Mudumalai Forest

The Mudumalai National Park and nature reserve said, now a tiger reserve located on the northwest side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains), in the district of Nilgiri about 160 km (99 miles) north-west of Coimbatore in western Tamil Nadu state, on the highway Borders with the states of Karnataka and Kerala in southern India. Mudumalai, meaning "foot of the promontory, is one of the protected areas in India first established. The sanctuary is divided into 5 areas - Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai and Kargudi Nellakota.

You can often spot herds of endangered Indian elephants, gaur vulnerable, and chital. The sanctuary is a haven for Bengal tigers and leopards in India and other endangered species. There are at least 266 species of birds in the sanctuary, including endangered species like the Indian white-rumped vulture and the long bill Geier. Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-group (6,000 km2 (2,300 sq km) 6000), including all Mudumalai National Park, taking into account the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO for selection as a World Heritage Site.

Location

Mudumalai Sanctuary as a habitat for wildlife because of its strategic position as a wildlife corridor between several other protected areas that are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. In the north, the Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park. In the West, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in the south are Mukurthi and Silent Valley National Park. In the east, the plateau de Segur, which connects Sathyamangalam Forest reserve and nature reserve Biligirirangan Hills. These adjacent parks and reserves Forests cover more than 3,300 square kilometers (1,300 square miles) of forest to support a population of 1800-2300 elephants.

The height of the sanctuary varies from a minimum of 960 meters (3,150 feet) meters to a maximum of 1266 meters (4154 feet). The sanctuary is a climate of tropical savanna or dry and humid tropical climate, and categories supported Aw Since the classification of Köppen. Rainfall fluctuates between 790 mm (31 inches) to 2,000 mm (79 inches).

Conservation history

By the end of the 18th Century has been the forests of the sanctuary under the control of Nilambar Tirumalapad religious sect (Tirumalapad Kovilagam). In 1927 the area was declared a reserved forest. The park was in 1940 became the first nature reserve in southern India. Originally, 62 km2 (24 km ²) The sanctuary was enlarged to 295 km2 (114 square miles) in 1956. In 1958 the sanctuary was extended to 318.7 km2 (123.1 km ²) and then to its present size of 321 km2 (124 square miles). The sanctuary is contiguous with Bandipur National Park (874 km2 (337 square miles)), Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km2 (133 square miles)) and Sigur Singara and reserve forests.

The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. There are 48 tigers in the tiger reserve, the Nilgiri free to roam. In April 2007 the Government of Tamil Nadu Mudumalai like a tiger reserve under § said 38V of the Act on the Protection of Wildlife in 1972 in an effort to preserve declining population of tiger country. Then about 350 families live in the central area were removed from the park and given 1 million rupees ($ 20,800) as compensation. Who in the buffer zone of 5 km around the park too afraid of being deported, but no one will be displaced by the buffer zone. In fact, some people will be involved in this area in the project because of their persecutors, and leads to improvement Income through eco-tourism.

Flora

Elephant working near bamboo thickets to Moyer River. There are three main types of forest in the sanctuary: deciduous tropical rain occur in the western Benne Block, where rainfall is higher than in other blocks. Tropical dry deciduous forest occurs in central and southern dry tropical forests in the eastern spine.

In addition, there are patches of semi-evergreen rain forest in the southwest and west of the Mudumalai. The annual rainfall there exceeds 2,000 mm (79 inches). Tree species in this habitat include: ovoid Cosseria, Litsea mysorensis, Cinnamomum malabatrum diocesan and Olea. The climbers, including: Todalia asiatica, sneeze word (Watakaka volubilis) Gnetum ula Entada scandens and are also in the semi-evergreen forests.

Moist Bamboo brakes are in the middle of the dry deciduous, moist deciduous forests and semi-evergreen and along the edge Riparian forests and bogs. There are two types of bamboo in Mudumalai, clumping bamboo giant, Bambusa (Arundinacea) and Dendrocalamus strictus. Elephants and Gaur eat two types of bamboo.

