Offbeat Alert: Narthamalai, Tamil Nadu — Home Of Some Of Southern India's Oldest Rock-Cut Temples

Tamil Nadu has some of the grandest Hindu temples in India, many of which are rock-cut shrines that date back to the 7^th century AD. Among these is the Vijayalaya Choleeswaram Temple in Narthamalai, which is dedicated to the Hindu deities Shiva and Vishnu. It is also considered scared for Jains. In fact, Narthamalai is known for its abundance of rock-cut temples and is a major tourist attraction in the Pudukkottai district.

Narthamalai: Land of Mystery and History

Situated among a cluster of small hills, Narthamalai is surrounded by thin forest cover on its eastern edge. The area has a rocky landscape with prominent landmarks and lush green surroundings. During the mediaeval Chola period from 848 to 1279, the town served as a trading centre.

One of the most intriguing facets of Narthamalai, besides its rock-cut temples, is its rich variety of medicinal herbs. It is popularly believed that some herbs fell in the area from the Sanjeevani Hill when Hindu deity Hanuman carried them.

Places To Visit In Narthamalai

Vijayalaya Choleeswaram Temple

This temple was originally built during the seventh regnal year of Pallava King Nripatungavarman in 862 CE. Its striking rock-cut architecture makes it one of the oldest stone temples in South India. The central shrine houses the lingam. As one of the few remaining structures from the Chola Empire, the temple is maintained and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Sittannavasal Temple

The Arivar Koli is a rock-cut Jain temple, famous for its mural paintings made in fresco-secco technique, wherein paint is applied to drywall. A famous Tamil inscription on the pillared veranda mentions that the temple was repaired by a famous Jaina achārya called Ilan Gautaman during the reign of the Pandyan King Srimaran Srivallabhan (815-862 CE). The garbhagriham ("innermost sanctuary") and the ardhamandapam ("entrance porch") contain exquisite paintings and are amongst the only examples of early Jaina frescoes in South India. Unfortunately, the paintings have deteriorated over the years due to neglect and vandalism. The temple is protected by the ASI.

The site is also home to Ezhaddippattam, a natural cavern on the eastern side of the hillock consisting of polished rock beds that belonged to Jaina ascetics. Visitors can see 17 rock beds containing Tamil inscriptions, with the largest, and perhaps the oldest, bed containing a Tamil Brahmi inscription dated to the 1^st century BCE.

Other Temples

Visitors to Narthamalai can also visit the Ayyanar Temple, Arulmigu Muthumariamman Temple, the Kadambar Malai Temple, and the Muthumariamman Temple. The latter has a five-tier gopura ("entrance tower") facing east and is dedicated to the deity Muthumariamman.

How To Reach Narthamalai

The closest railway station is Pudukkottai (PDKT). You can also reach Narthamalai via the Trichy-Pudukkottai main road.