The six abodes › Abode 1
Padai Veedu 1 of 6
A cave temple cut into a granite hill on the edge of Madurai. This is the first abode, where Murugan married Deivanai after his victory.
After defeating Soorapadman, Murugan came to this hill. In gratitude, Indra, king of the devas, gave him his daughter Deivanai in marriage. The wedding is the heart of this temple, and Panguni Uthiram, its anniversary, is the biggest festival here.
The sanctum is carved directly out of the rock. The Pandya kings cut the cave shrines around the 8th century, and the Madurai Nayaks later added the pillared halls and gopuram you walk through today.
Because the sanctum is part of the living rock, the main deity is not bathed. Only a fragrant paste called punugu is applied. Abhishekam is offered to Murugan's Vel instead.
| Temple opens | 5:00 AM |
|---|---|
| Midday closing | 1:00 PM |
| Reopens | 4:00 PM |
| Doors close | 9:00 PM |
Last checked 15 Nov 2026 · Official HR&CE site
General darshan is always free. Paid tickets shorten the wait or let you attend a pooja.
| Ticket | Cost | What you get | How to book |
|---|---|---|---|
| General darshan | Free | The main queue. | Just join the queue. |
| Special darshan | ₹100 | A shorter queue. Visitors also report a higher-priced fast ticket on busy days. | At the counter. |
| Abhishekam (to the Vel) | Ask at counter | The Vel is bathed in milk and other offerings, since the rock sanctum is not. | At the temple counter. |
Prices change, and are higher on festival days. Last checked 15 Nov 2026.
Couples come here to pray for a good marriage, and many weddings are held in the temple's halls on auspicious days.
Hall bookings at the temple office, with ID proof and photos.
A rite special to this temple. Since the rock sanctum cannot be bathed, devotees offer milk abhishekam to Murugan's spear.
Ticket at the counter.
Hair offering, often for a child's first tonsure, at the temple's tonsure hall.
Free at HR&CE temples. Insist on the official receipt.
Chanting of the Lord's names with your name and birth star. Available in Tamil.
Small ticket fee at the counter.
Easy for elderly visitors
The temple sits at the foot of the hill, so there is no real climb. Inside, a few flights of steps lead up through the halls to the cave sanctum.
Most pilgrims stay in Madurai, 8 km away, which has hotels at every budget. The temple has marriage halls but few rooms for pilgrims.
Madurai is famous for its vegetarian 'mess' meals and tiffin. Small vegetarian eateries line the streets around the temple.
Coming soon: the places we stay and eat on our own visit.
Madurai Junction is 8 km away. Thiruparankundram also has its own small station, one stop south of Madurai on the line to Tirunelveli.
Madurai airport is close by, about 15 minutes by car.
Frequent town buses run from Madurai's Periyar bus stand. An auto or taxi from the city takes about 20–30 minutes.
| Panguni Uthiram | Panguni (Mar–Apr). The divine wedding of Murugan and Deivanai. The biggest festival here. |
|---|---|
| Kanda Sashti | Aippasi (Oct–Nov). Six days ending with Soorasamharam. |
| Vaikasi Visakam | Vaikasi (May–Jun). Murugan's birth star. |
| Karthigai Deepam | Karthigai (Nov–Dec). Lamps across the temple. |