Palani Murugan Temple

Palani Murugan Temple.

Lodged atop a hill, the temple draws hundreds of believers and worshipers from all across the country. This temple is a gem of Palani that you must visit anytime you are in Tamil Nadu. As the name suggests, the temple’s main deity is Lord Murugan who is much revered in the whole Palani region.

Palani Murugan's total steps.

One has to climb 689 steps to reach it.

Once you reach the top of the hill, you can see Palani Town. Based on historical accounts, the statue of Murugan was built by Bogar, a hermit who also blessed it. If you believe in legends, there is one very interesting fact related to the temple’s construction. As per common belief, the sculptor who was given the task of creating the Murugan idol took so much time in creating the face that he couldn’t finish the body on time. Therefore, when you see the idol now, you will notice how inartistic the body looks. 

It was Chera King Cheraman Perumal who constructed the temple. The expansion of the temple took place between the 8th and 13th centuries when its new gopurams were built.

Hundreds of devotees throng this temple to attend the pujas here. The pujas start at 6.00 in the morning with the last puja that is performed at 8 in the evening. One can also offer special pujas on special days like festivals. As per the 2016 census, this temple was counted as the richest in Tamil Nadu.  

Worshipers come here to get their heads tonsured. According to tradition,  sandalwood paste is applied on the head of Murugan before the temple closes for the night. The next morning, devotees are offered the paste. There is yet another tradition where the priests sing a lullaby, known as ‘odhuvar’ to help him sleep. For those enthusiastic about discovering the deep history of this exceptional temple, integrating the Palani Murugan into the Kodaikanal tour package holds great importance.

Palani murugan temple alangaram timings.

Different alangaram are there for different rituals. It happens for rituals at different timings. It starts at 9 AM. And the last alangaram is at 8 PM.

Palani Murugan rope car timings.

It starts from 7 AM – 1:30 PM and again at 2:30 PM – 9 PM.

Other Information about the temple

• It is best to come here early in the morning to see the sunrise and perform the opening puja.
• Washroom facilities are available.
• You can purchase food from local shops here.
• Lockers are also available in case you want to store your personal belongings.
• Winter is the best season to visit.
• Three winches operate for those that cannot take the rope-way or the steps.
• Elephant Path can also be used to get to the temple.

Regarded as Palani’s most revered, the temple with its rich history, and many old legends make for a riveting visit. This one of the must places to visit in Kodaikanal