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Kapaleeswarar: an ancient
Shiva temple, is the biggest temple in Chennai.
A masterpiece of Dravidian style and displays
the architectural elements - gopurams, mandapams and a tank.
There are some fragmentary inscriptions dating
back to 1250 AD.
Sri Parthasarathy Temple: devoted
to Lord Krishna, was originally built
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by
the Pallavas in the 8th century and renovated
in
the 16th century bt the Vijayanagars.
It houses the five 'avatars' of Lord Vishnu,
and has a small temple shrine dedicated
to Vishnu's consort, Vedavalli Ammai. It's one
of the oldest surviving temple in Chennai. |
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Rock Fort Temple: The temple tops an 83
m high outcrop. This smooth rock was first hewn
by the Pallavas who cut small cave
temples into the southern face, but it was the Nayakas who made use
of its naturally fortified position. It's a stiff
climb up the 437
steps cut into the stone to the top but well worth it for the views.
Non-Hindus are not allowed into the Vinayaka Temple
at the summit
nor the bigger Sri Thayumanaswamy Temple dedicated to Siva, halfway
up. |
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Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple: This
superb temple complex at Srirangam, about three
km from
the Rock Fort, is surrounded by seven concentric
walls with 21
gopurams and is probably the largest in India. Most of it dates
from the 14th to 17th centuries, and many people
have
had a hand in its
construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas and
Vijayanagars. The largest gopuram in the first
wall on the southern
side was completed as recently as 1987 and now measures an
astounding 73m. The temple complex is very well preserved,
with excellent carvings throughout and numerous shrines to various
gods, though the main temple is dedicated to Vishnu. Even the muslims
are said to have prayed here after the fall of Vijayanagar Empire. |
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Brihadeshwara
Temple & Fort : built
by great Chola king in the 10th century it is
an outstanding example of Chola architecture
and is
listed in world heritage. On the top of the apex
of 63 metres high, a dome is said to be constructed
from a single piece of granite, weighing an estimated
81 tones. The dome was hauled into place along
a 6 km earthwork ramp in a manner similar to
the one used by the Egyptian Pyramids. The
temple has
been the sense of continuous worship for over
thousand years. Only Hindus are allowed inside. |
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Kailasanatha:is one of the earliest
temples. Dedicated to Siva.It was built by the
Pallava king, Rayasimha, in the late 7th century,
though
its front was added
later by his son, King Varman III. It is the only
temple at Kanchi which isn't cluttered with the
more recent additions of the Cholas and Vijayanagar
rulers, and so reflects the freshness and simplicity
of early Dravidian architecture.
Fragments of the 8-th century murals which once graced the alcoves
are a visible reminder of how magnificent the temple must have looked
when it was first built. The temple is run by the Archaeology Department
and is very interesting, Quite unusually, non-Hindus are allowed
into the inner sanctum. |
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The Sri Ekambarnathar
Temple :It
is dedicated to Siva and is one of the largest temples
in Kanchipuram, covering nine hectares. Its 59
m high gopuram and massive outer stone wall were
constructed in 1509 by Krishna Devaraja of the
Vijayananagar Empire, though construction was originally
started by the Pallavas and the temple was later
extended by the Cholas. Inside are five separates
enclosures and a 1000- pillared hall.
The temple's name is said to be a modified form of Eka Amra Nathar
-- the Lord of the Mango tree. and in one of the enclosure is a very
old mango tree with four branches representing the four Vedas. The
fruit of each of the four branches is said to have a different taste,
and a plaque nearby claims that the tree is 3500 years old. |
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| Kamaskhi Amman Temple :Dedicated
to the goddess Paravati, this important temple
is the site of the annual Car Festival, held on
the 9th lunar day in
February -March. When not in use, the ornately carved wooden car
is kept partially covered in corrugated iron halfway
up Gandhi Rd. The
temple has a golden gopuram in the centre. |
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