In Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, a reclining form of Vishnu, with consort Ranganayaki. It is also known as Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam.
The foremost of the 108 Divya Desams and recognised as the largest functioning Hindu temple complex in the world; celebrated by the Alvar poet-saints in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. Originally constructed by the Chola monarch Dharmavarma, its vimana was damaged by Kaveri floods and later rebuilt by the early Chola king Killivalavan.
Tamil Nadu carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of towering gopurams and living Dravidian temple traditions, from the Chola masterpieces to the great Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
Confirmed directly on the temple's Tamil Nadu HR&CE page (tid 25700): the temple is open through the day (06:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 12:00 PM - 09:00 PM per its own Opening Time table) but closes for darshan/archana three separate times daily - 7:15-9:00 AM (after Viswaroopa Pooja/darshan), 12:30-2:15 PM, and 5:30-7:00 PM (during Ksheerannam) - plus a fourth no-darshan window for Aravanai at 9:30-10:00 PM. Individual sannidhis within the complex keep their own shorter hours. Darshan timings change during festival periods; the temple publishes a separate festival darshan-timing notice/PDF on its own site. Devotees are asked to be present at least one hour before the darshan-closing time.
Daily aarti and pooja schedule
| Ritual | Time |
|---|---|
| Viswaroopa Pooja | 6:15 AM - 7:15 AM |
| Pongal Pooja (no darshan during this pooja) | 7:15 AM - 9:00 AM |
| Ksheerannam (no darshan during this pooja) | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM |
| Aravanai (no darshan during this pooja) | 9:30 PM - 10:00 PM |
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Vaikunta Ekadashi | December-January | The principal festival, celebrated over about 21 days with the opening of the Paramapada Vasal (gate to heaven). |
| Chithirai Car Festival | April | Grand chariot festival drawing large crowds. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style covering about 156 acres, the largest active Hindu temple in India, with seven concentric enclosures, 21 gopurams, over 50 shrines and 9 sacred water bodies. The Rajagopuram, at about 236 feet, is the tallest temple tower in India; the sanctum's vimana is gold-plated.
History
Originally constructed by the Chola monarch Dharmavarma, its vimana was damaged by Kaveri floods and later rebuilt by the early Chola king Killivalavan. During Malik Kafur's invasion (1310-1311) the idol was taken to Delhi and later recovered; in a further 1323 invasion it was hidden in the Tirumala hills for six decades until restored in 1371. It flourished under the Vijayanagara and Nayak dynasties and is today managed by the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department.
Planning your visit
Darshan types and fees
| Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Queue Darshan | Free | Standard darshan |
| Vishwaroopam Sevai | ₹100 | Confirmed on the temple's own Tamil Nadu HR&CE fee schedule |
How to reach
About 9-12 km from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), which has regular flight, train and bus connectivity. Nearest railway is Tiruchirapalli Junction; local buses, autos and cabs run from Trichy. Trichy airport is about 15 km away.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in photographs
4 freely-licensed photographs of this temple, from Wikimedia Commons. Each is credited to its photographer.



Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Individual ritual/pooja clock times, the additional midday and evening no-darshan closure windows, and the Vishwaroopam Sevai fee are now confirmed directly from the temple's own Tamil Nadu HR&CE page (tid 25700), the government body that administers it. officialWebsite has been set to this HR&CE page since no separate temple-trust site was found. Timings still change on festival days.
