Namakkal, Tiruchirappalli - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 83 km from Srirangam, 85 km from Trichy, and 151 km from Coimbatore, Namakkal is a historic city and the headquarters of Namakkal district. It is one of the places of heritage in Tamilnadu, and among the must visit tourist places near Trichy.

Namakkal is the first ISO certified municipality in Asia for environmental management, specifically the provision and maintenance of water supply, solid waste and sewage management, town planning, lighting and other social services. The town derives its name, Namakkal, from the term 'Namagiri', which refers to the colossal 65-meter-high rock situated at the center of the town. Namakkal is renowned as the Egg City due to its significant contribution to egg production and is also recognized as a prominent transport hub.

The town of Namakkal has a rich history that can be traced back to the 7th century. It is a significant part of Kongu Nadu, which encompasses the western regions of Tamil Nadu. Initially ruled by the Atiakula King Gunasila, who had ties with the Pallava King through marriage, Namakkal later fell under the control of the Cholas. Following conflicts between the Cheras, Cholas, and Pandiyan, the Hoysalas took over the region until the 14th century, succeeded by the Vijayanagara Kings until 1565 AD. Subsequently, the Telugu Madurai Nayaks assumed power in 1623 AD. From around 1625 AD, the region was successively ruled by the Muslim Sultans of Bijapur and Golkonda, Mysore kings, and then the Marathas. Namakkal was under the rule of Hyder Ali until the British captured it in 1768. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Namakkal briefly belonged to the Tiruchirappalli district before becoming part of the Salem District. Finally, in 1997, it was established as a separate district.

The major attraction of the Namakkal town is Namakkal Fort located on a massive 65 m high rock. The fort was built by Ramachandra Nayakar, a ruler who governed the region during the 16th century. The fort was further fortified during the reign of Kongu Vellalars in the 17th century. It was briefly occupied by Tippu Sultan before being captured by the British. Covering an area of 1.5 acres, the fort is home to the Narasimha Swamy Temple, a mosque, and the Ranganathaswamy temple.

The Arulmigu Narasimha Swamy Temple is devoted to Lord Narasimhar, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The main deity is seated in a Veerasana posture with four hands inside a cave. This temple is unique in the state as it is a 'Thirumurthy Sthalam', where Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, and Vishnu are all present in the same site, seated on the same Rathna Simhasanam (golden chair). The prominent Namakkal Anjeneyar sannidhi is situated opposite the Arulmigu Narasimha Swamy Temple.

Fort Timings: 6 AM - 5 PM

Temple Timings: 7 AM - 1 PM & 4.30 PM - 8 PM

Entry: Free