| Location | Situated in the east-central part of the state of Tamil Nadu |
| Also Known as | The island of Rameswaram |
| Prime attractions | Temples of Lord Nataraja |
| Temperature | Max-37°C and Min 20°C |
| Population | 58,740 (1991census) |
Chidambaram City Travel Information
Chidambaram which literally means the sky permeated by an atmosphere of intelligence and wisdom is derived from the word Chit Ambaram. The temple town 58 km from Pondicherry welcomes its visitors with the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraja. The Cosmic Dancer has enthralled the gods as well as his devotees with the highly regarded Tandav dance. Chidambaram is also Known as Thillai, after the forest of Thillai shrubs in that region. It is one among the five Shaivite mukti sthals, others being located in Kalahasti, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai and Tiruvanaikaval.
The shrine in Chidambaram can be visited by any person of any race religion and creed. Pichavaram lying 16 km from the place is a wonderful location dotted with rare scenic beauty and mangrove forests. The city was a part of the great Chola Dynasty and is today one of the major pilgrimage destinations in India. Generally called as the island of Rameswaram or the Gulf of Mannar, it is counted as one of the major centers for the Hindus worshipping both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
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Major Travel Attractions of Chidambaram
The Nataraja Temple: The ancient Temple of Nataraja, considered one of the major travel attraction of Chidambaram, is located in the middle of the town covering an area of 40 acres. The temple also known as Chidambaram temple has a gold plated roof that towers above the presiding deity. The Deity is represented by the five elements of the universe known as the Akasha Lingumor the Lingum of Space. One fascinating feature of the temple is the splendid and dazzled Nataraja image of Shiva. The temple reflects a centuries old architectural extravaganza. The huge towers to the eastern side of the temple rises to a height of 40.8 meters and within the temple premises are to be found 108 form of the classical Dance Bharat Nityam. The Northern tower rises to a height of 42.4 meters. There are the Sivakamiamman temple, the Sivaganga tank, the thousand pillar hall that adds to the magical beauty of the Nataraja Temple.
Kali Temple: The Kali Temple or the Thillaikaliamman temple is situated to the northern province of the town of Chidambaram. The temple dedicated to Goddess Kali was constructed by the King Kopperunjingan who ruled the place between the period 1229AD till 1278AD.
Viadanatheeswarar Temple: The Viadanatheeswarar Temple, which is situated at a distance of 25 km south of Chidambaram is place in Vaitheeswarankoil and reckoned holy by the peoples living there. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati is revered by the Hindus while the holy tank in the nearby is meant to wash of the evils from their lives.
Pichavaram: 16 km east of Chidambaram lies Pichavaram, one of the favourite spots of the tourists. The extermely beautiful scenic spots and the vast expanse of water filled islands covered with the green trees are a sight not to be forgotten. The back waters which are interrelated by the Vellar and the Kollidam system offer abundant space for water sports activities like rowing,and canoeing. The 2800 acres area preserves rare species like avicennia and rhizophora which are of special attraction.
Seerkazhi: Just 20 kms from the city of Chidambaram lies another holy place of the Hindus called Seerkazhi, famous for three important shrines. The shrines are named as Sree Brahmapureeswarar shrine, Sattanathar shrine and Thoniappar shrines. The Shrines are dedicated to Goddess Tirunilai Nayaki and the God Child Ganansambandar.
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Nearby Travel Attractions of Chidambaram
Poompuhar: The small city of poompuhar is a small town situated at a distance of 40 kms from Chidam baram. The place used to served as a major port during the reign of the Chola Kings. Today the place is the home to an art gallery built by the Goverment of Tamil Nadu in the year 1973. Extraordinary scenes are shown from the Silapathikaram literature of the Tamils.
Accommodation at Chidambaram
Chidambaram offers a comfortable stay to its visitors. It has hotels catering to each and every class of travellers from price conscious to luxurious stay. Few prominent hotels are Velan Hotel Ritz and the Saradharam Hotel.
How to Reach
By Air: The nearest airports are located at Tiruchirapalli (195 km) and Chennai (245 km). From Tiruchirapalli, domestic flights can be taken to Chennai which is connected to all the major cities in India.
By Rail: Chidambaram is situated on the Chennai-Tiruchirapalli main line of the Southern Railway. It is well connected with Tiruchirapalli, Chennai and Madurai.
By Road: Regular bus services are available to various places in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Pondicherry from Chidambaram.