Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani
Palani, Dindigul district (on Sivagiri hill) · Lord Dhandayuthapani (Murugan as a young ascetic holding a staff), idol said to be made of navapashanam
The third abode: the boy-ascetic on the hill, famous for its navapashanam idol, kavadi pilgrims, winch trains and GI-tagged panchamirtham.
Palani is the best known and most visited of Murugan's six abodes. On top of Sivagiri hill stands Lord Dhandayuthapani – Murugan as a shaven-headed young renunciate wearing only a loincloth and holding a staff (dhandam) – whose idol is said to have been made by the Siddhar Bogar from navapashanam, a compound of nine minerals. Pilgrims reach the hilltop by about 690 steps (Tamil Nadu Tourism says about 670), the gentler elephant path, three electric winch trains or a rope car. Palani is the home of the kavadi tradition and of Palani panchamirtham, the first temple prasadam in Tamil Nadu to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Timings
- Temple open (normal days): 5:45 AM – 8:00 PM, no afternoon closure
- Festival and special days: Opens 4:00 AM, closes after 9:00 PM depending on crowd – Thaipusam (10 days), Panguni Uthiram (10 days), Kandha Sashti (10 days), monthly Krithigai, Maha Deepa Karthigai, Thai Pongal, Tamil and English New Year, every day of Margazhi, Deepavali
- Winch (funicular): 5:30 AM – 8:30 PM; special days until 10:00 PM
- Rope car: 7:00 AM – 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM – 9:00 PM
- Special darshan (₹10 / ₹100): 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Darshan types and costs
- Free (dharma) darshan – Free
- Special darshan – ₹10 ticket – ₹10 per person
- Special entrance – ₹100 ticket – ₹100 per person
Sevas and costs
- Kala Pooja Kattalai (sponsor one of the six daily poojas) – ₹900 per pooja (₹1,800 on festival days) (Vilaa 6:30–7:00 AM; Sirukala Santhi 8:00–8:30 AM; Kalasandhi 9:00–9:30 AM; Uchikalam…)
- All Abhishekam – ₹75 (Hand in materials 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM on the booked date)
- Panchamirtha Abhishekam – ₹25 (Hand in 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM)
- Archanai – ₹5 (During temple hours)
- Annai Tamizhil Vazhipadu – ₹5 (During temple hours)
- Thangaratham (golden chariot) – ₹2,000 (Every evening, 7:00 PM)
- Thangamayil Vahanam (golden peacock) – ₹2,000 (Evenings; report before 5:00 PM)
- Golden Prarthana Cradle (Thottil) – ₹300 per child (7:00 AM – 8:00 PM (may change on special days))
- Amuthoottu (first feeding of an infant) – ₹75 (Claim 8:00 – 11:00 AM on the booked date)
- Ear boring (kadhu kuthal) – ₹50 (During temple hours)
- Puthu Kanakku – ₹200 (During temple hours)
- Winch ticket (advance online) – ₹100 per person (Fixed 30-minute slots, e.g. 7:00–8:00 AM and 1:31–3:30 PM (slots vary))
How to book darshan
Kala pooja kattalai, abhishekam, golden chariot, golden peacock, special darshan, winch tickets and lodges can all be booked online on the HR&CE portal.
Dress code
Traditional dress is required for special entrance and all sevas. Men: dhoti with shirt, kurta-pyjama or trousers with shirt. Women: saree, half-saree, or churidar with dupatta.
Best time to visit
October to March. Weekdays are far quieter. Thaipusam (Jan–Feb) and Panguni Uthiram (Mar–Apr) are the great festivals but the queues can run to many hours.
How to reach
- air: Coimbatore International Airport, approx. 114 km; Madurai Airport, approx. 120 km.
- rail: Palani station (approx. 2 km) on the Dindigul–Pollachi line; Dindigul Junction (approx. 60 km) has more trains.
- road: Palani bus stand is about 1 km from the hill. Frequent buses from Dindigul, Madurai, Coimbatore, Pollachi and Kodaikanal (approx. 65 km). Free tourist bus parks on East and West Giri Veedhi.
Festivals
- Thaipusam – Thai (Jan–Feb), 10 days; main day 22 January 2027
- Panguni Uthiram – Panguni (Mar–Apr), 10 days
- Vaikasi Visakam – May–June
- Kandha Sashti and Soorasamharam – Aippasi (Oct–Nov), 10 days; Soorasamharam expected about 15 November 2026
- Karthigai Deepam – Karthigai (Nov–Dec)
- Monthly Krithigai – Every month on Krithigai star