Shri Ulagalantha Perumal Temple

Temple information

Darshan timings

06:00 – 20:30

Established

8

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Deity

Deity form

Colossal 15-foot tall wooden/stucco monolithic icon of Lord Trivikrama raising his right leg to the sky to measure the heavens, holding the sacred conch Panchajanya

Religious tradition

Vedic Pancharatra Agamic Tradition & Birthplace of Nalayira Divya Prabandham

Sanskrit name

श्री त्रिविक्रम पेरुमाळ मन्दिरम्

Also known as

Tirukoilur Trivikrama Temple, Thiru Kovalur Divya Desam, First Alwar Birthplace Temple

Darshan hours

Daily

06:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:30 PM

Break timings

12:30 PM - 04:30 PM (Monday to Thursday)

Special days

Vaikunta Ekadashi, Panguni Brahmotsavam, Mudhal Alwar Jayanti: 04:00 AM - 11:30 PM

Festival timings

Open continuously till 11:30 PM on Vaikunta Ekadashi and festival days

Aarti & rituals

Morning aarti

07:00 AM

Midday aarti

12:00 PM

Evening aarti

06:00 PM

Night aarti

8:15 PM

Special aarti days

Saturdays, Ekadashi, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Purattasi Saturdays

Ritual schedule

Nitya Thiruvaradhana, Thulasi Archana, Mudhal Alwars Rezhi worship, Sahasranamarchana, Chariot procession

Pooja timings

06:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:15 PM

Abhishek timings

Since Moolavar is colossal wood/stucco, Thirumanjanam is performed only to the bronze Utsava deity daily at 07:00 AM

Special poojas

Available

Online pooja booking

No

History & heritage

Historical period

Ancient

Built by

Medieval Cholas (Rajaraja I and Rajendra I); monumental 192-foot tower built by Vijayanagara Emperor Krishnadevaraya

Architect / builder

Master traditional royal sthapathis of Chola and Vijayanagara courts

Construction materials

Solid dressed dark granite, brick-lime monumental Rajagopuram, wood-stucco colossal deity

Historical events

The miraculous birth of Tamil Vaishnavism in the 7th century when Poigai, Boothath, and Peyalvar squeezed into the small room during a thunderstorm, felt a fourth presence (Lord Vishnu), and lit lamps of love and devotion

Renovations

Protected and renovated under Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department with new granite stone pathways, lighting, and Rajagopuram painting

Archaeological importance

Centuries-old inscriptions detailing the Malayaman chieftains, Chola royal grants, and Vijayanagara imperial donations

Legends

Lord Vishnu appeared as Vamana to test King Mahabali; grew into the colossal Trivikrama, measuring the earth with one foot and the sky with another, placing his third step on Mahabali’s head`

Inscriptions

More than 50 stone inscriptions in Tamil dating from the 10th to 16th century recording grants by Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola, and Krishnadevaraya

Architecture

Architectural style

Dravidian

Architectural period

10th Century core with 16th Century CE monumental Rajagopuram construction

Structure

Colossal 5-acre walled temple complex with eleven-tiered 192-foot entrance Rajagopuram, 100-pillared hall, Pushpavalli Thayar shrine, and the sacred Rezhi (narrow room)

Floors

1

Gopuram

Towering eleven-tiered 192-foot entrance Rajagopuram (third tallest in Tamil Nadu) adorned with hundreds of stucco sculptures of Vishnu legends

Mandapa

Spacious Mukhamandapa and Mahamandapa supported by carved monolithic granite pillars depicting Dashavatara and warrior yalis

Sculptural features

Colossal 15-foot high standing idol of Lord Trivikrama raising his leg to heaven; the sacred historical room (Rezhi) of the Mudhal Alwars; bronze icons of the three Alwars

Artistic elements

Intricate ceiling medallions, embossed silver altar cladding, and monumental stone dvarapalakas

Construction technique

Interlocking monolithic granite block masonry combined with a soaring brick-lime tower

Unique features

The colossal 15-foot wooden/stucco Trivikrama idol, the 192-foot Rajagopuram, and the sacred Rezhi where Tamil Divya Prabandham was born

Festivals & events

Festival calendar

Panguni Uthiram (Brahmotsavam), Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi

Special celebration days

Every Saturday, Shukla Ekadashi, Purattasi Saturdays

Cultural events

Divya Prabandham goshti chanting, classical Carnatic music concerts, and Harikatha during Brahmotsavam

Annual events

Trivikrama Perumal Maha Rathotsavam drawing over 100,000 devotees across Tamil Nadu

Peak crowd season

October to February, during Vaikunta Ekadashi, and Purattasi Saturdays

Visitor information

• ✓ Parking
• ✓ Restrooms
• ✓ Drinking water
• ✓ Shoe keeping
• ✓ Prasadam counter

Dress code

Traditional

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Parking capacity

100+ Vehicles

Parking fees

Approx. 20-50 INR

Donation counters

Yes

Donation methods

Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer

Prasadam

Vibhuti/Kumkum.