Marudhamalai · Tamil Nadu · Shaiva · Kongu Nadu
Marudhamalai Murugan Temple – Timings, Darshan & Seva Booking
The hill of herbs above Coimbatore, climbed by 646 steps. Today’s darshan timings, pooja schedule, seva ticket prices and festival days for Marudhamalai Murugan Temple, Marudhamalai, from the official HR&CE temple portal.
Lord Subramaniya (Murugan) with Valli & Deivanai
- 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- 5 daily poojas
- Sevas from ₹1,500
Tickets are booked on the government HR&CE portal, which opens in a new tab. If the portal is down, that tab waits and opens it as soon as it’s back.
Right now at the temple
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About Marudhamalai Murugan Temple
Marudhamalai Murugan Temple sits on a spur of the Western Ghats about 15 km from Coimbatore. The hill is known for its medicinal plants, and worship of Murugan here — as Maruthachalan or Maruthappan — goes back at least to the 9th century; the temple itself was established by the Kongu Cholas and later enriched by Vijayanagara rulers. It is praised in the Perur Puranam by Kachiappa Munivar.
Pilgrims can climb the 646 stone steps or take the 2.5 km hill road. On the way up are the self-formed Thaanthonri Vinayagar, the Idumban shrine and the Aadhi Moolasthanam, where Murugan, Valli and Deivanai are worshipped in linga form. Near the top, five different trees grow together as one beside the five-faced Panchamuga Vinayagar, and a cave is linked to the Siddhar Pambatti Siddhar. The seven-tier Rajagopuram was added in 2013.
- 646 steps or a 2.5 km road up the hill
- Aadhi Moolasthanam — Murugan with his consorts in linga form
- Pancha Vruksham: five trees growing as one, with Panchamuga Vinayagar
- Free prasadam served all day, from panchamirtham at dawn to millet balls at night
Temple Timings
Time at the temple (India)
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- Open for darshan
- Darshan paused
- Pooja
The ring shows the AM (midnight to noon) hours.
Open for darshan
- 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Nadai closed
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- The temple is open 6 AM–1 PM and 2 PM–8 PM.
- City buses 70 and 92 run from Gandhipuram bus stand to Marudhamalai.
- Online abhishekam bookings are suspended on days when very large crowds are expected.
Daily Pooja Schedule
5 poojas are performed every day. Times are India time and change on festival days.
5:30 AM
to 6:00 AM
Ushathkala Pooja
8:30 AM
to 9:00 AM
Kalasandhi Pooja (sponsor a day ahead, ₹1,500 at the counter or online; 4 people per booking)
11:30 AM
to 12:00 PM
Uchikala Pooja (sponsor a day ahead, ₹1,500 at the counter or online; 4 people per booking)
4:30 PM
to 5:00 PM
Sayaratchai Pooja (sponsor a day ahead, ₹1,500 at the counter or online; 4 people per booking)
7:30 PM
to 8:00 PM
Arthajama Pooja
Seva & Darshan Tickets
All sevas on HR&CEFees for booking online on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Tickets are issued by the temple; Trypdeals does not sell them.
Dress Code & Facilities
Wear
- Men: dhoti or veshti, or trousers with a shirt
- Women: saree, half-saree, or salwar with dupatta
Avoid
- Shorts and sleeveless tops
- Leather items near the sanctum
- Footwear — leave it at the free stands outside
Facilities
- RO drinking waterHill temple ,Adivaram ,Pambati sithar pathway
- Free footwear standNear adivaram steps and near on hills steps
- ParkingMaruthamalai malaimel
- ThulabharamBookstall
- Tonsuring (hair offering)Malaikoil Adivaram
- Prasadam by postMaruthamalai Temple
- BathroomsTonsure hall
- ToiletsAdivram Tonusre Hall,Hill temple parking
- WheelchairsLift up and Lift down, First aid centrre, Kodimaram,
- Golden chariotNear Rajagopuram is the Golden Chariot room
- Wooden temple carHilltemple
- First-aid centreHilltemple
- Feeding room for mothersHill temple,Aathimoolasthanam
How to Reach
Marudhamalai, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641046 Get directions
- Gandhipuram bus stand, CoimbatoreBus stand15 km
- Government Hospital, Gopalapuram, CoimbatoreHospital5.3 km
- Coimbatore JunctionRailway station15 km
- Coimbatore AirportAirport30 km
City bus routes: 70 (Gandhipuram – Marudhamalai) · 92 (Gandhipuram – Marudhamalai)
History & Legend
Pambatti Siddhar, one of the eighteen Siddhars, is said to have worshipped Murugan on this hill, and Murugan appeared to him as a snake — a rock shaped like a snake near the temple is linked to that story. In a mandapam on the climb, marks on the rock are believed to be the hoofprints of the horse Murugan rode.
Murugan’s oldest shrine here is the Aadhi Moolasthanam, where he and his consorts Valli and Deivanai are worshipped as a self-formed lingam. In the main sanctum he appears between Shiva and Parvati, in the Somaskanda form.
