G.B. International ::- Chidambaram
| Chennai | Chidambaram | Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) |
|---|---|---|
| Madurai | Rameshwaram | Kanyakumari |
| Coimbatore | Mahabalipuram | Thanjavur |
| Kanchipuram | Coonoor |
Chidambaram
The lovely town of Chidambaram is situated in the east-central part of Tamil Nadu state of southeastern India. It is located in the Coleroon River Valley on the Madras-Thanjavur road and rail system. Chidambaram (also Thillai) literally means the sky permeated by an atmosphere of intelligence and wisdom. It is one of the five Shaivite mukti sthalams, the other four being Kalahasti, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai and Tiruvanaikaval.
Chidambaram tourism highlights the beautiful temples in the city, dedicated to Lord Nataraja - God Siva in the form of a Cosmic Dancer. It is one of the few temples where Siva and Vishnu are enshrined under one roof. This ancient temple was built by the Cholas. It is devoted solely to the art of Bharatanatyam and is one of the rare temples where Shiva is represented by an idol rather than the customary Lingam. Spread over an area of 40 acres with a gopuram on each side, the temple is distinguished by five sabhas or courts. Apart from this, the sacred land of Chidambarm, has many exquisite temples and attractions. But the unique feature of Chidambaram is that a person of any race or religion can visit the shrine and pray.
Places of Interest
The Nataraja TempleWith its ideal location in the heart of the city the Nataraja Temple spreads over an area of 40 acres. It is one of the oldest temples of Tamilnadu. The roof of the temple is coated with mesmerizing gold plates. The presiding deity of the temple is represented by air, one of the five elements of the universe and is known as "Akasa Lingam".The Eastern tower of the temple outreaches a majestic height of 40.8 meters. Both the eastern and western towers are engraved with 108 captivating Bharatha Natyam dance gestures hypnotizes the visitors. The Northern tower rises to a height of 42.4 meters.
The Sivakamiamman Temple
It has Sivaganga tank, which has the thousand-pillar hall as one of the major features of the temple.
Kali Temple
The northern end of the sacred city has Thillaikaliamman temple, another of the medieval architectural marvel and greatly flocked pilgrim spots. Kopperunjingan, who ruled between 1229 AD and 1278 AD, built the temple.
Annamalai University
A hot center of Tamil learning, Annamalai University is a residential University founded by the Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar. The university is also great centre of Carnatic music and offers educational facilities in various disciplines including Medicine, Agriculture and Engineering.
Festivals Celebrated in Chidambaram
Some of the important festivals celebrated in Chidambram are, Markazhi Thiruvadhirai Day Festival celebrated in the months of December - January. The Adi Thirumanjanam Festival is celebrated in June and the Panguni Uthiram Festival is celebrated in the month of March.How to Reach
By AirThe airports at Tiruchirapalli (195 km) and Chennai (245 km) are the nearest airports from Chidambaram.
By Rail
Chidambaram is located on the Madras-Tiruchirapalli main line of the Southern Railway. It is connected with Tiruchirapalli, Madras, Madurai (335 km), Rameswaram (575 km), Bangalore (340 km), and Tirupati (290 km).
By Road
There are frequent bus services available to various places in Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Pondicherry states from Chidambaram. Non-stop bus services and express bus services are also available to major cities like Chennai.