Palani · Tamil Nadu · Shaiva · Third of the six Arupadai Veedu
Palani Murugan Temple – Timings, Darshan & Seva Booking
The hilltop shrine of Murugan as the staff-bearing ascetic. Today’s darshan timings, pooja schedule, seva ticket prices and festival days for Palani Murugan Temple, Palani, from the official HR&CE temple portal.
Lord Dhandayuthapani (Murugan as the renunciant)
- 5:45 AM – 8:00 PM
- 6 daily poojas
- Sevas from ₹5
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 Palani Murugan Temple
Palani Murugan Temple crowns the Palani hill, with the smaller Idumban hill close by and the green slopes of the Kodaikanal range about 4 km away. Here Murugan stands as Dhandayuthapani — a renunciant holding only a staff — and the idol in the sanctum is said to have been made by the Siddhar Bogar from navapashanam, a blend of nine mineral substances valued in Siddha medicine.
In the Sangam age the town was called Pothini, capital of the Avi chieftains, and the poet Nakkeerar names it Thiru Avinankudi among Murugan’s six abodes. Temple legend says the demon Idumban carried the two hills here on a pole from Kailash for sage Agastya — which is why pilgrims still climb Palani carrying a kavadi on their shoulders.
- Murugan as Dhandayuthapani, made of navapashanam by Siddhar Bogar
- Third of Murugan’s six abodes — Thiru Avinankudi of the Sangam poems
- Kavadi offerings, recalling Idumban carrying the two hills
- Six daily poojas, each with its own alankaram of Murugan
Temple Timings
Time at the temple (India)
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- Open for darshan
- Pooja
The ring shows the AM (midnight to noon) hours.
Open for darshan
- 5:45 AM – 8:00 PM
- The hill shrine is open from 5:45 AM to 8 PM without a midday break.
- On Thai Poosam, Panguni Uthiram and Kandha Sashti (ten days each), monthly Krithigai, Karthigai Deepam, Pongal, the Tamil and English new years, all of Margazhi and Deepavali, the doors open at 4 AM.
- Pilgrims can climb the hill on foot; the Idumban shrine on the way up guards the path.
Daily Pooja Schedule
6 poojas are performed every day. Times are India time and change on festival days.
6:40 AM
to 7:15 AM
Vila Pooja (ascetic alankaram)
8:00 AM
to 8:30 AM
Sirukala Sandhi Pooja (hunter alankaram)
9:00 AM
to 9:30 AM
Kalasandhi Pooja (Balasubramaniar alankaram)
12:00 PM
to 12:45 PM
Uchikala Pooja (Vaideekal alankaram)
5:30 PM
to 6:15 PM
Sayaratchai Pooja (Raja alankaram)
8:30 PM
to 9:00 PM
Irakkala Pooja (flower alankaram)
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.
Annai Tamilil Valipadu
Archanai · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹5
BookArchannai
Archanai · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹5
BookSpecial Darshan
1 person per ticket
6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
₹10
BookPanchamirtha Abhishekam
Abhishekam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹25
BookEar Boring Ticket
Pooja · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹50
BookAll Abichekam
Abhishekam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹75
BookAmuthuoottu (Feeding the infants)
Other · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹75
BookOnline Special Entrance
Special darshan · 1 person per ticket
6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
₹100
BookRopecar
Other · 1 person per ticket
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
₹100
BookWinch Ticket
Other · 1 person per ticket
2:01 PM – 2:30 PM, 2:31 PM – 3:00 PM, 3:01 PM – 3:30 PM, 1:31 PM – 2:00 PM
₹100
BookWinch Online Ticket
Other · 1 person per ticket
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
₹100
BookPuthukanakku
Other · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹200
BookPrathana Golden Cradle
Pooja · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹300
BookKarthikeyean Viduthi
Other · 1 person per ticket
6:00 PM – 11:55 PM
₹600
BookVelavan Viduthi
Other · 1 person per ticket
6:00 PM – 11:55 PM
₹600
BookKaaladanthi Pooja Kattalai
Prasadam · 1 person per ticket
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
₹900
BookRakkala poooja Kattalai
Prasadam · 1 person per ticket
8:00 PM – 8:30 PM
₹900
BookSayaratchi Pooja Kattalai
Prasadam · 1 person per ticket
5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
₹900
BookSirukaalasanthi Pooja Kattalai
Prasadam · 1 person per ticket
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
₹900
BookUchikkala pooja Kattalai
Prasadam · 1 person per ticket
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
₹900
BookVilaapoojai Kattalai
Prasadam · 1 person per ticket
6:30 AM – 7:00 AM
₹900
BookGolden Peacock booking
Pooja · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹2,000
Book
Upcoming Festival Days
Festival and special-pooja days — some paid sevas are suspended and crowds are larger.
Next festival
-
14 Oct – 30 Nov 2026
October 2026
November 2026
December 2026
- -14 Oct – 30 Nov 2026
- -Mon, 21 Dec 2026
- -Fri, 1 Jan 2027
Gopurams & Temple Tanks
Towers drawn to scale by height; shapes are illustrative.
