Smaller than its famous cousins, and carved as finely as jewellery.
- Deity
- Shiva as Airavatesvara
- Where
- Darasuram தாராசுரம்
- Known as
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the Great Living Chola Temples
- Oldest record
- 12th century
௧ The legend
The white elephant restored
Airavata, the white elephant of Indra, was cursed by the sage Durvasa and lost his whiteness.
He came here, bathed in the temple tank and worshipped Shiva, and his colour returned. The god of this temple takes his name.
As the story is told at the temple. Legends vary in the telling.
௨ Across the centuries
Built by many hands, tier upon tier
12th century
Rajaraja Chola II
The temple is built in the Chola secondary capital near Kumbakonam.
2004
UNESCO
Added to the Great Living Chola Temples World Heritage Site.
௩ What to look for
When you stand inside
The stone chariot
The front hall is built as a chariot, with carved wheels and rearing horses.
The singing steps
Steps that give out musical notes when struck.
Miniature carving
Friezes of dancers and stories, some figures no larger than a thumb.
௪ The temple’s year
The festivals that fill it
- சித்திரைChithiraiApr–May
- வைகாசிVaikasiMay–Jun
- ஆனிAaniJun–Jul
- ஆடிAadiJul–Aug
- ஆவணிAavaniAug–Sep
- புரட்டாசிPurattasiSep–Oct
- ஐப்பசிAippasiOct–Nov
- கார்த்திகைKarthigaiNov–Dec
- மார்கழிMargazhiDec–Jan
- தைThaiJan–Feb
- மாசிMaasiFeb–Mar
- பங்குனிPanguniMar–Apr
Maasi Feb–Mar
Maha Shivaratri
The night of Shiva.
Festival dates follow the temple’s own calendar and change each year. We confirm them before you travel.
௫ Going there
Journeys that bring you here
- Most Tamil Nadu temples close around midday and reopen in the late afternoon. Each day keeps temples for the morning and evening and puts the road in between.
- Dress traditionally and modestly. Footwear is left outside every temple.
- Darshan arrangements differ from temple to temple and can change on festival days. We confirm what is possible at each one before you travel.
To stand here yourself, with the car, the stay, the guide and the darshan arranged, ask us to plan your journey. We call you back and listen first.
Draft Legends and history are retold from widely published sources and await review. Timings, dress code and special-entry arrangements are published once each fact has a source and a review date.