In all types of forests, is a green strip of riparian forest along the banks of the dry seasonal and perennial streams found. This type of forest remains green throughout the year. Plant species here are: Mangifera indica, Pongamia glabra, Terminalia Arjuna, Syzygium cumini, Dalbergia latifolia, rosewood and bamboo. Large mammals such as elephants, Gaur, Sambar and the use of riparian forest patches of tiger for food and rest.
This sanctuary is home to several species of wild relatives of crops, including wild rice, wild ginger, Turmeric, cinnamon, Solanum, guava, mango and pepper, to act as a reserve gene pool for cultivated plants. In some places mixed vegetation types are present. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in summer and assumes a mantle of flowers, while the arrival of the monsoon from fruits and tender greens.

Wild Life

There is a wide diversity of wildlife in the sanctuary with about 50 species of fish, 21 species of amphibians, 34 reptiles, 227 birds and 55 mammal species. Mammalian diversity is higher in dry forests and dry deciduous thorny than in other habitats. Thirteen percent of all mammal species in India are in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Among the 15 cat species in India and 4 live in Mudumalai Tiger, panther, leopard and jungle cat.

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve has the highest density of tigers in the country. For each 8.67 km2 There are now at least a tiger in Mudumalai.There 44 to 80 Tigers (E) in the Mudumalai forest. The population of tigers in India's largest (Mudumalai - Nagarhole - Wynad) includes the Mudumalai Tiger. These tigers are populating a source of reproduction in the northern and eastern parts of the Western Ghats. This population density is high because of the high density of prey animals in their flowering trees. Indian leopards (P. pardus fusca) (NT) is seen most often in Kargudi. Other carnivores Dhole (Cuon alpinus) (V), the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) (NT), the golden jackal (Canis aureus) and sloth bear (Ursinus Melursus) (V).

The population of the Indian elephant, Elephas maximus indicus quantities (E), up to several hundred animals. Three primates, you will also find the Grey langurs (Semnopithecus Priam) and Bonnet Macaques (Macaca radiata). important prey for tigers and leopards, ungulates here, including the Gaur (Bos gaurus) (V), the sambar Red deer (Cervus unicolor) (VU), chital deer (Axis axis), Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus Muntjac), discovered Indian Musk Moschiola indica, and wild boar (Sus scrofa), all here together. Rodents are the giant Indian squirrel (Ratufa indica maxima) and Red Giant Flying Squirrel (petaurista Petaurista). Some reptiles are here Python Flying Lizard, Eyewear Cobra, Krait and found Asian snakes. Waran is the type most frequently observed.

Avifauna

Peacock in Mudumalai

Eight percent of bird species occur in India Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. found under the 227 species of birds in Mudumalai, 110 species are insects, 62 are carnivores, are 23 species fishivores are 12 species and omnivores 20 species are grainivores. These include the single Flycatcher near threatened black and orange. regional endemic include Trogon Malabar Grey Hornbill and Malabar. Some very rare birds of prey like the eagle hawk can bellied are sometimes seen in this sanctuary. Other birds of prey hawk eagle, crested serpent Eagle Crest Changeable Hawk Eagle, Black Eagle, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Jerdon Baza, Bonelli's Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Besra, Spotted Owl Brown Wood Owl and Hawk Minivet.sp.

There are also hornbills, golden oriole, Chloropsis, paradise flycatcher, golden-backed woodpecker Great Malabar Black Woodpecker, Blue-winged parakeet, fairy blue birds, poultry Jungle Racket tailed drongo, Peacock, Red Spurfowl, Grey Francolin, Painted Spurfowl, Painted Bush Quail, White-bellied Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape, Golden Peak, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Chestnut-bee-eater, Emerald Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Pompadour Green Pigeon line Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Indian Cuckoo, Alpine Swift, Black-hooded Oriole, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike, Grey-headed Bulbul, Forest Wagtail, Crimson backed Sunbird Sunbird and perpendiculars. He has also holds the isolated population of southern Tit-babbler Striped.

Tirunelveli - Tamilnadu

Tirunelveli (Tamil: திருநெல்வேலி, Tirunelveli ) and Thirunelveli, formerly anglicised Tinnevelly or Tinnevelli) is a town in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is capital of the district. The population is 441 945 (calculated, as of January 1, 2006).

