Kasi Viswanathar Temple

Kasi Viswanathar Temple is a prominent Hindu Shiva temple located in Tenkasi town, Tenkasi District, Tamil Nadu. Built in the 15th century by King Parakrama Pandyan, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Kasi Viswanathar and Goddess Ulagammal. Known for its Dravidian architecture, towering gopuram and intricate sculptures, the temple is a major pilgrimage and cultural landmark in southern Tamil Nadu near the Western Ghats.

Visitors can expect a large Dravidian-style temple complex with a towering 180-foot gopuram, pillared halls, sculpted mandapams and shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Ulagammal. The temple is set in the centre of Tenkasi town with busy streets, shops and the Chittar River nearby. Inside, visitors can observe daily pujas, view detailed stone carvings, walk through spacious courtyards and experience a traditional South Indian temple atmosphere.

The temple was built by Parakrama Pandyan in the 15th century, around 1460 CE, as recorded in inscriptions. It was intended to create a southern Kasi (Varanasi) for devotees unable to travel north. Construction of the massive Rajagopuram was left unfinished in the Pandya period and was completed later. The temple exhibits classic Pandya and later Nayak-era Dravidian architecture and is maintained by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Tamil Nadu.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar and his consort Ulagammal (Lokanayaki), the temple is a major Shaivite pilgrimage centre in southern Tamil Nadu. It is associated with the concept of Dakshina Kasi and hosts major festivals such as Maha Shivaratri, Panguni Uthiram and Tiruvathirai, attracting devotees from across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.