| Location | Tiruchirappalli district, central east part of Tamil Nadu |
| Significance | Famous for its fusion architecture and monuments |
| Must Visit | Srirangam Temple, Rock Fort, Jambukeshwara Temple, Mariamman Temple |
| Best Time To Go | Throughout the year |
| Climate | Pleasant tropical climate; temperature in summer: 40°C to 28°C, and in winter: 29°C to 15°C |
With 2500 years of glorious history, Tiruchirappalli or Trichy still retains the age old traditional values and architectural beauty on the bank of river Cauveri. 'Tiru' in Tamil means 'in respect of' and 'Chira' symbolizes Jain Monks. Therefore 'Tiruchirappalli' means 'the town of respected monk'. A 83 m high rock serves as a famous landmark of the city, which boasts of being one of the oldest in the world, i.e. approximately 3,800 years. This home to historic temples, monuments, churches and mosques was ruled by the Cholas, Pallavas, Nayaks, Marathas and the British. All these dynasties contributed a lot to the vibrant and colorful heritage of the city.
These dynasties have established a number of structures that are appreciated by the tourists from all over the world. A few of them are:
The Rock Fort
Located on a massive rocky outcrop on the bank of river Cauveri, the Rock Fort is simply a masterpiece. It is famous for a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This gigantic temple with a 100-pillar hall and a Vimana covered with gold belongs to the Pallava period.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
The temple at Srirangam, situated 6 km from the city, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This second largest Vishnu temple in the world after the famous Angkor Vat in Cambodia, has a picturesque and peaceful location surrounded by coconut palms. Its seven rectangular-walled courtyards, 21 Gopurams and ancient rock carvings are the major attrations.
A few other prominent temples in and around the city are: Jambukeshwara Temple, Mariamman Temple, Vayalur Subramniya Temple, Uraiyur Nachiyaar Temple, Uraiyur Vekkali Amman Temple, Thiruanaikka Shiva Temple, etc.
The Government Museum
Located near the Pudukkottai station (40 km from Trichy) has a wonderful collection of items related to Geology, Zoology, Paintings, Anthropology, Epigraphy, Historical Records, etc.
Vaikunta Ekadasi (Paradise Festival)
Celebrated in mid-December at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, the festival is characterized by the recital of the Vaishnavite text called Thiruvaimozhi before the image of Lord Vishnu.
Car Festival, held in January, is another major local attraction of the Trichy.
Fauna
Viralimalai Sanctuary, located 30 km from Trichy, is a greener place where one can find a few amazing birds and countless peacocks. The town is blessed with a large number of wild peacocks, which can be seen easily in the post-monsoon season.
Shopping
Shopaholics can find the best quality cheroots, cigars, handicrafts, brasswares, jewellery (including the artificial diamonds) and carpets in Trichy markets. The city is known for a variety of fresh and colorful flowers too. Among the woodcrafts, you can find a wide array of baskets and mats made out of bamboo, cane, grasses, reeds and fibers make good shopping in Trichy. Government Emporium is the most favored shopping destination in Trichy. Apart from that, you can head towards Big Bazaar Road and Chinnar Bazaar, where you can hang around for shopping.
Accommodation
Trichy or Tiruchirappalli offers various luxurious, middle class and small budgeted hotels, lodges, and resorts. The TTDC also offers a wide range of hotels, motels and youth hostels for a comfortable stay.
By Air: Trichy international airport operates flights to major Indian cities as well as the neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka, Singapore, Maldives and a few Gulf cities such as Sharjah, Fujairah, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, Muscat, Riyadh and Kuwait.
By Rail and Road: Trichy, being a highly frequented destination is well connected to all the major Indian cities by rail and by bus.
