Carvings Of Karana Dance On Nataraja Temple's Gopuram, Chidambaram, India, 2008 (photo)

Chidambaram is a fast growing industrial city in the eastern part of Tamil Nadu; near from Pondicherry but also one of the holiest sites dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, indeed the main focus in the city is the Maharaja Temple depicting Shiva in his form of the cosmic dancer (‘Maharaja’), this remarkable 22 hectares Dravidian architectural highlight represents a major pilgrimage site for Shiites and Vaishnavites; the landmark and its colourful gopurams (tower at the entrance of a temple) decorated with shrines contains numerous outstanding sculptured pillared halls that lead to the inner sanctum by a corridor where rituals are performed; Shiva is worshipped in his formless form (Aroopam) during the daily rituals at the moment of Chidambaram Rahasyam which is housed in the temple and followed by the Chief priest; the city is also know for its traditional crafts especially in the gold and silver ornament-making art