Located around 65 km from Kodaikanal, Palani is one of the oldest and highly respected temples in Tamil Nadu. The main deity inside the temple is of Lord Subramaniam or Murugan, which is the Hindu God of War. Thousands of pilgrims every year come and offer sincere prayers in the Palani temple.
The Palani temple represents the Dravidian styles of constructions and is listed among one of the six abodes of Murugan. Moreover, the shrine also features some great uniqueness. It is believed that idol of the Lord is a blend of nine poisonous substances, put up on a base of stone. Further, you need to hop into a rope car or just walk on your own to reach the temple.
Usually, devotees visit the temple early morning to attend the ‘Abhishekham’. Abhishekham at the Plalani temple is one of the great things to see; how the deity is served with oil, sandalwood paste, milk and then lastly with water. Opt for a full day visit to the Palani temple and take part in holy ceremonies- Vizha Poojai (early morning), Ucchikalam (afternoon), Sayarakshai (evening) and Rakkalam (night). Also, there is a sanctum inside the temple. The walls of the temple are engraved with some inscriptions in Tamil.
A tour during the time of festivals is the best way to get familiar with the culture and tradition of the locals. Thaipusam (January) and Panguni Uttaram (April) are the festivals celebrated here, with great enthusiasm.
Darshan Timings :- 6:00 am to 8:00 pm and during festivals 04:30am.