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Tamilnadu Ratnagiriswarar Temple
A splendid temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ratnagiriswarar Temple is located near the bus terminus in Besant Nagar in Chennai. The temple is a dedication to Lord Shiva as Ratnagiriswarar and goddess Shakti as Aralakesi Amman. The temple is believed to be one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalam where two Nayanars Appar and Tirugnana Sambandar sang songs on glory. The temple has many shrines; some of them are of Indra, Surya, Adi Seshan, Durga, Agasthya Muni and the Sapta Matas. Devotees of Lord Shiva gather at this temple to offer prayers to the deity.
How To Reach
By Air
Chennai has both a domestic and international airport in Meenambakkam that is well connected to many countries and major cities of India. From Meenambakkam, Besant Nagar is approximately 15 km away. All the major airlines provide their service from Chennai to other cities. There are many prepaid taxis from both Anna International Airport and Kamraj Domestic Airport to all parts of the city.
By Bus
Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation and many private bus services providers offer transport from Chennai to major cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Cochin and Coimbatore. Volvo buses are also available and run daily. Most inter-city buses operate in the mornings and evenings especially.
By Rail
Chennai has three major railway stations and is well connected to all major cities across India. Trains run from Central, Egmore and Tambaram railway stations daily. Some of the most popular trains include the Chennai Mail, GT Express to Delhi, Chennai Mail to Mumbai and Chennai express to Mumbai.
Important Shrines
The temple has many shrines, the most important one are Sri Shiva as Ratnagiriswarar and Devi as Aralakesi Amman. Other shrines include those of Bhima, Vishnu, Durga Devi, Ganesha, Muruga and Hanuman. The temple also houses a shrine dedicated to the Nayanmars and Navagrahas.
Significance Of The Temple
The temple is believed to be one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams where two Nayanars Appar and Tirugnana Sambandar sang songs on glory. The temple was built in the 14th century and its culture and architecture displays hints of Dravidian architecture temple style.
Arudra Darisanam and Shivratri are two big festive celebrated at this temple. Arudra Darisanam marks the procession of Nataraja in a decorated chariot.
Weather And Time To Visit
Chennai experiences hot weather all around the year but in the months of December to February it is slightly cooler with the temperature around 18 degrees. Summer starts from March to May and is hot and humid. Temperature ranges about 40 degrees and on certain days goes up to 45 degrees. Chennai experiences monsoon season between June to August when it receives mild to heavy rainfall.
The best time to visit the city is between December to March. These months are best suited for tourist activities and sight-seeing. People can also visit this place for short trips between June to November.
Accomodation
Chennai is one of the biggest cities in the South and is the capital of Tamil Nadu. The city has many accommodation options ranging from top class boutique hotels to cheaper budget hotels. Budge hotel tariffs range from INR 800 to INR 1,000 while luxury hotel tariffs can go up to INR 4,500 per night. Hotels are spread across the city and accommodation is not a problem in all vicinities.
People looking for the view of beach while staying in the city can also opt for hotels located near the beach. However, these hotels are generally booked throughout the year. The city generally has high temperatures throughout the year, which summer temperatures reaching 45 degrees. Hence, it is always good to opt for air-conditioned rooms.
Tips For Devotees
According to pundits of the temple, more than 15,000 devotees, tourists and pilgrims visit the temple daily. This number increases drastically during festive and religious auspicious days. Shivratri is always being celebrated with great pomp and show in this temple with thousands of people visiting to offer prayers.
Rules And Regulations Of The Temple
The temple is opened to visitors and devotees from early morning to mid-afternoon. It again reopens for prayers in the early hours of the evening and remains open till dusk.
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