After an overnight journey on the night train from Bangalore, we landed in Tiruchirapalli, the confluence of the Cauvery sangama where the last rites for one’s dead is held in all reverence. Traversing the crumbling banks of the Cauvery, we performed the shraddha in all its solemnity, sitting and twiddling on the hot sands. As the day cooled, we made our way in an autorickshaw across the city to the rambling Rock fort with its unique temple complex situated atop a steep hill.

Even the auto driver seemed to know all the details of this monument and went on eulogizing the historicity of the fort as well as the rock formations which is estimated to be about 3800 million years old.

The uniqueness of this place is not the fort which is in total ruins but the rock cut Ganesh temple. Since we had left the Cauvery banks very late, it was almost 4.30 pm when we reached the fort area. But once we started climbing the hill, we realised how steep a climb it was. In the blazing, sweltering heat, the flight of more than 330 steps was indeed very tiring and we had to reach the summit before the temple door closed for the evening.

Resting now and then, we managed to see many exquisite carvings and sculptures on way to the Ucchi Pillayar temple that is dedicated to Lord Ganesh. Located on top of the hill, it attracts many tourists and devotees.However, the local people say that it has become the suicide point for many. The temple authorities are very strict about the timings and nobody is allowed after the evening hours. The security is so tight that they send any person down who is seen loitering in any nook and cranny of the hill top.

In fact, most people come to see the temples as there is hardly anything to see in the fortified structures which has witnessed many a battle in different eras.

The Rock Fort at Tiruchirapalli or the famous trading city of Trichy has seen the footprints of many dynasties from the Vijaynagar to the Madurai Nayaks. There are two more temples in the fort complex, the Mannika Vinayakar temple at the foothills and a rock cut temple dedicated to a Nayakan era saint, Taayamannavar.

All these temples built during different eras tell the story of the glorious heritage through the inscriptions and carvings on various walls.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Meera Bharadwaj – Bangalore / November 28th, 2013