Sivakasi - The Land of Fire Crackers and Beautiful Temples

The little sleepy town of Sivakasi often conjures up images of children working in the safety match industry and of course, the famous Cock Brand fireworks we all so lovingly light up on Diwali. While I am reminded of it just once a year on the festival of lights, Sivakasi is much more than the stereotypes associated to it. There is a side to this town different from what an average Indian tourist knows.

What to see in Sivakasi 

While touring a firecracker factory or a safety match making unit will top your list of things to do in this town, there are certain amazing cultural landmarks you wouldn't want to miss out on like:

                                                                  

Badhrakali Amman Temple: This temple is a sight in town you just can't miss. It boasts of the tallest tower ever built for a temple dedicated to goddess Kali. This is the place to be on festival days; the days  when Tamil people celebrate Panguni Pongal and Chithirai Pongal.

 

Nindra Narayana Perumal Temple: Devotees of Vishnu flock in the town of Thiruthangal, which houses the Nindra Narayana Perumal temple. Perched on a hillock, it makes for an amazing sight.

Ayyanar Falls: A popular picnic spot for locals, the Ayyanar Falls make for a great day trip on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Besides the intricately carved temples, the town is also home to two equally beautiuful mosques, namely Periya Palli Vasal Mosque and Chinna Palli Vasal Mosque. There is a church in town too called the CSI Regland Memorial Church.

How to get there

Sivakasi is just 75 km from Madurai, which has air connections to Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. Bus service is available from Madurai all through the day. To get around inside Sivakasi, you can either take a taxi or an auto rickshaw, or mingle with the locals on a bus.

Did you know?

In addition to its reputation of producing the best fireworks and safety matches, Sivakasi is known for having the most offset printing machines in India; second only to Guthenberg in Germany. So the next time you find yourself in the town of Madurai, do think about giving Sivakasi a visit.