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Tamilnadu Temple Tours
Rock Fort Temple
The Rock Fort temple complex in
Tiruchirappalli is a collection of three temples - the Manikka
Vinayaka temple at the foot of the hill, the Uchhi Pillayar Koyil
at the top of the hill and the Taayumaanava Koyil (Shivastalam) on
the hill. This Shivastalam is a rock cut temple on a hill in the
most prominent landmark in Tiruchirappalli (Trichy); reached by a
flight of steps on the way to the famous Ucchi Pillaya temple
Tiruchirappalli itself has a long
history, going back to the centuries before the Christian era,
when it was a Chola citadel. The Pandyas and Pallavas held sway
over the region for short periods. In the 12th century, Cholas
were subverted by the Vijayanagar kings of Hampi, who proudly
withstood the invading Muslims. Less than fifty years later, the
Nayaks of Madurai came to power, constructed the Rock Fort, and
firmly established Tiruchirappalli as the trading city.
There is a rock cut Pallava temple
- 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 temple, built on (in!) a hill is a masterpiece of
construction. The Chittira Mandapam (also spelt as Mandapa) houses
a granite chain with nine loops.
.
 Vivekananda
Illam
On the evening of
December 25, 1892, Swami Vivekananda who had come to Kannyakumari
on pilgrimage swam to the rock and spent the whole night there in
deep meditation. He then resolved to decide himself to the service
of the Motherland and to spread the message of Vedanta. Next year
he attended the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, an event of
seminal importance in the modern history of Hinduism. To
commemorate his visit to the rock a superb memorial has been
erected. It attracts thousands of visitors.
Karnataka Temple
Tours
Karnataka has some of the most
magnificent monuments, temples, palaces, beaches in India. The
Bull Temple at Bangalore, the
Hoyselaswera temple at Halebid and the famous
Krishna temple at Udupi are some the major tourist
attractions. Tipu's Summer Palace is a beautiful
cool retreat of wood and soaring arches
BALEHONNUR
45 kms to the
north-west of Chikmaglur town is a celebrated pontifical seat of
the district, the Shrimad Jagadguru Rambhapuri Veersimhasana
Mahasamsthana Peetha.
This Veerashaiva Matha with mythical connections to Rambha, the
celestial dancer as also to the giant Rambhasura, is one of the
five great Panchacharya Mathas.
The Veerabhadra Temple attacted to the Mutt has sturdy metallic
images of Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali.
INAM
DATTATREYA PEETHA
Situated on the Baba Budan Giri in
the Chikmaglur district is the Inam Dattatreya Peetha venerated by
the Hindus and Muslims alike.
A laterite cave here is believed to have been sanctified by the
residence of Dattatreya Swami as well as Hazrat Dada Hayat Mir
Khalander. The holy site is an outstanding instance of religious
tolerance and universal brotherhood.
The worship here is conducted by a fakir and the annual 'jatra' or
'Urs' is attended by both Hindus and Muslims with great fervour.
SRAVANBELAGOLA
The Most Revered
Jain Pilgrimage Wedged between two stark rocky hills, the
legendary pilgrim centre of Shravan Belagola and shrine of the
Jains since early times is 150 km from Bangalore , 52 km from
Hassan and 80 km from Mysore . Shravanbelagola is one of the
oldest and most important Jain pilgrim centres in India.
It is a little
township tucked away between Indragiri and Chandragiri hills. Its
antiquity dates back to 3rd century B. C. when the great Mauryan
Emperor Chandragupta Maurya handed over his empire to his son
Bimbisara and sought the serenity of Sravanabelagola.
The Monolithic
statue of Lord Gomateshwara, a Jain saint and an object of worship
for centuries, standing atop one of the hills (Indragirl hill), is
17 metres high and is said to be one of the tallest and most
graceful monolithic statues in the world.
The symmetry in
stone was created around 983 AD by Chamundaraya, a general and
minister of the Ganga, King Rachamatta. This giant statue was
carved out of a single block of stone.
It is regarded as
one of the largest monolithic statues in the world. Lord Bahubali
or Gomateshwar, the gigantic monolith statue is situated at the
famous Manjunath Temple in Dharmasthala.
It symbolises
renunciation, self-control and subjugation of ego as the primary
steps towards salvation. The naked Digambara form of Bahubali
represents complete victory over earthly desires
DHARMASTHALA
Situated 104 Kms
from Mangalore is Dharmasthala, the place of religious interest in
the interior of Dakshina Kannada. Dharmasthala is an outstanding
example of religious and cultural tolerance.
The temple of lord
Manjunatha here has Vaishnavite 'archakas' and is administered by
Heggade, a Jain Trustee. Charity is a way of life here and is
extended to all with no distinction of caste or creed
anjunatha
Temple: The Manjunatha Temple here attracts thousands of
people all through the year. Every person who comes here
irrespective of caste or creed is welcomed and given a free meal.
During 'Laksha Deepotsava', one lakh lamps are lit and literary
and religious discourses are held.
Bahubali: In
the recent past, the 39th monolith of Bahubali was installed at
Dharmasthala by the Heggade.
Karanje: 37
kms from Mangalore on the road to Dharmasthala is the holy place
of Karanje, well known for its medieval Shiva temple. Situated on
a hill 1,500 ft high, it commands a panoramic view of the
surrounding area.
