Kshetradanam (Temple Visits) Continuation

Temple No. 7 -  12th July, 2026

Kamalavalli Nachiyar (Azhagiya Manavala Perumal) Temple

in Woraiyur, Trichy, is a famous 108 Divya Desam dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.

Once, a group of Hindu wise men were discussing the greatness of three Hindu gods: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. They couldn’t agree on who was the greatest, so they asked Maharishi Bhrigu to help them decide. Maharishi Bhrigu first went to visit Lord Shiva, but he wasn’t allowed in because Lord Shiva and his wife were spending time alone.

Next, he went to see Lord Brahma, but Lord Brahma was too busy creating and didn’t pay attention to Maharishi Bhrigu. Finally, Maharishi Bhrigu visited Lord Vishnu, who welcomed him warmly and showed him great hospitality. Maharishi Bhrigu was pleased and asked to speak with Lord Vishnu in private. When everyone else left, Maharishi Bhrigu became upset that Goddess Lakshmi, who is always with Lord Vishnu, didn’t leave. Because of this, he cursed her to be born as a human.

Despite the curse, Maharishi Bhrigu decided that Lord Vishnu was the greatest because of the kindness and respect he showed. Lord Vishnu comforted the upset goddess and told her that he would be born as a king and marry her. The king found the baby goddess in a lotus pond and named her Kamalavalli. Later, she fell in love with a god named Sri Ranganathar Swamy of Srirangam, and they got married.

To remember this special occasion, the king built a temple, which is believed to have been around since the 7th century. Lord Vishnu appeared as a handsome groom, and the temple became known as the ‘Azhagiya Manavalan Temple.

 Every year, during the Tamil month of Panguni, a special event called “Serthi Sevai” takes place at the Srirangam Sri Ranganathar Swamy Temple in India. On this day, the deity Namperumal leaves the Srirangam temple in the early morning and crosses the River Cauvery in a beautifully decorated palanquin to visit the Woraiyur Nachiyar Kovil. There, he meets Goddess Kamalavalli Thayar, and a re-enactment of their divine marriage rituals takes place. This event is a rare opportunity for devotees to witness both deities together.

The Woraiyur Kamalavalli Nachiyar Temple is amazing as it is the only one among the 108 Divya Desam Temples where the goddess faces north towards the Srirangam Temple. Many people facing difficulties in their marriages visit this temple to seek the goddess’s blessings. The Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple, considered to be the birthplace of the revered saint Thirupaanazhwar, also celebrates Goddess Kamalavalli Thayar with special recognition during festivals, which is unique in Vishnu temples in India. The temple is a significant place of worship, featuring shrines dedicated to other important figures of Hinduism.

Important Events and Festivals:Kodai Uthsavam – Vaikasi/Aani (10 days),Vasantha Uthsavam – Vaikasi/Aani (7 days),Navarathri Uthsavam – Purattasi (9 days),Dolothsavam – Kaarthigai (7 days),ThiruAdhyayana Uthsavam – Thai/Maasi (11 days), Theppa Uthsavam – Maasi (7 days), Sri Kamalavalli Naachiyar – Sri Azhagiya Manavalan Serthi Sevai – Panguni Aayilyam (1 day), Thayar Purapaadu (every Friday), DolothsavamVasanthothsava, Karthikai Tirupanazhwar Festival (10 days) and NavaratriVaikunta Ekadashi

Location: Sri Kamalavalli Nachiar Temple, Woraiyur, Trichy – 620003, Temple Timings: 6 AM to 12 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM, Architectural Styles: Dravidian Architecture, Rajagopuram: 5-tiered Gopuram,Transport Options: Nearest Bus Stand: Chatram Bus Stand (3 km) and Nearest Railway Station: Trichy Fort Railway Station/TP (2.2 km)

When he visited this temple on the morning of  12^th July, 2026 the temple was  opened but some special pooja was going on. Hence we left to visit the next temple.

 

 

Kshetradanam (temple visits) Continuation

Temple 7 - 11th July 2026

Thirunedunkulam Nedungalanathar Temple 

is a Tamil temple located at Thirunedunkulam in the Trichy. The historical name of the place is Thirunedungalam.The presiding deity is Shiva, who is locally called Thirunedungalanathar. He is also known as Nithya Sundareswarar. His consort is known as Oppila Nayaki and Mangalanayaki.

The temple is facing west with its two enclosures with temple tank situated near the entrance. The Shrine of Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivayani is situated in the complex. At the southern end, shrines of Saptha Kanniyar, Ayyanar, Varadharaja Perumal are situated.

It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, a group of Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the banks of River Kaveri. The rays of Sun fall on the presiding deity for three days in Tamil month of Aadi (July/August) and Shiva in the temple is a believed to be self incarnated. It is believed that worshipping the Lord here for 8 Fridays continuously with lighting ghee lamp improves physical beauty of a person. Lord Siva's consort is called as Mangala Nayagi here with four hands in standing posture facing south. Worshipping her continuously for nine Tuesdays during Rahu Kaalam lighting ghee lamp in lemon provides relief from impediments, diseases and poverty, according to popular belief.

 In Tamil, Thiru Nedungalam denotes ‘vast plains’. In Devaram, this place is described as ‘Nedungala Maanagar’, and it means that it was once a large city in ancient times. But now it is just a small village. Another name for this place is Southern or Dakshina Kailash. Stone inscriptions seen here go back to the time of the Chola kings, Parakesari Varman, Rajaraja Cholan, Rajarajan II, Kulothungan III, and Aditya Karikalan II. Some others go back to the era of the Pandya, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara kingdoms. The deity here has many names – Nedungalathu Mahadevar, Nedungalanatha Swamy, Nedungalathu Nayanar, Kalanthai Nayakar, Sundaramurthy, and Kayilayathu Mahadevar. The temple is managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) of the Tamil Nadu government.

Temple Information

Address: Sri Nedunkalanathar Temple, Thirunedungulam Post, Thuvakudi Via, Thiruverumbur Taluk, Tiruchirappalli - 620015, Tamil Nadu

Phone Numbers: +91-431-2520126 / +91-9965045666

Alternate Priest Contacts: +91-9578894382 / +91-9842028774 (Ramesh Gurukkal)

Timings: 6:30 AM – 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Distance From Trichy City : 26 kms from Trichy Railway Station.
 

 Kshetradanam (Temple Visits) Continuation

Temple 6 - 11th July, 2026

Erumbeeswarar Temple in Thiruverumbur, Trichy

is temple dedicated to the deity Shiva. Built on a 60-foot (18 m) tall hill, it is accessible via a flight of steps. The temple's main shrines and its two prakarams (outer courtyards) are on top of the hill, while a hall and the temple tank are located at the foothills. Shiva is believed to have transformed himself into an ant hill and tilted his head at this place to enable ants to climb up and worship him. Erumbeeswarar is revered in the canonical 7th-century Tamil Saiva work the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The Consort of Sri Erumbeeswarar is known here as Sri Saurabhya Kudalaambal or Goddess Narunkuzhal Nayaki and She is seen in a separate Shrine.

