Country India Date built 1725 Year built 1725 Architectural style Hindu temple architecture Number of temples 1 | State/province Tamil Nadu Creator Kalavai Chetty District Chennai Locale Armenian Street, Chennai | |
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Primary deity Kachchaleswarar (Lord Shiva) Architectural styles Hindu temple architecture Address Agraharam St, Mannady, George Town, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600001 Similar Kasi Viswanatha Temple, Periamet Mosque, Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Ettampadai Temple, Bahram Jung Mosque | ||
Kachchaleswarar Temple, also known as the Great Kachali Pagoda, is a Hindu temple located in Armenian Street, in the neighbourhood of Parry's corner (Old: George Town) in Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed on land belonging to dubash Kalavai Chetty in 1725, the temple belonged to the left-hand castes and was the site of the first major conflict between left and right-handed castes in the then Madras city.
The temple is modelled on the Kachaaleshwarar temple at Kancheepuram. Kachaaleshwarar (Lord Shiva) is the main deity and Soundaraambikai, the consort deity.
History
The temple was built in 1725 by Kalavai Chetty, a 'dubash' working for the British East India Company, on a land belonging to him. A huge retinue of dancing girls were attached to the temple in the earlier days. These dancing girls resided in a quarter adjoining the temple. A plaque in the temple records the year of the first kumbhaabishekam (consecration) as 1728. Post-Independence, a mahaa-kumbhaabishekam (great consecration) was held on 8 July 1962. A major renovation of the temple began on 20 February 1984 and another great consecration was held on 9 July 1989.