Famous Temples in Coimbatore A Visitor Guide
No scriptCoimbatore - Kovai to most of us - has temples in every part of the city and on the hills around it. Some are centuries old and mentioned in inscriptions and Tamil hymns; others are much newer but draw large crowds every week. This guide groups the best-known ones by area, so you can plan a visit, and points to our detailed page on each temple.
A note on timings: most temples here open early in the morning, close for a few hours around midday and reopen in the evening. The exact hours are different for every temple and change on festival days, so check the temple's page on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments) website or ask locally before you go.
Temples in the City Centre
Koniamman Temple, Town Hall
Koniamman is regarded as the guardian goddess of Coimbatore, and her temple stands in the busy Town Hall area, about a kilometre from Coimbatore Junction. The annual car festival in the Tamil month of Masi (February-March) is one of the biggest events in the city. Read our Koniamman temple guide for history and visiting details.
Kottai Eswaran (Sangameswarar) Temple, Kottaimedu
Near Ukkadam, in the area still called Kottaimedu ("fort mound") after a fort that once stood there, is the Shiva temple known as Kottai Eswaran. The presiding deity is Sangameswarar, with his consort Akhilandeswari in a separate shrine. It is less than 2 km from the railway station. More in our Kottai Eswaran temple page.
Puliakulam Munthi Vinayagar
In Puliakulam stands one of the largest Vinayagar (Ganesha) idols in Tamil Nadu, about 19 feet tall, carved from a single stone brought from Uthukuli. The present temple dates from 1982. See our Puliakulam Vinayagar temple page.
Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, South Ukkadam
This HR&CE temple on Bhothanur Main Road in South Ukkadam is dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha, a form of Vishnu. Our Lakshmi Narasimha temple page has the address and timings.
Naga Sai Mandir, Sai Baba Colony
The Sai movement in Coimbatore began in 1939, and the temple on Mettupalayam Road grew from a thatched shed on land donated in 1942. It takes its name "Naga Sai" from a cobra that, according to the temple's own account, stayed before Sai Baba's picture during bhajans in 1943. The locality, Sai Baba Colony, is named after it. Read more in our Naga Sai temple page.
Dhanwanthari Temple, Ramanathapuram
Inside the Arya Vaidya Pharmacy campus at Ramanathapuram is a temple to Dhanwanthari, the physician of the gods in Hindu tradition and the deity of Ayurveda. See our Dhanwanthari temple page.
Ayyappan Temple, Siddhapudur
The Sree Ayyappan temple at Siddhapudur follows Kerala temple style and is busy during the Sabarimala season from November to January. Details are in our Siddhapudur Ayyappan temple page.
ISKCON Sri Jagannath Mandir
The ISKCON temple, dedicated to Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, is on Hare Krishna Road (100 Feet New Scheme Road) near the CODISSIA trade fair complex and the airport. See our ISKCON Coimbatore page.
West of the City: Perur and the Hills
Perur Pateeswarar Temple
About 7 km west of the city centre, on the Noyyal river, Perur is the most celebrated old Shiva temple in Coimbatore. Its Kanaka Sabha hall is known for detailed stone carving. Our Perur Pateeswarar temple guide covers the history and what to see.
Marudhamalai Murugan Temple
On a hill at the foot of the Western Ghats, north-west of the city, Marudhamalai is Coimbatore's best-known Murugan temple. The HR&CE dates worship here to the 9th century. You can climb the steps from the foothill (Adivaram) or take the road to the top. Read our Marudhamalai Adivaram guide before you go.
Anuvavi Subramaniar Temple, Periya Thadagam
On the northern slope of the Marudhamalai hills, near Periya Thadagam on the road to Anaikatti, is the Anuvavi (also spelt Anubhavi) Subramaniar temple. It is reached by a climb of about 500 steps through forest, and a spring near the temple is part of its legend. See our Anuvavi Subramaniar temple page.
Vellingiri Hills and Adiyogi
The Vellingiri hills, west of the city beyond Poondi, hold a Shiva shrine at the top that devotees reach by a long, steep trek over seven hills. The trek is allowed only in the season the Forest Department announces each year, and it is demanding - go only if you are fit. Our Vellingiri hill temple page explains the route.
Nearby, at the foothills, is the Isha Yoga Centre with the 112-foot Adiyogi face, unveiled in 2017. It is not a traditional temple but draws huge numbers of visitors - read our Adiyogi guide.