The temple is one in a series built by Aditya Chola (871-907 CE) along the banks of river Cauvery, to commemorate his victory in the Tirupurambiyam Battle. It has several inscriptions from the Chola Empire dating back to the 10th century. The temple has been declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India and is locally referred as "Kailash of South India". The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 am to 8:00 pm, and three yearly festivals in its calendar. The annual Brahmotsavam (prime festival) is attended by thousands of devotees from far and near. Every full moon, tens of thousands of pilgrims worship Erumbeeswarar by circumambulating the hill barefoot in a practice called girivalam. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

According to Hindu legend, there lived a demon (asura) Tharukasuran, who conquered Prithvi (earth) and Svarga (heaven). Indra, the leader of celestial deities and other gods suffered at the hands of Tharukasuran and sought the help of the creator-god Brahma, who asked them to worship Shiva in Thiruverumbur. In order to deceive Tharukasuran, the devas transformed into ants and reached the temple. Since the surface of the lingam (aniconic form of Shiva) was slippery, the ants found it difficult to climb up and worship. Shiva transformed himself into an ant hill and slid his head, which enabled the ants to climb and worship. Hence the name Erumbeeswarar is derived from Erumbu meaning ant and Easwaran referring to Shiva. This is one of the three places where Shiva slid his head for his worshippers, the other two being the temples at Virinjipuram and Thiruppanandal. The temple is also referred as Rathinakoodam, Thirverumbipuram, Erumbeesam, Brahmapuram, Laskhmipuram, Madhuvanam, Rathnakoodapuram, Manikoodapuram and Kumarapuram in various religious literature. The temple is locally called as Kailash (the abode of Shiva) of South India.

History

Erumbeeswarar temple in its current form was built by the Chola king Aditya I (871-907 CE). Aditya won a battle in Tirupurambiyam and to commemorate the victory, he built a series of temples along the banks of the river Cauvery. The temple has 49 inscriptions from the Chola period (850-1280 CE). The inscriptions numbered 101, 104, 105, 127, 130 and 133 of 1914 are believed to be inscribed during the 5th to 7th year of the reign of Aditya and hence believed to be between 882 and 885 CE. Another set of inscriptions from the Sundara Chola (957-970 CE) period indicate gift of land to maintain four signs of Tirupadigam.[8] One another inscription indicates the donation of ten kalanchu (a measure) of gold to the deity by a temple woman in the year 875 CE. A king by name Siruthavur Sembian Veithi Velan from Kiliyurnadu is believed to have constructed the vimana (structure over the sanctum).[5] The temple was the only temple that Malik Kafur (1296-1316 CE) could not conquer in 1311 CE, during his South Indian expedition.[2] The temple is a declared monument of the Archaeological Survey of India on account of the inscriptions in the temple. During the war between British and French during 1752, the temple acted as an infantry for the French troops. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

The Sri Erumbeeswarar Temple (Erambu Easwaran Temple) in Tiruverumbur, Trichy, can be reached at phone numbers +91-431-2510241 or +91-9842957568. The temple is located on the Trichy-Thanjavur Highway, Tiruverumbur, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 620013, and is open daily from 6:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM

 Kshetradanam (Temple Visits) Continuation

Temple 5 - 11th July, 2026

The Sri Purushothama Perumal Temple,

widely known as Uthamar Kovil or Pichandar Kovil, is a famous 108 Divya Desam temple located in Uthamarkoil village, about 14 km from the Trichy central bus station.

The Trimurti Presence: This unique temple houses separate shrines for the Hindu Trimurti—Lord Vishnu (Purushothama Perumal), Lord Shiva (Bhikshadanar), and Lord Brahma—along with their respective consorts (Lakshmi, Parvati, and Saraswati) in one complex.

The legend is that, Lord Shiva was cursed for the sin of cutting one of Lord Brahma’s heads, and to get relieved from the sin he had to beg for food in Kabaalam (something like grail). The sin of Lord Shiva was partially released when he worshipped Lord Vishnu at Bhikshadana. And Lord Shiva fully relieved from his sin when he worshipped Lord Vishnu at Thirukandiyur when taking a holy dip in the temple tank. The Kabaalam got filled by Goddess Lakshmi at Thirukandiyur and so, in Purushothaman Temple Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma have separate Sannadhi and hence called as Mummoorthigal.

The other deities found in this Uthamar Kovil are Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan, Lord Nandheeswarar (the vehicle of Lord Shiva) and the idols of Navagrahas (the nine planets). As per the Tamil literature, Sri Purushothaman Perumal Temple (Uthamar Kovil) is said to be glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. This is one of the temple where six separate holy shrines of Gods with their consort Goddesses are worshipped in a single temple complex.

• Location: Trichy-Salem Main Road (near No. 1 Tollgate / Manachanallur), Bikshandarkoil, Tamil Nadu.

• Timings: Generally open from 6:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM daily.

• Distance from Srirangam: Roughly 5 to 6 km north of the famous Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.

Contact Nos: 0431-2591351 and 0431-2591405

(to be continued ...)

 Kshetradanam (Temple Visits) Continuation

Temple 4 -11th July 2026

The Arulmigu Gneelivaneswarar Temple,

located at Thiruppaingneeli (often written as Thirupanjali) in Mannachanallur Taluk of Tiruchirappalli is one among the most-visited Hindu temples in the region. This antique Hindu temple is one among the 275 Paadal Petra Sivasthalangal and Lord Shiva here offers his blessings in the name of Arulmigu Gneelivaneswarar. Thirupanjali Shiva Temple is just 25 km away from the city center of Trichy, 5 km away from the notable Thiruvellarai Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple. The temple is easily accessible from Manachanallur as mini-buses are operated at regular intervals.

Let's get to know more about the significance of the Thirupanjali Arulmigu Gneelivaneswarar Temple in detail.

This is temple is popularly called as 'South Kailash' and 'Melai Chidambaram' by the devotees of Lord Shiva. This holy abode of Lord Shiva is intricately glorified by the Saiva poet-saints Thirugyana Sambandar, Appar Tirunavukkarasar Nayanar and Sundarar in their divine literary compositions. The Thirupanjali Temple is the 61st sivalayam, situated on the southerly bank of River Cauvery that is named in the Saiva devotional verse of Tevaram. Arulmigu Gneelivaneswarar (Lord Shiva), the presiding deity of this temple is a Swayambhu Murthy (self-manifested) deity and is called by several names which include

• Gneelivaneswarar (most common name)

• Paramasambu

• Aaraniya Vallaver

• Kathali Vasanthar

• Eluthariya Peruman

• Sorudiya Eswarar

Legend has it that Lord Shiva defeated Yamadharman (Lord of Death) in Thirukadaiyur (Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu), in order to rescue the distinguished rishi Markandeya, from the grip of death. As the 'lord of death' Yamadharma himself lifeless, people were not subjected to death and the world turned overly populated. People stopped going to temple and poojas were stopped all over. Goddess Bhumadevi (Mother Earth) could not endure the burden of the Earth, which is full of immortal population.

