Oppiliappan Temple, Thiruvinnagar
Food cooked without salt, for a vow kept
⭐ Why it is famous
A Divya Deśam where no salt is used in the temple kitchen or in the prasādam, keeping the Lord's promise to sage Mārkaṇḍeya, whose daughter Bhūmidevī he married. It is treated as the Tirupati of the Kāverī delta.
📜 Pilgrimage history
Sung by Nammāḻvār, Periyāḻvār and Tirumaṅgai Āḻvār, the temple has Chola foundations and Vijayanagara-Nāyaka additions. Marriage vows and śrāddha rites bring families here from all over the delta.
🕰️ Temple timings
- Darśan 06:00 – 12:30 and 16:00 – 20:30
🙏 Darśan details
- Free darśan; ₹20–₹100 special-entry tickets on festival days
- Prasādam is entirely salt-free, including the puḷiyōdarai
- Popular for weddings and thread ceremonies — book the maṇḍapa well ahead
🚉 Location & getting there
📍 Oppiliappan Temple, Thiruvinnagar, Thiruvinnagar, ThanjavurKumbakonam (KMU) — 7 km
Thiruvinnagar bus stand — state transport buses stop here.
Tiruchirappalli International (TRZ) — 95 km
6 km from Kumbakonam near Thirunageswaram; autos and buses through the day.
🪔 Poojas, sevās & tickets
This temple does not publish a rate list. Darśan is free; ārcanā, abhiṣeka and other sevās are booked at the counter inside the temple on the day.
🧭 Around the temple
Places to see besides the temple — tap any one to open it in Google Maps.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Hotels in Kumbakonam, ₹800–₹4,000
- Temple trust rooms in limited numbers
₹ Indicative trip cost (per head, 2 days)
| Budget | Standard | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1,600 | ₹3,500 | ₹8,000 |
🛕 Nearby temples
📌 Other attractions nearby
- Mahāmaham tank
- Darasuram
- Swamimalai bronze casting
🧵 Part of these circuits
📅 Best time to visit
November–February; Śravaṇa Deepam and Purāṭṭāsi Saturdays