Arulmigu Kalyana Venkatramanaswamy Temple

Temple information

Darshan timings

06:00 – 20:30

Established

12

Best time to visit

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

Deity

Deity form

Majestic self-manifested (Swayambhu) rock-relief carving of Lord Srinivasa standing on the sheer granite rock face, holding conch and discus with smiling benevolent grace

Religious tradition

Vedic Pancharatra Agamic Tradition & Dakshina Tirupati Vow Heritage

Sanskrit name

श्री कल्याण वेङ्कटरमणस्वामी मन्दिरम्

Also known as

Thanthonimalai Perumal Temple, Dakshina Tirupati Karur, Thanthoni Venkatachalapathy Gudi

Darshan hours

Daily

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

Break timings

12:30 PM - 04:00 PM (Monday to Thursday)

Special days

Purattasi Saturdays, Vaikunta Ekadashi: 03:30 AM - 11:30 PM (Continuous Darshan)

Festival timings

Open continuously till 11:30 PM on Purattasi Saturdays and Vaikunta Ekadashi

Aarti & rituals

Morning aarti

06:30 AM

Midday aarti

12:00 PM

Evening aarti

06:00 PM

Night aarti

8:15 PM

Special aarti days

Every Saturday, Ekadashi, Purattasi Saturdays, Vaikunta Ekadashi

Ritual schedule

Nitya Thiruvaradhana, Thulasi Archana, Sahasranamarchana, Golden Chariot (Thanga Ratham) procession, Garuda Seva, Mangala Harathi

Pooja timings

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

Abhishek timings

Since Moolavar is a living rock-relief carving, Thirumanjanam is performed with natural oils periodically, and daily to bronze Utsava deity at 07:00 AM

Special poojas

Available

Online pooja booking

No

History & heritage

Historical period

Ancient

Built by

Madurai Nayakas; expanded by Mysore Wodeyars and local Gounder chieftains

Architect / builder

Traditional Tamil Dravidian rock sculptors

Construction materials

Natural granite rock hill face, solid dressed dark granite mandapa, brick-lime Rajagopuram

Historical events

Devotees unable to travel to Tirupati due to old age or illness were granted direct darshan here by Lord Srinivasa who manifested from the rock; the Mysore Rajas made large land grants

Renovations

Punarprathishta performed with a grand new five-tiered Rajagopuram, air-conditioned marriage mandapams, and covered queue complexes under Tamil Nadu HR&CE

Archaeological importance

Crucial rock-cut Vaishnavite monument demonstrating the diffusion of Tirupati Srinivasa worship in Kongu Nadu

Legends

A shepherd saw milk flowing from a cow into a granite fissure; when clearing the bushes, the glowing rock-carved image of Lord Venkataramana was revealed

Inscriptions

Stone inscriptions in Tamil and Kannada recording endowments of village lands, gold coins, and chariot funds by Madurai Nayakas and Mysore rulers

Architecture

Architectural style

Dravidian

Architectural period

12th Century rock shrine with 16th - 17th Century CE expansions

Structure

Hillside rock-cut temple complex built directly against a rocky hillock, featuring five-tiered entrance Rajagopuram, pillared navaranga, and rock-relief sanctum

Floors

1

Gopuram

Five-tiered 75-foot entrance Rajagopuram adorned with colorful stucco sculptures of Dashavatara, Garuda, and Alwars

Mandapa

Spacious Mukhamandapa supported by polished granite columns depicting Vaishnava themes, rearing yalis, and royal donors

Sculptural features

The venerated self-manifested rock-relief idol of Lord Kalyana Venkataramana; standing stone Thayar shrines; golden chariot (Thanga Ratham); carved Garuda

Artistic elements

Intricate ceiling medallions, embossed silver sanctum frames, gold-plated kalashas, and traditional brass oil lamps

Construction technique

Interlocking monolithic granite block masonry built directly against living bedrock

Unique features

The self-manifested (Swayambhu) rock-relief carving of Lord Srinivasa that has no separate foundation and emerges directly from the natural hill bedrock

Festivals & events

Festival calendar

Purattasi month (September/October Brahmotsavam), Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi

Special celebration days

Every Saturday, Shukla Ekadashi, Purattasi Saturdays

Cultural events

Devotional bhajans, Harikatha, and Carnatic music concerts during Purattasi Brahmotsavam

Annual events

Thanthoni Perumal Maha Rathotsavam drawing over 200,000 devotees across central Tamil Nadu

Peak crowd season

September to October (Purattasi month), December to January, and every Saturday

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

50+ vehicles

Parking fees

Approx. 20-50 INR

Donation counters

Yes

Donation methods

Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer

Prasadam

Vibhuti/Kumkum.