Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a vibrant roadshow in Tiruchirappalli on Sunday as part of his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, receiving a warm welcome from enthusiastic crowds lining the route.
Security arrangements were heightened ahead of PM Modi’s scheduled visit to the historic Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Ariyalur district, where he is set to participate in a grand commemoration marking 1,000 years since Rajendra Chola I’s maritime expedition to Southeast Asia.
The streets were decorated with BJP and AIADMK flags, alongside banners and flex boards featuring iconic images of Chola emperor Raja Raja Chozhan and messages welcoming the Prime Minister.
As part of the celebrations, PM Modi will release a special commemorative coin in honor of Rajendra Chola I during a public event at the temple, coinciding with the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival—a major celebration in the Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition.
On Saturday, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth over ₹4,800 crore in Thoothukudi, spanning sectors such as logistics, clean energy, and infrastructure.
Additionally, PM Modi paid tributes to India’s brave soldiers on Kargil Vijay Diwas, saluting their courage and supreme sacrifice.
Rajendra Chola I (1014–1044 CE), remembered as one of India’s most visionary emperors, expanded the Chola Empire across South and Southeast Asia. He established Gangaikonda Cholapuram as his imperial capital after his conquests, and the grand temple he built there stands today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its architectural brilliance and spiritual significance.