Pazhamudhir Solai, Madurai

Visitor Information

• Famous For: Divinity, Serenity, Architecture
• Entrance Fee: No fee for this place of worship
• Visiting Time: 5:30 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 9 PM
• Visit Duration: 1 hour to 2 hours

The Pazhamudir Solai is an important temple dedicated to Lord Muruga in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. Set at about 20 kilometers from the main city, this temple resides atop a hill. The hill is famed for its dense forest and the plethora of trees filled with a variety of fruits. The natural setting has also got waterfalls and springs within the premises with tribal people living in and around the area. Tales say that the great Tamil poetess Avvaiyar was given vision of Lord Murugan after he tested her right at this hill. The enchanting location of the temple makes it a prime attraction amongst tourists visiting Madurai. This small yet very holy temple is one of the six Arupadaiveedu, i.e. the place where Lord Muruga encountered important events in his life. Thus, getting blessings from the Lord at this spot is considered very holy by the devotees.

Traveler Tips

• To get a good darshan, and also not wait in the queue for the spring water, it is advisable to start early in the morning.
• The location is surrounded by a lot of monkeys. So be careful with your belongings while atop the hill.
• For special darshan there is a fee of Rs.100.

Things to Do

• Get a great darshan of Lord Muruga and his consorts Goddess Valli and Goddess Devayani who are all placed within the main shrine.
• Enjoy the marvelous scenery of this beautiful location filled with trees and monkeys.
• The intricate vimana and the gopuram are the main attractions of the architecture of the temple.
• This is also a great spot to carry out photography as the vibrant location serves as the perfect backdrop.
• There are many stalls selling fresh fruit juices from the fruits borne on the trees over there, making it a great place to binge on them.
• A small distance away, there is a spring to be visited where a certain fee is charged for bathing and for taking water away.
• Have some great South Indian cuisine at the eateries and restaurants in and around the locality.

Availability of Guides

Local guides who explain the history and significance of the temple and its location can be hired for a certain fee for a more informative tour of the spot.

Best Time to Visit

This is a location which can be visited all throughout the year. To view the temple, it all its natural glory, visit during the month of March when the Panguni Uthram is celebrated with great grandeur. Other times when the temple is filled with vivacity are when the holy Aadi Krithigai and Vaikasi Visakam are celebrated within the temple for Lord Muruga.

How to Reach

The Solamalai, atop which the temple is located, is about 25 kilometers from the city of Madurai and about 6 kilometers from the famed Azhagar temple on the Azhagar Malai. There are many buses available on route number 44 from the city to the foot of the hills. To the top of the hill which is about 3.5 kilometers away, buses are available every 20 minutes from the bottom. Cabs and private vehicles can also be used to travel from the city to the top of the hill. Two wheelers have got to pay an entry fee of Rs.15.

Interesting Facts and Trivia about the Pazhamudhir Solai

• This temple is the smallest of the six holy abodes of Lord Muruga, i.e. the Arupadaiveedu, within Tamil Nadu.
• It is said that the idol was placed within the premises of the Azhagar temple before being shifted to this temple during the rule of Raja Thirumalai Nayakar.
• The temple is believed to be about 1000 to 1500 years old.
• The Naaval tree in this location bears fruits in the period of October to November, a month before the Sashti festival, even though the actual fruit bearing time of this species is during July to the start of September.
• The temple has been mentioned in many of the revered olden literature of Tamil like the Silapadhikaram, Pattupatu and Ettuthokai.

Nearby Restaurants

• Karam Bhawanam Family Restaurant

Nearby Attractions

• Azhagar Kovil
• Sri Badri Narayana Temple

A pristine location which houses a very important deity in an alluring setting, makes this a spot which has got to be visited by the devotees of Lord Subramaniyan as well as architectural buffs who would be interested in its eye-catching structure.