Thiruneermalai is a small panchayat town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s about 8 kilometers from Pallavaram Bus Stop, Chennai.

The temple

Thiruneermalai temple is one of the 108 Vishnu temples referred as Divya Desams in works of Tamil Azhvars and is located on a small hill.

The base Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama also known as Neervanan in a standing posture and the temple up the hill has four shrines for Lord Ranganatha (Kidanthaan – in reclining posture), Animamalarmangai Thayaar, Trivikrama (Nadanthaan – in standing posture) and Lord Narasimha (Irundhaan – sitting posture). It is a double prakaram temple. The Garuda shrine faces the Lord. The view from the top of the hill is wonderful.

Legend

The legend is that when Valmiki prayed to Lord Ranganatha and Goddess Ranganayaki in the base temple, they took the form of Lord Rama and Sita, Sesha, Conch, Chakra as Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatruguna and Garuda as Hanuman. Sage Valmiki could view Lord Ranganatha, Lord Trivikrama and Lord Narasimha in the top temple.

Getting there

It’s hardly 15-20 mins drive from Pallavaram or you could board M55A which starts from Broadway and goes through Thiruneermalai till Pazhanthandalam.

In & around Thiruneermalai

Pottery and farming seems to be the main works of people there, but its vanishing slowly and very few families are involved now, told a gentleman who closed the business for the day to visit his new born granddaughter. But he himself came forward and did 2 pot for us to click, hats off to him!

Please see the below album for more pictures,

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