Aḻagiya Nambirāyar Temple, Thirukurungudi
Five Nambis at the foot of the Mahendragiri hills
⭐ Why it is famous
A Divya Deśam where the Lord is worshipped as five Nambis — standing, sitting, reclining, the hill Nambi and the forest Nambi. The temple's wooden Nāyaka maṇḍapa carvings are among the finest in the far south.
📜 Pilgrimage history
Sung by Nammāḻvār and Tirumaṅgai Āḻvār, the shrine was expanded by the Pāṇḍyas and the Nāyakas of Madurai. The annual Kaiśika Nāṭakam — the dramatised singing of the Kaiśika Purāṇa on Kārtika Ekādaśī night — has been performed here for centuries.
🕰️ Temple timings
- Darśan 07:00 – 12:00 and 17:00 – 20:30
🙏 Darśan details
- Free darśan; the hill Nambi shrine is a 3 km walk into the reserve forest
- Kaiśika Nāṭakam night draws scholars and dancers from across the south
🚉 Location & getting there
📍 Aḻagiya Nambirāyar Temple, Thirukurungudi, Thirukurungudi, TirunelveliNanguneri (NGL) — 12 km
Thirukurungudi bus stand — state transport buses stop here.
Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) — 105 km
45 km south of Tirunelveli off NH-44; buses via Nanguneri.
🪔 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 Tirunelveli and Nagercoil
- Basic lodges in Nanguneri
₹ Indicative trip cost (per head, 2 days)
| Budget | Standard | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1,700 | ₹3,600 | ₹8,000 |
🛕 Nearby temples
📌 Other attractions nearby
- Mahendragiri hills
- Kalakkad–Mundanthurai tiger reserve
- Papanasam falls
🧵 Part of these circuits
📅 Best time to visit
November–February; Kaiśika Ekādaśī in November