Indian Columbus

Site Name:  Vacheeswaran Temple Site Type:  Hindu temple Location:    Thirupachur, adjacent to Tiruvallur, near Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   One of 274 Paadal Petra Sthalams (the most important temples of Lord Shiva) Nearest Railway Station:   Chennai Nearest Airport:   Chennai How to reach:   Well connected by road from Chennai; Local train facility is available till Tiruvallur Hotel:  Go to Chennai where there are lot of options  Restaurants:  Go to Chennai where there are lot of options Thirupachur  is a small village located adjacent to Tiruvallur near Chennai city in South India. The village   has an important Shiva temple called as  Vacheeswaran  Temple. It is considered as the  16th among the Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams   (274 most important temples of Lord Shiva) located in Tondai region.  Highlights: Sambandhar  and  Appar  have revered the temple in their verses in Devaram. Ramalinga Vallalar has also revered the temp

Site Name:  Mahendravadi Cave Temple Site Type:  A Pallava period rock-cut temple Location:    Mahendravadi, near Arakonam, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   A rock cut temple constructed during the period of Mahendravarma Pallava I Nearest Railway Station:   Arakonam Nearest Airport:   Chennai How to reach:   Well connected by road from Chennai/Arakonam Hotel:  Go to Kanchipuram or Chennai where there are lot of options  Restaurants:  Go to Kanchipuram or Chennai where there are lot of options Mahendravadi  is a small village located close to Arakonam near Chennai city in South India. The  village has a Pallava period cave temple. Mahendravadi could have been an important city during the Pallava period. There was a huge tank and fort in this village in the olden days. The cave temple in this village is an important one as it is the only cave temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu which was constructed by Mahendravarman I (600-630 CE). This cave is excav

Site Name:  Dakshinamurti Temple Site Type:  Hindu temple Location:    Govindavadi, near Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   An important Guru Sthalam; one of few temples dedicated to Dakshinamurti; the site where Lord Shiva gave darshan to Govinda (Vishnu) Nearest Railway Station:   Kanchipuram Nearest Airport:   Chennai How to reach:   Well connected by road from Chennai/Kanchipuram Hotel:  Go to Kanchipuram where there are lot of options  Restaurants:  Go to Kanchipuram where there are lot of options Govindavadi  is a small village located close to Kanchipuram near Chennai city in South India. The  village has an ancient temple dedicated to Kailasanathar. Dakshinamurti in this temple is more popular than the presiding deity; hence, the site is considered as the Guru Sthalam and everyone calls this temple as Dakshinamurti temple. This is one of few important temples of Dakshinamurti. Highlights: An important temple of Lord Dakshinamurti;

Site Name:  Manikandeswara Temple Site Type:  Hindu temple Location:    Tirumalpur, 12 kms from Kanchipuram, near Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   One of 274 Paadal Petra Sthalams (the most important temples of Lord Shiva) Nearest Railway Station:   Kanchipuram Nearest Airport:   Chennai How to reach:   Well connected by road from Chennai/Kanchipuram; Local train facility is available from Chennai Hotel:  Go to Kanchipuram where there are lot of options  Restaurants:  Go to Kanchipuram where there are lot of options Tirumalpur  is a small town located close to Kanchipuram near Chennai city in South India. The town which was originally called as  Tirumar Peru  has an important Shiva temple called as  Manikandeswara  Temple. It is considered as the  11th among the Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams   (274 most important temples of Lord Shiva) located in Tondai region.  Highlights: Sambandhar and Appar  have revered the temple in their verses in

Site Name:  Adi Kesava Perumal Temple aka Kooraththalwar Temple Site Type:  Hindu Temple Location:    Kooram village, near Kanchipuram town, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   The birthplace of Kooraththalwar, an important Vaishnaivite Guru Nearest Railway Station:   Kanchipuram Nearest Airport:   Chennai How to reach:   Well connected by road from Kanchipuram/Chennai Hotel:  A lot of options in Kanchipuram  Restaurants:  Go to Kanchipuram for restaurants Kooram  is a small village located at a distance of around 10 kms from Kanchipuram town in Tamil Nadu state of South India. It is the birthplace of Kooraththalwar, an important Vaishnaivite Guru. Highlights: The birth place of Kooraththalwar. God  - Adi Kesava Perumal Goddess  - Pankajambal History: Kooraththalwar was born in 1010 CE in Kooram village. He was the chief disciple of Sri Ramanuja. He helped his Guru in almost all endeavors. When the Chola king wanted to arrest Ramanuja,