Located less than 10 kilometres to the east of Tiruchirappalli, the Erunbeeswarer Temple is built on a 60-feet tall hill. The temple consists of one main shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva along with 2 parikramas or courtyards and was built by King Aditya Chola to commemorate his victory in the battle of Tirupurambiyam.

It is believed that Lord Shiva himself transformed into an anthill and tilted his head to this particular temple so that the ants could reach the shrine to worship him. Even today, you can see ants on the Shivalingam! The 10th century building is a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India and owing to its importance is named "Kailash of South India" since Lord Shiva resides at the temple. The place is at its best during the full moon when devotees from all over the region walk barefoot to the temple to partake in poojas and prayers.  

Other highlights of the temple include

• The beautiful stone Rajgopuram with statues carved into the gateway
• The rare inscriptions that are still seen on the temple walls
• A few spots that lie in ruin but still somehow manage to exude an old-world charm
• The main idol of Shivalingam along with granite sculptures of Lord Ganesha, Murugan, the Navgraha (9 planets), Goddess Durga and Dakshinamurthy
• The shrine of Narunguzhal Nayagi Amman

The temple finds its mention in an ancient book called Tevaram which was written by Appar- a famous saint and poet of the 7th century who was also a nayanmar (one of the noble Tamil saints in ancient India). For visitors, the temple promises a beautiful experience exploring one of the oldest structures in the region.

• It is customary to remove your footwear before you enter the shrine. However, do wear comfortable shoes with decent grip to reach the temple and walk around the premises.

• Admission to the place is free of cost.

• By Bus : Malaikovil Bus Stop
• By Train : Tiruverumbur
• Private Taxis are available for hire.
• By renting a Car/ Bike.

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