Kerala
Temple Tours
Aranmula Temple
Dedicated to Lord Krishna is another pilgrim place for Hindus. The
temple Aranmula can be reached from Chengannur on the
Thiruvananthapuram - Kottayam route. A major attraction are the
snake boat races held as part of the Uthrettathi festival in
August/September. Aranmula is famed for its hand-made mirrors of
polished metal called the "Aranmula Kannadi".
Guruvayur
Thrissur is a good base for a pilgrim trip to Guruvayur, 32 kms
away. It is among India's most important pilgrimage centres and is
also known as the Dwaraka of the South. The Sree Krishna Swamy
Temple, which attracts thousands of pilgrims is said to date prior
to the 16th century. Tradition has it that Guru-the preceptor of
the Devas, and Vayu-the Lord of the Winds created the temple. The
temple is dedicated to Krishna known here as Guruvayurappan or the
Lord of Guruvayur, the extreme grounds of Punnathur Kotta near
Guruvayoor houses the elephants of Guruvayoor temple.The building
was once the palace of a provincial chieftain Punnathur Nambidi
Andra
Pradesh Temple Tours
Andhra Pradesh is
known for the famous Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirupati,
Charminar, Salar Jung Museum, Golconda Fort in Hyderabad and
Buddhist viharas at Nagarjunasagar. Also visit the wildlife and
bird sanctuaries of Kolleru, Manjira, Kawal and Papikonda. Andhra
has a nearly 1000 km-coastline with eight of its 23 districts
having direct access to the sea. Famous beaches are Visakhapatnam
Bheemunipatnam, Kakinada, Chirala, Kalingapatnam and Mypad.
Andhra Pradesh is a
symbol of the true spirit of Indian secularism where people of all
faiths -Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu form a symphony of religions.
Once among the poorest states of the Indian Union, it's
transformation to one of the most industialized states has been
slow but steady
TIRUPATI
 Tirupati
City is located in the southeastern part of Andhra Pradesh State.
It lies about 152-km northwest of Chennai in the Palkonda Hills.
Tirupati is known as the abode of the Hindu god Venkateshvara
(also spelt as 'Venkatesvara'), "Lord of Seven Hills". About 10-km
northwest of Tirupati, at an elevation of 750m, is the sacred hill
of Tirumala, which was considered so holy that before 1870
non-Hindus were not permitted to ascend it
Tirupati was developed mainly by the contributions made by kings
during their rule. Almost all the kings from great dynasties of
the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara
in this ancient shrine of Tirupati. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram
(9th century AD), the Cholas of Thanjavur (a century later), the
Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijayanagar
(14th - 15th century AD) were devotees of the Lord and they
competed with one another in endowing the temple with rich
offerings and contributions.
During the rule of the Vijayanagar dynasty contributions made to
the temple increased enormously. Krishnadevaraya had statues of
himself and his consorts installed at the portals of the Tirupati
temple, and these statues can be seen to this day. There is also a
statue of Venkatapati Raya in the main temple at Tirupa
SRISAILAM
 Srisailam
is situated in the thick and inaccessible forests of the
Nallamalai hills, in the northeastern portion of the Nandikotkur
Taluk of Kurnool District. It is one of the most ancient and
sacred places in South India, and this important religious shrine
stands on the Rishabhagiri hill, on the southern bank of the
sacred river Krishna. Srisailam is referred to as "Sri Giri", "Sriparvata",
"Rudra Parvata" and "Seshachalam" in several texts and Puranas.
The presiding deity at the place is Sri MallikarjunaSwami in the
form of a lingam, which is one of the twelve 'Jyotirlingams'
existing in the country. Another important temple at the place is
that of 'Bhramaramba', the consort of Lord 'Mallikarjunaswami'.
The Legend
It is said the 'Vrishabha', the sacred bull of Lord Shiva
performed penance here. Lord Shiva appeared before him, with his
consort Parvati in the forms of Mallikarjuna and Bharamaramba.
Other shrines within the temple include the 'Sahasra Linga' 'Panchapandava
Temples' and 'Vata Vriksha'.
ANNAVARAM
Annavaram is
situated at a distance of about 3-km from Annavaram railway
station on the Vijayawada-Waltair broadguage section of the South
Central Railway, 48-km from Kakinada and about 80-km from
Rajahmundry. Annavaram is one of the reputed centres of pilgrimage
in the Andhra Pradesh on account of a temple of 'Sri Vira Venkata
Satyanarayana Swami'. The temple is situated on the sacred
Ratnagiri Hills.
The distance from the foot of the hill to the temple is about four
furlongs. From the foot of the hill, to the top of the hill, there
is a proper path, well laid out with stone steps. The river Pampa
that is considered a sacred river is running close to the temple
and is a furlong away from the foot of the hill. Generally before
going to the temple pilgrims have their bath in the river.
A Chariot Temple
The construction of the main temple resembles a chariot with four
wheels in four corners. The 'Kalyanamandapam' constructed in front
of the temple is decorated with modern architecture. As we go down
the way, we come across Ramalaya and then the shrines of 'Vana
Durga' and 'Kanaka Durga'.
The temple was built in such a way that it satisfies both the
ritualistic values and the spiritual aspirations of the devotees.
The idol, which is about 4m high, is in a cylindrical form. The
base in the lower sanctum represents Lord Vishnu. The middle
portion represents Lord Shiva. This image of the deity, forming a
single idol and representing the Hindu Trinity, is of unique
attraction. |