On the other hand, the Thirupanjali Arulmigu Gneelivaneswarar Temple was functioning as was common and daily poojas were not discontinued at all. Hence, Goddess Bhumadevi along with the creator and protector of the universe, Lord Brahma and Lord Mahavishnu and several other devotees of Lord Shiva visited Thirupanjali temple. They pleaded Lord Shiva to give rebirth to Yamadharma. Their prayers were answered that Lord Shiva offered a new birth to Yamadharma on the day of Thaipoosam, through 'pilathuvaram'.

There are several others who received blessings of Lord Shiva in this temple, who include Lord Indra (King of the Gods), Kamadhenu aka Surabhi (Mother of Cows), Sheshanaga aka Adishesha (King of all Nagas), Lord Vayu Deva (Lord of the Winds), Lord Agni (god of Fire), Lord Rama, Arjuna (3rd of the Pandava Brothers), Saint-poet Appar, Sage Vashishta, Soothamamunivar and so on. The main temple tower (rajagopuram) of this temple was constructed by the Pandyan king Sundara Pandyan and the tower is not completed fully.

The second tower is called as the 'Ravana Vayil' and just before the entrance is the rare shrine of Yamadharma. The lord of death is in the form of a child as he got his new birth here. The Yamadharma sannadhi is in a cave under the ground level. Devotees offer special poojas to Yamadharma, seeking longevity. Another small sannadhi of Lord Shiva is located close to the second temple tower and the deity here is called as Sorudiya Eswarar. Another unique feature of this temple is that there is no separate shrine for Navagrahas is found. The nine steps leading from the second temple tower are regarded as the Navagrahas that were at the dictation of Ravana.

The primary deity of Gneelivaneswarar (Lord Shiva) offers his blessings in the sanctum sanctorum and there are two separate sannadhis present for goddesses, Arulmigu Visalakshi Amman and Arulmigu Neela Nedunkann Amman. There is a separate sannadhi for Ravanan is also present in this temple.

Presiding Deity (Moolavar): Arulmigu Gneelivaneswarar

Goddess (Amman/Thayar): Visalakshi, Neelnedungannayaki

Temple Tree (Sthala Virutcham): Kalvazhai (Plantain tree)

Temple Tanks (Theertham): Visalakshi, Yama, Kalyana, Agni, Deva, Appar and Maniankarunai

Agamam (Pooja): Kameekam

Vimanam (Tower above Sanctum Sanctorum): Badra Vimanam

Name of the Vinayagar in this Temple: Vasantha Vinyagar

Location and Contact Information:

Arulmigu Gneeliwaneswarar Temple

Thiruppaingneeli (Po), Mannachanallur Taluk, Thiruchirapalli Dist, Tamil Nadu

Pin Code - 621005

Phone Number: 0431-2902654/2902655

Email: eothiruppaingneeli@gmail.com

Transport Information:

Nearest Bus Stand:

Chatram Bus Stand, Trichy - 17.9 km

(via MDR823, SH 62 and Salem - Namakkal - Trichy Road/Trichy Chennai Trunk Road)

Nearest Airport:

Tiruchirapalli International Airport - 28.1 km

Nearest Railway Station:

Srirangam Raiway Station

Temple Timings:

6 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM

Parihara Timings:

8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 4 PM to 5:30 PM

 Kshetradanam (Temple Visits) Continution

Temple No. 3 -

11th July, 2026

Azhagiya Manavalan Perumal Temple

(also called Thirukozhi or Nachiyar Koil) in Uraiyur, a suburb Tiruchirappalli in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu God Azhagiya Manavalan (Vishnu) and Goddess Kamalavalli (Lakshmi). It is one of the 108 Divya desam dedicated to Lakshmi Narayana.

As per Hindu legend, the god Vishnu was pleased by the worship of the childless Chola king Nanda Chola. He blessed the king with a child that was an incarnate of Lakshmi, his consort. The king found the child in a 1000 petal lotus tank while hunting in a forest. Since the child was born out of lotus, she was named Kamalavalli by the king. Time came when Kamalavalli fell in love with Vishnu in the form of Ranganatha, the presiding deity of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. The Chola king readily got her married to Ranganatha, who appeared here as the groom. Since Vishnu appeared as Azhagiya Manavalan, meaning a beautiful groom, the temple built here is called Azhagiya Manavalan Temple.[1][2] The event is celebrated as Serthi Sevai festival every year

The temple is believed to be in existence much before the 7th century. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. An Executive officer appointed by the Board manages the temple along with Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple at Thiruvellarai, Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple and Mariamman Temple at Anbil. Annadhanam scheme, which provides free food to devotees, is implemented in the temple by the Board. Under the scheme, free food is offered to hundred devotees every day in the temple and the expenditure is fully funded by the contributions from devotees.

As per Hindu legend, the god Vishnu was pleased by the worship of the childless Chola king Nanda Chola. He blessed the king with a child that was an incarnate of Lakshmi, his consort. The king found the child in a 1000 petal lotus tank while hunting in a forest. Since the child was born out of lotus, she was named Kamalavalli by the king. Time came when Kamalavalli fell in love with Vishnu in the form of Ranganatha, the presiding deity of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. The Chola king readily got her married to Ranganatha, who appeared here as the groom. Since Vishnu appeared as Azhagiya Manavalan, meaning a beautiful groom, the temple built here is called Azhagiya Manavalan Temple. The event is celebrated as Serthi Sevai festival every year.

The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Azhagiya Manavalan and Kamalavalli. During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.

Daily Darshan Timings

• Morning: 6:00 AM – 12:45 PM

• Evening: 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM [1]

Address: Nachiyar Kovil Sannathi Street, Woraiyur, Trichy, Tamil Nadu.

Schedule Match: The temple typically coordinates its opening and closing times with the nearby Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple. Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak heat and local street congestion.

Contact No. +91-431-2762446 and +91-9443188716.

Photo (1) is the current temple and Photo (2) when it was built in 7th Century (old structure).

See less

 Kshetradanam (Temple Visits) - Continuation

Temple No. 2 - 11-7-2026

Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari Temples, Thiruvanaikaval, Trichy -One of the Padal Petra Temples.

From Adhimooleswar Temple, we proceeded to Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval which is a Siva Temple in Tiruchirapalli. It is one of the five major shiva temples in Tamil Nadu representing the five elements; this temple represents the element of water. In this temple Siva is worshipped as Jambukeshwarar and his consort Parvat as Akilandeswari.

