Twin Temples of Poonjar

Adjacent to the palace are the Madurai Meenakshi and Sastha Temples. The Meenakshi Temple is particularly notable for its extensive stone engravings. The walls of the inner praharam have 2,200 lamps hewn from the stone itself. The idol was brought here from Madurai at the time of the royal migration. Some of the etchings on the stone walls depict scenes from the Ramayana, yet another Tamil influence. The Sastha Temple is also a work of art in its own right. The walls are carved granite, the pattikas (rooftop support) made from a single piece of wood.