Tirunelveli is situated on the left bank of the Thamirabarani, barely 75 kilometers north west of Cape Comorin, the southernmost point of the Indian mainland, as well as 560 kilometers from Chennai. On the right bank of the river is the twin town of Palayamkottai.

The history goes back to the time of the early Pandya and Chola. In the 16 Century the city from the Nayaks of Madurai, which until the 18th Century ruled over them expanded. From these times are numerous Hindu temples, many of which are dedicated to the deity Shiva. Between 1542 and 1545, the Spanish-Portuguese missionary Francis Xavier worked in the city.

Tirunelveli is now a regional commercial and industrial center with cotton, food (especially sugar), tobacco and jewelry industry, and a large cement plant and several car repair shops. Since 1990, the city is also home to a university (Manonmaniam Sundaranar University).

Tiruchirappalli - Trichy

Tiruchirappalli (Tamil: திருச்சிராப்பள்ளி, Tiruccirāppaḷḷi; formerly English Trichinopoly; also briefly Tiruchi or Trichy) is the fourth largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery Delta, with 775 484 inhabitants. The metropolitan area has 903 101 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2005 respectively). Tiruchirappalli is capital of the district. There are several different spellings in the Latin script.

Tiruchirappalli is a place with metal and textile industries and is home to a university and a technical university. In addition, there is the seat of a Catholic bishop and the Evangelical-Lutheran bishop in Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC), entitled "Bishop of Tranquebar. Main attraction of the city is the Rock Fort, a fortress in the 17th century was built on a 83-meter-high cliff. Six miles north of the city center lies the temple town of Srirangam, the Vishnu Shrine as one of the most outstanding examples of Dravidian temple architecture applies.

Srirangam (Tamil: ஸ்ரீரங்கம், Srīraṅkam ) is a temple town in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated on a river island between the Kaveri River and its tributary Kollidam. Administratively, the town belongs to the city of Tiruchirappalli, whose center is located six kilometers south on the other side of the Kaveri River.

Srirangam is thanks to the Dravidian-style temple built in Sri Ranganathaswami as one of the most outstanding examples of a traditional Hindu temple town of south India. The temple is dedicated to the deity Ranganatha, a manifestation of Vishnu, was the namesake for the city of Srirangam. The main temple is surrounded by seven concentric walls with 21 rings Gopurams (gate towers). The actual temple complex is located in the area between the four innermost wall rings, the outer areas form a district inhabited mainly by Brahmins Vishnuites with streets, houses and shops. The entire complex covers an area of 960 × 825 meters.

On the eastern edge is the Srirangam Sri Jambukeshwara Temple. He is dedicated to the god Shiva, and was between 15 and 17 Century built. Although less known as the Sri Ranganathaswami temple, this sanctuary is also with its five concentric walls and seven rings Gopurams of high architectural value.

Srirangam is a center of Vaishnavism the majority Shivaite dominated Tamil Nadu. In the 12th Th century, the famous philosopher Ramanuja Vishnuites in Srirangam. The place is already since 10 Century, a city of pilgrimage, the temple of that time are still not received. The origins of the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple go to the Pandya dynasty of the 13th Century back. In the following dynasties (Hoysala, Vijayanagar, Nayaks) of the complex was expanded gradually. The highest with 73 meters at the south entrance Gopuram was completed even before 1982.

Madurai - Tamilnadu

Madurai (Tamil: மதுரை Madura to 1949) is a town in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city, one of the oldest in South Asia lies in 134 m above sea level on the banks of the river Vaigai and is now about 1.1 million inhabitants. This is the capital of Madurai to Chennai and the industrial city of Coimbatore, the largest city in the state. Madurai is the capital of the eponymous district.

  Plan of the old city of Madurai

Madurai is divided into the old town on the southern and the resulting during the colonial period New Town on the northern bank of the Vaigai River. The center of the old town and the main attraction is the great Madurais Minakshi temple, with its highly visible Gopurams. The essentially during the Nayak-time in the 15th to 17 Century, this temple is one of the finest examples of Dravidian temple architecture. The urban layout of the Old Town is directed by several concentric ring roads and axially on the Gopurams tapering streets after the Minakshi Temple. This embodies the Madurai type of classical south Indian temple city, though not in the same regularity, such as the ideal example Srirangam.

