There are five elaborate halls in the temple of which the Raja Sabha or the 1000-pillared hall is one of the most splendid features of the temple. The massive temple structure has nine gateways and four of these are adorned by ‘gopurams’ or towers that are decorated with highly exquisite and intricate carvings. The ancient temple has undergone several renovations during the reign of various dynasties like the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas and Cheras and what stands today is the structure of 12th-13th century. Another unique feature of this temple is the presence of the deity of Lord Govindaraja Perumal making it one of the rare temples dedicated to both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite deities. Normally, Lord Shiva is depicted in the form of a ‘Linga’ which is the classic and most commonly found form. The highlight of the temple is of course the fact that Shiva in the temple is depicted in dancing form and is seen performing Ananda Tandava, which means ‘dance of delight’. Spread over an area of over 50 ac., the monument is a mammoth structure and an architectural marvel.ĭedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is of very high religious importance for the followers of Shaivism making it an extremely popular pilgrimage centre.
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The temple is one among the five holiest temples of Lord Shiva or Pancha Bootha Sthalas as it is also known and is located in the heart of the town. The best time to visit the town is between November and February considering the pleasant weather and the annual temple festivities in the Shiva temple.Īlso known as Chidambaram temple, this spectacular monument is literally the soul of the town. There are a number of private and public buses that ply from major cities and towns of South India to Chidambaram. The town is well connected by train with major South Indian cities and towns in Tamil Nadu. The nearest airports to the town are those located in Tiruchirapalli, 165 km away and Chennai, which is a little over 200 km away. With a busy market place and decent options to stay and eat, this Tamil Nadu town is a great place to visit and explore.Ĭhidambaram is well connected by air, rail and road. Clad in crisp, pristine white dhotis and shirts, the locals are totally affable and willing to help. The otherwise quaint town is also famous for weaving, silk fabrics and artificial jewellery, which is popularly known as covering jewellery.
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The pristine scenery of the back waters coupled with the maze of interconnected canals and unique vegetation makes Pichavaram a popular tourist destination. Second only to the Sunderbans, this fascinating ecosystem is located between two estuaries, the Vellar estuary in the north and Coleroon estuary in the south and is at a distance of 15 km from the town. Ruled by the Cholas, Pandyas, Marathas and finally the British, the town is mainly known for tourism which forms the backbone of its economy.Īpart from the temple circuit, Chidambaram lies very close to Pichavaram, which is one of the largest mangrove forests in the world.
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Synonymous with temples and festivities, the town ranks high in terms of religious significance, culture and tradition.
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Situated in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, Chidamabaram is located around 200 km from the capital city of Chennai. Given the fact that it was a 4-day weekend, the crowd was larger than usual and as expected the epicenter of all activity was Thillai Nataraja temple. Hustle bustle, caravan of pilgrims, enthusiastic photographers and tourists were what greeted me as I set foot on the temple town of Chidambaram.