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Alagar Koil Temple

Alagar Koil, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Lord Ranganatha
More in Tamil Nadu

Type

Hindu Temple

Deity

Lord Ranganatha

Pincode

625501

A Divya Desam Vishnu temple on the Alagar Hills, 21 km from Madurai, dedicated to Lord Kallazhagar. It is famous for the Chithirai festival, when the deity is carried down from the hills into the Vaigai river to 'meet' his sister Meenakshi ahead of her temple wedding in Madurai.

History & Significance

Significance

One of the 108 Divya Desams of Vishnu, on the Alagar Hills near Madurai, dedicated to Lord Kallazhagar. The temple is closely linked to Madurai's Meenakshi Kalyanam festival — legend holds Kallazhagar sets out each Chithirai to attend his sister's wedding to Sundareswarar, only to be told he's too late and turn back at the Vaigai river, a procession still re-enacted annually.

Plan Your Circuit

Nearby Temples

Closest temples by distance — worth combining into the same trip.

Azhagar Koil Sundararajaswami Temple

A Divya Desam Vishnu temple on the Alagar Hills, where Lord Sundararajaswami (Kallalagar — 'the beautiful rock god') is enshrined. Famous for the Chithirai festival when Lord Kallalagar is taken in a procession to the Vaigai river — a spectacle of 1 million devotees. The hillock has Murugan shrines too, creating a spiritually rich complex.

Azhagar Koil Sundararajaswami Temple

Azhagar Koil, Tamil Nadu2 km
Lord Vishnu

Subramanya

The sixth Arupadaiveedu — a forest shrine of Lord Murugan on the Alagar Hills, 24 km from Madurai. Unique for its lush forest setting; the deity is approached by a winding jungle path. Easily combined with a Madurai temple visit.

Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple

Alagar Koil, Tamil Nadu4 km
Lord Subramanya

Subramanya

The first of the six Arupadaiveedu (abodes of Lord Murugan), carved into a rock hill 8 km from Madurai. Murugan is said to have married Devasena (Devayanai) here after the war with Soorapadman. The cave temple dates from the Pandya period.

Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple

Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu14 km
Lord Subramanya

Subramanya

The first of the six Arupadaiveedu, sacred abodes of Lord Murugan, carved into a rock hill 8 km from Madurai and dating back over a thousand years. It commemorates Murugan's marriage to Deivayanai after his victory over the demon Surapadman, and is among the oldest rock-cut cave temples in Tamil Nadu.

Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple

Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu14 km
Lord Subramanya