Pudukkottai
Pudukkottai is in Tamil Nadu. Pudukkottai is also known as Archaeologist's Paradise. It is one of the oldest human settlements in south India.
Understand
History
The history of Pudukkottai is an epitome of the history of South India. In and around Pudukkottai, there are many vestiges of the oldest habitations of man and some of the lithic records known in the south. The Pandyas, Cholas, Pallavas, Haysalas, Vijaynagar and Madurai Nayaks ruled over this part of the country and fostered it's communal organisations, trade and industries and embellished it with temples and monuments of outstanding merit.
Get in
By plane
The nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli (TRZ IATA). Pudukkotai is about 50 km from Tiruchirappalli. Regular bus services are there from Tiruchirappalli to Pudukkottai.
By train
- 1 Pudukkottai SR .
By bus
Regular buses are there from Chennai and other important places in Tamil Nadu. Buses are run by Tamil Nadu State Transport corporation (TNSTC). Bus tickets can be booked at TNSTC Ticket booking. Also private buses can be booked at www.redbus.in
Get around
See
- 1 Avudaiyarkoil. The most ornate temple in Pudukkottai district, full of bursting baroque sculptures. It is the temple of Athmanatha. It is called Thirupperundurai in inscriptions and is intimately associated with Siva saint Manickavasakar. The sacred book Saivism, Thiruvasakam of Manickavasakar originated from this shrine. God is worshipped formlessly and has no images in the sacnithanam. The utsavamurti of the temple is Manikkavasakar. The mandapams are full of breathtaking sculptures and a veritable gallery of sculptures.
- 2 Government Museum, Thirukokaranam. 9:30AM–5:00PM (closed F and second Sa). The museum was opened in 1910 by the Thondaiman Rulers. It is one of the largest museums in Tamil Nadu. Adult ₹5, children ₹3, students ₹2, for foreigners ₹100.
- 3 Sikharagiriswara Temple, Kudumiyamalai (20 km (12 mi) from Pudukkottai). The temple complex includes a 1000-pillared hall and has many inscriptions by the Pallava king Mahendravarman including a treatise on music.
- 4 . Living places of Jains. The place is almost 800 years old. Nearby lake and boating. Nicely landscaped garden.
- 5 Thirumayam Fort. A fort constructed by Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi, the Raja of Ramnad in 1687. The fort has three entrances; one on the north, another on the south and third on the east. The shrines dedicated to Hanuman, Sakti, Ganapati, Karuppar (guardian deities of the fort) are on the southern side and shrine to Bhairava on the northern side. Opposite to this chamber on the western slope of a boulder is a rock-cut cell containing a linga on yonipitha, the spout of which is supported by the figure of a dwarf.