Shrines inside
- Kailasanathar
- Malaikolunthu Amman
- Malaikolunthu Sivan
- Anantha vinayagar
- Sri Kuravadivelar
- Kummini mayil vagana velayutha swamy
- Dhandayuthapani Swamy
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
- Pilgrim accommodationPalani
- WheelchairsHill temple, winch station, Ropecar Station, First Aid Centres, Footpath and Elephant path
- Battery carHill Temple,Giriveethi
- Karunai Illam (care home)Palani
- Veda pathashalaPalani
- Information centreNear pathavinayagar temple
- RO drinking waterTemple Campus
- ToiletsHill Temple, Hill Temple Pathway, Giri Street, All Tonsure Sheds
- Free footwear standAdivaram (Near Patha Vinayagar Temple),Near Thiruavinankudi Temple, Winch Station, Ropecar Station
- ParkingWest Giri Street Tourist Bus Stand, East Giri Street Tourist Bus Stand
- ThulabharamHill Temple
- Tonsuring (hair offering)Around Adivaram and Shanmuga River
- Golden chariotHill Temple
- First-aid centreHill Temple, Winch Station, Foot Patway
- Cloak roomAdivaram north giriveethi
- Marriage hallArulmigu pattathuvinayagar Thirukoil campus
- Feeding room for mothersWinch Lower Station, Ropecar Lower Station, Mangammal Mandaopam
How to Reach
Palani Hill, Palani, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu 624601 Get directions
- Patha Vinayagar templeBus stand1.5 km
- Central bus standBus stand1.5 km
- Government Hospital PalaniHospital1.5 km
- Patha Vinayagar templeRailway station2.5 km
- Coimbatore AirportAirport113 km
- Madurai AirportAirport131 km
History
Through the centuries
9th century
The navapashanam image of Dhandayuthapani is credited to the Siddhar Bogar; the temple dates the sanctum to the Chera period.
12th–16th century
Later Pandya, Kongu Chola and Vijayanagara rulers leave land grants on the hill temple’s walls — one, under Veerapandya, gives land, gardens and ponds to the Lord, and calls the town Sundarapandiyanallur and “Vaikavur Nattu Palani”.
13th century
The five-tier rajagopuram is raised under the later Pandyas.
1893–1956
The Archaeological Survey of India publishes the temple’s inscriptions in 1893, 1904 and 1956.
Temple at a Glance
- Main image
- Dhandayuthapani, of navapashanam
- Names in inscriptions
- Ilaya Pillaiyar, Srivelayutha Perumal, Subramanya Pillaiyar
- Rajagopuram
- About 48 ft, five tiers, 492 figures
- Prasadam
- Panchamirtham
Art & Architecture
Halls, sculptures and paintings worth seeking out inside the temple.
- Front mandapamBefore the sanctumCarvings of Siddhas in penance, parrots, peacocks, deer and the wish-granting Karpaga tree, with icons of Dhandayuthapani and his devotees.
- Entrance pairNear the rajagopuramA young mother carrying her child and a flower basket, with her friend standing before her.
- Paravel MandapamYali pillarsPillars carved with yalis, the leonine guardians of Tamil temples.
Customs & Rituals
Kavadi
Idumban carried Sivagiri and Sakthigiri here slung on a pole for sage Agastya. Murugan kept him from lifting them again, and after their battle granted that anyone who carries a kavadi to Palani on a vow would be blessed — so pilgrims bow at the Idumban shrine halfway up before reaching the Lord.
“Pazham Nee”
When Murugan lost the contest for the divine fruit and left his parents, Shiva consoled him that he himself was the fruit (pazham) — you (nee) — giving the town its name.
Panchamirtham
Palani’s famous prasadam is made of banana, jaggery, cow ghee, honey and cardamom, with dates and sugar candy, and no preservatives.
Temple Animals & Services
- 1Kasthuri, the temple elephantAs on 15 November 2018Cared for at the Periyanayagi Amman temple, with daily Gaja pooja; she walks in the Thaipoosam, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visakam and Kandha Sashti processions, and has her own pool at the temple’s Karamadai garden.
- 89Cows at the Kallimandayam gosalaAs on 18 December 2019A 219-acre gosala started in June 2008, about 38 km from Palani, which also takes in cattle donated to other temples.
Run by the temple
- Palaniandavar Karunai Illam for boysA children’s home run by the temple since 1 May 1952, on about seven acres.
- Palaniandavar Karunai Illam for girlsOpened on 16 September 1998, giving education, food, clothing, lodging and medical care.
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 Palani Murugan Temple timings?
Palani Murugan Temple is open 5:45 AM – 8:00 PM. Timings change on festival days.
What is the daily pooja schedule at Palani Murugan Temple?
6 poojas are held every day, starting with Vila Pooja (ascetic alankaram) at 6:40 AM – 7:15 AM and ending with Irakkala Pooja (flower alankaram) at 8:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
How much is the special darshan ticket?
Special Darshan: ₹10; Online Special Entrance: ₹100. Tickets are sold on the official HR&CE portal and at the temple counter.
Can I book sevas at Palani Murugan Temple online?
Yes — 22 sevas, from ₹5, 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.
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.