Salem · Tamil Nadu · Shakta · Chief of Salem’s eight Mariammans
Salem Kottai Mariamman Temple – Timings, Darshan & Seva Booking
The fort goddess who rules over Salem’s eight Mariammans. Today’s darshan timings, pooja schedule, seva ticket prices and festival days for Salem Kottai Mariamman Temple, Salem, from the official HR&CE temple portal.
Goddess Kottai Periya Mariamman
- 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- 1 daily poojas
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
--:--
About Salem Kottai Mariamman Temple
Salem Kottai Mariamman Temple stands in the heart of Salem near the old bus stand, about 6 km from Salem Junction. Around 500 years ago, local chieftains of the Chera country built a fort (kottai) here with a Mariamman temple and a Perumal temple, and the fort’s soldiers worshipped the goddess as their guardian. The fort is gone — only the Kottaimedu area recalls it — but a folk song of Chinnappa Gounder still sings of “the great Mari born with the fort”.
Of Salem’s eight Mariammans — at Ammapettai, Sevvaipettai, Sanjeeviraya Pettai, Chinna Kadai Veedhi, Annadanapatti, Ponnammapettai and more — Kottai Mariamman is the eldest and most powerful, Periya Mariamman. Residents Kanakasabai Mudaliar and Sivasankara Mudaliar moved her to the present site by the Thirumanimutharu river and built the temple.
- The eldest of Salem’s eight Mariammans
- Guardian goddess of the old Salem fort
- Prayers for relief from pox and illness
- Eye-shaped metal offerings for eye troubles
Temple Timings
Time at the temple (India)
--:--
- Open for darshan
- Darshan paused
- Pooja
The ring shows the AM (midnight to noon) hours.
Open for darshan
- 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Nadai closed
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Darshan runs 6 AM–2 PM and 4 PM–9 PM.
- Devotees roll round the prakaram (angapradakshinam) and offer kumkum with salt at the bali peetam for business, farming and cattle.
- The temple is next to Salem’s old bus stand.
Daily Pooja Schedule
1 poojas are performed every day. Times are India time and change on festival days.
11:00 AM
to 1:30 PM
Uchikala Pooja (alankaram and aradhanai)
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.
Gopurams & Temple Tanks
Towers drawn to scale by height; shapes are illustrative.
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
- WheelchairsTemple Office
- BathroomsTemple Inside
- RO drinking waterAnnadhana hall
- Marriage hallArulmigu Kottai Mariamman Temple Campus
- Free footwear standRaja Gopuram Side
- Golden chariotGolden Chariot Guard Room
- ThulabharamTemple Office
- Tonsuring (hair offering)Temple outside
How to Reach
Kadai Veedhi, near the Town Bus Stand, Salem, Tamil Nadu 636001 Get directions
- Salem Old bus standBus stand0.5 km
- Salem Government HospitalHospital0.5 km
- Salem JunctionRailway station6.3 km
- Salem AirportAirport22 km
City bus routes: 1 (Old bus stand – New bus stand) · 1 (Old bus stand – railway station)
History
Through the centuries
2023
Kumbabhishekam on 27 October 2023.
Temple at a Glance
- Goddess
- Kottai Periya Mariamman
- Last Kumbabhishekam
- 27 October 2023
Customs & Rituals
Healing vows
Devotees pray to be cured of pox and other ills, and roll their bodies round the prakaram (angapradakshinam) in thanks.
Offerings
Small human figures, and gold, silver or metal eye-plates for eye ailments.
Salt and kumkum
Salt and kumkum are placed on the bali peetam for success in business and farming and to protect cattle from disease.
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 Salem Kottai Mariamman Temple timings?
Salem Kottai Mariamman Temple is open 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM; the nadai is closed 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Timings change on festival days.
What is the daily pooja schedule at Salem Kottai Mariamman Temple?
1 poojas are held every day, starting with Uchikala Pooja (alankaram and aradhanai) at 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM and ending with Uchikala Pooja (alankaram and aradhanai) at 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM.
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 Salem Kottai Mariamman Temple?
The latest Kumbabhishekam (re-consecration) of Salem Kottai Mariamman Temple was held on 27 October 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.