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Planning to take a spiritually stimulating trip? If yes, the best option for you is to visit the temples in Chidambaram. Located around 250 kilometres from Chennai, this small town is known as the ‘temple town’ of South India. Owing to its pure Dravidian culture and magnificent architecture, Chidambaram is one of the most prominent pilgrimage destinations in India. The sacred town is visited by millions of visitors from across the world every year. Though most of the temples in the town are dedicated to Lord Shiva, devotees from all religions visit Chidambaram in huge numbers to seek blessings.
The sounds of bells and the chanting of bhajans with the charming atmosphere and great hospitality make this town a travelers’ delight.
The temple town of Chidambaram is an ideal choice to experience serenity and divinity during your next vacation.
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The town of Chidambaram houses numerous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshipped in different forms. Each of these temples is an architectural marvel that holds great historical and religious significance for the devotees. The pious culture of this town attracts tourists from around the globe, making it one of the most loved pilgrimage destinations for your next trip.
Some of the must-visit temples in Chidambaram are-
Located at a distance of less than 1 km from Chidambaram railway station, this ancient Shiva temple spans across 40 acres. Lord Shiva is worshipped here in the form of Nataraja – The Lord of the Dance or the cosmic dancer. The Thillai Nataraja temple was built in the 10th century and is one of the oldest active temples in south India. The wall carvings and artifacts inside the temple display the Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni, the postures that make up the foundation of the Indian classical dance form, Bharatnatyam. The temple celebrates art, dance, and culture in the most beautiful ways. The annual Natyanjali dance festival is organized every year in this temple on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
Situated north of the Thillai Nataraja temple, lies the Thillai Kali Amman temple. The temple has Goddess Kali as its presiding deity. The story behind the formation of this temple is that Goddess Parvati became enraged after losing a dance competition with Lord Shiva which was meant to decide who is more superior. She took the form of Kali and moved here. Lord Brahma was the one to cool down her anger by chanting Vedas and praising her. ‘Thillai Kali’ is a deity in anger and hence the idol inside the temple has four faces.
Just like most of the temples in Chidambaram, Chathapuram Nathar Temple is also dedicated to Lord Shiva who, worshipped here as Lord Chathapurinathar. Another deity worshipped here is Osai Kodutha Nayaki. Devotees believe that the aura of this temple can work miracles. The temple located in Thirukolakka, only a kilometer away from Chidambaram.
A temple of great historical and religious significance, Thiruvetkalam is believed to be located in the same spot where Lord Shiva battled and defeated Arjuna by breaking his bow during the battle. But if other stories are to be believed this is the place where Arjuna received the Pashupatastra from Lord Shiva.In the Thiruvetkalam temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Pasupateswara. Along with the presiding deity, there are other smaller shrines dedicated to several other deities. Some of these include Sundareshwar, Siddhi Vinayakar, and Mahalakshmi. The temple is most visited during a festival held in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June). During this time, the story of Pashupatastra is re-enacted at the temple.
Also known as Sivapuri Uchinathar Temple, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped here as Uchinathar. There are several other shrines inside the temple apart from the shrine of the Uchinatham and his consort Uchinayagi. The presiding deity here is present in the iconic form of a Lingam which is believed to be self-manifested. The four annual festivals celebrated here have been crowd-pullers for years. The most prominent festival here is Vaikasi Visakam which is celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June).
At a distance of around 25 kilometers from Chidambaram, in the village of Achalpuram is located another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Achalpuram Temple. The presiding deity here is in the form of a Shiva Linga entwined by a golden snake, the hood of which covers the Linga. In this temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Sri Shivalokathyageshwar and as always, is accompanied by his consort Goddess Parvathi as Tiruvenneetrumai Ammai. The splendid architecture of the temple is a sight to behold.
Pichavaram mangrove forest – The mangrove timberland at Pichavaram is another tourist attraction that you shouldn’t miss when in and around Chidambaram. With around 20 different types of trees and 200 species of birds, crabs, turtles, and prawns, this place is a wonder of nature. Pichavaram mangrove forest, one of the world’s largest mangrove jungles, is located about 30 minutes away from Chidambaram. Spread over an area of 1100 hectares, this beautiful and fascinating place is worth visiting.
Pichavaram backwaters – While at the mangrove forest, make sure you take a trip down the backwaters to witness nature in its full glory. The pristine atmosphere and natural surroundings along with an assortment of different species of birds are an absolute delight to watch.
The temple town of Chidambaram is well-connected to all the major cities and towns in south India. You can easily reach the town via flight, train or road.
Temples of religious significance rule the tourism of Chidambaram. Hence, the best time to visit this sacred place is during the various festivals celebrated here. But always plan your trip to this town after having a look at the current weather.
Summer – The summers in Chidambaram feature scorching sun rays and humidity. The temperature here ranges from 41°C to 30°C, hence, it’s not advisable to visit the place during the summers. But during June, an unmissable festival known as the Adi Thirumanjanam is celebrated which attracts thousands of devotees from across the world.
Monsoon – The monsoon here commences at the end of June and continues till September. Rains beautify this town and add to its charm. You can visit the place during this period and immerse yourself in spirituality. However, during the monsoon, no major festival is celebrated here.
Winters – Winter season lasts from December till February. The temperature gets down to a minimum of 21°C resulting in pleasant surroundings. Several festivals take place during this period. Some of them are The Dance Festival of Natyanjali and Markazhi Thiruvadhirai amongst others.
When you are done visiting the temples of Chidambaram as well as other tourist places, there’s still something left to do. Yes, you got it right. It’s shopping! Roaming around the town to find memorable stuff which you can take back home is the most exciting part of every trip.
Thankfully, Chidambaram has a lot to offer for the shopper in you. You can get your hands on handcrafted replicas of the temples and idols of Nataraja made by the local artisans. You can also buy khadi craft and other handmade products as souvenirs.
There is spirituality and positivity in the air of the holy town of Chidambaram. A trip to this town will immerse you in spirituality and appease your soul.
So what are you waiting for? Get your bags ready and plan a trip to this aesthetic and religious town.
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April 15, 2024 
