Kailasanathar Temple

About this place

The Kailasanathar Temple or the Kailasanath temple is perhaps the oldest temple in the city. The temple was built by the Pallava King Narasimhvarman in the eight century in reverence of Lord Shiva. The temple is visited every year by the devotees of Shiva. The temple consists of a compound made from sandstone and has exquisite carvings that are an example of the fine craftsmanship of the times. The architecture of the temple is in sync with the Dravidian architecture that was commonly used for constructing structures and buildings during the time. As a result, there are many half-animal deities that have been engraved on the walls and pillars of the temple. Along with the fine architecture, the temple is also known for its vimana or the tower that is directly above a small unlit shrine. The temple also has a number of panels that have engravings of Lord Shiva posing as Natraja.