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Kudumiyanmalai – Pudukkottai

Kudumiyanmalai – Pudukkottai

Kudumiyanmalai is a village located at a distance of 20 kilometres from Pudukkottai on the Pudukkottai-Kodumbalur road. The cave temples at Kudumiyanmalai are a highlighting feature of the place.

Kudumiyanmalai is also famous for The Shikanathar Temple on a hillock dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Agricultural College owned and administered by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Kudumiyanmalai Rock Cut Cave Temple:

The cave temple excavated on the eastern side of the hillock is believed to have been excavated in the early seventh century.

  • This monolith cave temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva worshipped as Shikanatheeswarar and Goddess Parvathi as Akhilandeswari.
  • The Maha Mandapam (great gathering hall) of the temple has aesthetically carved pillars and ornate sculptures belonging to the Nayaka period.
  • Another noted feature of the temple is the rock cut stretch with carved figures of 63 Nayanmars with figures of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi and Nandi in the middle.
  • On the inner wall of the temple is the figure of Lord Valampuri Ganesha (with the trunk twirling towards right).
  • There are around 120 inscriptions found in the cave temple that helps in tracing the history of the temple and town. However, the most significant is the inscription donating grammatical notes of Carnatic music that is engraved to the right of the temple (on the south of the temple mandapam).
  • To the right of this inscription, there is a five feet high carved image of Lord Idampuri Ganesha (with the trunk twirling toward).
  • The temple complex has subsidiary shrines of Akhilandeshwari and Soundara-Nayaki Amman shrine.

Temple Timings and Festivals:

The temple is open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Maha Shivarathri is the main festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Masi (February-March). Other festivals observed include the Thirukalyanam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (October–November) and Thiru Karthigai in the Tamil month of Karthigai (November-December).

How to reach Kudumiyanmalai

Pudukkottai and Trichy are the nearest towns where one can avail accommodation facilities. The nearest railway station is at Pudukottai (20 kilometres away). The nearest airport is at Tiruchirapalli (around 49 kilometres away).