Once Parvati mocked Siva’s penance for betterment of the world. Siva wanted to condemn her act and directed her to go to the earth from Kailasa to do penance. Parvathi in the form of Akilandesari as per Siva’s wish found Jambu forest to conduct her penance. She made a lingam out of water of river cauvery under the Venn Naaval tree and commenced her worship. The lingam is known as Appu Lingam (Water lingam), Siva at last gave darshan to Akilandeswari and taught her siva gnana. Akilandeswari took upadesa(lessons) facing East from Siva who stood facing West. The Siva lingam is in the water.

Behind Siva’s temple there is a temple for Akilandeswari. Following the legend, a priest performs the pooja every day. It is believed that saint Adi Shankara offered ear rings with a Sri Yatra carving on it to goddess. Akhilandeshwari worshipped her husband Lord Siva in this temple, even today at noon the ‘Archakar” (chief priest) dresses like a female and does puja to Jambukeshwarar and cow. The noon pooja is very famous and a host of pilgrims attend it every day. A special variety of black cow, called Karum Pasu is used for occasion. Annabhishekam to lingam (ablution with cooked rice) is daily ritual performed in the temple.

The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu

The timings are 530 am to 1.00 pm and 3.00pm to 8.30pm (upto 9 pm on certain days).

Distance from Adhimooleswar Temple to this temple is 10 kms, even from City is also 10 kms.

Picture: Gopuram of Jambukeswarar, Trichy

 Kshetradanam (Temple Visits)

Happy Travel days are here!

This is the first travel of mine during this year. During the first quarter I was busy in disposing off my flat in Mumbai and in second quarter due to health reasons I could not travel. However in this quarter my friend Moorthy (he moved to Hyderabad from Coimbatore) decided to start our travel and we planned to visit Padal Petra and Divyam Desham temples in and around Trichy plus nearby temples. Hence we reached Trichy on 10th night at Trichy and checked in at Hotel Royal JT (Contact +91 431 246 0455) is a very decent hotel without a restaurant and the tariff is Rs. 2000 inclusive of all taxes. This hotel is located close to Trichy Rail Junction. There are several good restaurants in and around this hotel. Hence non-availability of a restaurant is not an issue.

Our plan was to visit around 14 Padal Petra and 6 Divya Desam temples in four days. All these temples are situated in and around 30 to 40 kms of Trichy city.

First day (11-7-2026)

Exactly at 6 am our driver Ramesh reported in the hotel to start our Kshetradanam trip.

First we decided to visit Adhimooleswar Temple, one of the Padal Petra temples, which is in Thirupalathurai and 19 kms from our hotel. This temple is a Syambu ( self-born) sthalam.

Legend

This temple is revered in the 7th century and has several inscriptions dating back to the Chola period. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and three yearly festivals on its calendar. The annual Brahmotsavam (prime festival) is attended by many pilgrims. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

As per Hindu legend, a Chola king was chasing a bird, on a hunting expedition in the region. The bird hid inside a bush. The king shot an arrow, towards the bush. Instead of the bird, he found an ant hill, oozing milk when the arrow hit. The frightened king returned to his palace. That night, the god Shiva appeared in the king's dream and informed about his divine presence in the anthill. Consequently, the king established a temple in the place of the anthill.

Temple Timings:

7:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The temple hosts six daily rituals (poojas) starting from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM.

Contact details: +91 431 246 0455.

Photo of the gopuram of this temple is attached.

(To be continued)

Tulja Bhavani temple, Ranu

Tulja Bhavani temple is most popular temple which is situated in small village Ranu near Vadodra Gujarat.The temple is about 700 years old.The statue/ idol was found by one saint. The present mahant offered us food and it was blessing of mother. She is the family goddess worshipped by the Maharaja Gaikwad of Vadodara.During Navratri days, the idol of Tulja Mataji are decorated with precious diamonds & rare jewelry given by Maharaja Malharrao Gaekwad, 150 years ago. After the festival is over, the diamonds & jewelry are kept in locker in Padra.Tulja Mataji are kuldevi of the royal Gaekwad family. The family members still come here to seek the blessings on 8th day of Chaitra Navratri & Aaso Navratri.

Mahant Kavindragiri, the care taker of temple says that 700 years ago Brahmshree Vishwambhar Giriji Maharaj came to Ranu village for worshipping Mataji & to serve the people. From blessings of mataji, they lit an diya near a small temple there. At back side of temple, they dug a small place called Mansarovar, where they found statue of Mataji, which is the idol of Shri Tulja Mataji, now installed in the Temple. One can also see 700 year old diya till lit up inside the temple.

People from Gujarat, Maharashtra,Orissa, Kerala & from abroad come here to seek blessings from Mataji. During 8th day of Aaso Navratri & Chaitra Navratri, Havan is done for peace & prosperity of people & earth

Stambheshwar Mahadev Temple, the Shiva temple that disappears twice a day!

 

The Stambheshwar Mahadev Temple, is   located in the town of Kavi Kamboi, (90 kms from Baroda)in the state of Gujarat.This ancient Shiva temple is located on the betwixt of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Cambay. This is very simple temple with nothing extraordinary in the architecture for the on lookers, but it is still a very unusual must visit religious sites of India. What is so unique about the temple is, that the temple gets totally submerged into the Sea during the high tide hours and as the tide starts to get low it again starts emerging out of the sea inch by inch, unveiling the 4 feet high Shiva lingam.

Legends add that despite being a demon, Tarakasaur was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He had undergone intense penance to please him which, of course, managed to please Lord Shiva. It’s said that the demon took advantage of the opportunity and asked for a boon, which can shield him from death. But as death is inevitable, Lord Shiva asked him to ask for another boon. Tarakasur then wished for a blessing, which stated that none other than the six-day-old son of Lord Shiva can kill him. Lord Shiva then granted his wish, after which Tarakasur created havoc in the three worlds and caused massive destruction. To put an end to this, Lord Shiva created Lord Kartikeya from the flame of his third eye, which put an end to the story.

Also, there is another version that states Lord Kartikeya, who punished Tarakasur, was also in awe because of his devotion for Lord Shiva. As a gesture of appreciation, he installed a shivalinga at the site, where Tarakasur was executed.

A visit to Mahabalaleshwar, Maharasthra

Mahabalaleshwar is the highest hill resort in the Western Ghats. It has many sites offering breathtaking views. Prominent among them are Veena Lake, Lingmala Waterfalls, Kates Point, Connought Peak, Old Mahableshwar, Marjorie Point, Arthur Seat, Hunter Point, Dhobi Waterfalls, Lodwick Point, Elephant’s Head, Bombay Point, Chainman Waterfalls, Babbington Point, Helens Point and Wilson Point.

On the 16^th November, 2019 I had decided to visit Mahableshwar which I have not visited for several years. If not mistaken my first visit was in th.e year 1979, for my honeymoon, to be specific on the 6^th May 1997. Immediately I called up Hotel Mayfair and booked a room for self from 19^th to 21^st (2 nights) with a plan of cheking out on 21^st morning.  Accordingly I had booked my bus ticket on 19^th going and 21^st return.My main objective was to visit the famous Siva temple and see the hotel where I stayed during my honeymoon. 

