Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram, Tamil Nadu

The Thanumalayan temple is an important pilgrim center in Suchindram, Tamil Nadu. Carved out of a single granite block and stands at 22 feet is an Anjaneya ( Hanuman) statue. Legend says that Anasuya, the wife of Atri Maharishi, famous for her charity and devotion to her husband performed miracles by sprinking the “paatha theertham” (water with which she washed her husband’s feet) to bring rain to the dry earth and to transform objects to her desire.

Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

Kanyakumari is the southernmost city of the Indian peninsula located in the state of Tamil Nadu. A popular monument along the shore is the Vivekananda Rock Memorial built in 1970. Legend is that on this rock the goddess Kumari  performed disciplined meditation. Swami Vivekananda is to have attained enlightenment on the rock. Attached to the memorial is the Dhyana Mandapam where pilgrims come to pray. The Thiruvalluvar statue commemorates the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar who wrote Thirukkural. The statue stands upon a 38 foot rock that represents 38 chapters of virtue, and a height of 133 feet denoting the 133 chapters of the Thirukkural. 

Ramalinga Vilasam Palace, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu

Ramalinga Vilasam Palace, located in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, was built by Kizhavan Sethupathi, 1674-1710. The palace has survived major battles with the Maratha kings of Thanjavur which occurred in the region. The murals found in this building representing the life style of the Sethupathi kings.

Ramanathaswamy Temple, Ramaswaram, Tamil Nadu

The Ramanathaswamy Temple, located on the Ramaswaram Island, Tamil Nadu, is one of twelve Jyotirlinga temple ( pillar of light to the sky) According to the Ramayana, Rama prays to Shiva to forgive him of the sin committed during the war against the demon king, Ravana in Sri Lanka. Rama wanted to have a large lingam to worship Shiva and directed Hanuman, the leader of the army, to bring a lingam from the Himalayas. Hanuman was delayed in bringing the lingam, so Sita (wife of Rama) built a small lingam out of sand on the seashore, which is believed to be the lingam in the sanctum. There are now two lingam in the temple, one brought by Hanuman and the other created by Sita.

Chettinadu Palace, Kanadukathan, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu

The Kanadukathan or Chettinadu Palace near Karaikudi epitimizes the splendor of the Chettiyar era. The palace was built by Annamalia Chettiyar who was the founder of Indian Bank and Annamalai University. The priceless artifacts within the palace were imported from Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, and European countries. The area has several antique shops which sell brassware, Burmese lacquer ware, porcelain, carved doors, and other artifacts. The area is also famous for its scrumptious unique Chettinad food. 

Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Thirumalai Nayak Palace, located 2km from Meenakshi temple in Madurai, was built by King Thirumalai Nayak in 1636. The design and architecture is a blend of Dravidian and Rajput styles. Upon entering into the gates of the palace, the visitor enters into present day’s huge central courtyard surrounded by massive pillars. In the evening , there is a light and sound show depicting the story of Silappathikaram,  poetic rendition of Tamil classical culture.

Meenakshi Amman temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

The Meenakshi Amman temple is located in Madurai, the heart of Tamil Nadu and my birthplace. The temple is devoted to Meenakshi (Parvati) a term meaning “fish-eyed.” and her consort Sundareshwar (Shiva). During the month of Chithrai (April) the temple attracts pilgrims to celebrate the annual 10-day Thirukalyanam or wedding. Meenakshi is a part of the Hindu goddess tradition that integrates with the Dravidian Hindu society where the "woman is the core of the system" of social relationships.

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is dedicated to the resting form of Vishnu. The word “Ranga” means “stage” and refers to the world, cosmos, and the senses. Ranga is seen sleeping over the snake, Adisesha, in the sea of cosmic dissolution. The temple is located in Tiruchirapalli on an island between the two rivers, Kollidam and Kaveri. The temple has 17 major gopurams (towers), 39 pavilions, 50 shrines, 9 sacred water pools, Ayiram kaal mandapam (a hall of 1000 pillars) and several small water bodies inside.

Temple Elephant, Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Temple elephants freely walk around the temple grounds to receive offering and give blessings by placing the trunk gently on the devotee's bowed head. Elephants are an integral part of ceremonies and festivals in Southern India.

Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Brihadeeswarar Temple or Peruvudaiyar Kovil in Thanjavur was built by Raja Raja Chola in the year 1010 AD and is one of the largest temples in India with a tower elevated at 217 feet. A round apex structure, which is made of a single stone and weighs 80 tons, lies on top of the temple tower. It is thought that the stone was capped by a fleet of elephants over the temple. The temple contains more than 100 mysterious underground passages, some of which lead to the Palace of Raja Raja Chola. Typical of many Shiva lingam temples, a Nandi (statue of a Bull) overlooks the entry of the temple.

Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu

Situated along the banks of Kaveri River and one of pancharanga kshetrams, Sarangapani temple in Kumbakonam is dedicated to Vishnu. The name Sarangapani derives from the word saragam meaning bow of Vishnu and pani meaning hand— “one who has the bow in his hand.”

Vailankanni Church, Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu

Our Lady of Vailankanni is a a Roman Catholic Church deviated to Our Lady of Good Health. Mary is venerated wearing a sari. The apparition of Mary came to a shepherd boy who gave milk to a poor mother, the healing for a lame buttermilk salesman, and the rescue of sailors from a sea storm. 

Chidambaram Temple, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu

Chidambaram, derived from Chit- consciousness and ambaram- sky, refers to the "sky of consciousness" and dedicated to Shiva in the form of Nataraja. It is one of the few temples where Shiva is represented as a murthi rather than a lingam. The Cosmic Dance of Lord Nataraja symbolises the motion of the universe as sustained by Lord Shiva in absolute stillness.

Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Kanchipuram is a temple paradise with some of the oldest and most inspiring temples in all of India. At Kailasanathar Temple, a Nandi or bull serves as a gatekeeper to the Shiva Lingam which lies within the temple. The symbolism of the Nandi facing the temple instructs man to keep focused with all his attention towards Eshwara (God) and to turn away from Prakruthi (material world).

Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Ambal Devasthanam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

The Kamakshi Amman Temple is all about girl power. Kamakshi lives in the form of Shakti or strength. The words derived from the Sri Kamakshi is “KA” which means Saraswati ( goddess of knowledge) and “MA” which means Lakshmi ( goddess of wealth), and “AKSHI” which means Eye. The name refers to goddess Kamachi with knowledge and wealth as her both eyes.

Vellore Fort, Vellore, Tamil Nadu

The Vellore fort which lies in the heart of Vellore city was built in the 16^th century by the Vijayanagara kings. The ownership was passed to the Bijapur sultans and finally to the British. As a result, the fort houses the Hindu Jalakanteswarar temple, a Muslim mosque, and the Christian St. John’s Church. In the background, lie the mountains of Yelagiri, a geographic fortress encompassing the man-made fort.