South: the Pollachi Road
Eachanari Vinayagar Temple
On the Coimbatore-Pollachi road, about 12 km from the city, Eachanari Vinayagar is where many Kovai families stop before a journey or a new venture. Fridays and Sankatahara Chaturthi are the busiest days. See our Eachanari Vinayagar temple guide.
Masani Amman Temple, Anaimalai
Near Pollachi, at Anaimalai on the Aliyar river, the Masani Amman temple is one of the most visited goddess temples in western Tamil Nadu. The goddess is shown reclining, about 17 feet long. Our Masani Amman temple guide has the details.
Thirumoorthy (Amanalingeswarar) Temple
Further south, at the foot of the Thirumoorthy dam near Udumalpet (Tiruppur district), is the Amanalingeswarar temple beside a waterfall stream. It combines well with a trip to the dam. See our Tirumurthy temple page.
North: Mettupalayam and Sathyamangalam Roads
Kovilpalayam Kalakaleswarar and Kaliamman
At Kovilpalayam, off the Sathyamangalam road (NH 948), are two temples that many families visit together: the Kalakaleswarar (Shiva) temple, known for milestone-birthday rituals, and the Kavaiya Kaliamman temple. Read our Kalakaleswarar temple page.
The Kavaiya Kaliamman temple page explains why the same temple is also called Koushikapuri Kaliamman.
Annur Manneeswarar Temple
In Annur, on the way to Sathyamangalam, is the Manneeswarar (Shiva) temple with his consort Arundavaselvi. More than 40 inscriptions have been recorded here. See our Annur Manneeswarar temple page.
Rathinagiri Murugan Temple, Saravanampatti
On a small hill at Karattumedu near Saravanampatti, in the IT corridor, is the Rathinagiri Murugan temple, about 14 km from the railway station. See our Rathinagiri Murugan temple page.
Karamadai Ranganathar Temple
On the Mettupalayam road, in Karamadai town, is the Ranganathar (Vishnu) temple, one of the best-known Vishnu temples in the district. Read our Karamadai Ranganathar temple page.
Then Tirupathi, Jadayampalayam
About 5 km from Mettupalayam, at Jadayampalayam, is Then Tirupathi, a modern temple to Venkateswara built in the style of Tirumala. See our Then Tirupathi guide.
Idugampalayam Jayamangala Anjaneyar
About 16 km from Mettupalayam via Sirumugai, in the village of Idugampalayam, is an Anjaneyar (Hanuman) temple where the deity is carved on a rock and faces straight ahead rather than to the side. Our Idugampalayam Anjaneyar temple page has more.
Planning Your Visit
- One day in the city: Koniamman and Kottai Eswaran in the morning, Perur before the midday closing, Marudhamalai in the afternoon.
- Pollachi day trip: Eachanari on the way out, Masani Amman at Anaimalai, and back by evening.
- Mettupalayam road: Karamadai, Then Tirupathi and, with an early start, Idugampalayam.
- Dress and customs: modest clothing is expected; some temples do not allow photography inside, and footwear is left outside.
- Festivals: crowds, special timings and traffic changes are common on Tamil New Year, Thai Poosam, Karthigai Deepam and the temple's own car festival.
If you are coming from outside Kovai and need a taxi, a hotel or a caterer for a temple function, you can find local listings in the Kovai Yellow Pages directory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which are the most famous temples in Coimbatore?
The best known are the Perur Pateeswarar temple (Shiva), the Marudhamalai hill temple (Murugan), the Eachanari Vinayagar temple on the Pollachi road and the Koniamman temple in Town Hall, the city's guardian goddess. The Masani Amman temple at Anaimalai near Pollachi is the most visited temple outside the city.
Which temples in Coimbatore are on hills?
Marudhamalai, Anuvavi Subramaniar near Periya Thadagam and Rathinagiri at Saravanampatti are Murugan temples on hills. Vellingiri, the Shiva shrine above Poondi, is a long trek that the Forest Department opens only in a set season each year.
Can I see several Coimbatore temples in one day?
Yes. A common plan is Koniamman and Kottai Eswaran in the city centre in the morning, then Perur on the west side, and Marudhamalai in the afternoon. Eachanari fits in on the way to or from Pollachi. Check each temple's midday closing time before you set out.
What are the temple timings in Coimbatore?
Most Coimbatore temples open early in the morning, close for a few hours around midday and reopen in the evening, but the exact hours differ and change on festival days. Check the temple's page on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE website or ask locally before you go.