Elk Hill Murugan Temple

This temple to Lord Murugan stands on Elk Hill in Ooty, looking out over the Nilgiri Hills. It is built in a traditional South Indian style, with a large gopuram and brightly painted sculptures of Hindu deities.

Its biggest event is an annual festival in January or February marking Murugan's defeat of the demon Soorapadman, a story of good overcoming evil. Large crowds of pilgrims join processions, special prayers and rituals, and some carry heavy decorated wooden poles with two baskets of offerings hung from them as an act of penance.