Day 1: (19th November) The pickup point for my bus was at Malad East, Alka Travels. As usual the bus was late by 30 mts. Finally it picked me up around 6 am.  Neeta  bus company has hotel everywhere and this was at Lonavala. Around 9 am we reached Neeta Hotel at Lonaval.  After breakfast around 9.30 am we left. Finally the bus arrived at Mahbleshwar bus erminus (again the drop  point was Neeta  Hotel) around 2 p.m. Since the hotel was away from the drop point I chehecked up with few taxis drivers to drop me at the hotel. All of them refused as they were looking for a long distance drop.  When I came out I saw one gentleman standing next a two wheeler.  When he saw me coming from the terminus, he straight asked me  “which hotel”. I said Mayfair. He said “I will drop you for Rs.60/- instead of Rs.100 for a taxi”. I was happy and got in the two wheeler and he dropped me in 10 minutes time.

Though situated only a few minutes’ walk from the main market of the hill town, Hotel Mayfair is a quiet place. You may laze about within the confines of its tastefully done – up rooms or stroll under the cool shade of its trees. You may set out with ease to see any of the scenic spots of this pretty hill station or simply go on long refreshing walks.

Contact details: Hotel Mayfair, Dr. L.C. D'souza Road, Aram Center, Mahabalaleshwar.

Phone No.02168 260366.

Mr. Singh, the Manager was waiting for me.  I checked in around 2.30 pm and he allotted a key of Room No. 501. After dropping my bag, I straight went for lunch.  Lunch was pretty good and no complaints. They served hot chapattis, samosa, dal, curries, rice, pappads and salad which was  part of the deal.  Deal in the hotel was Rs. 3500/ per night inclusive of all taxes, breakfast, lunch and dinner.  After lunch I went back to my room and slept till 4.30 pm.  

 Around 5 pm got out of the hotel and walked towards the main market which is less than one km. From the hotel. Before leaving the hotel I had decided to visit few places on the market road.. (1) Sangam Hotel where I stayed during my honeymoon (2) Aram restaurant (3) Imperial Hotel and (4) the famous Elisies Dairy & Baikery where we used to go and sit in the evenings.

During the year 1979 Sangam Hotel was very small with a shop in the ground floor, where the family of the owner stayed.    It was a small hotel with five rooms on the first floor.  Then we used to eah at Aram Restuarant (a veg joint). Thail used to be very good. Evenings were spent at Imperial and the bakery.

After visiting all these places I walked the other end (bus stand) of the road. Lot of changes had happened to the market road mainly it was very crowded and more new shops etc.

Around 7pm  returned to the hotel and clicking few photos and around 8 pm they served the dinner. After watching the TV, I hit the bed around 9.30 pm.

Day 2;   (20th November) As usual got up at 5 am, thought to go for a walk. Due to sever cold, I dropped the idea.  Did pranayama and meditation for one hour.  Around 7 am I went to the restaurant and picked up a cup of tea. Since the breakfast was getting late, I walked down to market road (aram restaurant) and had hot poha and a cup of tea and returned to my room around 8.30 am.  Immediately I booked a taxi to take me to Pancha Ganga, Mahableshwar Siva and Ganesha temples which are very old temples in Mahabuleshwar.

When I was returning after breakfast from Market Road, I saw the road which is leading to my hotel is getting suddenly crowded. On enquiry I was told that they set up a market in the road on every Tuesdays. Hence the hotel people said please leave the place before 9.30 am otherwise no vehicles can come through this road.  Hence I called for a taxi around 9 am to visit Pancha Ganga, Mahabuleshwar Siva and Ganesha temples which are very old in Mahabuleshwar.

Pancha Ganga temple

Constructed at the confluence of five rivers, Krishna, Venna, Savitri, Koyna and Gayatri, this temple is a site of major religious importance and is thronged by devotees all through the year. The temple has a beautifully carved gaumukhi, out of which the waters of the five rivers flow. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and has a lovely idol of him. The legend behind the temple is closely linked to Savitri's curse on the Trimurtis, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who flow here as Koyna, Krishna and Venna rivers.

It was constructed by Raja Singha Deo, the ruler of the Yadavs of Devgiri, in the 13th Century. In the 16th and 17th Centuries, Raja Chanda Rao More of Jaoli and the Maratha ruler Shivaji improved upon its structure on a large scale, to whom the temple owes much of its present grandeur.

Photography inside is not allowed but one can carry camera inside the temple.

Mode of transport : Local taxis. 

Mahabuleshwar  Siva temple

Located at a distance of 6 km from the city of Mahabaleshwar; Mahabaleshwar temple is an ancient shrine and an ideal example of the Maratha heritage. Popularly known as the Mahabali, the temple is flocked by tourists and devotees throughout the year to bask in the serenity and tranquillity offered here. The temple is extremely popular among the Hindus, as Lord Shiva is the presiding deity here. Set up amidst the hilly terrain, this picturesque temple glorifies the Maratha Empire and its rule during the 16th century.

This temple is  one of the ancient temples of Maharashtra. It was built by Chanda Rao More dynasty in the 16th century. The magnificent temple is guarded by a five feet wall and has two sections- the inner area and the outer area. The inner part, known as the sanctum sanctorum, has Shiva as the presiding deity. There are many belongings of Lord Shiva in the premises of this temple, like his bed, damru, Trishul, carvings of his sacred bull and Kalbhairav (his bodyguard); that aptly defines his presence here.

The main and central attraction of this temple is the 6 feet long Shiva lingam of which only the tip is visible, depicting the stone incarnation of Lord Shiva. The Mahabaleshwar Temple has a very serene and spiritual environment. Devotees visit the temple around the year to witness the calm and peaceful aura of Lord Shiva. The site has two more temples nearby, namely the Atibaleshwar temple and the Panchganga temple. Mahabaleshwar Temple is quintessential of the authentic Hemadant architectural style of South India.

Lingamala Waterfall

Went to see Linhgamala waterfall.  Unfortunately due to fogg, I could not see the water fall.  However, I saw a mini-waterfall on the way back.

I returned back to the hotel around 2 pm and had my lunch.  

Day 3:  (21st November) After breakfast checked out and took my return bus back to Mumbai at 9.30 am..  Reached in Mumbai around 5 p.m.

Overall it was an excellent trip. I treat this trip as a kick off trip for my 2019 travel .

Top 30 Famous Temples in India

1. Badrinath Temple (Visited) Situated close to the Alaknanda River, the abode of Lord Badrinath is located in the Chamoli district, a small town of Badrinath (Uttarakhand). This holy shrine of Lord Vishnu forms a part of the four holiest sites (Char Dhams) in Hindu religion. It is also one of the four Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites (comparatively minor pilgrimage sites). It is one of the 108 temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Divya Desams), which find mention in the works of Tamil saints who existed from 6th to 9th century.