History

Madurai, one of the cultural centers of the Tamil people, has a rich cultural presumably to the 2500 year old heritage. Since pre-Christian times, the city is an important religious and commercial center. Madurai was at least 1000 years without interruption, the capital of the Kingdom of the Pandyas and maintained demonstrable trade with Greeks, Romans and Chinese.

Madurai fell in the 10th Century, the Chola king Parantaka. The Pandyas obtained during the 13th Century, although once again the rule back, but at the beginning of the 14th Century Malik Kafur commanded during a raid by the South an unprovoked attack, plundered and destroyed much of the city. Shortly thereafter, Madurai was an independent sultanate. In 1364 joined Madurai to the Hindu Vijayanagar Empire, which was administered by Nayaks. Gained its independence in 1565, the Nayaks - Madurai under their protection experienced a renaissance and was rebuilt. Part of the Palace of Nayaks under Tirumalai Nayak (1623-1655) built are still standing. By the middle of the 18th Century Madurai was under the control of Nayaks, until the British gradually took over the rule.

In India's last census in 2001 were in Madurai registered 922 913 inhabitants. Madurai is one of the few Indian cities with a negative population development projections for the year 2009 that has Madurai only 895 607 inhabitants. The population of Greater Madurai, however, is of just under 1.2 million in 2001 rose to over 1.3 million.

The main language in Madurai is like all over Tamil Nadu, the Tamil. There are a larger minority of speakers of Saurashtri that belongs in contrast to the otherwise popular in South India Dravidian languages Indo-Aryan language family. The spokesman Saurashtri belong to the caste of weavers Patnulkarans and come originally from northwest India.

Dhanushkodi

Historic map of Dhanuskodi before 1964

Dhanushkodi (Tamil for the end of the arc) called today a place on the island in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu Pamban, about 4 km before the end of the sandy spit of land that runs from the island east to Adams Bridge.

Current location 

 
There are a few thatched fishermen's cottages, modest places of worship, a snack bar and various remains of walls, etc. a station, a church, a water tank and a post office. From the center of the island, a paved road to a post of the Indian Navy for about 4 1 / 2 miles from Dhanushkodi, and from then there is only a sand road.Religious significance 

 The place has spiritual significance for Hindus. Its name is derived from the bow of the god Rama, who was designated by its end of the place from which should be built from Ramasbrücke (Adam Bridge) to Sri Lanka. A pilgrimage to Rameswaram to connect with a swim in the sea near Dhanushkodi, the confluence of the waters of the Gulf of Bengal and Indian Ocean .
 
Place until 1964

By 1964, Dhanushkodi was next to the famous for its temple is the most important place of Rameswaram island. Dhanushkodi had all the necessary for a pilgrimage and tourist facilities. The Indo-Ceylon Express of the Southern Railway, then called Boat Mail, regularly drove the 675 km route from Madras Egmore Station (now Chennai) to Dhanushkodi pier. They drove for example in 1950 from Madras at 20:00 in clock, came the next day in Mandapam, the last place on the mainland, at 13:02 on where time was for a medical examination of passengers traveling abroad. After the ride opened in 1914 on the Pamban Bridge, the train stopped at 14:12 Pamban in town where you could switch to Rameswaram, and finally arrived at 15:05 am Dhanushkodi pier. There was up from the ferry shortly after 16:00, the need for the trip to Talaimannar in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) about 3 1 / 2 hours. On Sunday evening the ship but not wrong. From Talaimannar could be with the Northern Line proceed to Colombo. On the return journey the train was at the pier from Dhanuskodi at 12:05 and arrived the next morning at 7:25 in Madras.

Cyclone 1964

On the night of 22 to 23 December 1964 was Dhanushkodi (as well as the whole island) hit by a cyclone with extreme winds and several feet high waves.  The peninsula was flooded, a straight drive into the Zug train station destroyed and the city and the railroad literally washed into the sea. The number of victims, including about 115 people on the train was on more than 1,800 estimated.

