Vijayalaya Choleeswaram (Narthamalai)
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📍 44 km from Chettinad
📍 52 km from Karaikudi
Narthamalai is an ancient heritage village made up of rocky hills, caves, and temples that reflect the region’s long religious and political history.The main attraction here is Vijayalaya Choleeswaram, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is widely associated with the rise of the Chola dynasty, and many traditions connect it with Vijayalaya Chola, the founder of the Medieval Chola line.Inscriptions also mention later renovation after damage caused by rain and lightning, showing that the temple was repaired and expanded over time.