Pudukottai - Tourist Information

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Pudukottai - Tourist Information

Sri Kokaraneswarar temple

The Rock cut cave temple of Sri Kokaraneswarar and Brahadambal at Thirukokarnam is of Mahendravarma Pallava's period.

Government Museum

The rare collections in the sections of Geology, Zoology, Paintings, Anthropology, Epigraphy and Historical Records etc. are very interesting and informative. The beautiful sculptures and bronzes of various periods are attractive items of this museum.

Sittannavasal

This ancient abode of Jains dating back to the 2nd century B.C. is about 16 kms. from Pudukkottai. The rock-cut cave temple with its beautiful frescoes and paintings in natural colours as in Ajantha in Maharashtra and stonebeds known as Eladipattam, a cave in which the Jain monks were said to have sought refuge in those days are the main attractions. There are a few sculptures of Jain Thirthankaras in the Ardhamandapam and the inner shrine of the cave temple. the ceiling of the Ardhamandapam contains fresco paintings of the 7th century A.D. Inscriptions of the 9th-10th century A.D. are also found in the cave. The cave temple is said to have been excavated in the 7th century A.D. by the Pallava King Mahendravarman. In the area around Sittanna-vasal, there are many historical burial sites consisting of Kurangupatarai, cairns, burial urns and casts etc.

Kudumiyamalai

It is 20 kms. from Pudukkottai. There are beautiful sculptures and thousand- pillar hall in the temple. The presiding deity is Sikhagiriswarar. The temple is noted for numerous inscriptions. Remarkable among them is the one relating to a musical treatise of the Mahendravarma Pallavan who experimented the sapthaswara in a veena called Parivardini with 8 strings. there is also a rock-cut temple called Melakkoil which was excavated during the time of Mahendravarma Pallavan.

The Anna Agricultural Farm and Agriculture Research Institute are the other interesting features of this place. In fact these institutions took shape as a result of the special efforts of the former Director of Census Operations, Shri K. Chockalingam who was the then Collector of Tiruchirappalli in the pre- bifurcation period of the two districts of Tiruchirappalli and Pudukkottai. Kodumbalur : This place, also known as Muvarkoil is 36 kms. from Pudukkottai and 42 kms. from Trichy. It was formerly the seat of Irukkavelirs who were related to Cholas. Out of the three shrines of Muvarkoil, only two exist now. These temples were built by Budhi Viramakesan in the 10th century A.D. The architecture of this temple is unique among the South Indian temples.

The sculptures of Kalarimurthi, Gajasamharamurthi, Ardhanari and Gangadara-murthi etc. are interesting masterpieces of art. This place was noted for the production of metal vessels and plates. Nearby is the Muchukundeswarar temple of the early Chola period.

Viralimalai : This town lies north-west of Pudukkottai about 40 kms. Throughout the district and even outside, this place is well known for the Subramania temple on the hill here and is said to exist before 15th century A.D. The principal idol is eated on the peacock with his consorts on either side. There is a peacock with his consorts on either side. There is a peacock sanctuary here. Viralimalai has been mentioned in the Tamil book of hymns Thiruppugazh.

Narthamalai : This is a place of historical importance and the head-quarters of the Mutharaiya chieftains. The earliest structural stone temple, circular in shape, built by the Mutharaiyar and the Vijayalaya Choleeswaram cave temple built by the Vijayala Chola, the first king of the later Cholas are located here. The pre-historic burial grounds and the Kadambar-malai temple of this place are also of tourist importance.

Tirumayam : This place, a taluk headquarters is 19 kms. from Pudukkottai, the district headquarters. The fort, the Siva and Vishnu temples are the tourist attractions here. The famous Vishnavite saint Thirumangai Alwar is supposed to have lived here before the 10th century. the ruins of an old fort exist here and it is said that the Poligar of Panjalankurichi was imprisoned in this before he was handed over to the British by the Tondaiman. The Sengirai forest near this place is significant for it is believed that this forest was the abode of the demoness Tataka who was killed by Sri Rama. the fort played an important role in the history of Tondaiman rulers of Pudukkottai and the British. The erection of this fort in 1687 A.D. is attributed to Sethupathy Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman, the Sethupathi of Ramnad.

Avadaiyarkovil : This place is a village in Arantangi taluk 14 kms. away from Arantangi and 48 kms. from Pudukkottai. This place is noted for sculptures. It is famous for its Siva temple which is dedicated to God Athmanatha and associated with the Tamil Saint Manickavasagar. The temple is supposed to have been built by this saint whose image is installed in it. It is famous as an exquisite structure. The temple is noted for its granite roof work. The sanctum sanctorum is covered with copper plate and is similar to the Chidambaram Natarajar temple. A peculiarity in this temple is that it contains no images of the principal deities-Siva and Parvathi and that the worship is done to their pedestals. It is an important pilgrimage centre in South India.

Not far from the bustling town of Pudukottai, on the periphery of the sleepy village of Annavasal, is a cluster of rock caves, which, on the one hand, show traces of the Iron Age and, on the other, can be termed as the Ajanta of the South. Megalithic burial sites near the Sithannavasal caves testify their hoary past while the rich sculpture and painting adorning the caves are reminiscent of the famous Ajanta caves on the other side of the Indian peninsula. eather and vandals have taken their tool of the caves, which were used by Jain Tirtankara for meditation and penance, a fact borne out by the remains of granite beds carved out of rocks, and inscriptions in Asoka Brahmi script.

The sculpture, paintings, etching and inscription, as well as the Megalithic burial site, together make it an important archaeological site, not to speak of it being an art lovers delight. The meditation and penance caves are located on the southern side of the rock, as shown by the names of Jain leaders etched on the walls, while a temple has been carved into the western face. This cave in highly ornamental with sculptures and painting on the inner walls, making a work of art that, historians say, is paralleled only by the Ajanta caves. At the entrance to the cave temple stands a pillared structure brought from the nearby Kudimiyanmalai. The roof of the forecourt, archaeologists say, was brought from a quarry adjoining Panangudi.

Pudukottai - Tourist Information

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