Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, Hindu temple in Srirangam, India.
Ranganathaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple in Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, India, covering 156 acres and enclosed by seven concentric walls with 21 towers. Inside the walls, smaller shrines, pillared halls, and water tanks surround the main sanctum dedicated to Vishnu.
Inscriptions and remains point to activity from the first century CE, while later dynasties expanded the walls and towers over many centuries. The tallest gopuram was completed only in 1987, marking the end of a long building phase.
The name Ranganathaswamy comes from Ranganatha, a reclining form of Vishnu resting on the cosmic serpent, central to Tamil devotion. Worshipers walk through the concentric walls in a prescribed sequence, while daily offerings and chanted mantras fill the inner courtyards.
The complex lies near Tiruchirappalli International Airport and is reached by a bridge from the city. Dress codes apply for the inner areas, and most courtyards are open during daylight, with certain shrines closing at set times.
The Rajagopuram tower reaches 239 feet in height and is considered the tallest temple tower in Asia. Its completion in 1987 closed a building project planned and interrupted over many generations.
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