Tiruchirapalli (also spelled Tiruchchirappalli, commonly known as Tiruchi or Trichy, formerly known as Trichinopoly under British rule) is a city situated on the banks of the Kaveri river, centrally located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The name of this town, Tiruchirapalli, originates as a tribute (Thiru in Tamil means respected) to a Jain monk by the name chira; so Tiruchirapalli means "the town of the great Jain monk".

It has many historic churches, mosques, temples and monuments. It was an important town in the days of the later Cholas as well as during the early days of British East India Company. One famous landmark in Tiruchirapalli is the Rock Fort - a huge hillock of rock. There is a Ganesha temple on top; this was also used as a military encampment for some time. For this the city is also called the "Rock City."

Considered an educational town, it has schools and colleges that are hundreds of years old. The National Institute of Technology (formerly the Regional Engineering College NIT-Trichy) and the Bharathidasan Institute of Management are also located in Tiruchirapalli.

The temple towns of Srirangam, Uttamar Kovil, and Thiruvanaikkovil are near Trichy.

See also

• List of cities in India