The place has not been rebuilt. The ferry, which was also interrupted by the destroyed piers at both ends of the route was later replaced by a ferry service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar, but it was also adjusted 1984/85. The railway line in Sri Lanka was abandoned by Madawachchiya after Talaimannar

The Theosophical Society

Banyon Tree

The Theosophical Society may be of interest for spiritual reasons or simply for its beautiful park, including a banyan incredible. This "ficus bengalensis" is one of the world's largest banyan tree, its roots extend over 22 square meters from north to south and 24 meters square from east to west. And the primary root continues to grow underground ...

The park includes the company headquarters of the Theosophical Society, based in Chennai since 1882, the temples of all faiths, a library with valuable manuscripts and trees from all countries. You'll find a most restful quiet, especially if you stop there after a day visiting the city. Be careful with the times, the park closes between noon and 2:00 p.m. and after 16 hours.

 

The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875 by the Russian Helena Blavatsky and Colonel H. S. Olcott. Both wanted and set up chat rooms for men to defend the "universal brotherhood" over all religion, by accepting any interested person irrespective of caste, sex, color, etc.. The motto of this organization, derived from the Upanishads, "There is no religion beyond the truth," is inscribed on the main building. Since 1875, the "boxes" have emerged in 42 countries, including France. The headquarters are located in India at Chennai. The members of the world (about 30,000) can navigate all the years, the Christmas period, for a series of lectures and seminars.

Theosophical Society Head Quarters

A public relations office is located in the main building (brick red with elephant heads), and available to answer questions from the curious.

Pichavaram - Mangrove Forest

'Backwater Pichavaram near Chidambaram' 
 

This picture Pichavaram Backwater and mangrove forest near Chidambaram, 75 km from Pondicherry. It is located south of Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu India. It is considered the second largest mangrove forest in the world where you can find rare species of shellfish and fish.

It is a beautiful tourist place which is under the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Its main objective is to strengthen the tourism sector. Installing Boating is available here and you go in you will enter another world that you can see in this video.

Fishing activity is also seen in this place. Tourists from various parts of the world visit this popular tourist destination.

The mangrove ecosystem is a grouping of plants including a main timber specific, do develop in the area of intertidal foreshore called low coasts of tropical regions. There are also mangrove swamps at the mouth of some rivers.

These particular settings provide substantial resources (forestry and fisheries) for people living on these shores. Mangroves are the most productive ecosystems in the biomass of our planet. Woody species are the most notable with their mangrove pneumatophores and stilt-roots.

The rapid degradation of some mangroves in the world, has become alarming because they are effective in stabilizing fragile coastal areas that are now threatened, and because they contribute to ecological resilience of ecosystems after cyclones and tsunamis and address the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels.

in this harsh environment, mangroves have evolved a mechanism to provide assistance to young seedlings. All mangroves have seeds floating that promote dispersal by water. Unlike most plants, whose seeds germinate in the soil, many mangrove trees (eg red mangrove) are viviparous, that is to say that their seeds germinate on the parent tree before falling. Once the seed has germinated, the seedling grows into the fruit (eg Aegialitis, Acanthus, Avicennia and Aegiceras), or out by using the fruit as a medium (eg Rhizophora, Ceriops, Bruguiera and Nypa) . We call the latter system a propagule (a plant ready to go), which can produce its own food through photosynthesis.  

When the propagule is mature it drops into the water where it can be transported over long distances. It can survive desiccation and remain dormant for weeks, months, or even a year until it reaches an appropriate environment. Once a propagule is ready to take root, it will change its density so that instead of a horizontal root system favoring the waterline, it produces a vertical root system. In this position, he is ready to take root in the mud. If a propagule is not rooted, it can change its density so that it floats farther in search of more favorable conditions.

Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram

Surrounded by wide streets (by the standards of the Middle Ages) to allow passage of trucks of procession, the shrine of Nataraja is surrounded by a wall dating from the twelfth century. It can be accessed by one of four gopuram ("towers" entry), gems of Chola art, and whose importance, both in terms of size and artistic treatment, is sometimes greater than the sanctuary itself (this being a constant in the Hindu religious architecture of South India).
Gopuram of the temple of Nataraja at Chidambaram

The interior of the sanctuary has five main rooms (Sabhas):

   1. Chitrambalam or Chit Sabha (the "Golden Hall"), which houses the sculpture of Nataraja.
   2. Ponnambalam, or Kanaka Sabha: The room where the Nataraja takes his ablutions.
   3. Perambalam or Deva Sabha, which contains the "five deities (Pancha Murtha).
   4. Nritya Sabha, where Nataraja danced the Tandava Oordhva.
   5. Raja Sabha (the "room with 1000 pillars"): Where the icon Mobile (utsavamūrti) of Nataraja is washed and walked to the 10th day of the festival and Ani Tirumanjanam Marghazi (December-January), before joining again the Chitrambalam (the "Golden Hall").

The bronze sculpture of Nataraja is exposed in the Chitrambalam, a rectangular room covered with gold and copper. This room (the "Golden Hall") is faithful to the center of the world where Shiva, under the representation of Nataraja performs his "cosmic dance". This sculpture of Nataraja, typical of Chola art, has a strong symbolic
Shiva Nataraja (British Museum)

    1. The Nataraja is held in a "ring of fire" (thiruvāsi) which symbolizes the vibrant nature, rhythmic, and cyclic life.
   2. It builds on his right foot, crushing the muyalagan (daemon), symbolizing the abolition of evil.
   3. His left leg lifted leads the way to salvation.
   4. His first right hand holds a drum (damaru) representing the vital rhythm.
   5. His second right hand is held palm forward, in the posture Pataka symbolizing protection, removal of fear.
   6. His first left hand holds the fire, which symbolizes the life force vital energy.
   7. His second left hand at the end of his outstretched arm to his body, adopts the posture hasta-kari, meaning "Here I am," Shiva refocuses him on everything.
    
8. To the left of his head, the crescent moon (Shandra) symbolizes the culmination of the knowledge and intellect.
   9. To the right of his head, the Ganges, in the form of fish, symbolizes the life-giving water.
  10. To the left of his body, the veil flying in the wind symbolizes the removal of illusion (Maya).
  11. On the right side of his body, the serpent, ancient symbol of fertility, is the breath and air.
 

On the other hand, the sculpture of Nataraja, which is carved by artisans of a particular type (the sthapati) who make icons for generations of Hindu temples, is subject to strict proportional rules: For example, an equilateral triangle upper vertex (om-ma-va) can be traced from the top of the head (om), the left foot (va), and the scarf when it crosses the thiruvāsi (Ring of Fire) (my) of Similarly, an equilateral triangle with lower vertex (if-ya-na) can be drawn between the right foot (if), the drum (there), and the hand holding the fire (na). The two overlapping triangles are the oldest known representation of the figure called "Star of David" symbol used in other religions (including Judaism). There, in the sanctuary, two types of idols: idols fixed (sthibera), which can not be displaced once the temple consecrated idols and mobile (utsavamūrti) that can be taken out of the temple, especially during ritual processions in the city.

Apart from the "Golden Hall", other parts of the sanctuary all have a symbolic own: thus, the 4 Vedas, 108 Upanishads, 18 Puranas, and all other Hindu canonical texts are identified by either party of this temple.

    * The temple of the goddess Sivakami:

Situated within the sanctuary of the Nataraja temple is dedicated to Sivakami, one of the representations of the goddess Parvati, consort of Shiva, in his role as "wife" of Nataraja. It dates from the Chola period and hosts numerous sculptures of Bharata Natyam dance postures.

    * The Temple Govindaraj:

Located near the shrine of Nataraja, the temple is dedicated to one of the representations of the god Vishnu.

Chidambaram - History

                                Located in Tamil Nadu, 50 km south of Cuddalore (and 60 km south of Pondicherry) on the Bay of Bengal, Chidambaram is a medium sized city with residential areas have no special attraction, is known throughout India for its sanctuary of Nataraja, the 'cosmic dancer', one of the most famous representations of the god Shiva doing his "happy dance" (called Ananda Tandava).  Chid * means "the conscience of mankind".    Ambaram means heaven. In philosophy Shiva, the consciousness of humanity is immeasurable, as the sky. The word represents Chidambaram, somehow, consciousness expanding permanent, supreme knowledge.

