| Tiruvannamalai District is known for everlasting peace and divine with the proud possession of the holy shrine of Lord Arunachaleswara and Ashrams. It had started functioning as a separate district from 30th September 1989, on division of the former North Arcot District |
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| Tiruvannamalai is a town in the state of Tamil Nadu in India situated 185 km from Chennai/Madras and 210 km from Bangalore (Karnataka) |
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| This Tiruvannamalai is one of the greatest Saivite shrines in India, on a sprawling 24 acre temple campus, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every full moon. The hill here is considered to be a manifestation of Siva.The annual ten-day Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated in Karthigai Tamil month (November - December). The tenth day is the major festival day, where at the top of the hill, many lamps made of a wick in ghee are lit |
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| Arunachaleswara Temple |
| Arunachaleswara Temple in Tiruvannamalai is dedicated to Lord Siva and it is one of the largest temples in India . Arunachaleswara temple is one of the "Panch Boodha Sthalams" and it is "Agni" Sthalam. It has also the importance as "Padal Petra Sthalam". That is the four famous 'Saiva Saints and Poets' such Appar, Sundarar, Manichkavasakar and Thirugnana Sambandar made several poems on Lord Arunachaleswara |
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| When we observe the general structure of the temple, we notice that there are five small gopurams on the inner boundary and four big gopurams on the outer boundary. The inner gopurams are known as Kitti gopurams. There are two gopurams in the East and one gopuram each for the other three directions. The first of the two Eastern gopurams is called Kili gopuram. There are indications that this was built in the 11th century. The gopurams built during this period have no more than five stories. The Kili gopuram was built by Veera Rajendra Chozhan around 1063 A.D. He is referred to as Maharaja Thiribuvana Chakravarthigal in the inscription.This name was also given to the gopuram. The Kitti (smaller) gopurams, except the top of the western one, were built by the Hoysala King Vallala Maharaja III. His name is given to the biggest Kitti gopuram which is in the East |
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| Let us now look at the outer gopurams. Historians say the western gopuram is the oldest. The base was built by Vallala Maharaja. The top belongs to a later style. Inscriptions attribute this to Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagar. This king had undertaken important construction work in this temple. It is said, he built the base of the other three gopurams. But the architectural style of the base of the Western gopuram was constructed first and then those of the South, East and North. Though the Eastern gopuram, known as the Rajagopuram looks older, it was built after the Western one. This was constructed by Krishna Deva Raya and renovated by king Sevappa Naicker of Tanjore. There is another view that this was completely built by Sevappa Naicker. Tamil and Sanskrit inscriptions on the Western gopuram dated 1690 A.D. bear witness to this. Krishna Deva Rayer of Vijayanagar also constructed the hundred pillared and thousand pillared halls in the temple. He dug the Sivagangai Thirtham in front of the thousand pillared hall. As mentioned earlier, he built the base of the three gopurams and either began or finished the Eastern Rajagopuram with eleven stories |
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| All the kings mentioned above and chieftains like Kadava Raya, Sambuvaraya and Banas expressed their devotion to Arunachaleswara by building small temples inside the Arunachaleswara temple as well as around the mountain and elsewhere in the town. These kings were also responsible for digging many ponds in this region. To the devotees visiting the town and the temple, its architectural splendor and sculptured beauty, its rich lands and ponds, its jewels and appurtenances, the inscriptions and the wealth of literature praising the glory of Arunachaleswara are glowing evidence of the love that the lord has commanded in the minds of kings and commoners through the centuries. Critics may take exception to the absence of continuity in the architectural style but there is no lack of continuity in the depth of piety of the kings who built it |
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| The atmosphere of the temple and the sensation one feels inside it are indescribable. The variegated architectural style of generations of kings who built and renovated its massive gopurams and halls, the living presence of the great saints who stayed here and sang the Lord's praise and above all, the infinite compassion and grace of Arunachala gives this holiest of holy places a timeless quality |
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| Sathanur Dam |
| This magnificent Sathanur dam was built in the year 1958. It is located near the Chennakeshava hills in Chengam district. One can reach from Lord Arunachala temple by road which takes about half an hour drive by car. Sathanur dam is built across the Pennaiyar river that originates at the Chennakesava hills. A large area of agriculture lands are benefited through water stored in this dam. Roughly it irrigates around 8000 hectares of lands. The total storage capacity of this dam is 7321 million cubic feet when the water stands at the full level of 119 feet |
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| The other added attraction of this Sathanur dam is its picturesque location. This nature’s beauty draws millions of tourists every year from all over the world. And people who visit Tiruvannamalai never fail to visit this dam. There is also a beautiful garden and a children’s park as part of this dam. A small zoo is maintained here near this dam with some wildlife varieties |
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| Jawadhu Hills |
| Jawadhu Hills is situated 75 kms from Tiruvannamalai. It is situated in the northwestern part of Tiruvannamalai, and a part of the Eastern Ghats. The beautiful mountain lies at about 2350 feet to 3500 feet above sea level, Jawadhu hills have many scenic spots. The cliffs and precipices of hills allure and excite tourists. Places of interest in the Jawadhu hills are Beema Falls, Komutteri Lake, Kavalur Observatory, Amirthi Forest, and the Glass House |
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| Beema Falls is situated 5 kms away from Jamunamarathur. Water flows approximately for 8 months of the year. The reflection of sun on the water falls glow like a silver sheet that is a beautiful and magnificent sight. This falls is one of the main attractions of tourists. People enjoy bathing at the bottom of this falls. This, much unknown small falls, is in the middle of the reserve forest, previously famous for its sandalwood trees, now hardly any are left |
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| The falls are silent, except for the pleasant-sounding gurgling of the flowing and falling waters and the occasional singing of the birds. In the evening, when Night's ghostly army, the grey shadows, creep out with noiseless steps, to chase away the lingering rear-guard of the light, the forest is quiet again. Only then, can we feel the immensity of Nature and its ghostly and sometime, not so silent inhabitants, living and dead, walk in the fresh and dark arbor, undisturbed by Man's greed and pollution. At such a time and place, we are, once again, living in the far off pre-historic days when, we, the early human inhabitants roamed Nature's world, always alert for dangers, seen and unseen |
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| Gingee Fort |
| Gingee fort is a very famous landmark for pilgrims visiting Lord Arunachaleswarar temple at Tiruvannamalai. This fort is believed to be built during the Chola dynasty some where in the 13th century A.D. Gingee fort occupies an extent of 3 square kilometer area. It is regarded as a rare architectural marvel created by Chola kings. Gingee fort can be reached from Tiruvannamalai by road by traveling 37 kilometres due east |
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| Gingee fort has a great history of being in the hands of many emperors and rulers of different dynasties. More importantly it was under the control of the Vijayanagar King Krishnadevaraya. Later the Marathas were holding this fort for sometime. After this the Moghuls held control of this Gingee fort for a certain period. Gingee fort was controlled for some time even by the French until it came under the control of the Britishers. Visiting Gingee fort from Tiruvannamalai would definitely prove to be a rewarding experience |
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| Pada Veedu |
| The next site in the vicinity of Tiruvannamalai is the Padaveedu. This place can be reached by driving about 35 kilometre away by road. Padaveedu town has many temples dedicated to different deities and all these factors make this place an important destination. Also there are some structures that are said to symbolize the remaining parts of a 13th century palace built by Chola kings |
