Monuments In Tamil Nadu :

Tamil Nadu has a great tradition of history and culture. In ancient, early medieval and medieval period, a number of dynasties ruled over the Tamil land. Many of those rulers were very fond of art and architecture and gave generous patronage to men of letters, sculptors, architects and artists. This saw the Tamil land becoming a hub of many beautiful and amazing monuments, which attract tourists from all over the world to this day. These monuments speak volumes about the artistic skills and excellence of the sculptors and architects of that period. The temples with their towering gopurams and the rock cut temples leave the connoisseurs speechless.

As a result of such great cultural achievements, the state of Tamil Nadu is referred to as the cradle of Dravidian culture, an ancient culture distinguished by unique languages and customs. Many towns and cities of Tamilnadu are associated with beautiful monuments. Mahabalipuram is one of those places, which boast of numerous architectural wonders. The famous Arjuna's Penance is one such monument at Mahabalipuram. Chennai, the capital city, is home to may monuments such as the Kamaraj Memorial House, Bharathiyar Illam, Madras War Cemetery, Rippon Building, Vivekananda Illam and the Valluvar Kottam while Madurai boasts of Thirumalai Nayak Mahal, a classic example of Indo-Saracenic style. The Rock Fort temple is a prominent landmark in Tiruchirappalli.

Some Monuments In Tamil Nadu :

Arjuna's Penance:

Arjuna's Penance, MahabalipuramAn enormous open-air bas-relief made on two huge boulders at Mahabalipuram, Arjuna's Penance is a sculptural marvel. It is 31 m long and 9 m high and its surface has detailed carvings depicting animals, as they would appear in their natural surroundings. There is a controversy as to the origins of this bas-relief. While some believe that it shows Arjuna undertaking a penance to obtain a rare weapon against his enemies, others believe that it depicts Bhagiratha in penance to bring River Ganges to earth. According to the latter, cleft appeared in the rock dividing the canvas in two, symbolizing the Shiva's response to Bhagiratha's penance. According to Ferguson and Burgess, the sculptured 'Nagas' on the cleft suggests that this bas-relief represents 'Serpent Worship' prevalent in ancient India.]

Rock Fort Temple:

The Rock Fort temple at Tiruchirappalli or Trichy is said to have three main temples that include the Manikka Vinayaka temple at the foot of the hill, the Uchhi Pillayar Koyil at the top of the hill and the Taayumaanava Koyil or Shivastalam on the hill. However, the Shivastalam is most prominent of all. This rock-cut temple can be reached by a flight of steps and is on the way to the famous Ucchi Pillaya temple at the top. It enshrines Kangaala Moorthy, one of the 64 manifestations of Shiva. The 83 m high Rock Fort is perched atop the only outcrop in city that rises abruptly towering over the city. It is said that the rock is about 3,800 million years old and is one of the oldest in the world. It is said to be made up of quartz and felspar.

Valluvar Kottam:

The Valluvar Kottam at Chennai is a standing memorial to the great Tamil poet and saint Thiruvalluvar. This massive auditorium was built in the year 1976 and is said to be the largest in Asia. It has a capacity of holding about 4000 people. The epic Thirukkural written by the poet has 1330 verses in all, which have been inscribed on the granite pillars surrounding the auditorium. The auditorium itself has no pillars for support. The other highlight of this place is the 101-feet high temple chariot enshrining a life-size image of the poet in it. Over 3,000 blocks of stone were used to create this memorial dedicated to Tamil culture.