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The Swamimalai temple is an important pilgrimage site situated in the town of Tamil Nadu known as Swamimalai and dedicated to Lord Murugan the warrior. This temple is one among the six temples considered to be the Arupadaiveedu, the six sacred temples to Murugan. It has touristic importance due to its religious and historical importance along with the famous Dravidian architecture. Lay people from all over India visit the place to worship Lord Murugan, particularly during festive occasions. In this blog, we will give an extensive outline of the following information regarding the temple namely; how to get there, where to stay, other attractions, and other important information.
Swamimalai Temple Location
Photo: Rsmn / Wikimedia Commons
Swamimalai temple is also in the town of Swamimalai, 5 km from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. Located on the banks of the religious Cauvery River, this temple is surrounded by an attractively beautiful environment. Swamimalai town itself is not far from other major cities within Tamil Nadu, especially from the south Indian cities of Chennai and Thanjavur. The geographical position of Swamimalai is indeed perfect for both – it is closed off from the noisy world and surrounded by landscapes and peace suitable for even religious pilgrims. Due to its location, the visitor can tour other centres of interest around Kumbakonam.
How To Reach Swamimalai Temple
Photo: Josh Nezon / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Accessibility of Swamimalai temple is easy by all means of transport, roadways, railways as well as Airways. Here are the various ways to travel to Swamimalai:
By Road: Thus accessibility to Swamimalai is easy as it is located off the highway and is near major cities like Kumbakonam (5 km) and Thanjavur (40 km). Both government and private buses often ply their business from these cities. However, one can hire taxis or auto rickshaws to get to the temple from Kumbakonam itself.
By Train: The nearest railway station to Kumbakonam is Kumbakonam Railway Station and the railway stations connecting the place are Chennai, Thanjavur, and Tiruchirappalli. If you are in Kumbakonam then you can hire a taxi or auto rickshaw to Swamimalai temple.
By Air: The proximate airport to Swamimalai is Tiruchirappalli International Airport measuring about 90 km, whereas Chennai International Airport is about 250 km away; there are frequent flights to Chennai aided by direct flights to other Indian and international airports.
By Walk: For people who want to go on a spiritual quest The final climb up to the temple is 60 steps which represents 60 Tamil calendar years. According to pilgrims’ traditions, people do not wear shoes when climbing these steps.
Places To Visit In And Around Swamimalai Temple
Swamimalai or Chidambaram is not only the Swamimalai temple of importance religious site but packed with other interesting sites to visit. As a pilgrim or a tourist, the temples which are situated near the backyard and the natural surroundings will enhance the appeal.
1. Kumbakonam Temples
Photo: பா.ஜம்புலிங்கம் / Wikimedia Commons
The city of Kumbakonam is just a five-kilometre drive away from Swamimalai; however, it is widely regarded as the ‘Temple City’ of Tamil Nadu because of its ancillary religious and architectural history. This town alone has more than 100 Temples, all of which give an overview of the Dravidian architecture. Of them, the most famous are the Sarangapani Temple, Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, and Ramaswamy Temple. These temples have carved buildings and large gopurams (temple towers) conspicuous on the limb, pulling visitors with their social interest. The present architectural marvels of Tamil Nadu are described in these ancient temples as reflecting their profound religious passion and aesthetic ingenuity.
Timings: 6 AM – 12 PM, 4 PM – 8 PM
Entry Fees: Free
2. Airavatesvara Temple
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons
Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram, is a few kilometres away from Swamimalai and is among the most striking monuments of Tamil Nadu architecture to qualify for the World Heritage site. This temple was built by the Chola dynasty, and it’s famous for its fine workmanship, beautiful pillars, and statues, and for being decorated with detailed carving on walls, arches, and pillars portraying scenes from classic epics. Or just they are awe-inspiring integrated artistic works reflecting gods and goddesses and other mythical characters that may attract both historically intensive and worshipping visitors.
Timings: 6 AM – 12 PM, 4 PM – 8 PM
Entry Fees: Free
3. Temple Thanjavur
Photo: Ssriram mt / Wikimedia Commons
The temple is around 35 kilometres far from Swamimalai in the city of Thanjavur, which has the huge and famous Bharateswerar Temple. It is one of India’s most visited sanctuaries. Standing as a marvel of Chola architecture with its imposing, 52-metre-high vimana (tower), this grand temple is the largest among all built under their reign. Its large Nandi (the bull of Shiva) statue is also a landmark, and the carvings on its walls are among the most intricate in all temples in Tamil Nadu. Such grandeur keeps drawing a lot of visitors, giving a peek into the beautiful past that South India then was.
