Narttamalai (நார்த்தாமலை)
Narttamalai is one of the sites of national renown. There are two rock-cut
temples, Pazhiyili Isvaram (பழியிலி ஈஸ்வரம்) and Samanar-kudagu (சமணர் குடகு),
and one magnificent structural temple called Vijayalaya Chozhisvaram (விஜயாலய
சோழீஸ்வரம்), which is a marvellous piece of art, on the hill. There is a
famous living temple of Mariamman (மாரியம்மன்). The Kadambar temple (கடம்பூர்
கோயில்) at the foot of a hill nearby is another beautiful temple. The natural
cavern of Aluruttimalai contains polished stone beds and other Jaina vestiges.
Narttamalai is situated on the western side of the Tiruchirappalli (திருச்சிராப்பள்ளி)
– Pudukkottai (புதுக்கோட்டை) highway. One can reach the Narttamalai village
by taking a diversion from the Tiruchirappalli – Pudukkottai highway at
Narttamalai bus-stop. The village is about 2 kilometres from the high-way,
on the western side.
Narttamalai village is 17 kilometres from Pudukkottai and 14 kilometres
from Kiranur (கீரனூர்) which is an important junction in Tiruchirappalli
– Pudukkottai highway.
Narttamalai also has a railway station where the metre-gauge passenger
trains running in Tiruchirappalli - Karaikkudi route have a stop.
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