Trichy city encompasses Srirangam, a Vaishnavite temple and the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world. Trichy also contains "ThiruAnaikka" (ThiruvAnaikkaval), one of the five main abodes ("Panchaboodha Sthalam") of Lord Shiva. ThiruvAnaikkaval is the House of Water. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was born in Thiruvanaikaval and his house has been preserved as a museum. Tiruchirapalli city was named after a three-headed demon "Trishira" called "Chira"(the son of Ravana) who performed penance at the Siva temple here and obtained favors. The legend is that Shiva was worshipped by the demon ruler Tirisiran, hence Tiruchirappalli, Tirisirapuram etc . Also, since the three peaks here are occupied by Shiva, Parvati and Vinayaka, the name Tri-Shikharam or Tirisirapuram arose. The legend says that Shiva in the guise of a woman attended to the call of a devotee in labor, hence he is called as Matrubhuteswarar .
There is another belief about the origins of the name Trichy. According to this version the name started out as Thiru Javvandhipuram (Place of Marigold Flowers): javvandhi, the Tamil name for the marigold flower which still grows in abundance in and around this region, and puram which means a dwelling-place -- so over time this became known as Trichy.
Trichy was an important town in the days of the later Cholas and of the Nayak kings, and during the early days of the British East India Company. The Madurai Nayak rulers changed their capital from Madurai to Tiruchirapalli, and back, several times. The conquest of Tiruchirapalli by the British East India Company marked a major step in the British conquest of India.
Rockfort along with Cauvery river bridge
One famous landmark in Tiruchirapalli is the Rock Fort, a large outcrop of rock of 83 metres high. It is the only such outcrop in the otherwise-flat land of the city, and because of it Trichy is also called Rock City. On top of the rock is the Ucchi Pillayar Koil, a temple dedicated to the Indian god Vinayaka (Ganesha), from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of Tiruchirapalli. The temple was also used as a military fort by the Nayaks for some time.
On the southern face of the rock are several beautifully-carved cave temples of the Pallava period. On the eastern side is Sri Nandrudayan Vinayakar Temple, with Ganesha as the main deity. A large-sized Ganesha and depictions of other rare deities can be seen in this temple, which hosts festivals every year during the Vinayaka Chathurthi (birthday of Ganesha). Many Carnatic musicians have given concerts in this famous shrine. Around the rock temple is a busy commercial region, specializing in textiles, known as Chatram. The Main Guard Gate is flooded on festive occasions such as Diwali, Ramzan, Bakrid, Christmas, and Pongal.
Trichy is famous for the number of Christian churches it contains -- it is said to have the greatest number of chapels in India. The most famous are Holy Redeemer's Church (Sagayamatha Koil), Lourdes Church, and The Cathedral.Trichy also is famous for Arcot Nawab masjid (one of the oldest) , with its large water storage tank (Ahil)
One may experience typical Anglo-Indian, Andhra and Kerala cuisines here.
In addition to Pongal, the 'Thamizhar Thirunaal", Ugadi, Holi & Onam are festivals celebrated by their respective communities retaining their cultural roots.
Trichy cuisine is predominantly South Indian with rice as the main-ingredient. The city prefers a fairly mild flavour, with variations to suit the local palette. Lunch is usually served in many restaurants over a banana leaf. North Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines are also available. Jelebi, Mysorepa (a sweet made from lentil flour and ghee), idly, dosa, halwa (a sweet made of milk, wheat, and rice) and biryani are popular among the locals.
Trichy is a major Engineering hub and Energy Equipment and Fabrication Capital of India.Some major industrial houses are located in Trichy: among them are BHEL, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited -- a prominent Navaratna company, a highly profitable Public Sector Undertaking which, along with its ancillary industries, contributes some 6000 crores rupees (1 crore = 10 million) to the industrial output of Trichy) -- also Ordnance Factory (HAPP and Small Arms Project), Golden Rock Locomotive Workshop, and Dalmia Cements.
The plant of BHEL in Trichy manufactures high pressure boilers. There also are many BHEL-groomed small to medium scale industries notable in the national and international market, such as Cethar Vessels, Veesons Energy Systems, Anand Engg, GB Engg, Adela Software and Services Pvt. Ltd., Pradev Software Solution & Mindchain Solution, Satron Technologies , Cethar FoodOils Ltd., and others.
