Someswarar Temple, Pazhayarai

Someswarar Temple is a Hindu shrine in Pazhayarai featuring a four-tiered Rajagopuram tower and multiple courtyards decorated with intricate stone carvings throughout. The complex spreads across a large area with carefully arranged sections designed for different ritual practices.

The temple was founded in 1182 under Chola king Kulothunga III with support from Raja Guru Sri Kanda Sambu. This construction was part of an era of active temple building that helped the kingdom flourish culturally.

The walls display many Tamil inscriptions from the Chola era that show how religious practices and administration were documented together. Walking through the corridors, visitors can read these carved records and understand what mattered to the people who built this temple.

The temple conducts six daily rituals from sunrise to evening, providing structured times for visitors to observe worship. Plan to visit in the morning when light is best and the space feels less crowded.

An underground passage near the main shrine reportedly leads to Thamarai Kulam, a water tank located some distance away. Local stories speak of this hidden connection that once linked the temple to the region's water systems.