Tiruchirappalli - Best of history and nature
Tiruchirappalli Airport Directory (TRZ)
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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
- Flights to Tiruchirappalli:Tiruchirappalli International Airport or Trichy International Airport, is just 5 km away from the city on NH210, making it reasonably convenient for the visitors. IndiGo offers connectivity between Trichy and Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi.
- By train:One can opt for a train ride to Tiruchirappalli Junction. It is one of the most critical junctions of the state as it connects to most of the major neighbouring cities and states in South India and other metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
- By bus: Tiruchirappalli can be easily reached via buses, with all types of buses coming to the city, from Volvo buses to A/C sleeper and semi-sleeper buses.
- Getting around/local transport in Tiruchirappalli: Tiruchirappalli Airport, Fort Railway Station, and Town Railway Station are well connected by local road transport. Getting around Tiruchirappalli is relatively easy with regular buses and auto-rickshaws. You can catch Bus 1 from Rockins Road outside the Central Bus Station that goes every few minutes to the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and back, stopping near the Rock Fort Temple and Sri Jambukeshwara Temple en route. Alternatively, you can quickly get an auto rickshaw from Central Bus Station.
Most spoken languages in Tiruchirappalli
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Gujarati
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Hindi
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7Kg
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Places to visit in Tiruchirappalli
- The Rockfort Temple: One of Tiruchirappalli’s top attractions is the Rockfort Temple, an ancient fort that played a prominent role in the Carnatic wars and helped establish British rule in India. Climb your way to the Ucchi Pillayar Temple, which was cut from the rock itself in the 7th century, for amazing views of the surrounding city and river Kaveri. Admire the authentic Dravidian architecture and soak in the spiritual vibes before making your way to the rest of the temples in the city.
- Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple : Recognised with the UNESCO Award for Heritage Conservation, the temple is so large that it feels like an enclosed city in itself, hosting Asia’s tallest temple towers. Known for its splendid architecture, it’s like heaven for architects and photographers. For those interested, there’s a small art museum just before the fifth Gopuram with fine bronzes, tusks of bygone temple elephants and a collection of exquisite 17th -century ivory figures on display.
- Kallanai Dam: Head over to the Kallanai Dam for a relaxing evening by the water. The dam was built by King Karikalan of the Chola kingdom and is the fourth-oldest water-regulator structure globally (which is still in use).
- Jambukeswarar Temple: Another one of the city’s major attractions is the Jambukeswarar Temple (famously known as Thiruvanaikaval). Admire the countless, stunningly colourful architectural marvels that have been built over a mysterious stream of water that never goes dry. Other major temples include the Erumbeeswarar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the Vayalur Murugan Temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan.
Places to eat in Tiruchirappalli
Parthasarathy Vilas
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.
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Golden Palm
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.
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Madras Restaurant
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.
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DiMora
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.
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Vasant Bhavan
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.
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Shopping in Tiruchirappalli
High-end shopping/luxury shopping/shopping malls in Tiruchirappalli
- Manghalam Towers
- Femina Shopping Mall
- FSM Hyper
- Sal Mall
- Aysha Mall
- Prabu Shopping Mall
- Noor Mall
- Siraj Mall
- South India Shopping Mall
Street shopping in Tiruchirappalli
- Big Bazaar Street: One of the popular shopping destinations, Big Bazaar Street is packed with Tamil Nadu’s unique crafts, including jewellery, artefacts, traditional clothes, metalware and stone carvings. If you're not a fan of bargaining, head straight to government shops instead of local ones.
- Gandhi Market: This wholesale farmers market, founded in 1867, is 149 years old and is usually packed with retailers and local shoppers. People come here every day to shop for fresh fruits, vegetables and other eatables. It was initially named the Fort Market after the expansion in 1927 and suggestions by P. Rathinavelu Thevar (the then mayor of Tiruchirappalli).
- Sarathas: Specialising in Bridal Sarees, the Sarathas Textile Showroom is both a landmark and the largest of its kind in the country. Founded in 1969, the massive showroom is spread across 1.5 million sq. ft. with various sections dedicated to traditional Indian fashion from sarees, dhotis, lehengas and bridal trousseaus to Indo-Western clothing and casual wear. For over 47 years, Sarathas has been people’s first choice when it comes to shopping for traditional clothes - from clothing materials to readymade dresses.
Nightlife/party places in Tiruchirappalli
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.
- Bread Basket: The Bread Basket is one of the very few places one can go to enjoy a couple of drinks and hang out. The restro-bar offers beautiful decor, an innovative layout, and a great menu, ensuring you have a good time.
- Chola Bar: One of the commonly known bars is the Chola Bar in Hotel Ramyas. The bar offers happy hours between 11 am to 7:30 pm every day, with various complimentary snacks. So if you’re around and want to grab a drink or two, this one seems to be quite a decent option!
Where to stay in Tiruchirappalli
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
More reasons to visit and top things to do in Tiruchirappalli
Puliyancholai Falls
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.
Museums
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).
Kallanai Dam and Puliyancholai Falls
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
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.
Places to visit near Tiruchirappalli
Cuddalore
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.
Hogenakkal
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.
Theni
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.
One day travel guide/24 hours in Tiruchirappalli
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.
Festivals in Tiruchirappalli
Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival
This auspicious festival day is accompanied by fasting, meditation and prayers.
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