The ancient abode of Lord Vishnu can be visited only between April to November as in the rest of the months the weather is too harsh for undertaking a pilgrimage journey. Two of the famous festivals related to the temple are –

Mata Murti-Ka-Mela – in which the mother of Lord Badrinath is worshipped and it takes place in the month of September.

Badri-Kedar Festival – extending to 8 days, it takes place in the month of June and is celebrated in both the temples of Badrinath and Kedarnath.

2. The Konark Sun TempleThe Sun temple is situated in the small town of Konark, which is situated in the Puri district of Odisha. This marvel of architecture is dedicated to Lord Sun. And resembling his carriage, the temple has been built in the shape of a chariot, which has twelve wheels and is shown as being dragged by the seven horses.

The temple is believed to be constructed in the 13th century by a king called Narasimhadeva. Like with most things in India, this temple too has connections with a few legends. As per one of the legends, God Krishna cursed, one of his own sons with leprosy.  To seek penance, Samba worshiped Lord Sun (Surya) for a period of twelve years. Pleased with his devotion, Surya healed him. Samba made the Sun temple in return to express his gratitude.

The mesmerizing beauty of the place was best summed up by the Rabindranath Tagore through these words: 'Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man.'

3. Brihadeeswara TempleAlso known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil and RajaRajeswaram, this 11th century temple was built by the Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Brihadeeswara temple is the largest temple in India that is situated at Thanjavur city of Tamil Nadu.

Cholas are known for their majestic and splendid scale of structures. The opulence and artistic proficiency of Cholas is well reflected in the grand and magnificent architecture of the temple. Made entirely of granite stone, it was built as per the principles of Vaastu Shastras and Agamas.

The most remarkable thing related to the architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is that it doesn't leave any shadow on the ground at the noon time. The millenary celebrations of its construction took place in 2010 amid many enthusiastic and grand cultural events.

4. Somnath TempleThis is one of the oldest pilgrimage centres in India and finds mention in the ancient books, like Shivpuran, Skandpuran and Shreemad Bhagvat. Som refers to the 'Moon God', thus Somnath means 'Protector of the Moon God'. According to a legend, Som got the temple built in the honor of Lord Shiva as it was Shiva who cured the illness, which was inflicted on him due to his father-in-law's curse.

It is one of the most revered 'jyotirlings' among the 12 existing jyotirlings of India. The temple is located in Prabhas Kshetra in Saurashtra (Gujarat). Prabhas Kshetra is also the region in which, it is believed that, Lord Krishna left his mortal body.

Another interesting thing about the place is that it is built on the shore of Arabian Sea and in between the temple and the South Pole, in a straight line there is no land area. Somnath temple was destroyed and re-built many times. The place also has a Somnath museum, Junagadh gate, beach and a sound and light show to amuse the pilgrims.

5. Kedarnath Temple (Visited) Situated in the Himalayan range of Garhwal area (Uttarakhand), Kedarnath temple is one of the most sacred Shiva temples in the world. This holy abode of Shiva is said to be built by the Pandavas to atone for their sins committed during their battle with Kauravs. The temple was restored by Adi Sankaracharya in 8th century. It is one of the Chota Char Dhams of Uttarakhand and requires a pilgrim to walk a distance of 14 kms over the hilly surface. One can make use of a pony or manchan to simplify the journey.

Surrounded by the glaciers and snow-covered peaks and standing at a height of 3,583 m, the temple is closed during winters due to severe cold conditions. Even the idol of Lord Shiva is shifted to Ukhimath and worshiped there throughout the 5/6 months for which the extreme conditions prevail.

6. Sanchi StupaSanchi is a village in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, which is a home to several Buddhist structures built in between 3rd century BC to 12th century AD. The most significant of them all is the Sanchi Stupa, also known as the Great Stupa. A Stupa is a holy place of Buddhist, which is built in the shape of a dome that consists of relics of Buddha.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site this famous pilgrimage site in India was built by the great emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BC. There are four intricately designed gateways surrounding the Stupa known as Toranas, each individually symbolizing the four emotions of love, peace, courage and trust. The Great Stupa is 16 meters high and 37 meters in diameter and preserves the relics of Buddha.

7. Ramanathaswamy (Rameshwaram) Temple Rameshwaram (or Rameswaram) is a small island town in Tamil Nadu and is one of the four holiest pilgrimage places (Char Dhams) of the Hindus.

The reason for its being so sacred is the belief that Lord Rama along with his wife Sita first landed on its shore after defeating the demon Ravana (who was also a Brahmin). To seek atonement for killing a Brahmin, Rama wanted to pray to Shiva. Hanuman was sent off to Kailash to bring an idol of the God. In the mean time, Sita made a small lingam. The one made by Sita is called Ramalingam and one brought by Hanuman is called Vishwalingam.

As per the instructions of Lord Rama, Vishwalingam is worshiped before the Ramalingam, even today.

8. Vaishno Devi Mandir After a trek of about 12 km from Katra (base camp), one reaches the holy cave, which is the abode of Maa (mother) Vaishno Devi and is located at an altitude of 5200 ft in a mountain called Trikuta. It is situated in Jammu and Kashmir, near Katra town.

Vaishno Devi is present here in the form of three rock heads, called the Pindies, instead of a statue. Due to the strong faith of the people, every year millions of them come to take the blessings of Maa Vaishno Devi.  It is said that it is Maa Vaishno who decides her visitors. It is she who calls her devotees to her doorsteps. Anyone making a successful journey to her shrine is there because of her wish. The shrine is open all year round.

9. Siddhivinayak Temple (Visited) Located in Prabha Devi, Mumbai, Siddhivinayak Temple was built in the 18th century. Siddhivinayak or Lord Ganesha is the supreme deity of the temple and is famous for being the first one to be worshipped before commencing any new work or assignment. That is why he is also known as Vighnaharta (the terminator of impediments).

On the wooden doors of the shrine eight impressions of Lord Ganapati (Ashtavinayak) are carved. Siddhivinayak temple consists of one of the eight images of the God. Other distinct images are spread over seven temples situated in Maharashtra. The temple is visited by the devotees all days of the year but Tuesday is the day when maximum numbers of people come to pray to the Lord for good luck.

10. Gangotri Temple (Visited) The sacred origin of Ganga Maa (mother) is worshipped at Gangotri temple, which is situated in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. A partially submerged Shivaling lying along the temple in the waters of Bhagirathi signifies the place where God Shiva entangled Ganga in his hair. Built in the 18th century the temple is made from the white granite.

The holy temple of Gangotri opens up on Akshaya Tritiya (usually falling in the months of April or May). On this occasion, an idol of Ganga Maa is brought back from the Mukhyamath temple (her winter abode), which is at a distance of 20 km. On Diwali, every year, Maa Ganga again travels back to the Mukhyamath temple.

