Solaimalai Murugan Temple

Solaimalai Murugan Temple is located about 25 kilometres north of Madurai, atop a hill covered with forests. It is one of the six important abodes of Lord Muruga and is close to the Vishnu temple of Azhagar Kovil.

Pazhamudircholai is a dense forest where Valli is supposed to have lived. The temple itself is relatively small with Valli, Deivayanai, and Lord Muruga in a separate shrine. Lord Ganesha is also present in a separate shrine.

Although there are hundreds of Temples in Tamil Nadu for Lord Muruga, six particular temples called Arupadaiveedu are very famous among them. Important events in Lord Muruga's history happened at these places.

Among the six houses of Murugan, Pazhamudircholai is the last.

Pazhamudircholai is one of the prominent temples in Tamil Nadu where a large number of visitors from different parts of the country and tourists from around the world come and offer prayers. The other abodes of the Lord Muruga are;

• Thiruparankundram Subramanya Swamy Temple, 8 Km from Madurai
• Solaimalai Murugan Temple is located about 25 kilometres north of Madurai, at Pazhamudircholai hill,
• Dandayudhapani Swami Temple, Palani - ropeway coach
• Swamimalai Swaminatha Swami Temple (It is located in Swamimalai, 5 km from Kumbakonam, on the banks of a tributary of river Kaveri in Thanjavur District, 250 km from Chennai,
• Senthil Andavar Temple, Tiruchendur-Sea beach
• Subramanya Swamy Temple, Tiruttani- on a hill, near Tirupathy

At Pazhamudhir Cholai temple, the Lord Muruga is worshipped with two of his divine consorts; Goddesses Deivayanai and Valli. Apart from visiting the temple to seek the divine blessings of the Lord, many people come to this temple with prayers for child, wedding and even for academic blessings. There are references of this great temple in many of the old Tamil literatures.

 The hill and surrounding areas of the temple are a great place to appreciate the abundant natural beauty. It is also blessed with great flora and fauna. Those who prefer to visit the temple walking can take a trek uphill. There is a natural spring near the temple that is a great place to spend some quality time. Most of the devotees take holy bath in this spring.

Apart from the mesmerizing beauty of the surrounding hill, the next greatest thing one can enjoy is the exceptional architectural brilliance that is on display within the temple. With a distinct feel and the coloring scheme, the temple takes great pride in displaying the unique styling of South Indian architectural prowess and craft. Those interested in understanding the nuanced and intricate architectural brilliance of ancient South Indian dynasties will find this temple a paradise.

There are several festivals celebrated at the temple, and hence, visiting the temple during any of the festivals can add great excitement and thrill to your vacation. However, if you are keen on having a calm and quiet time at the temple, choosing a time other than during the festivals is the best choice to make.