Varadaraja Perumal Temple

The Varadaraja Perumal Temple is a Hindu shrine in Thirubuvanai featuring a tall five-tiered stone entrance tower that dominates the skyline. Granite walls surround the inner sanctum and multiple smaller shrines where worshippers gather for prayer and rituals.

The shrine was founded between 907 and 950 under King Parantaka I during the Chola dynasty, when many temples were being built across South India. It served as a center for learning Vedic texts and knowledge, contributing to the preservation of ancient teachings.

The temple is named after its presiding deity Varadaraja Perumal and displays characteristic South Indian temple design with carved stonework that visitors encounter throughout the grounds. It remains a place where people come to pray and participate in daily worship rituals.

The shrine sits approximately 23 kilometers from Puducherry along a main road, making it accessible for day visits. The complex observes multiple prayer times throughout the day, so visitors should plan their timing accordingly to experience the site fully.

The grounds contain an unusually extensive network of spring holes and wells distributed throughout the site. This intricate water system is rarely seen in temples and reveals how water management was carefully integrated into the sanctuary centuries ago.

Location: Puducherry district

Inception: 955

Founders: Parantaka I

GPS coordinates: 11.92752,79.64762

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:00