BHEL entrance on NH67
Trichy also has exclusive Rotary Airpreheater manufacturer namely GEECO Being a commercial hub, Trichy stands first with 70% in India, in boiler & windmill manufacturing and fabrication. Number of small scale industries have also sprung up in Trichy, mostly around Thuvakudi and Mathur. Leather tanneries are located on the way to Pudukottai. Viralimalai, considered an industrial suburb on Madurai road has the factories of TVS, India bus body building unit, MM Forgings. Also in the same area ,Sanmar Group of Companies are located. A very Big Steel Foundry 10000 Tons per annum is in operation and one more foundry is coming up. Apart from this three more companies catering to Chemical and Process Industries find place here. One can also find agro-based industries around Trichy city, especially along Coimbatore road and Chennai. Manachanallur, famous for its numerous rice mills supplying polished rice all over Tamil Nadu and outside is located about 7 km from Main Guard gate.
The economy of the city is driven to a certain extent by IT/ITES companies like HCL, CONTURA Technologies,SUTHERLAND, ALSEC, encouraged by the support from state government. A dedicated stretch of land has been identified and developed to increase the state's share in national IT/ITES exports.
The central bus station runs long distance services to major cities of the State and South India such as Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil,Tirupathi,Thanjavur,Salem,Erode,Pudukkotai,Dindigul,Rameswaram,Theni,Hosur,Vellore etc. One can get buses from Trichy to almost any part of the state, due to its geographical location in the center of Tamil Nadu.
On the road infrastructure front, with the completion of highway projects in Tamil Nadu state, Trichy will have four track highways from the city branching to destination Chennai, Madurai, Nagappattinam and Coimbatore.The four-laning of Chennai-Trichy should be completed in mid 2008 and also Trichy-Madurai would be completed at the same time. The widening of Trichy-Tanjore, Trichy-Karur and Trichy-Rameswaram should also be completed in 2 years.
Trichy is connected by major National Highways which connect Chennai(towards north)and Dindigul(towards south) by NH 45,Madurai and Tuticorin by NH 45B(towards south),Coimbatore and Ooty(towards west)and Tanjore and Nagapatinam(towards east) by NH 67,Putukkottai and Ramanathapuram(towards south-east) by NH 210 and Chidambaram (towards north-east) by NH 227.
NH45 with heavy vehicles
Tamil Nadu Government introduced the Share -Auto scheme in the year 2001.The city has a very wide network of city buses and mini buses. The State-run DCTC town buses cover areas from trichy to pudukkottai, manapparai, musiri, viralimalai and vallam.Private and public buses connect Trichy to all parts of Tamil Nadu.
Front view of Trichy junction
The most important trains of Trichy are Pallavan Express,Trichy-Howrah Express,Rockfort Express,Trichy-Ernakulam Tea Garden Express are the important trains originating from Trichy.
The other important trains halting and passing through Trichy junction are Kanyakumari Express,Tamilnadu Sampark Kranti Express,Tirukkural Express,Ananthapuri Express,MAQ Chennai Express,Podigai Express,Nellai Express,Cape-Howrah Express,MS Mangalore Express,Pearl City Express,MS Guruvayur Express,Jan Shatabdi Express,Nagercoil-Mumbai Express,Vaigai express,Rockfort link Express,Sethu Express,Madurai-Jammutawi link Express,Pandian Express,Madurai-Lokmanya Tilak express,Kumbakonam-Mysore Express are most important express trains passing through Trichy junction.Other than Express trains there are more number of Passenger Trains which connects the Trichy with the nearest town frequently.
The Trichy city comprises of the following railway stations:
| Station name | Station code |
|---|---|
| Tiruchirapalli Junction | TPJ |
| Tiruchirapalli Town | TPTN |
| Tiruchirapalli Fort | TP |
| Tiruchirapalli Palakkarai | TPE |
| Ponmalai | GOC |
| Srirangam | SRGM |
| Thiruverumbur | TRB |
| Uttamar Kovil | UKV |
| Valadi | VLDE |
| Punggudi | PUG |
| Bikshandarkovil | BXS |
| Kumaramangalam | KRMG |
An view of platform number 3 on TPJ
Plans are being made to upgrade it to a full fledged international airport in the next three years 
The extended runway (8000ft) was commissioned and further expansion to 12500 ft has started. Also, the construction of new terminal building is expected to be completed in 2008.An new Air Traffic Control Centre is also being planned to be constructed to cope up with growing air traffic in the region.
