Sri Ranganathar Temple -Srirangam (WEST UTHRAI STREET, Srirangam Tiruchchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 620006,India)

Srirangam is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines (Swayam Vyakta Kshetras) of Lord Vishnu . It is also considered the first, foremost and the most important of the 108 main Vishnu temples (Divyadesams). This temple is also known as Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam, Bhogamandabam. In the Vaishnava parlance the term "KOIL" signifies this temple only. The temple is enormous in size. The temple complex is 156 acres in extent. It has seven prakaras or enclosures. These enclosures are formed by thick and huge rampart walls which run round the sanctum. There are 21 magnificent towers in all prakaras providing a unique sight to any visitor. this temple lies on an islet formed by the twin rivers Cauvery and Coleroon. According to the temple's website, Srirangam can be considered the biggest functioning Hindu Temple in the world, as it covers an area of about 631,000 square metres (6,790,000 sq ft) with a perimeter of 4 km (10,710 ft).Srirangam claims to be the biggest functioning temple.

Lord Ranganathar is enshrined in a reclining posture (facing the South); while Lord Namperumaal the festival deity in a standing posture is also housed in the main sanctum. There is a shrine in the fourth prakaram, housing Lord Ranganayaki Taayaar.

The vimana of srirangam temple originally came out of “paarkadal” with the powers of brahma deva (One of the three main Gods of Hinduism). The incarnation of lord Vishnu called Ramavathara has performed poojas to this vimana. As a symbol of love he gifted this vimana to Vibishana (brother of Ravana) to take back with him to Sri Lanka. There was a condition that he could not set the vimana on earth and if he did it would set itself permanently. Vibishna took this vimana and was traveling towards Sri Lanka, and came upon the banks of the river Cauvery. Tired from his long travel, he wanted to bathe in the river. Lord Vinayaka posing as a young kid, plays a trick on him and sets the vimana on the ground where it sets permanently creating the central shrine for the temple at srirangam, on the banks of river cauvery. Then Chola kings Dharmavarcholan and Killivalavan developed the shrine into the big temple seen now. They built the basic foundations and main buildings.

The temple of Sri Ranganathaswami at Srirangam boasts an historic past of great kingdom and a civilization thousands of years old. The reign of the Pallavas was marked by the creation of a solid religious foundation, for example the encouragement given by the dynasty appears to have contributed to the growth of Aryan institutions in Southern India more particularly in the Carnatic. Cholas reigned for about three hundred years over the Coromandel Coast and the greater part of Eastern Deccan, where they helped an advanced Hindu Culture to flourish.

The climate of Trichy (and Srirangam) is Tropical. Average Temperature Range (°C): Summer- Max. 37.1 °C Min. 26.4 °C; Winter- Max. 31.3 °C Min. 20.6 °C; Rainfall: 835 mm