Trichy (Tiruchirappalli) Tourism And Travel Guide

Tiruchirappalli or Trichinopoly as the British called it, is one of Tamil Nadu’s major cities, renowned for its temples and fertile landscapes, as well as for its educational institutions and energy equipment manufacturing units, with a special cite to the handmade Trichinopoly or Tritchi cigars, a favourite of the British Generals of the 1900s.

The modest, yet modernized city that had once been under the sovereignty of various Kingdoms, is an iconic symbol of the aesthetic architectural splendours of India. Visit the rock cut cave temples on the hillocks or the world renowned Ranganatha temple in the island of Srirangam. Bounded by significant towns and cities of Tamil Nadu, Trichy is a storehouse of places to visit and things to do, including treks to the beautiful Pachaimalai and Kolli Hills and the city gives you a unique shopping experience, as well, not to mention its festivals that are always marked with splendid majesty and of course, its lip smacking cuisine!

If you are interesting in visiting Trichy in the South of India, our travel and tourism guide will help you plan a memorable trip.

Trichy has good access by rail, road or air. The easiest way to reach Trichy would be by train.

By Air:

Trichy has an International Airport with flights to some major cities in the south of India and International flights to places like Sri Lanka, Singapore and Dubai. You can hire a cab from the airport to your destination.

By Rail:

Trains from most major cities around the country halt at Trichy railway junction. There are prepaid cab and auto rickshaw stands outside the railway station.

By Road:

Government and private buses from most southern cities and towns run to Trichy. There are tuk-tuks outside the bus stand that can be hired to reach your destination.

Getting Around:

Trichy has state-run buses for intra-city travel, as well as auto rickshaws, mobile based cabs and two wheelers on hire, that can be used for getting around.

The most favoured season to visit Trichy is winter, when you can indulge in sightseeing as well as go off on adventurous trekking trips.

Summer (March-May):

Summers are hot and tropical. As most of the places you are going to sightsee are temples on rocky hillocks or with open courtyards where you are going to feel the heat of the sun, summer’s not the peak season to visit Trichy.

Monsoon (June-November):

The rains may vary from intermittent to heavy. Under the conditions, travelling around town and sightseeing might be cumbersome. Monsoon might not be a good season for tourism.

Winter (December-February):

Winter is the exact time for a visit to Trichy. Days are agreeably nice and the nights are cool. You can go off on sightseeing trips, with a camera in tow!

Little known Heritage Sites:

Check out the little known heritage sites in Trichy, like the Memorial near Gandhi Market, for the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during World War I and the Main Guard Gate that was built along with the fortified walls of the Tiruchirapalli Fort. Most parts of the walls are missing, but the Gate stands as a mighty reminder of the royalty that had passed its stronghold.

Radha Kalyanam:

Travel around to the serene Manathattai Agraharam in Kulithalai, in December-January to visit the Prasanna Kalyana Venkatachalapathy, Kasi Visalakshi Viswanatha and Karunathri Vinayaka Temples and listen to the Radha Kalyanam story musical.

Anna Science Centre Planetarium:

The Planetarium’s Environmental Gallery and 3D shows are sure to be impressive. Students would find the Night Sky Programme and shows on space missions, deep seas etc pretty valuable.

Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple:

Pilgrims visit the renowned Gunaseelam Vishnu Temple, in the faith that psychological disturbances and illnesses would be cured. The temple has a rehabilitation centre where the patients are treated with holy water and devotional offerings.

Pundarikaksha Perumal Temple:

Situated at Thiruvellarai, about 17 km from Trichy, this ancient temple is said to be older than the Srirangam Temple, and has beautiful cave temples and most exquisite carvings on the walls.

Narthamalai:

Narthamalai Hills have ancient Jain Caves and Hindu temples said to have been built by the Muttaraiyer Kings in the 9^th century. The Hills have some of the most antique rock cut temples and edicts. Narthamalai is about 25 km from Trichy. 

Visit Chinna Kadai street near the Rock Fort temple tank for saris and jewellery, Poompuhar and Khadi Kraft for handicrafts and bronze ware, Gandhi Street for wooden handicrafts. Shop for iron cast utensils like dosa pans, kadais and woks, wicker baskets and bronze idols at the shops in the Srirangam temple complex. You can hunt for jewellery, metal ware, clothes and stone carvings at Big Bazaar Street and Chinnar Bazaar. Visit Fenn Thompson and Co. for the ever so popular Trichinopoly Cigars, one of the favourite brands of Sir Winston Churchill.

Butter Masala Dosa and Idli Manchurian at Sangeetha’s, Sambar Bonda and Masala Milk at Vasantha Bhavan, Biryani and non-veg food at Arusuvai. Call on Bombay Chapathi Centre for chapathis and variety rice, Bombay Badam Milk Shop for Badam milk and Lassi, Sri Krishna’s for Kuzhi Paniyaram with red chutney, Maghai for Dal Fry and Shahi Paneer, Thai for Kebabs and Chicken Tangdi Masala and Mahavir Sweets for Gujarathi sweets. There are an umpteen number of messes and restaurants to suit all budgets and palates and our list is just a small taster.