Srilankan airlines departing
Various airlines including Malaysian airlines, Oman Air, Air Asia,Air Arabia will soon operate international flights while Kingfisher Airlines which now operates to Bangalore from Trichy is planning to connect various Indian cities. Air India Express will make Dubai and Singapore flights a daily service as soon as the corrections in the extended runway is completed.
| Domestic | |
|---|---|
| Carrier | Destination |
| Air Deccan | Chennai |
| Indian Airlines | Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Air-India Express | Chennai |
| Kingfisher Airlines | Chennai |
| Paramount Airways | Chennai |
| International | |
| Carrier | Destination |
| Indian Airlines | Al-Fujairah, Sharjah,Ras Al-Khaimah |
| SriLankan Airlines | Colombo |
| Air-India Express | Singapore,Kuala Lumpur,Dubai,Abudhabi |
| Mihin Lanka | |
| Air Asia | Kuala Lumpur** |
| Air Arabia | Sharjah ** |
| Malaysian Airlines | Kuala Lumpur ** |
| Oman Air | Muscat ** |
| Tiger airways | Singapore ** |
| ** Starting soon | |
The city's police force is headed by the City Police Commissioner of the rank of IPS. One of the 5 Central prisons of the state is located here.
Considered an educational city, Tiruchirapalli has schools and colleges that are hundreds of years old. College Road in Chatram has three colleges and five schools.
Trichy NIT welcome board
The city boasts of having numerous reputed schools following 'State' or 'Central' or 'Matriculation' or 'Anglo-Indian' or 'International' streams.
It is worthwhile to note that the 'Former President of India' Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and writer Sujatha (Rangarajan) studied at St. Joseph's College in the city Also, another 'Former President of India' R. Venkataraman studied at National College here.
Trichy - A low-cost high-quality healthcare destination
Fast pace of economic development with the increase in the health awareness have led to the growth of the healthcare industry in the city. The city stands next to Chennai in Tamilnadu for affordable and quality healthcare deliveries of high-standards.
Trichy is also a preferred healthcare destination to the population from nearby towns and districts.
The Anna Science Centre-Planetarium is located 5 km from Trichy-Central bus terminus on Pudukkottai road, close to Trichy Airport.
A Zoological Park has been proposed to be set-up in Trichy, along the river Cauvery soon.
Grand Anicut at Kallanai (24 km) is an ancient dam built (according to legends) by Karikala Chola across the river Cauvery in the 1st century CE. It still is in use as part of the district's irrigation system.
Mukkombu or Upper Anicut (18 km) is a wonderful picnic spot where the river Kollidam or Coleroon branches off from the Cauvery.
A picture of upper Anicut or Mukkombu
Viralimalai (30 km) a hillock has a peacock sanctuary at the foothills.
Sittanavasal (58 km) is the site of an ancient Jain monastery with exquisite fresco paintings in a cave. It is also noted for its prehistoric burial grounds.
Puliancholai (72 km) is a waterfall in the foothills of the Kolli hills. It is a nice picnic spot.
Kolli Hills seated on the Pachamalai (Green hills) range which in turn is an eastern offshoot of the Eastern Ghats. The Pachaimalai range of hills is cut across by the river Cauvery at numerous places, forming small valleys. Kolli hills is a low lying hill station with gentle plateau falls inside Trichy district. Though the altitude of these hills is only average, it always has a pleasant climate and many parts of the hills are heavily wooded. However, it has retained its pristine beauty owing to being lesser known among the tourists.
The spectacular Rock Fort Temple, the landmark of the city, is on the shores of the Kaveri. It is perched on a massive rocky outcrop at an altitude of 83 m above sea level. The Thayumanaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated halfway to the top. It has a 100-pillar hall and a vimana covered with gold. On the southern face of the rock are several beautifully carved rock-cut cave temples of the Pallava period.
The Architecture of the St. Joseph's College Church situated within the St. Joseph College Campus on College road is awe inspiring and the height of the church(cross-included) is said to be just 7 feet shorter than the highest point in rock fort.
A famous mosque is located in Palakarai.
The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, situated 6 km north of the city, is among the most revered shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu in South India, and is the largest temple complex in the world. Shrouded in a haze of coconut palms away to the north, the temple is built on an island in the middle of the Kaveri and covers an area of 2.5 km². Enclosed by seven rectangular walled courtyards, this temple has 21 gopurams, the largest of which was completed in 1987 and measures 73 m in height. Srirangam is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The temple is replete with excellent carvings and numerous shrines dedicated to various gods. It is believed that Sri Ramanujar the Vaishavite saint and philosopher is embalmed inside the temple premises in the Sri Ramanujar Sannidhi.
