TRICHY (Tiruchirappalli)

TRICHY (Tiruchirappalli)

LOCATION

The historical city of Tiruchirappalli, popularly known as Trichi, is situated on the banks of the Kaveri River (also Cauvery) in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Lying at a distance of 320 km from Chennai (Madras) and 150 km from Madurai, this Chola Dynasty citadel, known for its profound wisdom of the Sangam Age, still carries the age-old aura about it. The present-day city, with a blend of glorious past and acclaimed divinity through the famous Dravidian temples, stands as a commercial and tourist hub of Tamil Nadu.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Trichi enjoys a moderate climate. The maximum temperature during summer is approximately 37°C, while during winter it dips to a low of 20°C. Therefore, the best time to visit Trichi is from October to March.

HISTORY

Trichi has a long history, going back to several centuries before the birth of Christ. It was once the citadel of the mighty Cholas, the acclaimed dynasty of South India that has left its cultural identity in various fields such as culture, art, heritage, etc. The city later fell to the Pallavas. However, the Pallavas could not retain control of this strategic city and lost it to the Pandyas several times. The struggle for power between the Pallavas and Pandyas continued until the 10th century, when it again came under the rule of the Cholas. In the 12th century, the Vijayanagar kings of Hampi subverted the Cholas. In 1565, Trichi came under the rule of the Nayaks of Madurai, to be followed by the Marathas, the Nawabs of Carnatic, the French, and finally the British. However, it was under the Nayaks of Madurai that Trichi prospered in its own right and grew to be the city that it is today. The Nayaks constructed the Rock Fort, and firmly established Trichi as a trading city.