Through the centuries
9th century
Murugan is already worshipped here as Maruthachalan, Maruthavaraiyar and Maruthappan.
12th century
The Kongu Cholas build the temple in five sections — sanctum, Artha Mandapam, Mun Mandapam, Shobana Mandapam and Maha Mandapam; Vijayanagara and Kongu rulers add to it.
Perur Puranam
The poet Kachiappa Munivar sings the praises of Marudhamalai in the Perur Puranam.
2013
The seven-tier Rajagopuram is built near the hilltop parking.
2022
All-day free prasadam begins on 23 April 2022.
2025
Kumbabhishekam held on 4 April 2025.
Temple at a Glance
- Height
- About 741 m above sea level
- Way up
- 646 steps or a 2.5 km hill road
- Rajagopuram
- Seven tiers (2013)
- Last Kumbabhishekam
- 4 April 2025
Art & Architecture
Halls, sculptures and paintings worth seeking out inside the temple.
- Aadhi MoolasthanamAt the top of the stepsThe original shrine, where Murugan with Valli and Deivanai is worshipped as a self-formed lingam.
- Pancha VrukshamAbove the main templeFive different trees growing together as if one, with the five-faced Panchamuga Vinayagar beneath them.
- Thaanthonri VinayagarOn the stepsA self-formed Vinayagar who greets pilgrims at the start of the climb, followed by the Idumban shrine.
- Hoofprint mandapamOn the climbA carved mandapam where marks in the rock are believed to be the hoofprints of Murugan’s horse.
- Patteeswarar and MaragathambigaiSouth and north of the sanctumShrines to Shiva and Parvati beside Murugan’s sanctum.
Customs & Rituals
Hill of herbs
Marudhamalai is known for rare medicinal plants, and the hill itself is regarded as healing.
Free prasadam all day
Panchamirtham from 6 to 7 AM, kalkandu rice until 10, samba rice until 3, tamarind rice until 7, and millet (thinai) balls until closing.
Prasadam by post
The temple posts prasadam to devotees who cannot visit.
Temple Animals & Services
- 17GosalaAs on 7 May 2023Cows kept at Vadavalli, at the foot of the hill.
Run by the temple
- Marudhamalai Subramaniya Swamy Devasthana Higher Secondary SchoolA co-educational school at Vadavalli for classes 6–12, run by the temple since 1972.
Online Booking Rules
How seva and darshan booking works on the HR&CE portal — worth reading before you pay.
- 1Book only on the official portalDarshan and seva tickets are sold on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Many temples offer free darshan slots; paid tickets are priced by each temple.
- 2A government ID for every personEach devotee on the ticket needs a government ID number at booking — Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, ration card or driving licence.
- 3One ID, one booking at a timeThe same ID cannot be used again until a gap set by the temple has passed. If a booking fails, the ID is released and can be used straight away.
- 4Your e-ticketA confirmed booking produces a PDF e-ticket to download; it is also sent to the email and mobile number you give. The portal’s “e-Ticket Verification” page lets you check a booking and download the ticket again.
- 5If a payment is stuckA pending payment usually settles within 10 to 30 minutes — the portal re-checks with the bank on its own. If money was debited but the booking failed, the bank refunds it in 3–5 working days.
- 6Paid bookings are finalPaid tickets cannot be cancelled or refunded, so check the date and slot before paying.
- 7Ticket won’t open?On older Android phones the PDF sometimes won’t display — download it and open it in an up-to-date PDF reader.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Marudhamalai Murugan Temple timings?
Marudhamalai Murugan Temple is open 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM; the nadai is closed 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Timings change on festival days.
What is the daily pooja schedule at Marudhamalai Murugan Temple?
5 poojas are held every day, starting with Ushathkala Pooja at 5:30 AM – 6:00 AM and ending with Arthajama Pooja at 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
Can I book sevas at Marudhamalai Murugan Temple online?
Yes — 3 sevas, from ₹1,500, can be booked on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Each seva above links to its official booking page.
What is the dress code?
Traditional dress is expected: dhoti or pants with a shirt for men, and saree, half-saree or salwar with dupatta for women. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed.
When was the last Kumbabhishekam at Marudhamalai Murugan Temple?
The latest Kumbabhishekam (re-consecration) of Marudhamalai Murugan Temple was held on 4 April 2025.
What ID do I need to book darshan online?
Every person on the ticket needs a government ID number at booking — Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, ration card or driving licence. The same ID can be used again only after a gap set by the temple.
Can I cancel a paid seva or darshan ticket?
No. Paid bookings on the HR&CE portal are final and cannot be cancelled or refunded. If money was debited but the booking failed, the bank refunds it within 3–5 working days.
Timings, pooja schedule, fees and festival days come from the official Tamil Nadu HR&CE Thirukoil portal and are refreshed daily (last update 9 Oct 2026). They change on festival days — please confirm on the official temple page before you travel. Temple office: 0422-2422490.