Filled with magnificent natural beauty, historically significant landmarks, and rich Tamil culture, the ancient city of Tiruchirappalli (also known as Trichy) has a liveliness and character worth exploring – with a rich history that dates back to the 3rd -century BC. The main bazaar offers a great experience, with locally made handicrafts and traditional South Indian street food. Tourism in Tiruchirappalli emphasises on the wealth of temples here, with vibrant places of worship ornately decorated in Dravidian style.
Best time to visit Tiruchirappalli
It is during the winter season–from December to February. The weather is pleasant, and one can witness the famous Pongal festivities during January. If you plan a visit during the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec – Jan), don’t miss out on the annual 21-day festival that attracts over 1 million visitors.
How to reach Tiruchirappalli
Most spoken languages in Tiruchirappalli
Located at Srirangam, this small eatery has been a local favourite for years. Friendly staff, traditional servings on banana leaves and reasonably priced, this quaint little restaurant serves amazing ghee roast, filter coffee and breakfast. For those visiting the Srirangam Temple, a hearty breakfast at the Parthasarathy Vilas is recommended.
1km south of the Trichy Junction is the Golden Palm - a multi-cuisine restaurant with an excellent menu and sprawling views from the terrace deck of the Grand Gardenia Hotel. The menu includes mostly South Indian dishes with a few North Indian favourites and a delicious breakfast buffet.
Another great place for both South and North Indian Cuisines and a great selection of buffets is the Madras Restaurant at Hotel Breeze Residency. Ideal for a dinner with family and friends, the place has a poolside Wild West Bar, with refreshing cocktails as its speciality.
Run by three young entrepreneurs, DiMora is a fine-dining restaurant known for its pasta, wood-fired pizza, stir-fried dishes, sandwiches and fresh juices. The menu however includes cuisines from all over the world including American, Asian, Chinese, Greek and Mediterranean.
Founded in 1969 by Patron Mr. A. Muthukrishnan, Vasant Bhavan is great spot for meals with a view, near the Rock Fort. The restaurant is located right opposite the Central Bus Stand and serves only vegetarian food. People often crowd up during lunch for their thaalis {both South and North Indian}. This popular spot has its branches in Colombo, Dubai and New Jersey, too! Quick service, great food at uber affordable prices and impeccable hospitality make Vasant Bhavan one of the best restaurants in the city.
Being the city of temples, the locals don't fancy drinking or partying much, so the number of bars is quite limited, most of them situated in various hotels.
Grand Gardenia This corporate-style hotel with modern rooms, rooftop terrace, multi-cuisine restaurants and all the necessary amenities makes this one of the smartest options in the city. The best part? It’s located just 1 km south of the Trichy Junction and in close proximity to all the main attractions in the city. Distance from the airport: 2 km
Breeze Residency The Breeze is a huge property located at the heart of Trichy, next to Trichy Railway Station, 1km away from the Bus Station and 6km away from Trichy Domestic Airport. Facilities include an outdoor pool, fitness centre and 3 dining options, with one of them being the famous Madras Restaurant. Distance from the airport: 6 km
Sangam Hotel Located close to the railway station, Sangam Hotel offers 90 spacious rooms, a well-equipped business centre and boutiques for shopping. It also offers an outdoor pool, meeting hall and conference rooms along with multiple dining options and an Egyptian-themed bar. Distance from the airport: 5 km
Ramyas Hotel This property has an advantage, as it is situated in proximity to various major tourist attractions like St. Lourdes Church, Rock Fort Temple and Jambukeswarar Temple, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. The hotel offers round-the-clock room service, WiFi access, business centre and a beauty parlour. Ramyas Hotel also offers a multi-cuisine rooftop restaurant for guests to enjoy delish meals with a beautiful view of the city horizon. In addition to the restaurants, the hotel also houses a lounge bar for you to unwind at and enjoy a drink or refreshing cocktails with your friends and family. Distance from the airport: 6 km
Pay a quick visit to the beautiful Puliyancholai Falls in the ancient town of Tiruchirappalli. Located in a serene and calm environment, a visit to this popular picnic spot is a fantastic experience that will surely refresh your senses.
For those who can’t get enough of the city’s rich culture and history, head over to the museums and take a walk down the history lane at Trichy's Railway Museum, which is right next to the Trichy Junction; and St. Joseph’s College Museum (next to the Lourdes Church).
Picnic spots like the Kallanai Dam and Puliyancholai Falls are popular among locals and tourists for relaxing with their family and friends between all the tours and sightseeing.
The Butterfly Park near Sri Rangam, which is considered one of the biggest butterfly parks in Asia, has a beautiful garden, a fountain, a large butterfly glasshouse, a fountain and the cutest little hut in which you can take a break and eat your food. Visitors can even plant a tree free of cost, according to their star sign.
Situated approximately 2 hr away from Trichy, Cuddalore is famous for its magnificent temples, beautiful beaches, Lignite Mines and a massive mangrove forest. Head to Silver Beach, the second largest beach in Tamil Nadu, for scenic views and a relaxing time.
A popular weekend getaway among locals and tourists, Hogenakkal is a small village near Kaveri River.Enjoy the sound of gushing Kaveri River while you relish freshly caught fried fish next to the river. For those who love a bit of adventure, there are quite a few recreational activities like boating and trekking along Melagiri Hills.
Approximately 3 hr away from Trichy, Theni is located in the laps of Western Ghats. Soak in the mesmerising lush green views and stock up on the district’s famous juicy mangoes, silk cotton, refreshing coffee beans and healthy green tea.
Start your visit with a tour to the most important pilgrimage site, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam. Head there between 6 am to 7:15 am if you want to opt for Viswaroopa Seva, which costs INR 100 per head. The general ‘darshan’ starts from 9 am and is open all days of the week. Situated 2 km east of Srirangam, the beautiful Shiva temple attracts hundreds of Hindu devotees throughout the year. Grab some lunch and make your way to Jambukeswarar Temple, another famous Hindu temple built over a stream of water that never goes dry. Once the temperature is not too hot, head to the popular and divine Rockfort Temple. Don’t forget to carry ample water as the temple is atop a huge rock and one has to climb about 400 steps to reach it. End your day at the picturesque Kallanai Dam. However, the dam is open only till 6 pm so time your visit accordingly.
This auspicious festival day is accompanied by fasting, meditation and prayers.