திருக்குந்தன்குடி மகாதேவர் கோயில், மதகடிபட்டு
This small but important Sivan temple also known as Thirukundankuzhi Mahadevar (திருக்குந்தன்குழி மகாதேவர்) temple is tucked away in rural Pondicherry.
Built in the late 10th century by none other than Raja Raja Cholan I, it is hard to believe that the same king who built the Great Temple at Thanjavur built this little temple too. But the inscriptions here clearly say that it was commissioned by him. Later inscriptions from Rajendra Chola I and Kulothunga Chola I, also are found here. There are two primary structures, a sanctum housing a Sivalingam and another for the goddess. The niches or Koshtas are empty as the idols have been removed some time ago to be housed in the museum in Pondicherry for security. It is essentially a dead or inactive temple with an Archakar doing a pooja once a day. It is an ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) property and considered a monument of national importance. As such it is maintained well.
It is built completely of solid granite and has withstood the ravages of the elements and humans for a thousand years. Devoid of a rajagopuram or kodimaram, it is representative of early Chola temples without the expansions that came with later dynasties.
It is located about 25 km or 45 minutes west of Pondicherry. We visited in May 2023. We were based in Pondicherry.
Credits: Google Maps
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