Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar Temple
மலைக்கோட்டை உச்சிப்பிள்ளையார் கோயில்
A cliff-top temple to the elephant-headed god Ganesha on an 83-metre rock in central Tiruchirappalli. Climb about 400 steps for views over the city, the Kaveri River and the gateway towers of Srirangam.
Rockfort is the city's landmark: a massive gneiss outcrop, said to be billions of years old, rising sharply from the plain. Halfway up stand a rock-cut cave temple from the 7th-century Pallava dynasty and the Thayumanaswamy Shiva Temple, and at the summit is the Ucchi Pillayar Temple, dedicated to Ganesha. The climb begins from the bustling market at the foot of the rock. About 400 steps are cut into the rock, and you must climb them barefoot (shoes can be left at a storage counter). From the top you get a 360° view of the city, the Kaveri River and the gateway towers of distant Srirangam. Sunset is the most beautiful time to visit. Entry carries a nominal fee, and cameras cost extra.
Opening hours
06:00–20:00
Nearby sights
- Chinnakadai Street Bazaar
- Chokkanatha Nayak Palace (Rani Mangammal Mahal)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Church
- Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval
- Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
- Vayalur Murugan Temple
- Erumbeeswarar Temple
- Tropical Butterfly Conservatory