Oppiliappan Temple

Oppiliappan Temple is also known as Thiruvenkadamudaiyan temple. The temple is a very famous hindu temple which is located in Kumbakonam district of Tamil Nadu.

The Oppiliappan temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.  It is also believed that the temple is specifically dedicated to the incarnation of the Lord Oppiliappan. All over the year, a large number of tourists come to seek blessings in this Temple.

During the rule of the Chola dynasty, the temple was constructed.  So the first construction that happened toward the temple was done in the 9th Century CE.  Later on, different types of reconstruction and rework happened inside the temple. As the place was ruled by different types of dynasty's like Vijayanagara and Pandya. All of them contributed to the development of the temple.

The Oppiliappan temple did not have Gopuram in the beginning. This was constructed during the 16th century by the Vijayanagar dynasty. Along with this, various other shrines were also constructed inside the temple which include shrines of Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan, Goddess Lakshmi and a lot more.

All over the temple, you will find very beautiful architecture and carvings. The carvings that are depicted on the wall of the temple will feel very real. On the carvings, you will find God and goddess depictions.

The main Gopuram that is present inside the temple is 130 feet high. On the whole gopuram, you will find carvings and sculptures of god, goddess, and celestial bodies. 

There is an inner Sanctorum which is present inside the temple. Brahmotsavam festival is a very famous annual festival that is happening inside the temple during the months of April to May.  Thousands of people are coming to this place to be a part of the festival. So, there are different places to visit in Kumbakonam, but this temple holds a very special and holy spot.
 
Oppiliappan Temple history

There is a story behind the construction of Oppiliappan temple.  It is believed that a long time ago, lord Rama was traveling with goddess Parvati and brother Laxman during the exile. They crossed the place where the temple is currently present.  When they came to the area, Lord Rama was very much impressed by the beauty of the place. Later on, Lord Rama decided to build a temple which will be dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

However, there is one more story towards the construction of the temple. So, it is believed that a very well-known Merchant who was named Aadhiseshan was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.  So, he wanted to construct a temple in the honor of Lord Vishnu. So a group of saints advised him to visit Kumbakonam to build the temple.
 
Overall, the Oppiliappan temple is a very famous and popular Temple among the Hindus.  The temple has a very beautiful Dravidian style architecture. Along with this, you will find beautiful Vijay Nagar style paintings and carvings also. So if you are a person who loves holy places and along with those who want to visit beautiful historical places, you should definitely visit the Oppiliappan temple. So, while going for a Kumbakonam tour package, never forget to add this temple to your list.