Chidambaram is one of those famed temple towns that never goes to sleep. It may look sleepy at high noon or after midnight but the the traffic of pilgrims and tourists never dies down.
The Natyanjali, a four day classical dance festival held during Shivaratri, for the past two decades, has been one of the most important and a permanent fixture in the State's cultural calendar.
Chidambaram in Cuddalore district is about 235 kilometers from Madras and takes the best part of six hours on a bus journey.
Travel along the newly laid East Coast Road (ECR) is the shortest and by far the smoothest way up to the temple town. You shouldn't miss the coastal spots like Mahabalipuram and Pondichery that are on the way. With frequent State transport buses plying between Madras and Pondy, it is a good option to travel upto Pondy and then take a two-hour bus trip to Chidambaram.
It is also better to have your accommodation booked at least a week before Shivaratri. The rooms are much in demand during Natyanjali due to the huge influx of tourists.
Good rooms are available in hotels like Sharadaram (04144-221336) near the bus and railway station. If you want to stay close to the temple then check out Hotel Akshaya (04144-220192).
The dance programmes start late in the evening and the cool open air atmosphere would give you some respite from the heat. The magnificent Lord Nataraja temple built in around 40 acres of land is among the biggest in the country and a dedicated look around would take you at least two to three hours.
A local Dikshitar at your side would help in viewing the temple. The temple's gold plated vimana or the roof and the 108 Bharatanatyam Karanas sculpted on the pillars are some of the 'unmissable' sights. The temple is open from 6am until midnight.
There is a special all-night pooja during Shivaratri when the temple is lit up with oil lamps and the place brims with devotion when the huge bells are sounded at the stroke of midnight.
There are some other beautiful tourist spots near Chidambaram - ask the local Tamil Nadu Tourism office for help. A 'must see' place is Pichavaram, about 12 kms from the town where the unique mangroves flourish. A boatride is highly reccommended!
