Arulmigu Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) district · Lord Ranganatha (Vishnu reclining on the serpent Adisesha, called Periya Perumal; processional form Namperumal / Azhagiya Manavalan) and Goddess Ranganayaki (Sri Ranganachiyar, Lakshmi)
The first of the 108 Divya Desams: a temple-town of seven walls and 21 gopurams on a Kaveri island, where the Gate of Heaven opens once a year.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, on an island between the Kaveri and Kollidam rivers about 5 km north of Tiruchirappalli, is the foremost of the 108 Divya Desams (the Vishnu temples praised by the Alvar poet-saints). Vishnu lies here as Ranganatha on the coils of Adisesha, facing south towards Lanka. According to the temple's own figures the complex covers about 156 acres inside seven concentric walls (prakarams), with 21 gopurams; its 13-tier, 236-ft south Rajagopuram, completed in 1987, is one of the tallest temple towers in Asia. It is a living town: the outer streets are homes and shops, and the inner courts hold one of India's busiest festival calendars, crowned by the 21-day Vaikunta Ekadasi festival in December–January.
Timings
- Ranganatha sanctum (normal days): Viswaroopam 6:15 – 7:15 AM; darshan 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 2:30 – 5:30 PM, 6:45 – 9:00 PM
- Closed for pooja (no darshan): 7:15/7:30 – 9:00 AM (Pongal pooja), 12:30 – 2:30 PM (Periya Avasaram), 5:30 – 6:45 PM (Seeranam)
- Ranganayaki (Thayar) shrine: Viswaroopam 6:30 AM; darshan 6:30 – 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 5:45 PM, 6:45 – 9:00 PM
- Udaiyavar (Ramanuja) shrine: 6:30 – 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 4:00 – 8:30 PM
- Last entry: No entry past the Aryabhattal gate after 9:00 PM
- Festival days: Timings change on festival days (for example Aug–Oct 2026 Moolavar darshan was 6–7 AM, 9:30 AM–12:30 PM, 2:30–5:30 PM, 7–9 PM). Check the PDF timetables on the official site.
Darshan types and costs
- Free (Dharma) darshan – Free
- Perumal Sannathi Special Way (Sirappu Vazhi) – ₹100 per person
- Thayar Sannathi Special Way – ₹50 per person
- Viswaroopa Sevai – ₹100 per person
- Mangala Aarathi – ₹500 per person
- Vaikunta Ekadasi days – Varies
Sevas and costs
- Viswaroopam Sevai (Perumal Sannathi) – ₹100 (Daily at dawn. Booking slot shown as 5:35 – 5:55 AM (reporting time); Viswaroopam itself…)
- Mangala Aarathi – ₹500 (8:45 – 9:15 AM, 2:00 – 2:15 PM and 6:30 – 6:45 PM)
- Thirumanjanam – Sri Chakkarathalwar – ₹1,075 (12:00 – 1:00 PM; not on Saturdays or festival days)
- Thirumanjanam – Sri Dhanvantari – ₹1,200 (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM; not on Thursdays, Saturdays or festival days)
- Thirumanjanam – Sri Kambathadi Hanumar – ₹780 (11:00 AM – 12:00 PM; not on Saturdays or festival days)
- Perumal Sannathi Sahasranamam – ₹50 (During darshan hours)
- Thayar Sannathi Sahasranamam – ₹20 (During Thayar shrine darshan hours)
- Archanai at the sub-shrines – ₹5 (₹2 at the Nammalvar shrine) (During darshan hours)
- Annai Tamizhil Vazhipadu (worship in Tamil) – ₹5 (During darshan hours)
- Vaikunta Ekadasi and Paramapada Vasal – Free (paid queues announced separately) (20 December 2026 (Margazhi 5). Gate opens 5:15 AM and stays open till 10 PM that day;…)
How to book darshan
Paid darshan, Viswaroopam, Mangala Aarathi and Thirumanjanams are sold online on the temple's TN HR&CE booking page; archanai and sahasranamam tickets at temple counters.
Dress code
Traditional dress is expected: dhoti or trousers with shirt for men, saree, half-saree or churidar with dupatta for women. Avoid shorts, sleeveless tops and short skirts.
Best time to visit
November to February is pleasant. Margazhi (mid-December to mid-January) has the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival, the most spectacular but most crowded time. Weekday mornings after 9 AM are least crowded.
How to reach
- air: Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ) is about 15 km away; taxis take 30–40 minutes.
- rail: Srirangam railway station is about 1 km from the temple, served by Chennai–Trichy trains. Tiruchirappalli Junction is about 9 km away.
- road: City buses run constantly from Trichy Central and Chatram bus stands to Srirangam. Chennai is about 330 km, Madurai about 130 km.
Festivals
- Vaikunta Ekadasi (Thiru Adhyayana Utsavam) – 10 – 30 December 2026: Pagal Pathu from 10 Dec, Vaikunta Ekadasi and Paramapada Vasal opening on 20 Dec, Nammalvar Moksham on 30 Dec
- Thai Brahmotsavam (Bhoopathi Thirunal) and Thai Ther – 13 – 22 January 2027; car festival on 21 Jan 2027
- Theppam (float festival) – 9 – 17 February 2027
- Panguni Brahmotsavam and Serthi Sevai – 14 – 23 March 2027; Serthi Sevai on Panguni Uthiram, 22 Mar 2027
- Chithirai Brahmotsavam and Chithirai Ther – April – May
- Jyeshtabhishekam – Aani (June – July)
- Unjal (swing) festival – Aippasi (October – November); 2026: from about 28 Oct
- Kaisika Ekadasi – 20 November 2026 (Karthigai)
- Thirukarthigai deepam – 24 November 2026