Annamalaiyar Temple, Hindu temple in Tiruvannamalai district, India.
Annamalaiyar Temple is a Hindu temple in Tiruvannamalai district, India, marked by its Dravidian design with a 66-meter (217-foot) eastern gateway tower. Several courtyards spread across the grounds and contain shrines for different deities, connected by carved colonnades.
The complex grew during the rule of the Chola dynasty, when the first major structures were built. Later rulers from the Pandya and Nayak kingdoms expanded the structures between the 9th and 17th centuries by adding more towers and halls.
The name refers to Shiva as Annamalaiyar, lord of Mount Arunachala, which rises directly behind the temple. On festival days, the courtyards fill with devotees carrying offerings of coconuts and flowers, waiting in long lines to enter the inner sanctums.
Visitors should wear traditional Indian clothing and remove their shoes before entering, as this is a religious requirement. The months between October and March offer more comfortable weather, while summer months can become very hot.
This temple represents the fire element among the five sacred Pancha Bhoota Stalams, each dedicated to a natural element. During the annual Karthigai Deepam festival, a huge flame is lit atop Arunachala hill, visible for kilometers around.
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