Happy TravellerWelcome to Kalugumalai, a panchayat town located in the Kovilpatti Taluk of Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This hidden gem is home to a number of stunning landmarks, including the rockcut Kalugasalamoorthy Temple, monolithic Vettuvan Koil and Kalugumalai Jain Beds. But there’s much more to Kalugumalai than its iconic attractions. Join us as we explore the history, culture, and traditions of this charming town.
Kalugumalai is located at 9.152962, 77.704386, with an average elevation of 105 metres (344 feet). It is strategically located between Kovilpatti (20 km from Kalugumalai) and Sankarankoil (19 km from Kalugumalai) and served as ancient trade route from Kovilpatti to Courtallam and Sengottai.
The town’s name, Kalugumalai, means ‘hill of the vulture’ in Tamil. It was previously known as Araimalai or Tirumalai, as well as Nechchuram and Tiruneccuram. Some of the epigraphies in the site mention a palace for the Pandya official called Ettimannan. At the foot of the Kalugumalai, a large urn-burial cemetery was found. However, hundreds of urns were destroyed during limestone quarrying. Opposite to Kalugasalamoorthy Temple is a small palace that served as local residence of Raja of Ettaiyapuram.
As of 2001 India census, Kalugumalai had a population of 14,834. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kalugumalai has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 63%. In Kalugumalai, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
But it’s Kalugumalai’s landmarks that truly steal the show. The Kalugumalai Jain Beds are a series of rock relief sculptures dating back to the 8th-9th century CE, including the rock cut image of the tirthankara Parshvanatha flanked by two yakshas, as well as many other rock cut images of other tirthankaras. The area is known for the Jain cave temple and architecture. The Vettuvan Koil, or Sculptors paradise, is a priceless unfinished Pandyan monolith cave temple built between the 8th and 9th century. The intricately carved statues are from fine granite. The Kalugasalamoorthy Temple’s main deity is Lord Murugan with his wife Deivanai. The temple complex also has shrines of Shiva, Akilandeswari, Vinayakar and many lesser deities. The Ayyanar Temple, located on the Kalugumalai hill, is adjacent to the historical Jain carvings at the hill and has a Banyan Tree as its holy tree. And finally, the Our Lady Of Lourdes Church, the biggest Roman Catholic Church in the vicinity, is adorned with two tall steeples in the front entrance.
Kalugumalai, along with surrounding villages, specializes in the manufacturing of safety matches. There are hundreds of small scale industries involved in this trade, supported by the dry climatic condition and skilled labor available. Grocery business is another one doing in large scale. All in all, Kalugumalai is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in history, culture, and breathtaking landmarks that will take your breath away. Come and experience the true magic of India in Kalugumalai!
