Srirangam Temple Travel Guide – How to Plan your Visit

Widely renowned Srirangam Temple; also known as Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple; is a colossal temple that is dedicated to the Hindu God- Lord Vishnu. Spread over an area of 63 hectares, this magnificent religious complex is the largest Hindu temple of India; and is considered to be the greatest functioning temple in the world. It is also one of the most prestigious Vaishnavite Temple around the world; as it is the first one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu.

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Srirangam Temple Timings:

Srirangam Temple timings are as follows:

Vishwaroop Seva:  06:00 to 7:15

Pooja: 7:15-9:00, 12:00-13:15, 18:00-18:45 (No darshan)

Darshan: 9:00-12:00, 13:15-18:00, 18:45-21:00

Significance of Srirangam Temple

Bound by two rivers- Cauvery and its tributary Kollidam, this temple is an illustrious site of pilgrimage dedicated to Lord Ranganatha- an avatar of Lord Vishnu. This magnificent temple is more like a temple-town that boasts of a rich historical and religious legacy. Srirangam Temple has more than 50 shrines, many of which are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his different avatars such as Sakrathazhvar, Narasimha and Rama. Some of these shrines are also dedicated to Goddess Laxmi and renowned poets and saints of the Vaishnava cult.

The Temple has been a target of various invasions by marauding Muslim and European armies and has suffered numerous natural calamities. Today, after surviving these onslaughts, this gigantic temple attracts a lot of pilgrims and tourists from around the world.

Architecture

Speaking of the architecture, this temple is built in the South Indian Tamil Style of architecture. The sanctum where the deity presides is encircled by 7 massive concentric walls known as Sapta Parakaram Formation; where the outer two enclosures serve as settlements. The Temple also houses 21 colorful gopurams, 9 sacred pools, 39 pavilions; and the hundred pillared halls to name a few.

Festivals

The highly revered temple of Srirangam celebrates a plethora of Hindu Festivals will great joy and fervor. Vaikunta Ekadasi, celebrated in the month of Margazhi, is an important and primary festival of Srirangam. According to the Vaishnavite tradition, it is the holiest of all ekadashis and is celebrated for 20 days. An annual gold ornament cleaning festival and is celebrated in the Tamil month of Aani and is called Jyestabisheka. Bhrahmotsavam is another important festival of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and is celebrated in the Tamil month of Panguni.  Other festivals of Srirangam Temple are –Rathothsavam, Chitra Poornima, Vasanthotsavam, etc.

Srirangam temple is an amazing and magnificent temple that is located on the idyllic island of Srirangam near Trichy. The Dravidian Architecture of this marvelous creation is breathtaking and makes it a sight to behold. Not to forget, the religious importance of Srirangam temple is unparalleled as it is the greatest religious Hindu complex of the world.

Conclusion

I hope the information above was of help. If you have any questions or need any other details, please feel free to ask in the comments section below, or at our Community Forum, and I will be glad to answer.