History
                      The Mecca of Hinduism, especially Shaivism of over 2000 years, the city of Chidambaram in history after the construction of the Nataraja shrine, commissioned by the Chola emperors who held their tutelary deity Nataraja. The shrine seen his birth at the end of the Chola empire in the twelfth century under the reign of Vikrama (d. 1135), and his son Kulottunga II (died 1150). Its construction will extend over several kingdoms, however, between 1130 and 1250, including the reigns of later emperors Cholas (Rajaraja II Rajadhiraja II, and the last emperor Chola: Kulottunga III), and those Emperors Pandyas. This first phase of construction will give rise to four "towers" of inputs (the gopuram), the wall, the central paved area, and the Hall with 1000 pillars "(Raja Sabha). This sanctuary will know the result of multiple improvements (including construction of four main rooms), but under the Delhi Sultanate, he nevertheless suffer the passage in 1311 of Muslim troops Khalji Malik Kafur, seconded by Hoysalas, at the "Muslim conquest of the south".  

                                 There was no destruction, even as the troops of Malik Kafur only stayed a month in Tamil Nadu, but the looting of idols made of solid gold and gold coins left as offerings to the temple by faithful had a strong impact on Shaivism. After seeing a period of calm settled rule of Vijayanagar in Tamil Nadu, the northern tower will be built around 1525 during the reign of Emperor Krishnadevaraya Vijayanagar, it is the representation, as well as the four architects who worked. Then there will be little change, except the combination of disparate inputs that gave sanctuary to a deeply confused Nataraja (eg it is still impossible to determine with certainty what was the original focus of the sanctuary. ..)

Mamallapuram

Mamallapuram is a small village near the sea which is very famous throughout India for the quality and delicacy of stone carvers.Often this village that are the most monumental Indian sculpture you can see in temples, houses and luxury hotels worldwide.

This is a great trip to make from Chennai to Pondicherry or both for the peace of his village and the quality of its craftsmanship! It is also a popular destination for Indian tourists and there is often a lot of people and colors! The monumental sculptures of the Pallava

Details of meditation Arjuna Les historic and artistic sites of Mamallapuram are among the oldest in Tamil Nadu, between the VII and VIII, it is under the Pallava dynasty, among the oldest in South India Mamallapuram that had its moment of glory.

You can start by exploring the extraordinary bas relief "Arjuna's meditation" or "the descent of the Ganges", carved directly into the wall of the hill behind the main temple of the village.

It is a wealth of detail, gods, ascetics, animals of all sizes and a succession of Hindu symbols that you can ask a local guide to explain! Several theories run, in fact, the significance of the relief.

 
The funniest of the frieze is also that you can watch the draft, realized there are more than 15 centuries by sculptors! Just a few meters upstream of the frieze now, you can see an outline of the frieze, but has not been completed due to lack of space.

The history and sculpture at Mamallapuram are everywhere and you find beautiful caves carved in the center of the city. so you can walk in the hills around the city center (particularly during the day, because there is no security or lighting at night).

The hills are covered with carved caves, small temples, roads, and a beautiful view over the village and sea from the headland on which the two lights are installed in the village.
  

Temple of shoreline along the merEnfin do not miss "the temple of the shore, which is one of the few temples of South India built near the sea and also one of the oldest (seventh century).
It was badly damaged by the spray and some sculptures are erased, but it remains a landmark temple, enchanting and quiet especially at sunrise and sunset.
 
The paradise of stone carvers

Sculptures MamallapuramIl still some treasures to discover in the village of Mamallapuram. First quarter sculptors, south of the city. Mamallapuram still has a college that trains young sculptors the ancestral techniques of the city. It's beautiful to walk between Ganesh, the Durga, representations of elephants, gigantic goddesses barely out of stone (usually granite) and shots of the sculptor chisels.

You can also find sculptures of green stone, the "marble", almost translucent, which changes color when it went underwater. two of the last five rathasEnfin gift that can offer Mamallapuram is the "five its rathas" or "5 tanks.

 
There are 5 monumental sculptures carved directly into huge blocks of granite from the sixth century. Each tank is a small temple dedicated to a great man or a deity of the Hindu pantheon.