Temples & Other interesting Places

1. Government Museum at Thirugokarnam

The Government Museum, Pudukkottai at Thirukogarnam now housed in an age old building then called as the “small palace”, was opened to the public in the year 1910 and it houses the object of the natural history and cultural heritage of the area.

2. Thirumayam fort.

Siva Cave Temple (9th Century A.D), Vishnu Cave Temple ,(9th Century A.D) Fort (17th Century A.D).It is situated at a distance of 17km from Pudukottai town towards Karaikudi and Madurai. Thirumayam is one of the important religious centers in the South, and its temples are regarded with great veneration both by Vaishnavites and Saivaites. Vishnu cave temple Main gopura at the entrance has many of the features of the ‘late Pandya style, such as the corbels with Pushpapodigai, many sided pillars with nagapadam and decorative pilasters.

3. Thirugokarnam Temple

A rock cut cave temple situated in the heart of the city built by Mahendravarma pallava is Known as Kokaraneeswarer temple. Lord Siva (Kokaraneeswarer) and Lord sakthi (Pragadambal ) are the main deity of this temple . The later additions were made by Pandyas, Cholas and Thondaman Dynasty and become a great structure of temple. Many festivals and dance programmes were frequently performed here on ancient days. Drama ,dance and music flourished to its peak during the Thondaman dynasty. Chithirai festival, Adi pooram and Navarathiri Vizha are the important festival celebrated here. Telephone : 04322 -236195

Visiting Hours

Morning 6.00 am to 12.00am
Evening 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm

4. Kudimiyanmalai

It is located at a distance of 20 km from pudukkottai . The cave temples situated here are the testimony for the ancient art and culture. There is siva temple on a hill lock dedicated to Sikkanatheeswarer and life size sculpture were surrounded by this temple. There are more than 100 inscriptions with a highlight of an inscription expressing the gramatical notes of Karnatic music. There is famous Agricultural college owned and maintained by Government of Tamilnadu.
Pone No. 04322 – 221084.

5. Avudaiyarkoil

The temple dedicated Athmanatha samy situated in Avudayar koil at a distance of 60 km from pudukkottai, contain life-size sculptures. The roof of the Avudaiyar Koil made up of copper plate similar to that of the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram having golden plates.The temple is noted for its granite roof work.Tha saint Manickavasaga had been given high focus in this temple. It has been under the control of Thiruvadu thurai Atheeyenam.
Phone No 04371- 233301.

6. Chithannavasal

Chithannavasal is a Prominent Tourist Centre of Pudukottai District. It is located on the Annavasal – Pudukottai Road at a distance of 17 km from Pudukottai. In ancient days the Jain Monks used to live in cave and hillocks so as to perform their ascetic life. They polished the hill for the purpose of poojas and penance in the open shelter. Such a type of Jain temple and Jain beds are found in Sittannavasal and surrounding places. On the Eastern side of the sittannavasal hill have more than 17 beds . The rare Brahmi Tamil script inscriptions are found near the beds. The Jain Beds are collectively Know as Ezhadi pattam .

A second century Jain temple in chithannavasal consisted of Mahavir statue on both sides of wall is considered as a ‘Meditation Hall’ or Arivar temple . The ceiling of the Arivar temple are full of Fresco herbal painting dates back to Mahendravarma pallava. Paintings of a royal couple and a lotus tank with marine creatures are notable fresco paintings. These paintings are considered to be the next of Ajantha cave Paintings at Aurangabad. The cave temples are under the control of Archaeological survey of India.

The Excavations of Archaeological survey of India reveals that the surroundings of the Chithannavasal have unearthern burial pots. This pots are know as Muthumakkal Thazhi. After death the Jain monks are kept in the pot and buried in the Burial Ground.

The District administration together with the financial Assistance of Tourism Department incorporated the Miniature statue park, Children park , dancing fountain and boating jetty near the jain cave Temple. Many foreign and Domestic tourist used to visit this place throughout the year. It ranks first in the tourist arrival statistics of this District.

The Entrance fees for cave temple and jain Bed
Indian Rs.5/-
Foreigner 2 US Dollars (Rs 100/-)

Charges for Boating maintained by Tourism Development sangam
Adult Rs 20/- Per head
Child Rs. 10/- per head

7. Narthamalai

It is located at a distance of 17 km from Pudukkottai. Narthamalai is head Quarters for the Cheiftain of Mutharaiyar. The earliest structural stone temple circular in shape,vijayalaya choleeswaram cave temple and kadambar malai temple are the main attractions of Narthamalai. Now-a-days the Narthmalai muthu Mariamman temple also attract many tourists to this place. The mullaipari procession is an attracting event of this temple.

8. Malaiyadipatty

Pdukkottai District ,at Keezhayur panchayat a siva temple together with vishu temple have been situated with a distance of 33 km from Pudukkottai and 15km from Keeranur is known as malaiadipatti. During 730 AD Nanthivarma Pallava carved the siva temple (Vakeewarer) from the Hill locks. The Vishnu temple is constructed later than the Siva temple and Narashima Moorthy, Thirumal, Ananada sayana moorthy and Ahishasan statue are the attractive statues situated in this Vishnu temple.Some of the paintings depicting the ten avadars of Thirumal have been beautifully painted on the walls of Thirumal cave Temple . The mudumakkal Thazhi also available in some areas of this village in a burial ground.

9. Kunnandar Koil

The name Kunnandar Koil is called as Thirukundrakudi in the inscriptions available in this Temple. It is located 40 km away form Pudukkottai and 22km away from Keeranur. A siva temple (cave temple ) has been constructed during the period of Nandhivarma pallava (775 AD) is existed in this village. Lord Muruga Temple is also available on the top of a small hill . There is mandapa ia the shape of a chariot with horses attaract many tourists in this spot.

10. Kodumbaloor

The name Kodumbaloor has been mentioned in the Tamil epic Silapathigaram. It is located at a distance of 35km from Trichy and 40km from pudukkottai. The architectural structure existed here are the forerunner for Dravidiyan style of architecture. The remaining structures of Muvar koil and Mujukundeeswarer temple attracts many tourist to this place. It is under the control of Archaeological survey India.