Hi, My 3 days Trichy trip is completed and I was able to cover a lots of sites, with great help from Mr Srinivasa and Mr Bala Padmanabhan. As rightly stated by SPS sir, Mr Bala is highy acquainted with Indian shipa shastras and I rectified many of my queries related to architectural terms with his help. I read about these terms but there was no visual help so that I can see which element means what, but while visiting the temples I applied all these learning and hence this acted as a visual aid to understand the terms better. I was never aware that there are so many cave temples in Tamilnadu hence this trip gave me a whole new surprise about understanding the advancements in temple architecture. The following sites were covered during the trip.
1. Kodambalur - well known site 2. Kudumiyanmalai - musical inscription cave 3. Sittanavasal - famous painting Jaina cave (unfortunately I could not take the photos as this requires permission from ASI) 4. Panagudi - a very early Chola temple 5. Tiruvengaivasal - Chola temple, a good Sapta-matrika representation 6. Kunnandarkovil - Shiva cave temple, pallava style dvarpalas, a unique Somaskana panel, chariot mandapa, Sapta-matrika 7. Malayadipatti - Shiva and Vishnu cave temples, Vishnu temple with some very good paintings 8. Kaliyapatti - an early Chola temple, sinking on side, needs renovation, attention to REACH 9. Visalur - a very early Chola temple 10. Thirukokarnam - Shiva cave temple 11. Thirukattalai - a perfect parivara temple 12. Thirumayam - Shiva and Vishnu cave temple, one of the most perfect Anantashayana panel in Vishnu temple (unfortunately no photos) 13. Srinivasalur - Koranganatha temple 14. Trichy caves - well known site 15. Sri Rangam - well known site, did not get Vibishana panel as the thousand pillar hall was closed 16. Nartamalai - Vesara style parivara temple, a well known site
I will write about the site in details, will keep me busy for next six months. Mr Bala told me that there are many such fine cave temples in Madurai region, so will soon plan for this.