Tourist Attractions

Vellore Fort

Vellore Fort The temple which had been built in the late Vijayanagar style, comprised of the main shrine and closed ambulatory passage around, and the integral Mahamantapa, with a northward projecting sub-shrine for Nataraja, containing also several other sub-shrines. The temple has two court yards, one is inner prakara and the other is outer prakara – The structures in the court yard on the outer prakara include the lofty Gopuram on the southern side which is the entry point to the temple. On the, South-West corner of outer court yard is the Kalyanamantapa which is the gem of architecture of the Vijayanagar style in embellishments and the art motifs of its pillars, ceilings and plinth mouldings, It stands as testimony for the architectural workmanship of that period.

Golden Temple

Golden Temple Vellore complex inside the Thirupuram spiritual park is situated at the foot of a small range of green hills at Thirumalaikodi Vellore in Tamil Nadu, India. The salient feature of ‘Thirupuram’ is the Lakshmi Narayani temple whose Vimanam and Ardha Mandapam is covered with pure gold, housing the deity Sri Lakshmi Narayani.

It is made of more than a tonne of pure gold will glitter and gleam under the sun on August 24 when it is unveiled for consecration by the Sri Narayani Peetam headed by a 31-year-old godman who calls himself Narayani Amma. Devotees hail the temple as one of the wonders of the world and say that it is the only temple covered fully with gold.

More than 400 gold and coppersmiths from the Thirupathi Thirumala Devasthanam are said to have worked for six years to craft the Rs 600-crore gold temple located on 55,000 sq ft of land on a 100-acre salubrious stretch in Malaikodi, about 6 km from Vellore in north Tamil Nadu.

First the coppersmiths set to work creating a copper base on the temple structure with engravings and etchings before the gold, beaten into nine layers of foils, was draped around it. The sanctum sanctorum will hold the deity of Mahalakshmi made of stone granite, but covered with gold kavacham (adornments).

“The Sripuram or Spiritual Park is Amma’s dedication to the world and mankind,” said P Murali, a trustee of the Peetam, adding that the temple has more gold than the Golden Temple of Amritsar.

Sholingur

Sholingur Famous for the Sri Yoga Lakshmi Narasimhar temple, situated on 750 ft. high hillock & 1305 stairs. There is also a Yoga Anjaneyar temple located on a 350 ft. high and 406 Stairs. Volunteers and devotees who visit the hill temple of Sholingur on full moon day of every month to perform girivalam. Thirupavithrotsavam festival is celebrated in the month of August. The Navarathri festivals are held in the month of October.

Ratnagir

Ratnagiri Balamurugan temple is an ancient Murugan temple situated in Vellore, India. It was built around the 14th century. It is situated on top of a hill. Ancient Hindu scriptures say where there is a hill, there is Lord Murugan. Over the passage of time an ordinary sand structure was converted into a stone shrine. The 14th Century poet Arunagirinathar has sung about this temple as ‘Rathinakiri Vazh Murukane Ilaya Vaaramarar Perumaley’, which means ‘Murugan, the God of Devas resides in Rathinagiri’.

Elagiri Hills

Elagiri/Yellagiri Hills Located 920 m above sea level, amidst our mountains, these picturesque environs are a part of javvad hills of the Eastern Ghats. Several tribes inhabit the 14 small villages in the region and engage in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Their unique lifestyle, customs and homes, as well as an exquisitely carved church, a quaint temple and a park for the tourists add to the attractions of the place. Elagiri hill is also perfect or a short trekking holiday, July and August witness the annual murugan festival at the temple. Fruit, Herbal farm and Shrubs used in the production of ayurvedic medicines are available. Alternatively, if you Sic vacationing with kids, you can head to the children’s park or the mini Zoo. All in all, there is something for every tourist. Try and be there for the weekly holiday where the products of the hills are on display. Vacation at Elagiri this summer is vacation with a difference.

Amirthi Forest, Vellore

Amiriti/Amirthi Zoological Park is situated under the Javvadu/Javadi Hills of Tellai across Amirthi river which is 25 km away from Vellore. This zoological park was started in October 1967.

Amirthi Forest The area of the park is 25 hectares and one can find beautiful waterfalls. There are also different kinds of birds and animals. Play equipments like swings, seesaw etc., are available for children. Numerous kinds of herbal plants and trees and sandalwood trees grow here. There are 2 rest houses and five members can stay in one dormitory. There is a meditating hall where one can have full concentration and be in serenity.

There is a range office at Amirthi headed by the forest ranger. There is also a hill tribe society at Nimmiyambattu near Amirthi. The main aim is to provide employment opportunities to the hill tribals in that area.

Kanchipuram – Silk City

Kanchipuram district is situated on the north-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, adjacent to the Bay of Bengal and Chennai city. It is bounded in the west by Vellore and Thiruvannamalai district, in the north by Thiruvallur district and Chennai district, in the south by Villupuram district, in the east by Bay of Bengal. It lies between 11° 00′ to 12° 00′ North latitudes and 77° 28′ to 78° 50′ East longitudes. The district has a total geographical area of 4, 43,210 hectares and coastline of 57 Kms.

Kanchipuram, the temple town is the district headquarters. For administrative reasons, the district has been divided into 3 revenue divisions comprising of 8 taluks with 1214 revenue villages. For development reasons, it is divided into 13 development blocks with 648 Village Panchayats.

Kanchipuram was the historical capital of the Pallavas during the 7th – 9th centuries. Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities of India. Kanchipuram is famous for hand-woven silk fabrics and saris. The weavers use the highest quality silk and pure gold thread. Kanchipuram is also known as Silk City. Sankaracharya ‘Math’ is situated at Kanchipuram.