About trip

About Temple:Rathnagiriswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Ayyarmalai near
Kulithalai Town in Karur District of Tamil Nadu.

• Moolavar: Ratnagiriswarar/Vaatpokki Nathar.
• Thayaar:Karumbar Kuzhali / Aralakesi /
  Surunmbar Kuzhalai.
• Theertham:Kaveri theertham.
• Thala Virutcham: Neem Tree (Vembu)
  
• Location: Ayyarmalai ,Karur,TamilNadu.

History:

• Presiding Deity is called as Ratnagiriswarar / Arthanasaleswarar / Manikka Easar / Mudi Thalumbar / Malai Kozhundeesar / Raja Lingam / Madhyana Sokkar / Ratnagrisar / Vaatpokki Nathar and Mother is called as Karumbar Kuzhali / Aralakesi / Surunmbar Kuzhalai. The Temple is situated on 342 meters (1178 ft) high Ayyar Malai.
• One has to climb 1017 steps to reach to the top of hill. The place is called as Iyer Malai, Rathnagiri,
  Sivayamalai, Ayvar Malai and Thiruvatpokki. 
• It is considered very auspicious to visit three Shiva Sthalams
  (Kadambar Kovil in the morning, Thiruvatpokki (Ratnagiri) at noon and Thiruveengoimalai in the
  evening) on Mondays during the Tamil month of Karthigai. It is also believed that Lord Shiva here is
  worshipped by lightening once in 12 years.
• The shrine has been praised in the hymns of Saints Tirunavukkarasar and Arunagirinathar. This Temple
  is the 118th Devaram Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 1st Sthalam on the south banks of river Cauvery in
  Chozha Naadu. 
• Saint Arunagirinathar had praised Lord Murugan of this Temple in his Thirupugazh
  Hymns. 
• The Temple is believed to be more than 1300 years old. There are about 50 inscriptions dating from the 11th to 16th century AD in the Temple premises. 
• Inscriptions indicates the temple received extensive patronage from the Cholas, Pandyas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagara kings.

Itinerary

Day 1 - karur Sightseeing

Morning pick up from Theni. Proceed towards Karur. Hotel Check in. To visit Arulmigu Kalyana Pasupatheswarar Temple. Arulmigu Mariamman Temple : Arulmigu Kalyana Venkataramana Swamy Temple, Thanthonimalai Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay at Trichy.

Day 2 - karur Sightseeing

Morning Breakfast at Hotel. Check out from Hotel. Then proceed to visit Govt. Museum. Mayanur Barrage. Rathnagiriswarar Temple, Ayyarmalai. Then proceed towards Theni. Finally drop at Theni.