PALANI

There are many temples in the vicinity.  Sri Mariamman, the village tutelary goddess, is held in great esteem and annual festival to Her in March attracts large crowds of worshippers offering pots of burning fire.

Peria Udayar Temple.  The main shrine dedicated to Sri Brihadeswara or Peria Udayar, represented by a Swayambu Linga, and others to Nataraja and Vishnu and the sanctum for the goddess is significantly absent.  Sri Brihannayaki or Perianayaki Amman Temple is a very famous temple of the town.

Aivarmalai.  Nine miles west of Palani the "Hill of the five", or Iyiramalai or Aivarmalai is associated with mythological legends.  The hill is 1402 feet high above the sea level.  The local tradition says that at this hill the five Pandava brothers took their rest during the last years of their exile of 13 years.  On the north-eastern side, the rock of which it consists overhangs and forms a natural shelter 160 feet long and 13 feet high.

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