This ancient temple complex is very close to Chennai. It is about an hour and a half or 72 km south of the capital city of Tamil Nadu. With contributions from the Pallava, Chola, Vijayanagara and Nayakkan kings, it is a beautiful complex. It is a twin temple complex with the Bakthavatchelesvarar temple at the foot of the hill of Thirukalukundram and the Vedagiriswarar temple on the hill top. Legends abound. Until a few decades ago a pair of vultures used to visit the hill temple daily at noon and had done so for centuries giving the hill its name. They do not come any longer.
It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam that is venerated in the Thevarams. The Thiruvasagam also mentions it. The views from the top are fabulous. The two temples have beautiful architecture, sculpture and inscriptions from many different eras. There is a monolithic cave temple from the Pallava era called the Orukkal Mandapam thought to have been built by the great king Mahendravarman in the early 7th century.
As the climb up the hill can take time, budget enough time to visit both temples.A whole morning at least should be allocated. It is traditional to visit the temple at the base of the hill before climbing up. The temple closes at noon and will reopen in the late afternoon. Beware of monkeys on the climb up.
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