Visiting Trichy (Tiruchirappalli)

Two lessons from our visit in Trichy (Tiruchirappalli): before visiting an Indian city read about the area first; don't assume that all guides are equal. Between Google and guide books preparing for a trip isn't hard. (These reviews confirm the value of advanced planning before visiting Trichy and give some recommendations.) Without a recommendation good guides may be harder to find - in India licensed regional guides seem far better than monument guides. Our best guides (1) linked what we were seeing with the local culture, (2) went out of their way to focus our attention on visual details, or (3) told the stories depicted in stone carvings, sculptures, or paintings. Guides who stick to the facts create few memories.

Our time in Trichy was confined to the hotel, a temple and a ghatt. We missed the opportunity to walk around a lively, walkable (as much as any town in Tamil Nadu is walkable). (Although a stay in Tanjore might have been more interesting.) The temple was Sri Ranganathaswami Temple (another excellent description with photos), which is a Vishnu temple (Lord Ranganatha is a reclining representation of Lord Vishnu.) The complex was enclosed a community carrying out various religious activities, including preparing for a 20 day festival.
 

Before entering the temple complex we left our shoes
at a shop on the left

Priests carrying an idol back into the temple

A close up - not sure which god is being carried. White sash over the shoulder indicates priest is married

Walking on the temple grounds (over 500 acres with 7 entrances)

Leaving the temple complex (eager to get shoes)

We decided against visiting the Rock Fort. It was the end of the day and the prospect of climbing 437 steps for the view wasn't enticing. (The 272 steps at KLs Batu Caves is Challenging enough).

Instead we visited Amma Mandapam a ghat where pilgrims purify themselves prior to going to the temple.We saw men and women bathing, but taking photos seemed too intrusive. About 2 kilometers from the ghat is a cremation site, although electric cremations are becoming more common (depleting wood and increasing carbon emissions).

At Amma Mandapam ghat