Thiruneermalai Temple

Thiruneermalai is a panchayat town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has a hill, and a temple on that hill.It is situated outside Chennai. The temple is near Chennai. There are two temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. One temple is on the base of the hill and the other temple is on top of the hill. Long ago, this hill was surrounded by water when Thirumangai Azhwar visited the shrine. Hence it is called Thiruneermalai. It is one of the Divya desam. People need to climb steps to reach the hill top. It would be around 200 to 300 steps. From the top of the mountain, one can view the entire Pallavaram area.

The base Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama also known as Neervanan in a standing posture and the temple up the hill has four shrines for Lord Ranganatha (Kidanthaan - in reclining posture), Animamalarmangai Thayaar, Trivikrama (Nadanthaan - in standing posture) and Lord Narasimha (Irundhaan - sitting posture). It is a double prakaram temple. The Garuda shrine faces the Lord. The view from the top of the hill is wonderful.

The legend is that when Valmiki prayed to Lord Ranganatha and Goddess Ranganayaki in the base temple, they took the form of Lord Rama and Sita, Sesha, Conch, Chakra as Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatruguna and Garuda as Hanuman. Sage Valmiki could view Lord Ranganatha, Lord Trivikrama and Lord Narasimha in the top temple.

Thiruneermalai is famous for conducting marriages.

Panguni Uthiram and Chithirai Month are the festival months.

The temple is near Chrompet, which is hardly 10 km from the Chennai Domestic Airport. A lot of Bus facilities are available. Freqent bus services are available from Pallavaram also. From Pallavaram, the bus number is 66. The temple opens at 8.00 a.m in the morning unlike other temples in the region which opens at 6.00 a.m.