Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswarar Temple is a famous Lord Shiva temple at Thiruvarangam or Srirangam river island in Tiruchirapalli district, Tamilnadu state, India. This ancient temple was built by Kochchenganan or Kochengat Cholan or Senganan, an early Chola king. This temple is among the five major Lord Shiva temples spread across Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh states, known as Pancha Bhoota Stalam.

Kaveri River and the Kollidam River surround the Srirangam Island. Kollidam River splits as a separate river from the Kaveri River at Srirangam. It is wider and deeper than the Kaveri River. There is a regulator dam which regulates the water supply to both rivers. This dam is Upper Anaicut or Mukkombu, constructed between 1836 and 1838. It is located 18 kilometers west of Trichy and 2 kilometers ahead of the point where the Kaveri River splits into two, and the Kollidam River originates. Ranganathaswamy Temple is another famous temple on the same river island, Srirangam, constructed during the same period.

Temple Details

Mukha Mantapa is a large hall close to the sanctum with four pillars. It has got a bronze idol of Nandi. Apart from the main entrance, it has got two more entrances. You must get down three steps from the Mukha Mantapa to descend to the sanctum sanctorum. The main deity here is Jambukeshwara (Lord Shiva). The deity is viewed from the western side of the sanctum through a stone window with nine viewing apertures.

Another deity at the Jambukeswarar temple is that of Akilandeswari (Goddess Parvati). It is located opposite to that of the main deity.

It is one of the oldest temples in Tamilnadu. Inscriptions from the Chola period are found in this temple. It shows the grants given to the temple. These inscriptions date back to the 11th and 12th centuries.

A beautiful sculpture of a cow feeding or doing abishekam to a lingam with milk can be seen here.

There are five enclosures for the temple. The sanctum area is in the shape of a square. It is located in the innermost enclosure. It has an underground stream, which is always filled with water, despite it being pumped out using a motor.

How do I go to Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval?

Jambukeswarar temple is located near Tiruchirappalli alias Trichy in Tamilnadu state, India.

There are regular bus services to the temple from Trichy central bus stand which is at around 8 kilometers distance. Chathiram bus stand is about 3 kilometers from the temple.

Trichy Junction railway station is the nearest railway station at around 8 kilometers away.

Trichy Airport is the nearest airport to Jambukeswarar Temple at Thiruvanaikaval. It is at around 15 kilometers distance.