11. Golden Temple (Visited) Sri Harmandir Sahib (also known Darbar Sahib or Golden temple) is the most pious pilgrimage place for Sikhs. The temple was built on the values of universal brotherhood and equality. The four doors, opening in the four prominent directions, openly welcome people from any faith or race to seek religious and spiritual contentment. The structure, revered for its superb architecture, is built on a level lower than that of the immediate surroundings, symbolizing the value of humility.

The holy scripture of Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib, was first placed in Sri Harmandir Sahib after its compilation and first Granthi (or head priest) of this Sikh pilgrimage centre in India, was Baba Buddha ji.

12. Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Visited) Located in the ancient and holy city of Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Kashi Vishwanath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, also referred to as Vishwanath or Vishweshwara, meaning emperor of the universe. The city of Varanasi is also known as Kashi that is why the temple is famously called Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The distinguished temple has been visited by many great holy men like Swami Vivekanand, Adi Shankaracharya, Goswami Tulsidas and Gurunanak. The merit or the blessings received from sighting jyotirling at Kashi Vishwanath is equal to that earned from visiting the rest of the 11 jyotirlings placed at several areas in India. A visit to the sacred temple of Shiva is believed to be one of the ways through which one can attain Moksha (ultimate liberation of the soul).

13. Lord Jagannath Temple (Visited) Built in the 12th century, Jagannath temple is situated in Puri (Orissa) and is popularly called Jagannath Puri. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple is one of the four holiest places (Char Dhams) of India. Inside the main temple, with the idol of Lord Krishna (Jagannath) in between, the idols of Lord Balabhadra (brother) and Goddess Subhadra (sister) are placed.

Non-Hindus cannot enter the premises of the temple. They can get a good view of this magnificent temple from the roof-top of the Raghunandan Library located just opposite to the temple. The annual and world famous Rath Yatra conducted at Puri gives a chance to get a good glimpse of the Lord Jagannath along with Balabhadra and Subhadra riding on the chariots. Thousands and thousands of people pulling the sacred chariot makes for a mesmerizing spectacle.

14. Yamunotri Temple (visited) Yamunotri temple was built in the 19th century in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand and was damaged and rebuilt twice due to the damages inflicted by the natural disasters. Dedicated to Yamuna River, which is the second holiest river of India, the temple also forms the part of the four Chota Char Dham sites.

Located at the height of 3291 meters, the shrine of Mother Yamuna holds the idol of Goddess, which is built in black marble. The temple opens up on the day of Akshaya Tritiya and closes on the day after Diwali. Mother Yamuna spends the winter at a nearby village known as village Kharsali. The area around the Yamunotri temple doesn't have any motorable roads, so it has to be reached by trekking for a few kilometers. The surroundings of the Yamunotri temple have many hot water springs to the delight of the visiting pilgrims.

15. Meenakshi Temple (Visited)
This architectural wonder is situated in Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and is dedicated to Goddess Parvati (also known as Meenakshi) and her husband Lord Shiva. Madurai is the second biggest city of India and is also one of the oldest continuously populated cities of the world.

A dip in the Golden Lotus tank, situated in the temple, is considered auspicious and is usually taken before visiting the main shrine of the God and Goddess. As per a legend, the pond was created by Shiva and is even older than the temple. The temple has a hall, which consists of 985 pillars; each pillar is differently and intricately carved. The 12th century colorful temple was among the 30 nominees of the 'New Seven Wonders of the World'.

16. Amarnath Cave TempleThe holy cave of Amarnath is located at an altitude of 3,888 meters in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Engulfed with ice-clad mountains, the cave is also covered with layers of snow most times of the year. In the summer season, (June to August) it becomes accessible and hence opens up to receive the pilgrims.

The cave is believed to be around 5000 years old. As per a popular legend, Buta Malik (a Muslim shepherd) met a holy man who handed him a bag full of coal. On reaching home, he found that the coal has got converted into gold. Moved by the miracle the shepherd went in search of the saintly man and instead found the sacred abode of Lord Shiva. The pilgrimage towards Amarnath consists of a 5 day trek in which the devotees brave tough and uncertain climatic conditions and walk for 40 miles (distance covers journey from: camp-holy cave-camp).

17. Lingaraja TempleLingaraja temple is one of the oldest and largest temples of the 'Temple City of India' – Orissa. Drenched in the architectural style typical of Kalinga, the temple doesn't only attract religious devotees but also the historians.

The idol of Lingaraj usually represents Lord Shiva, but over here it symbolizes Shiva and Vishnu. The combined form of both the Gods is referred to as Harihara. A large lake called Bindu Sagar touches the temple from one side and is said to have healing powers. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the premises, thus they can see the magnificent structure from a platform outside the temple. Shivratri is the main festival of the temple.

18. Tirupati Balaji (Visited) Located in the hilly town of Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh), the temple is also known as Tirumala Venkateshwara temple. The temple is devoted to Lord Venkateshwara, who is popularly called 'Balaji' and is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Venkateshwara Tirupati Balaji is the second richest religious site with people offering money and gold to their Lord running into millions, each day.

The ancient temple has been visited by the rulers of many grand dynasties of Southern India. The temple celebrates many festivals, most famous among them is Brahmotsavam (also known as 'Salakatla brahmotsavam'), which goes on for 9 days and witnesses a great mass of the devotees.

The laddoos (a kind of sweet), which are given in the form of prasadam in the shrine are famous around the world for their unique delectable taste. As a religious ritual, people get their heads tonsured in large numbers over here, so much so that every year about 6 million US dollars are earned through the auction of hairs.

19. Kanchipuram Temples (visited few) 'The City of Thousand Temples' – Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) is one of the seven sacred places in India wherein the people can attain Moksha, as per the Hindu religion. Every temple in Kanchipuram is a fascinating piece of architecture. Among the most revered temples of Kanchi 3 major ones are mentioned below:

Kamakshi Amman Temple: Goddess Kamakshi is one of the manifestations of Parvati and unlike the standing poses in which we usually find her idols, the enchanting idol at Kamakshi temple is sitting in Padmasana (a yogic sitting posture).

Ekambareswarar Temple: This shrine of Lord Shiva is also the largest among all the temples of Kanchipuram. The main lingam of the Ekambareswarar temple is made of sand and is said to be built by the Goddess Parvati.

Varadaraja Perumal Temple: It is one of the 108 temples of Vishnu (Divya Desams). This temple along with the temples of Kamakshi and Ekambareswarar are collectively called Mumurtivasam (home of trio).

20. Khajuraho TempleKhajuraho is a town in the state of Madhya Pradesh, which houses several temples built between 10th to 12th centuries. Spread across an area of 20 sq km, the monuments of the town are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples are built of sandstone and dedicated to the deities of Hindus and Jains.

The temples are world famous for the erotic cravings, which can be seen along other cravings depicting the activities of routine life. It is believed that there were over 75 temples in the area but right now about 20 exist. The temples have been divided into three zones – eastern, western and southern. The Western zone consists of the most famous temples; the largest temple of Khajuraho, Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, falls under this zone.

An annual Khajuraho Dance Festival, celebrating classical dance forms of India, is held against the background of Chitragupta or Vishwanath temple in the first week of February.

