Day trip to Palani
Palani is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites located in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. Palani is renowned being one of the holy six Padai Veedu temples of Lord Murugan. It is about 120 km from Madurai and about 152 km from Trichy. It is believed that the Lord Murugan is said to have been in this place and settled down.
MADURAI – PALANI 120 KMS
Pick up from Hotel in Madurai and drive towards Palani. Palani is 120 km from Madurai and takes 2 and half hours to reach.
ARRIVES PALANI
Arrives Palani. Upon arrival, go to see Palani Murugan Temple on top of the hill.
Palani Murugan Temple
Popularly known as Palani Murugan Temple, The shrine of Lord Arulmigu Dandayudhapani Swami Murugan is located at the top of a hill at an elevation of about 500 feet. It is a major attraction of Palani. Temple can be reached by climbing 1008 steps up to the hilltop. One can also use small rope train for reaching to the temple on top of the hill. Once reached, visitors get an overlooking view of beautiful Palani city and Palani hills.
The temple is said to have been constructed by Cheraman Perumal of the Chera Dynasty. The Cholas and Pandyas also had their contribution on expansion of the temple between 08th and 13th Century. They had added on new mandapams and gopurams to the site of temple followed by Nayaka Kings who also added some sculptures to the temple during their reign. Palani Dhandayuthapani Temple is one of the few temples of India where Lord Murugan is worshipped as Kaumaram.
Palani Murugan Temple Timings
Monday – Friday: 7.00 AM – 8.00 PM
Saturday: 7.00 AM – 8.00 PM
Sunday: 7.00 AM – 8.00 PM
Public Holidays: 7.00 AM – 8.00 PM
LUNCH AT TEMPLE
Lunch at restaurant at the temple.
RETURN TO BASE
After seeing the Murugan Temple, come down by following the steps or by small rope train to the base.
RETURN TO MADURAI
Drive back to the Madurai, but before check in at your pre-booked hotel, you can go to see Thirupparamkunram or Tirupparankundram, which is 7 km away from Madurai.
EN-ROUTE VISIT MURUGAN TEMPLE
Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple near Madurai
Located 8 km southwest of Madurai, the Thirupparankundram or Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple is the fourth sacred site of Muruga A cave temple dedicated to the element of earth. It was a place where Murugan is said to have married to Devasena upon the hill for centuries and locals found it very auspicious for their own marriages. Devotees flock here in large number during Pankuni Uttiram (A festival of marriage) in the month of March. Temple is one of the Arupadaiveedu and carved in rock. It exhibits an architectural style of Pandya dynasty. The main features of the temples are rock cut portion of the hill temple, life sized sculptures in the mandapams and intricately carved pillars leading to the 46 m high Rajagopuram at the entrance.
There is also a Muslim shrine located near the temple, dedicated to Sikandar (Alexander the Great). According to the legends, Sikandar was a friend of Murugan when Murugan was a King.
