The Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane is the oldest large temple in central Chennai, with roots that go back at least to the Pallava kings of the eighth century. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu shrines praised in the hymns of the Tamil Vaishnava saints, and it is the reason the area is called Thiruvallikeni, after the lily ponds that once surrounded it. Tamil Nadu Tourism dates the shrine to the sixth century.
Unlike most Vishnu temples, the main image here shows Krishna as Arjuna’s charioteer, with a moustache and no weapon. Here is a guide to its history, the five forms of Vishnu worshipped inside, the festivals that bring Triplicane to a standstill, and what to know before you go.
A temple older than Madras
Triplicane was a village of tulasi groves and lily ponds long before the British set up Fort St George in 1640. Tamil Nadu Tourism explains that the old name Alikeni means a pond of lilies, and the prefix Thiru marks it as sacred. Three of the Alvars, the Vaishnava poet-saints, sang of the deity here: Peyalvar, Thirumazhisai Alvar and Thirumangai Alvar, according to the TN Temples Project.
The strongest evidence for the temple’s age is in stone. A Pallava record naming King Dantivarman is set into the floor near the entrance to the sanctum, written in Tamil with Sanskrit words in Grantha letters, as V. Venkayya reported in Epigraphia Indica in 1905-06. Later inscriptions from the Chola, Pandya and Vijayanagara periods record grants of land and villages for the temple’s upkeep. The Cholas expanded the temple, and in the fifteenth century Vijayanagara rulers added halls, including the small four-pillared mandapam at the front.
Five forms of Vishnu under one roof
The temple is unusual because it has separate shrines for several forms of Vishnu, each with its own entrance and flagstaff:
- Parthasarathy, also called Venkatakrishnan, in the main sanctum, with Rukmini, Balarama, Satyaki, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.
- Ranganatha, the reclining Vishnu.
- Rama, worshipped as Chakravarthi Thirumagan.
- Gajendra Varadar, the form who rescued the elephant king.
- Yoga Narasimha, whose shrine faces west and has its own festival car.
The face of the main deity is marked with small scars. Devotees say these are from the arrows he took while driving Arjuna’s chariot at Kurukshetra. There are also shrines to Vedavalli Thayar, Andal and the Vaishnava teacher Manavala Mamunigal.
The Kairavini tank
The temple tank in front of the east tower is the Kairavini Pushkarini, named after the lily that grows in it. Tamil Nadu Tourism says it is believed to hold five sacred waters, named after Indra, Soma, Agni, Meena and Vishnu. The tank’s steps are a popular evening sitting spot, and during the float festival the deities are taken around the water on a lit raft.
Festivals that fill Triplicane
Two times of year matter most for visitors and for anyone who has to drive through Triplicane:
- Vaikunta Ekadasi in the Tamil month of Margazhi, usually December or January. The northern gate, the Paramapada Vasal, is opened before dawn and queues stretch down the surrounding streets. Tamil Nadu Tourism notes that the 4,000 verses of the Alvars are recited in this period.
- The annual Brahmotsavam, when the temple car is drawn through the four Mada streets. The TN Temples Project notes the car is pulled twice, once for Parthasarathy and once for Yoga Narasimha.
For festival dates in a given year, check the temple’s notices or the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, which administers it.
Bharati and the temple elephant
The temple has a sad footnote in Tamil literary history. The poet Subramania Bharati, who lived on Thulasingam Street nearby, used to feed the temple elephant. In 1921 he was knocked down and injured by the elephant; his already weak health declined and he died that September, the TN Temples Project records. His house in Triplicane is now a memorial.
Visiting tips
- Hours: roughly 6 am to 12.30 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm, according to the TN Temples Project. Timings change on festival days.
- Getting there: the temple is about 5 km from Chennai Central. Thiruvallikeni station on the MRTS line is a short walk, and buses run along Bharathi Salai.
- Dress and conduct: traditional dress is expected inside. Leave footwear at the counter and follow staff instructions on photography in the inner shrines.
- Around it: combine a visit with the Mada streets’ old houses and mess eateries, Bharati’s house and a walk to the Marina.
Quick answers
How old is the Parthasarathy temple?
A Pallava inscription of King Dantivarman shows it existed by the eighth century. Tamil Nadu Tourism dates it to the sixth century.
Why does the deity have a moustache?
He is shown as Krishna the charioteer, a human warrior figure, rather than in a royal form. He holds no weapon because Krishna vowed not to fight at Kurukshetra.
What is the best time to avoid crowds?
Weekday mornings outside the Margazhi season and festival weeks.
Is it a Divya Desam?
Yes. It is one of the 108 Vishnu temples sung by the Alvars.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