The Jambukeshwara Temple (Thiruvanaikaval), dedicated to lord Shiva, is situated just 2 km east of Srirangam and houses five concentric walls and seven gopurams. Mythology has it that an elephant once worshipped the Lord under the holy Jambu tree, and hence the name Jambukeshwara. The principal deity is the shiva lingam, almost submerged in water, which flows from the subterranean spring in the sanctum sanctorum.
The Samayapuram Mariamman Temple is located 12 km north of the Trichy central bus terminus on Trichy-Chennai NH 45.The Maariamman Temple is one of the most visited shrines in Tamilnadu, dedicated to maariamman, a manifestation of the primeval energy shakti as the mother goddess. The offerings are in various forms. The most common offering is the mavilakku mavu made of jagery, rice-flour, dhal and ghee. mariamman is believed to be a form of shakti associated with prosperity and health. Local beliefs associate the deity with cures for diseases such as small pox and chicken pox. Samayapuram was a local capital of the Vijayanagar rulers in the vicinity of Tiruchirappalli, and was known as Vikramapuram.
There are numerous other churches, temples, and mosques in and around the city.
Kollam pond, is a large water-body located in Crawford lies along the Trichy-Madurai Railway line. The pond is home to different types of bird varieties including ducks and Kingfisher. One could also see few fisherman spreading nets naviagating with the help of vehicle tyre tubes.
There are some Social Service organisations in Trichy. The Following details are taken from Trichy Portal.
Annai Ashram : 2341186
Home for Aged : 2532485
Anbalayam : 2333102
Arivalayam : 2552788
GOD'S CARE Theraputic centre for Mentally Challaged. 2/35, Madhulai Kollai Street, Woraiur, 9994304207
Holy Cross : 2771544
Vidivelli : 2702281
Rehabilitation Centre for Blind Women : 2422121
Blind Mission : 2472493
Seva Sangam : 2460253
Manuda Thozhamai : 2465493
Protective Home : 2420617
Sharan Home for Aged and Distitudes : 2340145
New Life Seva Samsthi : 2768392
People Solidarity : 2483897
The following list gives the Cinema halls in Trichy city. There are local, defunct and non-operating theatres which are not included in this list.
| Cinema Theatres | Location | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Kalaiyarangam | Central Bus Stand | A/C, DTS, 70MM |
| Maris | Fort Station | A/C, DTS, 70MM |
| Cauvery | Palakkarai | A/C, DTS |
| Sona | Central Bus Stand | A/C, DTS |
| Mega Star | Thillai Nagar | A/C, DTS |
| Ramba | Chatram Bus Stand | A/C, Qube Digital |
| Mina | Central Bus Stand | A/C, DTS, 35MM |
| Venkatesha | Tiruvanaikovil | A/C, DTS |
| Maris Rock | Fort Station | A/C, DTS |
| Oorvasi | Chathram Bus Stand | A/C, 35MM |
| Star | Thennur Terminal | A/C, DTS |
| Ramakrishna | Thennur | DTS |
| Maharani | E.B.Road | 70MM |
Srirangam temple in Trichy
Pudukkottai town (48 km) was once a princely state also famously known as Pudukkottai Samasthanam. The area, which comprises the district of the same name, is of absorbing interest to historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, and lovers of art. The numerous dolmens, stone circles, and other forms of megalithic burials in the district indicate the antiquity of this region dating back to pre-historical times. The rulers of Pudukkottai have built several beautiful palaces and constructed tanks and canals. Sri Brahadambal temple is a famous cave temple buit 900 years before by Pallavas. The rulers of Pudukkottai often called in the name of Brahadambal Das as a tribute to the native deity Sri Brahadambal. As the district was a dry place, the erstwhile rulers built lots of water tanks and improved the state much. Other sights include a Museum at Thirugokarnam, Pudukkottai, and famous temples like Bhuvaneswari Temple, Thiruvappur Mariamman Temple, and Santhanatha Sivan Temple. The Bhuvaneswari temple lies near Pudukulam and is an Adishtanam developed by Judge Swamigal. The Bhuvaneswari deity is considered more powerful and huge numbers of people pay obeisance on important days.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram is located at a distance of 97 km from Trichy. The Siva temple called Gangaikondacholesvaram here was conceived and constructed by the Chola king Rajendra I after his victory over the kingdoms in the region of the river Ganges. Apart from the huge Nandi, there are some beautiful sculptures including a dancing Ganesha, a lion-headed well, and a stunning piece depicting Rajendra being crowned by Shiva and Parvati.
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