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Gopuram Construction at Pazhayarai Temple
January 16 , 2026
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- The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has started building a seven-tier gopuram at the Somanathar Temple in Pazhayarai near Kumbakonam.
- The National Institute of Technology (NIT) studied the soil and the existing temple structure before recommending the construction of a seven-tier gopuram instead of the earlier five-tier plan to match the broad foundation.
- The temple previously had a neglected east-facing gopuram, called the mottai gopuram (unfinished tower).
- Pazhayarai was an important Chola capital before moving to Thanjavur.
- A royal order by Uttama Chola was recorded from the Pazhayarai palace, highlighting its historical importance.
- The temple is one of the important Saivite temples, praised in verse by Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar.
- It is also called Kara Koil because its mahamandapam (main hall) is designed like a chariot.
- As per K.A. Nilakanta Sastri notes, Pazhayarai had the Arulmolideva-Isvara Temple, with a palace that was the residence of Rajaraja Chola’s sister Kundavai, and for some time, of Rajaraja himself.
- The construction is part of the Tamil Nadu government’s programme to restore and repair 1,000-year-old temples, under which around 4,000 temples have already undergone kumbabishekam (ritual consecration).
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