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Sankarankovil · Tamil Nadu · Shaiva · Vaishnava

Sankaranarayanar Temple – Timings, Darshan & Seva Booking

The temple where Shiva and Vishnu appear as one. Today’s darshan timings, pooja schedule, seva ticket prices and festival days for Sankaranarayanar Temple, Sankarankovil, from the official HR&CE temple portal.

Lord Sankaranarayanar, Sankaralingar & Goddess Gomathi Amman

  • 5:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
  • 7 daily poojas
  • Sevas from ₹5
Book Seva / Darshan Book a Tour

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.

About Sankaranarayanar Temple

Sankaranarayanar Temple in Sankarankovil has three main shrines — Sankaralingar (Shiva), Gomathi Amman, and Sankaranarayanar, in which Shiva and Vishnu share a single form, half each. That shared image makes the temple a meeting point of the Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.

Its origin story is set in the 11th century. The Pandya king Ukkira Pandiyan was riding to Madurai when his elephant began tearing at the ground; at the same time Manikreevan, the guard of a nearby punnai grove, reported that he had cut a snake’s tail while clearing an anthill. Digging there revealed a lingam with a snake, and the king built the first temple on about four and a half acres in 1023 CE. Later Pandya and Nayak patrons added the halls, the nine-tier Rajagopuram and the chariots.

  • Sankaranarayanar — Shiva and Vishnu in one image
  • Founded by Ukkira Pandiyan in 1023 CE
  • Rajagopuram about 125 ft tall with nine tiers
  • Holy mud from the Nagasunai tank, taken home as a cure

Temple Timings

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Time at the temple (India)

--:--

  • Open for darshan
  • Darshan paused
  • Pooja

The ring shows the AM (midnight to noon) hours.

Open for darshan

  • 5:00 AM – 12:30 PM
  • 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Nadai closed

  • 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Darshan runs 5 AM–12:30 PM and 4 PM–9 PM.
  • Abhishekam for each sub-shrine can be booked online, with or without the materials.
  • Tirunelveli is about 55 km away and Madurai about 150 km, with direct buses from the temple bus stand.

Daily Pooja Schedule

7 poojas are performed every day. Times are India time and change on festival days.

  1. 6:00 AM

    to 6:15 AM

    Thiruvanandal Pooja

  2. 6:30 AM

    to 6:45 AM

    Vila Pooja

  3. 8:30 AM

    to 8:45 AM

    Sirukala Sandhi Pooja

  4. 10:30 AM

    Kalasandhi Pooja

  5. 12:00 PM

    to 12:10 PM

    Uchikala Pooja

  6. 5:30 PM

    to 6:00 PM

    Sayaratchai Pooja

  7. 9:00 PM

    to 9:30 PM

    Arthajama Pooja

Seva & Darshan Tickets

All sevas on HR&CE

Fees for booking online on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Tickets are issued by the temple; Trypdeals does not sell them.

  • Mavilakku

    Pooja · 1 person per ticket

    During darshan hours

    ₹5

    Book

  • Astothiram

    Archanai · 4 persons per ticket

    During darshan hours

    ₹10

    Book

  • Coconut Breaking

    Archanai · 4 persons per ticket

    During darshan hours

    ₹10

    Book

  • Ambal Sannadhi Festival Special Entrance Fees

    Special darshan · 1 person per ticket

    During darshan hours

    ₹30

    Book

  • Ear Boring

    Pooja · 1 person per ticket

    During darshan hours

    ₹30

    Book

  • Swami Sannadhi Festival Special Entrance Fees

    Special darshan · 1 person per ticket

    During darshan hours

    ₹30

    Book

Gopurams & Temple Tanks

125 ft
Raja9 tiers

Towers drawn to scale by height; shapes are illustrative.

