Srirangam, also known as Thiruvarangam, is a small island town adjoining Tiruchirapalli in South India. With an area of about 600 acres (2.4 km²), Srirangam is bounded by the Kaveri River on one side, and the Kaveri tributary Kollidam (Coleroon) on the other. Srirangam is home to a significant population of Vaishnavites.

Srirangam is famous for its Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus (especially Vaishnavites) and one of the largest temple complexes in India. The gopuram or the gateway of the temple is called the RajaGopuram and is 236 feet (72 m) tall. Myth has it that the coast of Sri Lanka can be seen from the top of the gopuram. The temple is constituted by seven concentric enclosures or prakaras with gopurams articulating the axial path, the highest at the outermost prakara and the lowest at the innermost.

The three sacred

1. Adi Ranga - at Srirangapatna
2. Madhya Ranga - at Shivanasamudram
3. Renganatha - Srirangam

Srirangam is the foremost of the 108 Divya Desams (divine centers) mentioned in Nalaira Divya Prapandham, composed by the Tamil saints known as Azhwars. It is also the foremost seat of the teachings of Ramanuja, who spread the doctrine of Visishtadvaita (qualified monism), considered to be one of the cornerstones of Hindu philosophy. Srirangam temple is the only place to be sung by all Alwars and visited by all Acharyas. There are 247 pasurams about "tiruvarangan" in Nalayira Divya Prabandam. Some of the famous pasurams include 1)Pachai Mamalai Pol Meni by Tondaradipodi Azhwar, Kangulum Pagalum by Nammazhwar, Amalanaathipiraan by Thirupanaazhwar and so many others. It is widely believed that Lord Ranganatha appeared as a child and sung the famous Sree Sailesa Dayapathram thaniyan about Sri Manavala Mamunigal .

Economy

Due to the famous temple, Srirangam has a thriving economy from the visitors to the town. The visitors

Srirangam town is also home to several hundred people who work in offices, industries located in near by Trichy city. The public transport linking srirangam to trichy is very frequent (Most popular route #1).

Schools

There are numerous schools, both private and public in the town. The higher secondary school for Boys was founded in 1896 and is the oldest one in the town. However there are many school childern who travel to near by Trichy also

Access

Srirangam is very well linked from Trichy by public transportation. The nearest airport is situated in Trichy, however its not a very busy airport compared to Chennai.

Indian Airlines (recently renamed as Indian) connects Trichy with Chennai, Sharjah, Kuwait and Colombo. Air Lanka Service connects Tirchy with Colombo.

Srirangam also has a railway station and most of the trains passing by stops for about 5 minutes or so. Trichy railway junction one of the biggest in the state is only three miles away. Trichy junction is connected with Chennai, Thanjavur, Chidambaram, Madurai, Tirupathi, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, Quilon, Rameswaram, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore, Kochi, Kanyakumari and Mangalore. There are many public buses and train connections from Chennai to Trichy which is roughly 208 miles.

City Bus service to all places of tourist interest from Central Bus Stand and from Chinthamani -Mani Guard Gate Bus Stand (Both in Trichy). Tourist Taxis, Auto Rickshaws are also available on reasonable price.

Route No. 1 of the City bus service plies between Srirangam and Junction. This route starts from Junction and goes through Central Bus Stand, Palakkarai, Main Guard Gate, Chatram Bus Stand, Mambazha salai, Thiruvanaikkovil, Srirangam Therkku vaasal (South entrance), M.Salai, East Boulevard Road, Mailam market to Junction Bus Stand. Frequency is one bus for every 5 minutes.