Pavalavannar Temple

Pavalavannar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. Situated in the temple town of Kanchipuram, it is one of the 108 Divya Desams revered by Vaishnavites. The temple enshrines Pavalavannar Perumal with consort Pavazhavalli Thayar and exhibits Dravidian architecture with a tiered gopuram and pillared mandapas. Praised by the Alvar saints, it holds religious importance and attracts pilgrims and visitors interested in heritage and architecture.

Visitors can expect a compact Dravidian-style temple complex with a gopuram, pillared mandapas, and a sanctum enshrining Pavalavannar Perumal and Pavazhavalli Thayar. The temple is located in a residential area of Kancheepuram within walking distance of other major temples. Inside, visitors can observe traditional rituals, architectural details, stone pillars and sculptures, and a calm devotional atmosphere. The premises are accessible for darshan, prayer and exterior photography.

Believed to have been originally built by the Pallavas and later patronized and expanded by the Cholas and Vijayanagara rulers. The temple is recognized as Thirupavalavannam, one of the 108 Divya Desams, and is mentioned in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham hymns of Thirumangai Alvar, reflecting its antiquity and continuity as a Vaishnavite centre in Kanchipuram.

Revered as a Divya Desam, the temple is an important pilgrimage site for Vaishnavites. The presiding deity Pavalavannar, meaning the one with the hue of coral, and goddess Pavazhavalli are central to its religious identity. It forms part of the Kanchipuram Divya Desam circuit and participates in traditional Vaishnavite festivals such as Vaikunta Ekadasi and Brahmotsavam.