Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

2271 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · India

Kailasanathar Temple, Karaikal

Karaikal, Puducherry · 10.9237°, 79.8328°

Shiva as KailasanatharPallava
Sacred since
700 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
Pallava rebuilding, 8th c.; repaired under French rule
Pallava

History & significance

The largest temple complex in Karaikal town, rebuilt by the Pallavas in the 8th century and again during French rule, with four ornate doorways facing the cardinal directions. Besides the consort Soundarambal it carries shrines to Nataraja, Dakshinamurthy, Vinayaka, Muruga and many saints, and keeps the Mangani, Theppotsavam and Rathotsavam festivals.

Sthala katha — the legend

Local belief holds the shrine to be more than two thousand years old.

Open in Google Maps ↗Wikipedia ↗View on the atlas map

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Pallava