Kumbakonam · Tamil Nadu · Vaishnava · 16th of the 108 Divya Desams
Oppiliappan Temple – Timings, Darshan & Seva Booking
Where every offering to the Lord is cooked without salt. Today’s darshan timings, pooja schedule, seva ticket prices and festival days for Oppiliappan Temple, Kumbakonam, from the official HR&CE temple portal.
Lord Oppiliappan (Venkatachalapathy) with Bhumi Devi
- 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- 7 daily poojas
- Sevas from ₹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 Oppiliappan Temple
Oppiliappan Temple near Kumbakonam is the 16th of the 108 Divya Desams and follows the Vadakalai Vaikhanasa tradition, with Vedanta Desikan honoured at many of its festivals. The Lord is Venkatachalapathy — also Thiruvinnagarappan, Ponnappan, Maniyappan, Ennappan and Srinivasan — and stands with Bhumi Devi only; there is no separate shrine for the goddess.
The legend says the sage Markandeya prayed under a tulasi plant here and received Bhumi Devi as his daughter. When Vishnu came as an old man to ask for her hand, the sage protested that she was too young even to know how to salt food. The Lord replied that he would happily eat without salt — so to this day every offering is made saltless, and no salt may be carried beyond the Garuda shrine. The wedding is celebrated on Thiruvonam in Aippasi.
- All naivedyam cooked without salt — the Lavana-varjita Venkatesa
- Pagal-iravu poigai, the tank once open for bathing day and night
- Nine-day Panguni Brahmotsavam with the temple car
- 12-day Aippasi wedding festival and an 11-day Rama Navami
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
- 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Nadai closed
- 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Darshan runs 6 AM–1 PM and 4 PM–9 PM.
- Do not carry salt or salted food beyond the Garuda shrine.
- At 5:45 AM the temple’s own Suprabhatham is played over loudspeakers, and the 6 AM Vishwaroopa darshan is held with the temple cow.
Daily Pooja Schedule
7 poojas are performed every day. Times are India time and change on festival days.
5:40 AM
to 6:00 AM
Vishwaroopa Pooja (flowers)
7:00 AM
to 7:30 AM
Thiruvanandal Pooja (flowers)
8:00 AM
to 8:15 AM
Thiruvaradhanam Pooja (flowers)
12:00 PM
to 12:15 PM
Uchikala Pooja (flowers)
7:30 PM
to 8:00 PM
Sayaratchai Pooja (flowers)
8:00 PM
to 8:15 PM
Thiruvaradhanam (night pooja) (flowers)
9:00 PM
to 9:15 PM
Arthajama Pooja (flowers)
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.
Contribution for Temple Elephant – Bhooma
Other · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹500
BookKattalai Archanai
Prasadam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹500
BookSornapushpa Archanai Lotus
Archanai · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹500
BookOojal Urchavam
Other · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹1,000
BookGolden Chariot
Chariot · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹2,500
BookPrarthanai Thirukalyana Utsavam
Pooja · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹3,200
Book
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
- ThulabharamThirukoil Inside near Vahanamandapam
- Golden chariotThirukulam West Side
- Tonsuring (hair offering)Thirukoil Outside
- Information centreThirukoil Inside
- Free footwear standThirukoil Outside rajagopuram
- WheelchairsKodi maram near(Flagpole)
- Pilgrim accommodationSannathi street
- RO drinking water
- ToiletsInside of the Temple
How to Reach
Main Road, Oppiliappan Koil, Thirunageswaram, Kumbakonam Taluk, Tamil Nadu 612204 Get directions
- Kumbakonam bus stand: town buses 23, 15, 58 and minibusesBus stand8 km
- Thirunageswaram railway halt, 2 kmRailway station2 km
History
Through the centuries
Chola period
Inscriptions in Chola script line the inner south prakaram.
2023
Kumbabhishekam (Thirukkuda Nanneerattu) on 29 June 2023.
Temple at a Glance
- Prakarams
- Two
- Garuda
- Separate shrine facing the Lord
- Last Kumbabhishekam
- 29 June 2023
Art & Architecture
Halls, sculptures and paintings worth seeking out inside the temple.
- 108 Divya Desam figuresOuter prakaramThe Lords of all 108 Divya Desams in colourful stucco.
- DwarapalakasMaha mandapamThe guardians Manigam and Mahabalam, each about 8½ ft tall.
Customs & Rituals
Sravana Deepam
On Thiruvonam (Sravana) star each month the Akhanda and Vaal lamps are lit after the camphor arati; many devotees keep the Sravana fast that day, eating only saltless food offered to the Lord.
Markandeya Kshetram
Here the sage Markandeya brought up Bhumi Devi as his daughter, found by a tulasi plant, before the Lord came as an old man to marry her.
Temple Animals & Services
- 1Bhuma, the temple elephantAs on 11 December 2022A 24-year-old elephant with her own shed in the temple.
- 7CowsAs on 11 December 2022In a gosala at the rear of the outer prakaram; one takes part in the Vishwaroopa darshan.
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 Oppiliappan Temple timings?
Oppiliappan Temple is open 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM; the nadai is closed 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Timings change on festival days.
What is the daily pooja schedule at Oppiliappan Temple?
7 poojas are held every day, starting with Vishwaroopa Pooja (flowers) at 5:40 AM – 6:00 AM and ending with Arthajama Pooja (flowers) at 9:00 PM – 9:15 PM.
Can I book sevas at Oppiliappan Temple online?
Yes — 6 sevas, from ₹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 Oppiliappan Temple?
The latest Kumbabhishekam (re-consecration) of Oppiliappan Temple was held on 29 June 2023.
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: 0435-2463385.