Uyyakondan Thirumalai Temple

Uyyakondan Thirumalai Temple sits on a hilltop overlooking the riverbank and contains multiple shrine buildings surrounded by granite walls across the grounds. The complex is dedicated to Shiva, worshipped here as a lingam.

The Chola queen Sembiyan Mahadevi made major contributions to the temple around 950 CE, with inscriptions throughout the site documenting her involvement. This era shaped both the physical form and the religious status the temple holds today.

The temple appears in Tevaram, an ancient Tamil text written by Saiva saints in the seventh century, earning recognition as a Paadal Petra Sthalam. This mention in the canonical work reflects how deeply the site is woven into local religious tradition.

The temple welcomes visitors daily, with ritual ceremonies happening at set times throughout the day. Arriving early provides a quieter experience and better opportunity to observe the different ceremonies.

The temple design directs sunlight to illuminate specific statues on one particular day each year through carefully planned architecture. This deliberate alignment reveals the astronomical knowledge and precision of the original builders.