Trichy Rockfort & Srirangam Temple Walk

The rock above the river

The Rockfort is an outcrop of ancient rock rising straight out of the old town of Tiruchirappalli. We meet at its foot at 06:30 and climb the covered stairway cut into the rock, past Pallava cave shrines and the Thayumanavar temple, to the little Ucchi Pillayar shrine on the summit. From the top you see the Kaveri, the island of Srirangam and the gopurams of the temple you will walk next.

Srirangam

Across the river, the Ranganathaswamy temple is less a building than a town: seven concentric enclosures with houses, shops and streets inside the outer walls, and 21 gopurams. Your guide leads you through the enclosures to the thousand-pillared hall and the Sesharaya mandapam with its rearing horses, explains the temple's life of festivals and processions, and shows you where Vishnu reclines on the serpent Adisesha. Only Hindus may enter the sanctum; everyone is welcome in the halls and courtyards.

Good to know

Camera phones must be deposited at both temples (₹5 each under the HR&CE rules). The walk includes about 400 steps at the Rockfort and a lot of barefoot walking on stone at Srirangam, so start early. We end with a South Indian breakfast in the Srirangam car streets.