Shrines inside

  • Natarajar
  • Shanmugar
  • Sankaralinga Swamy
  • Arumigu Sankara Narayana Swamy
  • Gomathi Ambal

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 waterTemple Inside
  • Tonsuring (hair offering)Inside of temple
  • Free footwear standTemple front mandapam
  • Marriage hallNear the Temple
  • Pilgrim accommodationNear temple
  • HospitalOpposite the Temple
  • WheelchairsInside the Temple near office room
  • ToiletsOutside the Temple
  • Prasadam by post

How to Reach

1, Swamy Sannathi Street, Sankarankovil, Tamil Nadu 627756 Get directions

  • Sankarankovil bus standBus stand0.5 km
  • Sankarankovil railway stationRailway station1.5 km

City bus routes: 1 (Sankarankovil – Tirunelveli) · 2 (Sankarankovil – Madurai)

Book a TourExplore Tirunelveli Sankaranarayana Swamy Temple guide

History & Legend

In the 11th century the Pandya king Ukkira Pandiyan, ruling from Ukkirankottai on the Thamirabarani, set out to worship at Madurai. On the way his elephant began gouging the ground with its tusks and rolling in the dust. Just then Manikreevan, who guarded a nearby punnai grove, came running: while clearing an anthill he had cut the tail of a snake, and the sight had dazzled him.

The king had the spot dug up and found a lingam with a snake coiled beside it. Taking it as a divine sign, he cleared the forest and built a temple. Statues of Ukkira Pandiyan and Manikreevan stand on the pillars at the entrance, and the temple holds Shiva and Vishnu together as Sankaranarayanar.

Through the centuries

  1. 1023 CE

    Ukkira Pandiyan builds the first temple in black stone on about four and a half acres.

  2. Later Pandyas

    Maravarman Sundara Pandya I builds the shrines of the god and goddess; Maravarman Sundara Pandya II adds the Maha Mandapam.

  3. 15th–16th century

    Parakrama Pandya and his successors record land grants for worship and for the priests’ food on the temple walls.

  4. Nayak period

    Vadamalaiappa Pillai of Tirunelveli pays for a flagstaff, halls, a kitchen, a chariot shed and vahanas; his statue is on a pillar.

  5. 1995 & 2008

    Maha Kumbabhishekams on 5 July 1995 and 23 April 2008.

Further reading

  • Sthala Varalaru (history of the temple)Puliyangudi Muthu Veera Kavirayar

Temple at a Glance

Main shrines
Sankaralingar, Gomathi Amman, Sankaranarayanar
Founded
1023 CE by Ukkira Pandiyan
Rajagopuram
About 125 ft, nine tiers
Holy tank
Nagasunai
Last Kumbabhishekam
23 April 2008

Art & Architecture

Halls, sculptures and paintings worth seeking out inside the temple.

  • ManikreevanEntrance pillar · 175 cmThe forest guard whose discovery led to the temple, honoured with a statue.
  • Rathi and ManmathanFacing pillars · 11th centuryLife-size figures of the god of love and his wife, a tribute to Sangam poetry.
  • Vadamalaiappa PillaiPillar portraitThe Nayak-era patron who funded many of the halls and vahanas.

Customs & Rituals

  • Mud from the Nagasunai

    Devotees bathe in the Nagasunai tank, worship the god and goddess and take home earth from the tank, believed to cure illness.

  • Chakra Peedam

    Praying to Gomathi Amman while standing before the chakra in her shrine is believed to bring success.

  • Abhishekam for every shrine

    Abhishekam to each of the sub-shrines — Nataraja, Shanmukha, the Navagrahas, the 63 Nayanmars and more — can be booked online.

Temple Animals & Services

  • 1Gomathi, the temple elephantAs on 17 October 2019Donated on 27 May 1997 and cared for by two mahouts.

Run by the temple

  • Sankaranarayana Swamy Temple Elementary SchoolA temple school near the Government Hospital, running since 1973, with about 137 pupils.

Online Booking Rules

How seva and darshan booking works on the HR&CE portal — worth reading before you pay.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 6Paid bookings are finalPaid tickets cannot be cancelled or refunded, so check the date and slot before paying.
  7. 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 Sankaranarayanar Temple timings?

Sankaranarayanar Temple is open 5:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM; the nadai is closed 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM. Timings change on festival days.

What is the daily pooja schedule at Sankaranarayanar Temple?

7 poojas are held every day, starting with Thiruvanandal Pooja at 6:00 AM – 6:15 AM and ending with Arthajama Pooja at 9:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

How much is the special darshan ticket?

Ambal Sannadhi Festival Special Entrance Fees: ₹30; Swami Sannadhi Festival Special Entrance Fees: ₹30. Tickets are sold on the official HR&CE portal and at the temple counter.

Can I book sevas at Sankaranarayanar Temple online?

Yes — 62 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.

When was the last Kumbabhishekam at Sankaranarayanar Temple?

The latest Kumbabhishekam (re-consecration) of Sankaranarayanar Temple was held on 23 April 2008.

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.

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