The temple is the geographic and ritual center of the ancient city of Madurai. The temple walls, streets and finally the city walls (ancient) were built around the temple in concentric squares. Ancient Tamil classics mention that the temple was the center of the city and the streets happened to be radiating out like the lotus and its petals. It is one of the few temples in Tamil Nadu to have four entrances facing four directions.The complex is in around 45 acres (180,000 m2) and the temple is a massive structure measuring 254 by 237 meters. The temple is surrounded by 12 towers, the tallest of which, the famous Southern tower, rises to over 170 ft (52 m) high.
Thousand Pillar Hall:
Thousand Pillar hall of Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple was built with the oldest Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunleveli as a model.The Aayiram Kaal Mandapam or Thousand Pillar Hall contains 985 (instead of 1000) carved pillars. It is considered culturally important and is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Thousand Pillared Hall was built by Ariyanatha Mudaliar in 1569. He was the Prime Minister and General of Viswanatha Nayak of the first Nayaka of Madurai (1559-1600 A.D.). He was also the founder of Poligar System, the quasi-feudal organization of the country, which was divided into multiple palayams or small provinces and each palayam was ruled by a palayakkarar or a petty chief. At the entrance of the Mandapam, we can still see his statue; the majestic pose of Ariyanatha Mudaliar seated on a beautiful horse-back which flanks one side of the entrance to the temple. The statue is still periodically crowned with garlands by modern worshippers. Each pillar is carved and is a monument of the Dravidian sculpture. There is a Temple Art Museum in the hall where icons, photographs, drawings, and other exhibits of the 1200 years old history are displayed. Just outside this mandapam, towards the west, are the Musical Pillars. Each pillar, when struck, produces a different musical note. The kalyana mandapa, to the south of the pillared hall, is where the marriage of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated every year during the Chithirai Festival in mid-April.
FESTIVALS:
The most important festival associated with the temple is the Meenakshi Thirukalyanam (The divine marriage of Meenkashi) that is celebrated in April every year. During that one month period, in which most Tamil Nadu temples celebrate their annual festivals, there are a number of events including the Ther Thiruvizhah (Chariot festival) and Theppa Thiruvizhah (Float festival) are celebrated. Apart from this, major Hindu festivals like Navrathri, Shivrathri are celebrated in a grand manner. Like most Shakti temples in Tamil Nadu, the Fridays during the Tamil months of Aadi (July 15 - Aug 17) and Thai (Jan 15 to Feb 15) are popularly celebrated with thousands of devotees thronging to the temple.
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