Marudhamalai, Hindu temple in Coimbatore district, India
Marudhamalai is a Hindu temple and settlement located on a granite hill in Coimbatore district within the Western Ghats. The ascent passes through 837 steps along forested slopes to reach the main shrine at roughly 180 meters elevation.
Tamil kings built the shrine in the 12th century and dedicated it to Lord Murugan. Stone inscriptions from that period preserve the ancient names Marudhan and Marudhachalam.
The temple takes its name from the marudham trees growing on the slopes, considered sacred plants in the region. Devotees often climb the steps barefoot, wearing yellow or orange clothing as a sign of their devotion.
The temple opens daily from 6 AM to 8:30 PM and charges no entrance fee. Buses run regularly from Coimbatore to the base of the hill, where the climb begins.
A tunnel connects the inner sanctum of Lord Murugan to the cave of Pambatti Siddhar. This 12th-century saint witnessed the deity appear as a serpent in that underground chamber.
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