Viluppuram Temple

Esalam

Esalam Built by Rajendra Cholan I (1012 AD.) the presiding deity is lord Sri Ramanatha Eswarar. The legend found in sanskrit language and in grantha character. Written on the periphery of the seal is as follows, Rajadrajanya Makuta sreni-ratnesu sasanam Etad Rajendra cholasya parakesari varmanah.

Melmalayanur Temple

The temple of Angila Parameswari is situated here. In the inner sanctum there is a snake pit which is being worshipped. There is a congregation of devotees on every new moon day.

Ennairam

The chola temple of Narasimma swamy koil Built by Rajaraja chola I (985-1014 A.D). 8,000 Samanaras lived in this village. Another temple Narasimma Perumal Koil also found here.

Kamalakkanni Amman Temple

This small shrine dedicated to Kamalakkani Amman (Goddess Durga), a local deity, is found on the way to the citadel on Rajagiri Hill. It contains a sacrificial altar and well-preserved mural paintings belonging to the Nayak period.

Mayilam Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple

Mayilam Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple located on a small hillock at Mailam is a famous place of pilgrimage. It is about 32 km from Viluppuram on the Pondicherry - Thindivanam road. The Panguni Uthiram festival held in March - April fascinates a large crowd of devotes from all over Tamil Nadu.

Thumpoor

The Temple of bid Nagam man. This temple is more than 1500 years old.

Melnaariyappanoor Church

Melnaariyappanoor Church Very old famous church is situated in Chennai - Selam highway and 8 km from Chinna Salem. The church is constructed by the Kunchaan, a devotee of St. Anthoniyar.

Pachaiamman Temple

This was worshipped by special chittars. 7 Jadamuni shapes of pachaimalai are in the back side. Medicine plants are there. These medicines cannot be found even in the kollimalai. Purathana temple is on the top. There is no statue there. Ponds : The way to the Hanuman Temple, outside the lower fort, abounds in temple ponds and many impressive structures. Chakkarakulam and chettikulam are the two famous ponds in this fort. Chettikulam was built by Raja shetty during the Maratha occupation of the place, towards the end of the 18th century. To the north of this pond is a platform believed to be Raja Desingh funeral pyre, where his young wife committed sati (self immolation).

Koovagam

The village of Koovagam is next to Ulundurpet taluk in Villupuram district. The Koothandavar temple is situated in this village. This is the only temple for eunuchs, and their family deity is the “Koothandavar”. A fifteen day Chitrai festival based on Mahabaratha is celebrated every year in grand style. According to the Mahabaratha, Rajakumaran, a eunuch was born to Arjuna and Naga Kannigai. The Pandavas, decided to sacrifice a human to ensure victory in the war and Rajakumaran was the sacrificial goat’. His last wish was to get married. No one came forward to marry Rajakumaran. Lord Krishna appeared as a female and married him. The next day he was killed. To signify this, the marriage is held the previous night and breaking of the ‘thali’ the next morning is done every year as a ritual.

Thirunarungondai

It is 16 km Northwest of Ulundurpet and 21 km East of Thirukkoilur. Hillock at the village contains a Jaina cave and two temples dedicated to Parsvanatha and Chanraprahha. Cave served as the monastery of the monks of Virasangha in the 8th - 9th century A.D. Rich collection of bronze images found in the temple. Annual festival (Jan-Feb) celebrated on a grand scale and attended by Jams from all over Tamilnadu.
Thirukkoilur : is situated on the Cuddalore Chittoor trunk road and 37 km from Viluppuram. the presiding deities of the Vishnu Temple are Ulagalanda Perumal (Thiruvikrama Swami) and Pushpavallithayar. Kabilar Kundru is also yet an other picnic spot at Thirukkoilur which is situated in the middle of the river Pennayar. Kabilar was saint here and his last testing place, is maintained by the state Archaeological Department

Thiruvennainallur

It is 20 km from Viluppuram on the Thirukkoilur road which is the birth place of Sadayappar, the patron of Kambar ( greatest Tamil poet and author of the Tamil Epic Kambaramayanam) There is also an ancient temple dedicated to lord Siva. Marakanam Beach It is 22 km from Pondicherry across East Coast Road in Vanur Taluk. The salt field is very famous in this beach.

Singavaram

The temple of Lord Ranganatha, the tutelary god of Raja Desingh is on a hill top. It is a good specimen of south Indian type of rock cut shrine. The idol of Lord Ranganatha, in a reclining posture, measures 24 ft. in length which together with the inner sanctorum, is carved out of a single rock. It is said to be bigger than that of The idol in Srirangam.
Thalavanur : Malleswaralayam Rock cut temple built by the pallava King Mahendra varman (B.C.580 to 670). Sculptures and Tamil and sanskrit inscriptions are found here.

Mandagapattu

A famous Archeological Temple site is 20 km from Viluppuram and 17 km from Gingee. It is a 100 ft hillock, where the Mahendraverma (I) of Pallava kind. 580 - 630 made a case temple.

24 Theerthangarargal

It is 2 km north of Gingee town. The hillock on the western side of the road has two Jaina caverns and a huge boulder containing sculptures of all the 24 Theerthankaras in the 9th Century style. It is only place where all the 24 Theerthankaras are shown in a single large composition. An open rock nearby was the place where monk Chandranandi observed 57 days of fasting and died (5th- 6th century A.D).
Tiruvakarai : In and around this village there are a number of petrified tree trunks called fossil wood. There is also an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, dating hack to the Chola period. Ph : 0413-2688949

Mel Chittamur

Mel Chittamur Which is 20 km of Thindivanam and 10 km east of Gingee. Head quarters of Digambara sect in Tamilnadu with the JINAKANCHI MATHA presided over by the Pontiff. Two temples, one dedicated to Parsvanatha and other known as ‘Mailanatha temple was originally a boulder containing rock cut images of Bahubali, Parsvanatha, Adinatha, Mahavira and Ambika yakshi carved in the 9th century AD. Rebuilt in the 16th century and renovated in the present century.

Thiruvaamathoor

This is an ancient chola temple. Dedicated to Lord Sri Abiramaeshwarar. This temple is 1500 years old. As the temple seems to have changed many hands between Rajaraja Chola I (AD 985-1012) and seerangadeva Maharayar. (1584.AD) The amman is Named Muththambigai.