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Places to see in Chidambaram
Chidambaram welcomes tourists with an enchanting experience with its temples and places of worship. In the spirit of fervor and devotion and the pilgrimage spot a majority of them dedicated to the Lord Shiva. These temples are a marvel both in terms of architecture and the fervor and dedication with which devotees flock the temple.
Hence the places to see in Chidambaram are:
Natraja Temple- This is one of the main temples in the city of Chidambaram and is dedicated to the Lord Shiva who is invoked as Natraja and the Main deity of the temple is in the main sanctum is in the gait or the dancing posture. The temple is also known for its attractive architectural like the gopurams the carvings mandapams and the various inscriptions that are found in the temple. The temple in the architectural aspects depicts the greatness and the splendor of the Lord with almost 108 dance poses of the Lord adorns the shikaras of the temple. Located in the center of the city that temple has been subject to frequent renovations. The distinctiveness of the temple is that it is divided in to Sabha namely Chit Sabha, Kanaka Sabha, Deva Sabha, Nritya Sabha and Raja Sabha. The main diety of Natraja is located in the Chit Sabha.
Kali temple- This is also included in the list of temples of Chidambaram. Located on the outskirts of the city. There is a reason why this temple is situated on the outskirts of Chidambaram while the other temples are situated within the city. It is believed that the Lord Shiva has beaten the Goddess in a contest that ascertained the best celestial dancer of the universe. The battle was won by Lord as a result of which the Goddess moved to the outskirts of the city. The Kali Temple attracts tourists from all over and is one of the most revered places of worship.
Chathapurinathar temple- This temple is located 10km east of the city of Chidambaram in a place called Tirukolaka. Like other temples in the region, this temple is also dedicated to the lord Shiva who is venerated and invoked by the name of Chathapurinathar. This is one of the holiest of shrines located in the city of Chidambaram and also finds mention in the pathigrams of Appar, Sundaram and Sambhadar.
Tirunallupperumanan temple- This temple is also situated within close proximity of the Natraja temple is one of the most honored temples in the city of Chidambaram. The temple is located next to the Mayilthadurai railroad that was a former site of the battle between the English and the French. After 1774 the temple came under the rule of the British army who defeated the army of Thanjavur(Tanjore). This temple also a religious significance of the place where the marriage of Thiru Gnanasambadar was solemnized. In commiseration of the same each year the temple holds a festival for the same. In terms of layout the temple entrance is adorned by a Rajagopuram or a royal entrance as it is called. The interiors of the temple are also adorned with more than 100 carvings of Thiru Gnanasambadar.
Thirunalveyil temple- This is another temple that is dedicated to the Lord Shiva and situated at a distance of 2 km from Chidambaram. This temple has a number of specialties both in terms of architecture the style and at the same time references of the past era. In terms of architecture the Temple has a five stories Gopurams that is the first of its king among temples in the city of Chidambaram. Secondly within the temple itself there are found in the temple that date back to the era of the Nayaks. It is also said that Thiru Gnanasambadar visited this temple and wrote a kriti about the temple.
Vaithesehwaran koil (temple)- The Vaithesehwaran koil (the Tamil word for temple) is another Hindu temple in the city of Chidambaram that is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Like the other temple the façade of this temple is adorned by Gopurams. The temple is dedicated to the Lord Shiva who is invoked under the title of Vaidyanathan or the healer. Hence pilgrims flock this temple for the graces of both spiritual and physical healing. The temple also has certain descriptions that date back to the time of thye Cola Empire and these are inscribed in the walls and the plasters of the Gopurams.
Thillai Kali Amman Temple- This temple is located to the northern end of the main Natraja temple. The deity of the Goddess Kalishewari worship in the temple has four faces and was built under the 13th century. This temple is located north of the Natraja temple. Within the temple itself there are various stone inscriptions that date to the time of the Hindu Shoza. The prayers and the services of the temple are performed regularly and that too four times in a day. There are special pujas conducted on the Fridays and Sundays. Pilgrims flock the temple and worthily participate in the Pooja and various prayers of the temples.
Pichavaram- Located at about 16kms form the city of Chidambaram, Pichavaram is one of the quaintest and quite tourists’ destination that must be visited while on stay in Chidambaram. The main feature of Pichavaram is invariably the backwater that the region is blessed with. The water of Pichavaram are surrounded by green vegetation and at the same time mangroves that are visible on both sides of the flowing waters.
Tarangambadi- This place is known as Tarangambadi of traqubar and is known for the distinctive Danish style opf construction. There are a number of places of historical importance that can seen the region. The entire string of buildings and historical monuments in the region all tell about the rich heritage and is considered as the Highmark of Dutch architecture. Along the coast, there is the Danish Fort, and the heritage town. Inside the fort there is also a museum that houses a collection of both artifacts and at the same remnant of the Dutch confluence to the heritage town.
Kalavarayan Hills- Situated a distance of about 152 kms north of Chidambaram, the hills are also an important tourist attraction of the city.The hills are the most quaintest and at the same time quietest location in the whole region. The hills are also synonymous for the botanical garden that is situated around the region and are visited by tourists from all over.
Annamalai University- There are very universities that find a place on the tourists map or the places to see in a particular city. The Annamalai University is one such place. Located on sprawling 300 acres of land with complete facilities for tourists like that of residence and is also known for the various streams of learning that are offered to the students of the university. Apart from that the university is also known for Tamil research studies and mass literacy programs and the emphasis that the university has paid to attention to like for instanced adult literacy.
Chidambaram offers and tries offers tourists a complete and holistic exeperince .Apart form the rich culture, heritage and offers temple it offers tourists a peaceful holiday away from the humdrum and the hassles of daily life.
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