Tourist City in Tiruchirapalli

Tiruchirapalli (Trichi) city is the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirapalli District in Tamil Nadu. Tiruchirapalli, the fourth largest city of Tamil Nadu, is situated on the banks of River Cauvery.

Tiruchirapalli, famous for its rich cultural and architectural heritage and traditions, is regarded as the geographic centre of Tamil Nadu. Located at the tip of Cauvery Delta on the plains in between Shevaroy Hills and Palni Hills, Tiruchirapalli lies at an average elevation of 88 meters above sea level, with isolated hillocks.

According to archaeological evidence, ancient Indian literature and the writings of Ptolemy, the history of Tiruchirapalli can be dated back to 300 BC. The city witnessed the rule of the Early Cholas, Pallavas, Medieval Cholas, Pandyas, Mughals, Vijayanagara, Nayaks, Nawabs of the Carnatics and the British.

Tiruchirapalli reached its glory under the rule of the Nayaks of Madurai. The Rock Fort was constructed and the city was expanded by the Nayaks. The city became a prime trading centre in the South during the period of the Nayaks.

Tiruchirapalli District was formed during the rule of the British East India Company and Tiruchirappalli (Trichinopoly) city was made its capital, in the year 1801. John Wallace was appointed as the first District Collector of Tiruchirappalli.

Under the British Raj, Tiruchirappalli gained wide recognition as an important commercial and educational centre. According to the Indian Censes of 1871, Tiruchirappalli city was the second largest city in the Madras Presidency of British India, the largest being the capital city of Madras.

Tiruchirapalli is known for its blend of tradition and modernity. The present day Tiruchirapalli city can be roughly classified in to Old City, Commercial Centre and Cantonment Area. The Old City, situated towards the North, comprises most of the temples in the city. The Commercial Centre or bazaar occupies the central part and it is the buzzing area of the city. Cantonment, presently a residential area located in the South of the city, was a military quarters of the Madras Regiment in the 1800s.

Tiruchirapalli offers options from pilgrimage sites to adventure activities. Ranganathaswamy Temple, Rock Fort Temple and Srirangam are the prime attractions of Tiruchirapalli city. Adventure lovers can visit Puliancholai, Pachamalai, Thalamalai, Ponnanayar Dam and Srirangam Island.

Tiruchirapalli is connected by air, rails and road to the rest of the country. The International Airport at Tiruchirapalli is the second largest airport in Tamil Nadu. Tiruchirapalli is also an important railway junction in the Southern Railways and connects Central Tamil Nadu to major cities and towns of India. The best time to visit Tiruchirapalli is from October to March.