21. Virupaksha Temple (Visited) Built in the 7th century, the temple is famous for being a functioning temple ever since it came into the existence. Located in the village of Hampi, it is one of the most famous temples among the various other temples of Hampi. All heritage sites of Hampi have been recognized by the UNESCO.

A shrine of Shiva, Virupaksha temple is a very important religious as well as the tourist destination. The pilgrimage centre has expanded in scale over a period of time. Shiva in the form of Virupaksha is the consort of local goddess Pampa and that is why the temple is also called Pampapathi temple. Many festivals take place in the temple celebrating the engagement and wedding of the couple.

22. Akshardham Temple (Visited)Constructed on the principles of Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra, this temple is situated near the banks of Yamuna in Delhi. The Indian-ness of the temple is reflected in its resemblance with ancient Indian architecture and the spirituality that the place exudes. The principal deity of Swaminarayan faith, Lord Swaminarayan, is the central figure of Akshardham. His 11 feet high idol lies below the central dome of the temple.

The structure has been built of Rajasthani pink stone and Italian Carrara marble. The magnificent temple of Akshardham looks more stunning during the night with the beautifully set lighting arrangements. There are many ways like exhibition, movie, statues and boat ride through which the information about the history and philosophy of the Swaminarayan sect and its founder is given to the visitors. Light and music show, which takes place in the evening, is the most fascinating element of the temple.

23. Shri Digambar Jain Lal MandirBuilt during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1656, Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the oldest Jain temple in Delhi. Made in the honor of the 23rd Tirthankara, Parashvanath, the temple is made in red sandstone.

Standing right across the Red Fort, the temple consists of a charitable bird hospital, which has different wards for different species, a research laboratory and an intensive care unit. The hospital came in to being in 1956 and exemplifies one of the basic principles of Jainism, which states that all living beings (no matter how small or insignificant) have a right to freedom.

24. Gomateshwara Temple (Visited) Situated in the Shravanabelagola town of Karnataka, Gomateshwara temple is dedicated to Lord Bahubali also known as Gomateshwara. Built in the 10th century it is one of the most important pilgrimage places for Jains. The statue inspires awe among people world over because of its unique structure. Standing at an enormous height of 58.8 ft the idol is carved out of a single granite rock. This monolithic structure stands at such a great height without any external support. The base of the Bahubali idol has got inscriptions written in three different languages – Marathi, Kannada and Tamil.

The most important event occurs in the temple after every 12 years. It is called Mahamastakabhishek and is a very important festival for Jains. In which Lord Bahubali is bathed and smeared with various things like saffron paste, sugarcane, turmeric, milk and vermillion and offered various precious stones and coins (like gold and silver).

25. Ranakpur TempleRanakpur is a village in the Pali district of Rajasthan and falls between Udaipur and Jodhpur. One of the very famous pilgrimage sites in India, the majestic 15th century Jain temple is dedicated to Lord Adinatha. It is counted among the 5 major sacred places of Jains.

The marvelous architecture of the temple structure brought it among the list of 77 nominees at the time of determining the new Seven Wonders of the World. Completely built from light colored marble, the great structure is well supported with the help of about 1400 superbly carved pillars. The temple uses natural light of sun as the only means of illumination.

26. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple (Visited) The holy temple of Sai baba was built in 1922, in the Shirdi town of Maharashtra. Located about 296 kms from Mumbai, the small town of Shirdi has attained fame due to its association with Shri Sai Baba.

Spread in an area of 200 sq. Km, the shrine was made over the Samadhi of Sai Baba. Each day around 25,000 devotees come for Baba's darshan and on festivals the figure comes into lakhs. Ramnavmi, Guru Purnima and Vijayadashami are the major festivals that are celebrated with great enthusiasm and passion. The principles of Sai Baba (like love, charity, forgiveness) are spread through the land of Shirdi, which has been made holy by the pure soul.

27. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple  (Visited) Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala is the place where one of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred dwellings of Lord Vishnu) is situated in the form of Lord Padmanabhaswamy. Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple can be visited only by the Hindus.  There is a strict dress code while entering the temple for men (dhoti without any kind of shirt) and women (sari or skirt and blouse).

The elegant and splendid idol of Lord Vishnu is reclining over a 5 hooded serpent called Anantha. The idol of the Lord is very fascinating as it displays the supreme trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (or Shiva). Out of the navel of Lord's statue a lotus is seen as coming out over which Lord Brahma (the protector) is sitting. That is why Vishnu (the creator) is also called Padmanabha, i.e. lotus-navel. Under the right palm of the stretched out hand of Padmanabha there is a Shiva lingum (the destroyer), completing all three powers into one.

28. Dwarkadhish TempleThe holy abode of Lord Krishna, Dwarkadhish temple is situated in the Dwarka city (Gujarat). Also known as Jagat Mandir, the temple has two doors for entry and exit for pilgrims. The entry door is called Swarg Dwar (doorway to heaven) and the exit door is called Moksha Dwar (the doorway to liberation).

A part of the Char Dham pilgrimage, the 5-story structure of the temple is standing with the support of 72 pillars. Placed on the banks of River Gomti the temple reaches the height of 51.8 meters and a flight of 56 steps need to be taken to reach the Swarg Dwar. Inside the shrine, the Lord dazzles his devotees through his image built in black stone and reaches up to 2.25 ft.

29. Laxminarayan TempleInaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1939, the temple was built by the industrialist Baldeo Das Birla in Delhi and can be visited by people of all castes and creed. Laxminarayan is a form of Lord Vishnu (Narayan) when he is with Goddess Lakshmi (his consort).

The primary shrine is devoted to Laxminarayan, other smaller shrines are dedicated to other Gods like Shiva, Hanuman, Krishna, Ganesh and Buddha. Spread in an area of 7.5 acres the temple is one of the tourist attractions of Delhi and has a huge garden, fountains and a large hall called Geeta Bhawan to conduct discourses, apart from the holy shrines.

 30. Iskcon TempleAlso known as the Krishna Balaram mandir, ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) was built in the year 1975. Located in the holy land of Vrindavan (Mathura, Uttar Pradesh), the land which is believed to be the abode of Lord Krishna in his young age, the ISKCON temple is well known for the utmost standard of cleanliness and worship they maintain. The chants of 'Hare Krishna' reverberate in the temple all hours of the day.

The temple belongs to the Gaudiya Vaishnava sect of Hinduism, which was founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the 16th century. Inside the temple there are idols of Krishna, Radha, Balarama, along with the idols of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Swami Prabhupada (founder of ISKCON).

For understanding India in its various hues one can start from its temples, i.e. undertake a Pilgrimage holiday in India and start to learn what binds its diverse population and begin to unravel the intriguing phenomenon called India. Mahatma Gandhi said that the essence of all religions is one; only their approaches are different. Likewise, from the different temples of India, one can realize the essence of the enigmatic land of India.