Best Places to Visit in Ariyalur – Fossils, Temples & History

1.KARAIVETTI BIRD SANCTUARY

The Karaivetti Birds Sanctuary with an area of 453.71 ha. Is notified as protected area under section 18 (1) of Wildlife (protection) Act 1972 vide Govt. Order No.219 E&F (FR.VI) Dept dt. 10.06.1997. The sanctuary is more or less irrigated tank which takes water from the Mettur dam from September onwards and augmented by the north east monsoons from October to January.

The sanctuary is one of the significant fresh water feeding ground of the migratory water bird in State of Tamil Nadu. One of the largest tanks in the state, it has seen the maximum number of water birds in the state. Among the 188 species of birds reported in the sanctuary, 82 are waterbirds. One of the special travellers to the tank is the critically endangered Bar Headed Goose. The best timings for birding are October to March.

2.GANGAIKONDA CHOLAPURAM

Ariyalur is mostly famous however for the Gangaikondacholisvarar inscribe in Gangaikondacholapuram, the biggest inscribe developed during the rule of Rajendra–I in Ariyalur area. During his successful march to the Gangetic plains in 1023 A.D., Rajendra–I built a massive city called Gangaikondacholapauram and a Siva temple Gangaikondacholisvarar and a lake called Chola Gangam, on convention centred by him in memory of a victorious march. The place, the temple and the lake (Chola Gangam) are living personification of the heroism of Tamils who unfurled the Chola’s Tiger flag besides the river Ganges. He even changed his capital from Thanjavur to this newly estb. town. From his time to the fall of the Chola dynasty A.D.1279, this city for the next 256 years was the capital of the Chola Empire. The great stone temple he built here is a treasure house of fine sculptures of middle Chola period. This city is immortalized in the literature of a Muvar ula of the Ottakuttar and of Kalingattuparani of Jayankondar.

By the 11th regal year of Rajendra’s Gangetic conquest, Rajendra’s campaign was over (A.D.1023). This name first occurs in a record about him of A. D. 1027 and speaks of the city of Gangaikondacholapuram. Therefore it can be seen that the city was laid down in honor of his grand victory between A.D. 1023-27. Esalam Copper Plates of A.D. 1036, lately discovered, provide concrete proof that Rajendra -i, built the Gangaikondacholisvarar temple. Record of A.D. 1068 of Virarajendras in Gangaikondacholapuram which is the earliest epigraph in the temple gives details about Grant of villages to the Gangaikondacholisvarar temple by Rajendra-I in his 24th year (A.D. 1036). These evidence tells that the siva temple constructed between A. D. 1023-1036, and first written evidence in the big temple was belongs to A. D. 1068 of Virarajendra.

This temple is the living history of Cholas in stone of age of Rajendra-I and a beautiful museum of Chola art and architecture. Many sculptures of Andhra, Karnataka, Bengal, that were won by war are also preserved in temple & nearby villages. Chandesura anugraha murthy and sarasvathy are very beautiful sculptures of the temple.

At present it is managed by ASI and the HR&CE and World Heritage Monument recently designated by the UNESCO.

Related articles : Top 4 Best Places to Visit in West Delhi – Markets, Parks & Heritage