SRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE (SRIRANGAM)

This fascinating 13th century temple is the largest Hindu complex in the country. It is also considered the most important of the 108 Divya Desams (temples mentioned in Hindu stories) dedicated to Vishnu.

Enveloped by the haze of coconut trees far to the north, the temple stands on an island in the middle of the Cauvery River, considered the "Ganges of the South". It is a real city surrounded by seven rectangular walled courtyards. The compound covers an area of 63 hectares with 81 shrines, 21 gopurams, 39 pavilions and numerous water tanks integrated into the complex, making it one of the largest Hindu temples in the world along with Angkor Wat. The largest gopuram, the one at the main entrance, dates from 1987 and is 67 m high.

Inscriptions in the temple suggest that different Hindu dynasties - Cholas, Pandiyas, Hoysalas, Nayaks, Vijayanagar - have succeeded each other in helping to rebuild and renovate the complex over the centuries.

Most of the shrines are dedicated to Vishnu and his various avatars (Matsya the fish, Kurma the turtle, Varaha the boar, Narasimha the lion-man, Vamana the dwarf, Parashurama the woodcutter, Rama, Krishna and Kalki who will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga era), and to Lakshmi. You will see many sculptures representing them. A temple is dedicated to Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu. The statue of Garuda is almost eight meters high and watches over the main shrine. Watch his claws! The shrine houses the main deity Ranganath, a reclining Vishnu on Adisesha, the 7-headed serpent. The statue is 6 meters long. The vimana of this shrine is made of gold.

You can also admire various theerthams (tanks), pavilions with delicate sculptures, a granary, and a small museum.

The sight of worshippers coming to worship contributes to the mystical and spiritual atmosphere of the place. One of the most enchanting temples in the country.

Close to the temple, on the banks of the Cauvery river, is the Amma Mandapam Ghat, a place where devotees come to purify themselves before entering the sacred precincts.

Smart info: You can do the tour with a licensed guide, for Rs 500 for two hours, or Rs 1,600 for a day. We recommend Mr. Parthasamathy (license 126, tel: +91 80 1514 8615). He will open closed doors, take you on the roofs of the temple and comment the visit in a very good French.