Tiruchirappalli
Trichy is an ancient city, with a rich cultural heritage which dates back to more than 1000 years. The present inner-city area of Woraiyur was once the capital of the Cholas, a hugely influential south Indian power from the 9th to the 12th centuries. The Cholas were major seafarers, and frequently traversed the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal to trade with neighbouring regions such as Sri Lanka and South East Asia. The resources obtained from this trade were deployed in a temple-building frenzy in the 10th to 12th centuries. This resulted in stunning works of architecture such as the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (one of the largest temple complexes in the world) located in Srirangam, Trichy and the 11th century Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur, located about an hour's drive from Trichy. Trichy is also the home to Grand Anicut, the fourth oldest dam in the world that was constructed in the 2nd century AD. The 7th century Rock Fort temple is yet another example of the architectural and historical splendour of Trichy. Trichy and its vicinity are dotted with numerous ancient temples, big and small, with splendid carvings on stone.
