The most important pilgrim centre in the district is located on an island just 7 kms from Tiruchirappalli. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of the River Kaveri on one side and its tributary the River Kollidam on the other, is a 600-acre island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple. This is the seat of the pontiff of the Vaishnavite, who are the worshippers of Lord Vishnu.
There are not less than 21 gopurams here in this temple, one of which is the tallest in South India. The 72m high 13-tiered Rajagopuram was built in 1987 and this tower dominates the landscape for miles around, while the remaining 20 gopurams were built between the 14th and 17th centuries. Originally, there was just a 20 small shrine where the temple is today. but it was added on to and expanded by Cholas, Cheras, Pandayas, Hoysalas, the vijayanagar kings and Nayaks of Madurai and today Srirangam stands as the biggest temple in the country.
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