Suchindram is renowned for its Thanumalayan Temple, featuring musical pillars that emit different sounds according to their level of tapping. With an area of 4 acres, the temple is a great piece of Dravidian art built in the 17th century. The seven-storey, 134-foot white Gopuram tower is adorned with sculptures and statues that are taken from Hindu scriptures. The carvings and sculptures found on every pillar and panel of the temple are both stunning and fascinating. Besides a beautifully carved door, the temple has a covered area near the 4 feet high main entrance. Several shrines and mandapams are scattered inside the temple, which has only one corridor along its outer wall. A large Lingam in the sanctum, an idol of Vishnu in the adjacent shrine, an idol of Nandi, and a large idol of Hanuman- Visuvaroopam- at the eastern end of the northern corridor are some of the attractions here.
Across from the Northern corridor sits the ‘Alankara mandapam,’ where four large stone pillars are carved from a single stone. There are 33 smaller pillars in two of these large pillars and 25 in the other two. These smaller pillars produce different notes when they are tapped. In an effort to protect these pillars from vandalism, they are surrounded by iron grills. There are more than 1035 pillars carved in the dancing hall and its ceiling is engraved with the Navagrahas [Imperial stars].
Visiting Hours: Morning 4:30 am – 11:30 am, Evening 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Contact Details : 04652 241 421
Getting there :
Nearest railway station: Nagercoil [about 3.2 kms], Kanyakumari [about 11.5 kms] and Valliyur [about 13 kms]
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 78 km