WEAVER'S WORLD / RASIPURAM / PLACES TO VISIT -1

WEAVER'S WORLD / RASIPURAM / PLACES TO VISIT -1

Just 8 miles away from Salem town, you can find this temple in the Coimbatore highway. Maintained by the Vinayaka Missions Hospital Group, you can find the idols of very many Hindu Gods in one place as well as 1008 lingams lined up. Kids can enjoy the garden area where an elephant also resides. The vast corridor and a very big main deity of the shrine, is worth paying a visit at least once.

This is a seasonal kind of place to visit, the ideal time would be the rainy season when the reservoir would be filled up and look like a majestic water body. Fish would also be available in plenty. This is the primary source of irrigation for the delta in the State of Tamil Nadu in India. It is also historical as it was built in 1934 by the British. It is still called Stanley Reservoir after its architect.

Not exactly a tourist attraction, the dam is really worth watching for its structure and hydroelectric power project. The dam is nearly 1 km long with 17-19 gates. Most of the time, it is dry. There is a small park nearby. The dam is around 40+ kms from Salem and takes close to 1:30 hours to reach. The view of the dam is facilitated through the Pavala Vizha Building. This building was built to commemorate 75 years of dam usage in 2005 and is 75 feet tall.

Sri Kailasanathar temple or Arulmigu Kailasanathar Thirukovil is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Salem and it’s a must-visit place if you love temple architecture. The temple is said to have existed from as early as the 10th century and then it was expanded later in 17th century. The Temple is located approximately 20 Km from Salem Junction and right next to the Tharamangalam Bus stand. Important features are: Yali statues with rotating stone balls. Manmathan and Shiva Parvathi statues and especially that of their facing each other. Vaali, Sukrivan fight depiction in one pillar and Ram hiding to shoot with bow in another pillar. A Stone Lotus in the ceiling inside the temple with stone chains round them. They say the lotus can be rotated - tastefully done pillars with depictions in them. There's a Shiva lingam underground too. Nearby you have the Thaanthoneswarer Temple in Belur near Athur. You can make a visit to Chinthamniyur which is 15kms from Taramangalam. This place is known for its cluster of weaving where you can get Silk sarees for close to half that of show room price.

This is very famous 2000 years old temple. Suga brihma rishi (parrot face muni) worshipped Lord Shiva. This temple is not very big but definitely worth seeing for the religious. The temple is inside a cave, not very big which can accommodate not more than 10 people.

You need to be a nature lover as well, like you were visiting a hill station; it’s the weather and the nature that you need to enjoy. Find your sweet spot and relax.