Tiruchirapalli

                                   Tiruchirapalli is 325 kms from the State Capital, Chennai. This was called as Trichnopoly during the British Rule. Locals call it as Tiruchi. This city on the banks of River Cauvery, is the Head Quarters of Tiruchi District and fourth largest city of the State.

                                   This was the Citadel of the early Chola Rulers, then the Pallavas conquered and ruled it. The struggle of power between Pallava and Pandiya continued and pallavas lost the struggle many times. Finally the Cholas retained the control and ruled it for a long time. When the empire collapsed around 1565, it was the turn of Nayaks , Marathas ,Carnatic Nawabs , French and finally the British. The city, around rock fort, is a fine blend of Tradition, Heritgage and modern environment. Several Churches, Colleges and missions of the 17th Century made people to call it as the Rome of the East.

ROCKFORT : It is also called as Ucchi Pillaiyar Kovil. It is in the heart of the city. This is a 275 ft tall Rock Structure. It is amazing to hear, this structure is one of the oldest and calculated close to million years old. There is a Cave temple cut out at the pinnacle is believed to have been built in 580 AD. The Temples of Lord Siva called Thayumanavasa Swami temple, Where the lingam is said to be projection of the rock itself and Lord Vinayagr [uchhi pillaiyar] is the attraction of this 350 steps rockfort. There are inscriptions in these temple that dates back to 3rd century B.C. At the foothills of the rock fort, a big & beautiful tank and a pavilion where the annual Float festival enthralls thousands of people. The Home of Robert Clive when he was in Tiruchi and the 18th Century Church, now housing the popular St.Josephs’s College are the two important landmarks near this Tank.