TIRUCHCHIRAPPALLI Jn

[Sri]

This is the official name of this Railway station.



After spending sometime in Chennai we finally decided to move further down south.



My wife's next wish is going to Sri Ranganath temple, Sri rangam.



The popular Rockfort express started from the old and famous Egmore Railway station at 2230 hrs.



So many thambis (Tamil gentlemen) were running around.



Oh God. this time we could manage only sleeper class.



The climate was terrible.



We kept open all windows so that atleast some fresh air could enter inside.



One RPF person gave us warning. He told us to close the windows.



Its OK.



The train reached Trichy at 0530hrs.



There were Lots of hotels around the Central bus stand nearby.



Our first journey was from Trichy central Bus stand to Srirangam.



The Bus journey take almost one hour to reach the Srirangam temple.



This is a huge and lovely temple.



On the main road there are so many typical south Indian Vegetarian restaurents.



We took as usual coffee.



There are two types of Dharshan as usual.



Free and paid Dharshan.



I will tell you the exact rates and timings by today evening.



They have renovated the interiors beutifully.



The Perumal(God ) here is in lying position.



Iyengar brahmins are there around the main sanctorium.



They were collecting some funds for some projects.



The temple as of now is under State Govt Hindu Endowment Board.



I got pleasent surprise to see the ISKCON TEMPLE on the main road infront of the temple.



The autos here dont use the meters.



But I think their rates are reasonable.



I will tell you there are so many sub shrines inside the main temple complex.



The temple is so big that few years ago, young lovers and illegal friends used 'the more interior portions of the temple' for hugging etc.



But I beleive there are strong action from the government that nothing of this sort is going on Now.



I will tell you the exact timings and Darshan rates by today evening.



Bi friends

[CtrlAltDel]

...illegal friends...

:? i didnt know friendship was regulated by law too....

[HH]

...illegal friends...

:? i didnt know friendship was regulated by law too....

...illegal friends... "Friend(s) - in - Law" !
BiL : Brother-in-Law
MiL : Mother-in-Law
AiLs : "All-in-Law"s ... &c "Friend(s) - in - Law" !

[Sri]

SRIRANGAM RANGANATH has the peculiar dharshan timing.



These are the Free Dharshan timings. No payment is required while in general queue.

0645-0730

1200-1300

1400-1530

1945-2100



These are the Timings where you have to come through general queue. Still Need to pay a nomonal Rs2/-

0615-0645

0845-1200

1530-1800

1845-1945



These are the timings in which temple is closed for Dharshan.

0730-0845

1800-1845

1300-1400



So be cautious



There is always a Special Dharshan queue for which you have to pay Rs10/-



But the condition of General queue looks pathetic.

It is better to go by the Rs 10/- line.



We could see so many guys entering in to the sanctorium directly surpassing all the queues.

Temple staff are supporting them.



By the time we entered the chief SMAMIJI JEAR entered cerimoniously carrying a White flag.



There were huge drums playing and huge umbrellas around him.



They have laid down aircoolers inside the main sanctorium.



I could see one board mentioning about 49 SUB TEMPLES inside this main temple.



The main deity here is in lying form.



I could see so many Telugu inscriptions.



I could see the names of Telugu kings like VIJAYA RANGA CHOKANADA NAYAK.



Probably during and after Vijayanagar Empire they should have ruled this part.



We had no time to visit all the 49 sub temples inside.



I came out of the main road.



You please never miss the compact but excellent cool drinks center.



Near the Balaji Bhavan Veg restaurent there is a Cool drink stall by name NATURAL HONEY Cool drink stall.



They sell



Lemon juice for Rs3/- Rose Milk Rs4/- Padam Milk for Rs Rs5/-



[b]I promise you this is highly recommended.[/b]



Other historical spots around

1) Sri Saithanya memorial mandapa on the main road infront of Southern Tower

2) Sri Raghavendra Brindavan near this temple but slightly inside.



Offlate I came to know that The Brahmins here are living in poverty. I dont know how far it is true.



We then proceeded towards the famous Rockfort.

[Sri]

Today we visited the famous Rock fort.

This hillock is situated right in the heart of the City.

When you travel from Central Bus stand to SRIRANGAM YOU WILL FIND A HISTORICAL place called Main Guard gate.

This is a big entrance to the WALLED CITY EARLIER.

Vijaya nagar kings, Muslims, French, and finally the British have ruled this city.

On the footsteps of this hillock there is the famous NSB (Nethaji Subashchandra Bose) Road. You find plenty of Cloth stores. Saratha's is a mega show room.



For entering inside the Rockfort temple, they charge Rs 1/- to climb up the hills.



On the way You find the historical pallava cave temples.

Don’t miss this place.

This is archeologically important spot.



Over the top is the famous Ganesh temple.

You have to climb almost vertically to reach this small temple.

You can see all the city view from this temple.



After coming down don’t miss the famous Banana leaf Restaurant.

This is one of the excellent places for No Vegetarian food.

You will see all varieties of South Indian and North Indian NonVeg Varieties.



Little bit away if you go along the WB (West boulevard) Road, you come across the City Library buildings.

Along its side you will see the Sea Kings Ice cream center

I promise this has been excellent and best recommended place for ice creams



Finally I have settled in my friends house now.



Bi friends I may proceed to Yercaud tomorrow.