Timings: 6 AM – 12 PM, 4 PM – 8 PM
Entry Fees: Free
4. Papanasam Falls
Photo: L.vivian.richard / Wikimedia Commons
Papanasam Falls is just around 30 kilometres away from Swamimalai, this place attracts huge pilgrims along with tourists. As a beautiful waterfall the hard fall of water is covered with greenery which adds to its serene ambience and it serves as an ideal get-away for tourists from all over Palayur. Papanasam (Sanskrit for the destroyer of sins), is consecrated to be a spiritual cleanser, hence local tongues groups seed that it is so sanctified by gods. Aside from the religious value of the falls, it is idealistic for those who appreciate tranquillity in nature_putchar users or anyone trying to enjoy a real vibe forest camp.
Timings: 7 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fees: Free
5. Uppiliappan Temple
Photo: Ssriram mt / Wikimedia Commons
The Uppiliappan Temple, which is just at a distance of about seven kilometres from Swamimalai, is one the revered temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu throughout Tamil Nadu It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped in Srirangapaner temple. One of the characteristics of this temple is that no salt is used with any food offerings, a mythological habit. Supporters say the practice shows how pure and devout this temple is. Pilgrims and tourists do not arrive to bid on any divine power; many experiences the serene environment that ensures peace before encountering long-cognate traditions unique to other temples.
Timings: 6 AM – 12 PM, 4 PM – 8 PM
Entry Fees: Free
Where To Stay
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There are a plethora of cheap as well as moderately priced hotels in Swamimalai and the neighbouring city of Kumbakonam. Though there are some cheap lodges and dharma-shalas around the temple which are guesthouses for pilgrims. For the visitors who want better standards, then Kumbakonam has available simple standard hotels up to the comfort, luxurious hotels with all necessary amenities. Others are Raya’s Grand Hotel, Hotel Riverside Resort & Spa, and Vinayaga by Poppys among others. The majority of these hotels ensured that their guests get convenient access to Swamimalai temple and other places of interest.
Where To Eat
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Swamimalai has several small restaurants which serve very good South Indian veg food. There are other fusion high-brand standard meals that are very cheap like the dosa idli and sambar rice which are typical Tamil Nadu meals. Kumbakonam, which is the nearest town, is the place famous for the traditional filter coffee and home foods of Tamil Nadu. Healthy tradition of South Indian vegetarian food is available from restaurants such as Saravana Bhavan, and Sree Krishna Bhavan, and eateries serving a variety of ‘seasonal specials’ and more popular among pilgrims and tourists.
Best Time To Visit
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The proper time to pay for the tour to this temple is during the winter season and the winter season is from October to March. Tamil Nadu state is located in the tropic zone and the subtropical climate; so, its summer is quite hot – above 104° F or even 49° C. It has occasional monsoon which provides a certain measure of rain for the whole rainy season While the winter seasons may just be the best for tourism. Temple shows and cultural Tourism festivals such as Carnival and fairs; Kanda Temple Car in January, Thai Poosam in February, and Panguni Uthiram in March are entertained during this time.
Other Factors To Consider
Photo: Shankaran Murugan / Wikimedia Commons
Here are some additional tips and factors to keep in mind when visiting the Swamimalai temple:
Average Cost: Cheap hotels in and around the temple are hotels that range from INR 500 for a single night, and Kumbakonam is equipped with hotels that range from INR 1500 to INR 3000 for a single night.
Tips For Travelers: When visiting Swamimalai temples, women should cover their upper arms and legs, skirts and blouses should not be above the knee length, and shorts and sleeveless blouses are prohibited inside the temple.
Swamimalai temple is one of the best places of worship that can easily be favoured by all devotees of Lord Murugan and spiritual tourists. Because of its history, religious importance, and beautiful scenery, it has been considered one of the most important temples in South India. The building structure, the art form attitude of the frescoes, and the pride of its heritage make a case for Swamimalai temple as being matchless traditional and creative for the region – Tamil Nadu. Plan your trip to this amazing place with TripXL and explore the amazing itineraries.
Cover Photo: Jothi Balaji / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
