Thirukazhukundram’s hill temple to Vedagiriswarar stands on top of Vedagiri, a rock that the Chengalpattu district administration gives as 160 metres high. The town is known across Tamil Nadu for a daily ritual: two birds of prey that, by long tradition, arrive at the hilltop around noon to be fed by the temple priests. For Chennai residents it is an easy half-day trip south, and it pairs naturally with Mamallapuram.
The hill is only one of three sights. There is a large Siva temple in the town below, a sacred tank tied to a 12-year conch legend, and a rock-cut cave shrine from the seventh century. Here is how to see them in one visit.
The hilltop and the eagles
The town’s name is usually read as “the hill of the eagles”, and the hilltop shrine is popularly called the Kazhugu Koil, or eagle temple. The old town panchayat page on the Tamil Nadu government site describes two white kites that come just before noon each day to be fed. Local legend holds that they are two sages resting on their flight between Varanasi and Rameswaram.
The presiding deity on the hill is Vedagiriswarar, worshipped as a swayambu (self-manifested) lingam. The ENVIS centre’s heritage note says the sanctum’s inner walls carry images carved from the surrounding rock, and the enclosure has shrines to Sokkanayaki and to a dancing Vinayaka. Nobody can promise the birds will turn up on a given day, so go for the climb and the view over the Chengalpattu plains and treat a sighting as a bonus.
Tips for the climb
- Start early. The steps are exposed rock and get hot by late morning, even outside summer.
- Carry water and leave footwear at the base as instructed by temple staff.
- During the northeast monsoon, from October to December, wet stone can be slippery. Take the handrails and avoid climbing in heavy rain.
- Older visitors and anyone with heart or knee problems should judge the climb carefully and check with their doctor if unsure.
The town temple and the conch tank
At the foot of the hill, a large Siva temple and a shrine to Thirupurasundari Amman form the second half of the visit. Southeast of the town is a spacious tank, called Sangu Theertham (also Shangu Theertha kulam), whose water is believed to heal. According to both the district and town panchayat pages, a conch is found in the tank once every 12 years, and large crowds gather to bathe then. The conches collected over the years are displayed inside the town’s Siva temple. The tank is also linked with the Laksha Deepam festival, when lamps are lit in large numbers.
The town also carries the name Pakshi Theertham, a reference to the birds.
The cave temple
Easy to miss, the Orukal Mandapam is a cave shrine cut into a single rock. The ENVIS note dates it to the Mamalla period, AD 610 to 640, the same Pallava era that produced the early monuments of Mamallapuram. Two verandahs, each with four heavy pillars, lead in. The lower verandah has two life-size ornamented figures, and the upper one holds a large lingam flanked by figures of Brahma and Vishnu. If you are coming from Mamallapuram, seeing this small cave helps place the shore monuments in a wider Pallava story.
Planning the trip from Chennai
- By road: Thirukazhukundram is in Chengalpattu district, inland from Mamallapuram, and reachable by state transport buses from Chengalpattu and Mamallapuram as well as by car.
- By train: take a suburban train to Chengalpattu and continue by bus or taxi.
- Timing: reach the base by mid-morning so you are on the hilltop before noon, then visit the town temple and the cave in the afternoon.
- Combine with: Mamallapuram’s shore temple and Five Rathas make an easy full-day loop.
Temple opening hours are set by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and can change on festival days, so confirm locally before you set out. Most large temples in the region close for a few hours in the early afternoon, which is another reason to start the climb in the morning. If you are visiting with elderly family members, one person can climb while the others visit the town temple and the cave shrine, which are on level ground.
Quick answers
How high is the Thirukazhukundram hill?
Vedagiri hill is 160 metres high, according to the Chengalpattu district administration.
When do the eagles come?
By tradition, just before noon each day, when the priests feed them. Sightings are not guaranteed.
What is the 12-year conch?
A conch is said to appear in the town’s sacred tank once every 12 years, drawing large crowds of bathers. Earlier conches are displayed in the Siva temple.
Is there a cave temple?
Yes. The Orukal Mandapam is a single-rock cave shrine dated to AD 610 to 640.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
