Introduction
For
the visitor wishing to explore southern India temples extensively,
Chennai, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu
is the most convenient point of entry. Chennai has an International
airport, a seaport, a rail and road network that links it to all
major towns and cities of the region. It also has several deluxe
hotels and others to suit modest budgets.
Tamil
Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism, whose past endures into the present.
Temples with towering spires called gopurams are a common features
of this state, eldom seen anywhere else in the country. Temples
in Tamil Nadu were the fulcrum of society and even today art forms
that have their origin in religious worship continue to colour
daily life. Notable among these are splendid bronzes of deities,
painting on glass and Bharatnatyam, an evocative dance form.
Mahabalipuram,
Kancheepuram & Thanjavur are good examples of temple towns
where, within the temple fortifications, grew a multi-layered
society that preached faith and grew from social harmony. Kanchipuram,
famous throughout the country as the center where lustrous silk
sarees are woven. Likewise Thanjavur is an important center for
bronze figure casting. Mahabalipuram, with its wealth of sculptures,
is located by the seaside and has excellent resorts.
The
towns of Tiruchirapally and Madurai also contain famous
temples.
Quite
a contrast to the temple heritage is provided at Pondicherry,
for long a French Colony. French is still widely spoken, and seaside
vilas and cobbled streets are more reminiscent of the south of
France than the south of India.
The
holy island town of Rameswaram 167 kms from Madurai
is connected to mainland of India by the bridge.
This pilgrim centre is sacred to both Saivites and Vaishnavites.
The temple here is one of the grandest in the country, with the
longest corridor (1220 metres.). The Ramanathaswami temple is
built at the spot where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva after he slayed
Ravana, the King of Lanka, who had abducted his wife Sita.
On
other hand Karnataka, with its capital as Bangalore,
is home to a fascinating legacy of richly carved temples, imposing
mosques and trappings of royal past.
Mysore,
the capital of the erstwhile princely state has a profusion of
palaces and museums and famous Chamundi hill temple. Nearby Srirangapatnam,
is linked to the memory of one of the old states best known ruler
– Tipu Sultan, Somnathpur, a few miles away has a magnificently
carved temple.
Belur
and Halebid near Hassan have between them a series of carved
stone temples. For perfection of finish, wealth of detail and
sheer artistry, they have unrivalled specimens of the art of temple
sculpture. Hassan, with a comfortable hotel, makes the perfect
base from which one can explore the riches of Belur and Halebid.
Also a short distance away, Shravanbelagola is famous as the pinnacle
of the sculptor’s art. A figure 120metres tall has been carved
out of a single piece of granite in 183 A.D.
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