Talking about my Native Place-Sholinghur or CholaSimhapuram

View of both Hill temples in Sholinghur

I am glad to post this 150th article in my blog about my native place "Sholinghur" and about the famous temples in the town. 


Just like anyone, I have very sweet memories of the place where I was born and spent my school days in Goodlet High School managed by Church of South India. 

                                        Goodlet High School
( I left the place in 1966 and came to Chennai where all important events in my life like Graduation,Employment,Marriage etc took place. I am at present settled in Chennai in my own house.)


Now let me take you to my native place.


Sholinghur which is also called as Chozha Lingapuram (in short Sholingapuram ) and also called as  CholaSimhapuram is located in Vellore District. It is a famous Vaishnavite pilgrim place with two hill temples.


Sholinghur was ruled by the Chola Empire, Nawabs of Arcot and Tippu Sultan.Sholinghur also has a historical significance. It was here that Sir Eyre Coote fought against Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali in the Second Anglo-Mysore War.

Transport:
It is just 27 K.m. away from Arakkonam on the Bangalore-ChennaiTrain Route. Easy transport facility is also available from Chennai, Vellore,Chittor, Tiruttani, Arakkonam and Arcot. People alight at Arakkonam junction and come to this place. 

1. Distance from Chennai 110 K.M 2. Distance from Vellor 50 K.M 3. Distance from Tiruttani 27 K.M 4. Distance from Arakonam 27 K.M 5. Distance from Arcot 31 K.M

There is Railway Station in the name of Sholinghur, but it is not in Sholinghur town proper. The station is in a place called Banavaram which is 13 kms from Sholinghur.


 There are direct buses from Chennai to Sholinghur. Or you can take a direct bus from Chennai to Thiruthani ( famous Murugan temple town) and from there you can get plenty of buses to Sholinghur.


You have to take an auto from Sholingur bus stand to go to Kondapalayam where the both Narasimhar and Anjaneya temple hills are situated.

The town is famous for the hill temples at its outskirts i)Sri Yoga Narasimhar (1305 steps) located on the top of the hill Ghatikachala and Sri Yoga Anjaneya Swamy hill temple (406 steps). It is one of the 108 Divya Desams - sacred places in Hinduism. The temples are located on two hillocks. 


The Thakkan Kulam located on the way to the hills, is a big pond with 45 feet Anjaneyar statue & temple. Also, the town has war monument built by Tippu sultan at 1784 A.D during Second Anglo-Mysore War. 

Thakkan kulam

Anjaneyar statue

Temple of Yoga Narasimhar (Big Hill Temple):

                                        View of Big Hill


The Big  hill which is the abode of Lord Yoga Narasimha Swami 
is of 750 feet height with steps  of 1305.

           

                                                  ShriYoga Narasimhar 




Lord Narasimha with Sangu Chakram, Salakirama Haram,yoga peetam, korai teeth, long nails and strong hair gives darshan to the people as santhamurthi.

The Lord is praised by Thirumangai Alvar, Peyalvar and Nammalvar.  They praise him as Ilangkumaran and Akkarakani.

 

                                        Shri Amirdhavalli thayar

There was a separate temple for Amirthavalli Thayar on the Big  Hill  Previously. Now the Thayar  Shrine  has  been consider nearer to the Santum Sanctorum of Perumal. Procession Deity of Thayar is also kept there.

Yoga Anjaneya Temple(Small Hill Temple):

The Small Hill which is the abode of Yoga Anjeneya Swami is of 350 feet height with 406 steps.

                                                    Yoga Anjeneya
  It is a pleasant sight to see the Lord in the  Yoga form with  Sanguchakram. This form is the unique  one  in our country.

There are lots of monkeys on both the hills.The best way to stay safe from the monkeys is by not teasing them and not carrying anything in the hands that is visible..preferably dont carry anything.There are shops  midway that sell juices and snacks. Also different types of prasadam are available in the temple premises. So one need not carry any food item with them.

Temple in the Town: Bakthavatsala Perumal Temple


There is another temple in the town which is near the Bus stand.

Moolavar - Not present
Uthsavar - Bakthavatsala Perumal (Thakkaan)

One can have Darshan of Adikesava perumal at the rear end  of  this  temple only on  certain  occasions.  There  are  separate  sannathis  for  Andaal, Azhwaars, Erumbiyappa, and Thottaachaarya.


Accommodation:


There are many private cottages and chatrams where one can get accommodation at reasonable rents.

(Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sholinghur
http://www.sholinghurnarasimhar.com/eSholinghurhistory.html)