Thirukazhukundram is a small town in Kanchipuram district which has three major ancient temples dedicated to Shiva. I have long been told the story of how two eagles will come daily at 12 noon to feed on the prasadam offered to them. Sadly they have stopped visitibg since 1988. There are three remarkable ponds and in one of them a conch appears in the fresh water miraculously every 12 years .
The main temples are
Bhakthavatsaleshwarar temple with Tripurasundari ambal in the foot hills which has 4 gopurams. 7,8,8, 9 tiered gopurams resembling annamalaiar temple in tiruvannamalai. It is called the Thazha kovil meaning lower temple or at the foot hill temple
The rudrakoteshwara temple with the Nandhi theertham
The sanghu theertham a 12 acre wide lake with a thirthapaleshwarar shrine. It is about 12 acres wide.
The hill top vedagirishwarar temple where the vedas are in the form of rocks. It is 500 mtrs tall and has 550 steps with no Nandi statue in the shiva temple as Nandi is praying from below.
There are many legends to these temples and the temples have pallava and also a lot of Hoysala architecture with mammoth statues . The hill shrine has a cavern with sculpted shiva and dwarapalakas.
It takes half a day to do full justice to the temples. There is also a monkey menace on the hill top and they pluck water bottles and all covers looking for food. They are not afraid of humans. so be careful The upper temple has a c overed pathway so climbind is cool but strenous.
How to Reach:
The town is 15 kms from either chengalpet or mahabalipuram and on SH 58. There are no major hotels here and the public rest room is sadly ill maintained and locked.
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