Located atop the scenic Shivagiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, the Palani Murugan Temple—officially known as Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple—is one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan. Day after day, a large number of followers take a spiritual trip to the peak, either by ascending the older steps or availing of the modern rope car facility. For a pleasant and satisfying trip, it is necessary to know the timings of Palani Temple and the pooja schedule.
This guide gives the entirety of information concerning the hours of darshan, daily rituals, the timings of the rope car, festivals, and the tips for pilgrims.
Religious Importance of Palani Murugan Temple
Palani Temple is tremendously important in the context of Indian religion and mythology. According to legend, Lord Murugan chose Palani as his residence after realizing the value of wisdom following a divine incident involving Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The deity here is worshipped as a symbol of renunciation, knowledge, and spiritual awakening.
Situated about 1,500 feet above sea level, the temple can be reached via 693 stone steps or through winch and rope car services. A unique feature of the temple is the idol made of Navapashanam, a rare combination of medicinal herbs.
Palani Temple Darshan Timings
From early morning, the temple is available for worship, and the last devotees of the day can still enter before it’s totally dark, only with a slightly longer afternoon break.
General Darshan Schedule
Morning Opening: 5:30 AM
Temple Closure: 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Evening Opening: 4:00 PM
Temple Closing: Between 8:30 PM and 9:00 PM
Palani Temple’s Daily Pooja Schedule
The temple adheres to a very strict daily ritual routine where six major poojas are performed:
Vishwarupa Darshan: 5:30 AM (deity’s waking up)
Ushakkala Pooja: 6:00 AM
Kalasanthi Pooja: 8:00 AM
Uchikkala Pooja: 12:00 PM
Sayarakhsa Pooja: 5:30 PM
Rakkala Pooja: 8:00 PM
Every pooja consists of abhishekam, alankaram, and a sacred offering, besides others.
Rope Car and Winch Service Timings
For the ones who worship God but can’t manage to get up to the temple, there are easy ways of getting to the sacred place:
Rope Car Service: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Winch Service: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM
During festive seasons, the frequency of these services is increased to cater to the needs of a large number of devotees.
Tickets for Darshan and Special Sevas
General Darshan: Free
Paid Darshan: ₹10 to ₹100 (quicker access)
Special Darshan: ₹150 to ₹250 on high days
Abhishekam Tickets: For devotees who want to take part in the rituals
Palani Temple Major Festivals
Palani Temple is a center of spirituality during the festival time:
Thaipusam (Jan–Feb): the most massive festival with kavadis and offerings
Panguni Uthiram (Mar–Apr): Murugan’s divine marriage is the reason for the celebration
Vaikasi Visakam (May–Jun): Lord Murugan’s birthday
Skanda Shasti (Oct–Nov): the festival of six days’ victory
Temple opening hours are extended during these days.
Best Time to Visit & Useful Tips
Get there in the morning when it’s quiet for your darshan.
Monday to Friday are less busy than Saturday and Sunday.
Put on traditional and comfortable clothing.
No shoes allowed in the temple area
Make sure to try the world-famous prasadam of Palani Panchamirtham.
Places to Stay Near Palani Temple
The devotees have the following options to stay:
Devasthanam guest houses.
Budget lodges and private hotels.
Pilgrim rest houses run by trusts.
Getting the night over there allows attending the early morning poojas, which are considered very lucky.
