Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple
A rock-cut Pandya-era temple at the foot of a granite hill, the first of Murugan's Six Abodes.
Overview
Thiruparankundram is one of the Six Abodes of Murugan and a rock-cut shrine on the southern edge of Madurai. This guide covers its history, festivals and what remains unverified.
Subramaniya Swamy Temple at Thiruparankundram lies in a southern suburb of Madurai, about 8 km from the city centre, below a bare granite hill. The temple is cut into the rock and is attributed to the Pandyas in the 6th century CE. Inscriptions in Tamil-Brahmi on the hill date to the 1st century BCE and may relate to Jain use of the site before it became a Hindu shrine.
It is one of the Six Abodes of Murugan (Arupadai Veedu), and tradition says Murugan married Deivanai here and worshipped Shiva as Parangirinathar. Wikipedia lists three daily services at 8:00, 12:00 and 18:00. The Tamil Nadu HR&CE department administers it. The major festival is Kanda Sashti in the month of Aipasi, with others including Vaikasi Visakam, the Panguni Brahmotsavam and Karthigai Deepam. Commons photographs show rock-cut reliefs, including Ardhanarishwara.
Visiting hours and fees were not found on a source we could load.
Entry fees
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No fee information found.
We only show an amount when a source backs it. Prices change, so confirm locally before you go.
Opening hours
Opening hours have not been confirmed by a reliable source yet.
Visiting hours not found.
Wikipedia gives ritual times (8:00, 12:00, 18:00) only.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- October to March; Kanda Sashti (October–November) is a major festival
- Best time of day
- Morning
- How long to spend
- 1–1.5 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Dress modestly for temple visits
Location
Thiruparankundram, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu, India
9.87972, 78.07111
Get directionsPhotos
Temple and rock hill. Photo: Mani chiral / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 The rock hill. Photo: Ms Sarah Welch / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Panorama from Thiruparankundram. Photo: Pratyeka / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 Umai Andar cave temple. Photo: Udhayan1983 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Ardhanarishwara relief. Photo: Ms Sarah Welch / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
Why is Thiruparankundram important?
It is one of the Six Abodes of Murugan, and tradition says he married Deivanai here.
How far is it from Madurai?
About 8 km from the city centre, per Wikipedia.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 7 October 2026
Not available yet
- visiting hours
- fees
- official source
- Wikipedia – Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram · Encyclopedia
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