One of the Char Dham and 12 Jyotirlingas
The Ramanathaswamy Temple was built primarily between the 12th and 17th centuries by the Pandya, Sethupathi, Vijayanagara, and Nayak rulers. It stands on over 15 acres and is renowned across India as one of the most architecturally significant temples in the country, and one of the 12 Jyotirlingas sacred to Shaivite tradition.
The world's longest temple corridor
The temple's defining feature is its corridor — over 1,000 metres of granite pillared walkways lined with thousands of intricately carved pillars — widely considered the longest of any temple in the world. Walking its full length, with light falling in patterns through the pillars, is an experience in itself.
Two sacred lingams are enshrined within: the Ramanathaswamy Lingam and the Vishwalingam — each with its own story rooted in the Ramayana. Read more...
The theerthams inside the complex
Alongside the corridor, the temple holds 22 sacred wells — the theerthams pilgrims visit in sequence before darshan, each believed to carry its own distinct water properties. Read more...
Puja process & temple timing
The temple is open daily from 5:00 AM–1:00 PM and 3:00 PM–9:00 PM. Most pilgrims spend 2–5 hours for the ritual bath, darshan, and a walk through the corridor.