Chidambaram

Chidambaram is a temple town in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, organized around a large temple complex with several inner courtyards. Residential neighborhoods spread outward from the central walls, threaded by narrow lanes where small shops sell religious items and flower garlands.

During the Chola dynasty rule in the 10th century, the town emerged as a religious center around the temple dedicated to Shiva. Later rulers from the Pandya and Vijayanagara empires expanded the site and added structures still visible today.

The name Chidambaram derives from Tamil words for consciousness and space, reflecting the spiritual meaning of the place. Visitors experience traditional Carnatic music during temple ceremonies and observe pilgrims bowing before the shrines.

Visitors reach the town by buses from larger cities or through the local railway station, while auto-rickshaws handle transport within the narrow streets. The best visiting period falls between November and February when temperatures are more comfortable.

The annual Natyanjali Dance Festival transforms the temple grounds into a stage for classical Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. Dancers from different regions perform their pieces outdoors on the stone floors in front of the shrines.