Every city has its originals, the places that were there long before the malls and that every local has a story about. In Trichy, most of them sit within a short walk of the Rockfort. Here are the old-city icons worth seeing if you want to feel the real Trichy.

Malaikottai (Rockfort)

The 83-metre rock in the middle of the city is Trichy’s symbol. Climb past the Thayumanavar shrine to the Ucchi Pillayar temple at the top for a view over the Kaveri, Srirangam and the whole city. Read our Rockfort guide for timings and tips.

Teppakulam

The temple tank at the foot of the Rockfort, surrounded by bazaars and a busy flower market. The view of the Rockfort across the water is one of the most photographed in Trichy.

Gandhi Market

Trichy’s main vegetable and fruit market began as the Fort Market, built in 1867–68. In 1927 P. Rathinavelu Thevar, then head of the city council, invited Mahatma Gandhi to lay the foundation for its expansion, and it has been Gandhi Market ever since. It is busiest in the early morning, when produce arrives for the whole region.

Yaanai Mark Nei Mittai Kadai

On Bazaar Street, this sweet shop has been running for more than a hundred years and is now in its third generation. It is known for its large “elephant-size” boondi, Mysore pak and cashew halwa, and for packing sweets in small bamboo baskets woven by local families instead of plastic boxes. Many visitors come because their fathers and grandfathers bought sweets here.

The Golden Rock (Ponmalai) Sunday shandy

A big weekly market near the Golden Rock railway colony, held on Sundays, with vegetables, fruit, groceries, utensils and much more. It has been going for decades and draws people from across the district.

Food to try in the old city

  • A traditional South Indian meal on a banana leaf at lunchtime, followed by filter coffee.
  • Kothu parotta from an evening street stall, chopped and fried on the griddle.
  • Kuzhi paniyaram with coconut chutney.
  • Jigarthanda on a hot afternoon.
  • Mutton chukka with parotta, if you eat non-vegetarian food.

Ask the shopkeepers which place they eat at. In the old city, the busiest small eateries are usually the best.

Combine it with

Spend a morning on the Rockfort and Teppakulam, then shop in Singarathope and Chinna Kadai Street. For produce and farmers’ markets, see our markets guide.

Where to stay

Our two homes in Ramalinga Nagar, the Ground Floor and the First Floor, are entire 2-bedroom houses for up to 5 guests each, with air-conditioned bedrooms and a kitchen, about 6 km from Rockfort. See our homestays in Trichy or check free dates and book directly.

Shop timings, market days and prices change, especially around festivals. Please check locally before you go.

Photo: Railwayliker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.