Palani Murugan Temple – Steps & Elephant Path
Besides climbing up the hill by Ropeway and Winch, there
are other two ways viz Steps and Elephant Path.
Steps Route
After worshiping the Paadha Vinayagar one starts for
climbing the hill through the steps route. The steps route is a scenic route
and on the way there is a small temple for Idumban. On the steps there are lots
of small Mandapams - people going through the steps route take rest in
these Mandapams while climbing the hill.
On the entrance of the steps route the Giant Peacock
stone idol is seen. There are exactly 689 steps. While climbing the
hill gentle breeze and the scenic beauty of Western Ghats make one feel
less tired of the climbing.
To manage the overcrowd of devotees in-front of
Pathavinayagar Temple at footsteps during the festivals such as Thaipoosam and
Panguni Uthiram, an alternative diversion arrangement has been made through
Kumbabishekam Arangam to Elephant Path.
Similarly a permanent stainless steel Queue line with
toilet facility has been made in the northern side of the hill (Chinnakumarar
Mandapam) at a cost of Rs.1.5 Crores.
The tonsuring place maintained by temple has been
modernized with enhanced hygienic conditions. At present, for the ever increasing
pilgrims to hair dedication a new tonsuring spot has been additionally
established near Pathavinayagar Temple. Tiruvavinankudi Temple Mudi shed is
modernized with Tiled flooring, False Roofing and Air-conditioning facilities.
Now, the temple administration is going to provide
purified water using the reverse osmosis system in the elephant path and steps.
The temple administration has a proposal to construct an
information centre and a Clock Room adjacent to Pathavinayagar Temple.
Elephant Path
The Elephant path was constructed for the facility of
Elephants to climb the hill. Since the Steps Route steps are very
small for elephants to climb this path was constructed. During the festival
days elephants are seen at the Palani hill temple (Palani Murugan Temple). On
the Elephant path there is a small water source (Theertham) known as Valli
Sunai.
HR & CE department has sanctioned to construct 100
Nizhal Mandapams in the elephant path by way of donor. In the elephant path two
Nizhal Mandapams were finished at a cost of Rs.3.7Lakhs, Three mandapams are in
progress and three mandapams are permitted to be constructed.
