Situated on the banks of the river Cauvery,Tiruchirappalli, the forth largest city in the state was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. But the Pallavas never really managed to retain control of this strategic city and lost it to the Pandiyas several times. This tug of war finally ended when the Cholas reasserted themselves in the 10th century.
The fort of Tiruchy continued to be in their possession until the decline of the empire after which it became a Vijayanagar stronghold. When this empire collapsed in 1565, Tiruchy came to be occupied in turn by the Nayaks of Madurai, the Marathas, the Navabs of Carnatic, the French and finally the British. But it was under Nayaks of Madurai that Tiruchy flourished and prospered in its own right and grew to be the city that it is today.
Tiruchy is a fine blend of tradition and modernity built around the Rock Fort. Apart from the fort, there are several churches colleges and missions dating back to the 1760s. With its excellent infrastructure facilities, Tiruchy will serve as a good base to see central Tamilnadu.
Places to see
ROCKFORT
The most famous land mark of this district is Rockfort Temple. This temple crowns a massive outcrop of rock, that soars 83 meters upwards, from the surrounding plains. It is reached by a step flight of 437 steps cut into the rock. Halway up is the Sri Thayumanaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has a 100 pillared hall, and a Vimana. From its summit we will get a fantastic view of the town plus its other main landmark, Srirangam, Cavery River, Coleroon River , Thiruvanaika Kovil
SRIRANGAM
Sanctity is accorded to a place on the basis of its threefold popularity of the presiding deity, the quality of the holy waters and its hoary past. The holy shrine of Srirangam has al l these attributes in rich measure. The township of Srirangam envelopping the shrine is situated on a tiny island formed by the bifurcation of the river Cavery at a place called Mukkombu (Upper anaicut).
The southern distributary of the river retains the name Cavery, while the northern branch is called Coleroon. The abode of the Supreme Lord, Sri Ranganatha, the reclining form of Lord Vishnu is situated in Srirangam 8 kilometers from Trichy city.There are not less than 22 gopurams, one of which is the tallest in India. The 72m high 13-tiered Rajagopuram was built in 1987 while the remaining 21 gopurams were built between th 14th and 17th centuries.
JAMBUKESWARA TEMPLE
Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated 2 kms east of Srirangam, The temple is named after the elephant which is believed to have worshipped Lord Siva here. Installed under an ancient Jambu tree, the lingam is partially submerged by water and meant to represent God incarnate as water.
ST. LOURDU’s CHURCH
Built in 1812, this church has lovered doors, which when opened, turns the church into an airy pavilion. Its excellent setting and marvelous architecture, makes it a site worth visiting. It is in the heart of the Trichy city, surrounded by commercial markets.
HAZRATH NATHERVALI
It is ancient Durga more than 1000 years old. It is marvelous architecture , the doom is made up of shining marbles giving a great look to the Durga. It is also situated in the heart of Trichy City.
MUKKOMBU
A wonderful picnic spot,where the river Kollidam branches off from the river Cavery. It is 18 kilometer from Trichy City.
Travel within city
Travelling around Tiruchy is easy, as the city is well developed and has a good network of travel options. There are many buses and auto rickshaws available for travel in the city of Tiruchy, and a network of share auto rickshaws also ply through the city.
BUS
While travelling in Tiruchy, opting for bus travel can be a wise choice as the buses comprehensively cover all parts of the city. Travelling through bus in Tiruchy is also relatively safe as buses as always moderately crowded even during night time. The bus fares are also cheap and travelling in bus may cost you around Rs 3 to 9.
AUTO-RICKSHAW
You can also opt for auto rickshaws in the city of Tiruchy, and these do not run on meter. Auto rickshaw drivers are bound to demand for a rate that is higher than the actual amount, so you should be aware of the local rates from the start. Talking to the locals and finding out the basic rates can help. Make sure you bargain for a good rate as fares will never go beyond Rs 70.
SHARED AUTO RICKSHAW
You can also opt for share auto rickshaws while travelling in Tiruchy. A trip in a share auto rickshaw will cost you only around Rs 5 to 7, and this mode will be less crowded than a bus.