GOC Holidaymaker Holidays to South India Temples
No visit to South India would be complete without visiting the spectacular temples, thousands of years old and still humming with pilgrims and worshippers for whom they are the centre of their cultural life. In South India every small village has a temple, often richly decorated and complete with statues and paintings of the gods.
The World Heritage Temples include three great 11th- and 12th-century Temples: the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, as well as several temples at Mamallapuram created by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries.
Among the many other temples, those at Madurai, Chidambaram and Rameswarem have unique atmospheres, and are always filled with pilgrims.
Tanjore or Thanjavur was the capital of the Chola empire which dominated its region from 850 to 1170. More than 90 temples were built during this period. The Brihadisvara Temple (Big Temple), has the tallest vimana tower in India, with an 80 ton granite dome on top. This World Heritage Site has many interesting features, the 6 m long Nandi Bull washed each 2 weeks, inscriptions, sculptures, and frescoes.
Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu, is the greatest Temple town in South India, and its huge Meenakshi temple has occupied 65000 Sq M in the heart of the city for several Millenium. Huge numbers of pilgrims visit the temple every day, and the numbers increase when there is one of the frequent festivals. There are many statues of the various gods, and long avenues of carved and painted pillars, leading to the 4 tall gopurams (gateway towers).
Every temple has a large number of staues to the gods and godesses. These include the main god to which the temple is dedicated (Shiva or Vishnu, but rarely Brahma), and many of their avatars. The most common avators of Vishnu are the boar, lion, dwarf, Rama, and Krishna. Shiva is usually worshipped in the form of a linga on a pedastal, but there are hundreds of image forms, especially for processional purposes. Many temples also have their own local gods and godesses.
The World Heritage Temples include three great 11th- and 12th-century Temples: the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, as well as several temples at Mamallapuram created by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries.
Among the many other temples, those at Madurai, Chidambaram and Rameswarem have unique atmospheres, and are always filled with pilgrims.
TANJORE TEMPLE
Tanjore or Thanjavur was the capital of the Chola empire which dominated its region from 850 to 1170. More than 90 temples were built during this period. The Brihadisvara Temple (Big Temple), has the tallest vimana tower in India, with an 80 ton granite dome on top. This World Heritage Site has many interesting features, the 6 m long Nandi Bull washed each 2 weeks, inscriptions, sculptures, and frescoes.
MADURAI TEMPLE PILGRIMS
Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu, is the greatest Temple town in South India, and its huge Meenakshi temple has occupied 65000 Sq M in the heart of the city for several Millenium. Huge numbers of pilgrims visit the temple every day, and the numbers increase when there is one of the frequent festivals. There are many statues of the various gods, and long avenues of carved and painted pillars, leading to the 4 tall gopurams (gateway towers).
TEMPLE GODS
Every temple has a large number of staues to the gods and godesses. These include the main god to which the temple is dedicated (Shiva or Vishnu, but rarely Brahma), and many of their avatars. The most common avators of Vishnu are the boar, lion, dwarf, Rama, and Krishna. Shiva is usually worshipped in the form of a linga on a pedastal, but there are hundreds of image forms, especially for processional purposes. Many temples also have their own local gods and godesses.