Things To Do Chidambram

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Places To Visit In Chidambram

Chathapurinathar Temple

Situated in the outskirts of the city, Chathapurinathar Temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and Osai Kodutha Nayagi. The temple is known to attract a huge crowd every year, who come to offer their prayers as well as admire its architecture which has remained true to the Dravidian style of the region.

Kali Temple, Chidambram

A beautiful temple dedicated to Goddess Kali in the northern end of the town, the Thillai Kaliamann Temple was built by Kopperunjingan who ruled the region around 1229 to 1278 A.D in honor of the cosmic dance battle between Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva.

Chidambaram doesn't offer much shopping avenues for the shoppers out there. The market near the temple has a Khadi Handicrafts shop which is a good for buying some souvenirs and local handicrafts products.

Nattiya A/C Cocktail Lounge

Nattiya Cocktail Lounge is the best place to get some drinks and sumptuous cocktails in a nice ambience. Being a temple town and a small one at that, Chidambaram has generally limited nightlife to offer.

The annual dance festival of Chidambaram is a colourful culmination of culture while propagating the message of ‘Unity in Diversity’ in the universal language of music and dance. The historic importance and grandeur of the Nataraja Temple set the perfect backdrop and stage for the hundreds of dancers from across India, who gather here to pay their respects to the epitome of Dance, Lord Nataraja - a depiction of the Hindu God Shiva. The Department of Tourism of the state of Tamil Nadu collaborates with the Natyanjali Trust, each year on the eve of Mahashivratri, to organise this dance festival. The word Natyanjali in itself can be broken down to an Offering (Anjali) of Dance (Natya). Natyanjali Dance Festival 2023 - Dates and Duration The dance festival usually takes place every year at around February-March. It begins on the eve of Mahashivratri and lasts five days. The dates for 2023 is yet to be announced. Events and Festivities at the Natyanjali Dance Festival Classical dance formSource One can expect to witness several classical dance forms such as Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri, Odissi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Pung Cholam among others. This gathering unites the dancers from across India who consider it to be a blessing that they are performing on the holy grounds on this temple and paying their respects to Lord Nataraja. Natyanjali Dance Festival - Venue & Architecture The Nataraja Temple in ChidambaramSource The artists perform in the brightly set up Prakaram, which is the outer area surrounding the Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram. The temple also goes by the name of Thillai Nataraja Temple. It is one of the ancient sites of tourism and is entirely dedicated to Lord Shiva. The walls of the temple are embedded with a total of 108 Bharatanatyam poses of Lord Nataraja. The golden roof and the multiple pillars add to the grandeur of this historic temple. History of Natyanjali Dance Festival Odissi Classical dance formSource The origin of this event can be traced back to 1981. Over the years, this proud offering of classical dance has begun to take place in various temples across Chennai, Madurai, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Kumbakonam and more. However, the one at its original venue - the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram - is as spectacular as ever, and is considered to be the best place to witness this gathering. Chidambaram itself is a sacred city and offers an apt setting for cultural and spiritual tourism. As Legend has it, Lord Shiva is the Lord of Consciousness of true knowledge. How to Reach the Nataraja Temple Bharatnatyam pose engraved on the temple wallSource The nearest airport to Chidambaram is in Pondicherry, at a distance of 66 km. The second closest airport is the one in Trichy or Tiruchirappalli. The Chidambaram railway station is quite close to the Nataraja Temple and has express and passenger trains leaving for Chennai with a good frequency. There are trains to Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Trichy and Madurai as well. Apart from these, Chidambaram has well-connected roads with Chennai, Pondicherry, Madurai and Thanjavur. One can easily find several bus services connecting Chidambaram to all these major cities.Once you reach the city of Chidambaram, you can get around by auto rickshaws, which form a common public transport system over here. Contact Details The Natyanjali Trust can be reached viaCall: +91-98949 55196, +91-94432 42732, +91-4144-222732Email: [email protected].When the Natyanjali Dance festival was conceptualised decades ago, it had a handful of dancers, who despite their small numbers would attract countless tourists from all corners of the world to come and witness their enthusiasm. To this day, people flock to this cultural and spiritual city of Chidambaram on the eve of Mahashivaratri to behold the illustrious offering and participate in spreading the message of ‘Unity in Diversity’. If you want to experience this glorious celebration of culture and commemoration of Lord Shiva, then all you have to do is to pack your bags. The location is easily accessible and offers a unique Sangam or conflux of spirituality and creative arts of music and dance. Read More

The second largest Mangrove forest in the world, Pichavaram is located off the tourist trail but is totally worth the effort. One can be enchanted by the complex river system and canal network that bind this beautiful place together and support the rich biodiversity of the place. Situated nearby the temple town of Chidambaram, Pichavaram can be enjoyed through a boat ride around the 1100 hectare area of the forest, which takes you through narrow canal, breathtaking sceneries and allows you to witness the amazing life forms of the Mangrove tress while adoring the bird life of the forest. The sea is just 6 km from the forest and one can see the sand bank which separates the forest from the Bay of Bengal during the boat ride. Read More

Chidambaram offers limited possibilities for shopping one can only shop for souvenirs at the markets, the replicas of the temple and the Nataraja and some local handicrafts.

Sirkazhi

Sirkazhi is a small town in Nagapattinam district of the Tamil Nadu located 250 km from the capital city of Chennai. It is a part of Cauvery Delta region and is situated at a distance of 13 km from the shores of Bay of Bengal. The small town encompasses an area of 13 sq km and is graced with the number of historic edifices from the Medieval period to the modern period of British colonization. Temples, beaches, fort, museums and very intriguing history, the town of Sirkazhi has everything imbibed in its relatively small parameters. A pleasant, peaceful town with historical past, Sirkazhi is adopting modern developments while upholding and honouring its customs and beliefs of a traditional South Indian village. Graced by many historical antiquities and edifices, the town has been ruled by the Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Later Pandyas, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Marathas and the British, giving it substantial historical value. It is also believed that the Tamil Trinity of Carnatic music; Arunachala Kavirayar (1711 to 78), Muthu Thandavar (1525 to 1600) and Marimutthu Pillai (1712 to 87), has its origination in Sirkazhi. According to legends, it is in this village that Lord Brahma prayed to Lord Shiva and asked him to rescue 64 art forms during a devastating flood that was destined to destroy the entire planet. This is the reason why Lord Shiva is the principal deity in the town and has some beautiful temples dedicated to his worship. Pilgrims from all over the country flood to this small town to take the Lord's blessing especially during Mahashivratri and Diwali. During these festivals, the whole town is decorated with festive lights and diyas and the people are filled with joyous spirits. Read More

A marvelous temple famous for it's huge Sivaganga Tank and a thousand-pillar hall, Sivakamiamman Temple is a great place of worship for the devotees. The priest in this temple offer agamic poojas which are considered to be very special.

One of the five Panchbootha Sthala, the Nataraja Temple is a place of deep religious importance for the Hindus. Spread across a sprawling 40 acres complex, the Lord Nataraja Temple situated in the heart of the city is one of the most beautiful examples of the genius of Chola architecture. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of only five places where he is represented as an idol instead of a lingam. The temple is an architectural treasure trove giving insights into the Dravidian culture that prevailed during the times of the Cholas. Read More