Nattatreeswarar Temple, Kangayampalayam

Nattatreeswarar Temple sits on a hillock that rises as an island in the Kaveri near Erode, off the highway to Karur. Legend says the sage Agastya shaped a lingam from sand on the hillock, hung his rudraksha garland on it and sat in meditation. When he was roused on Tamil New Year's Day and reached to take the garland back, Shiva's voice told him to leave it, as the god meant to stay for all who came to worship.

The temple was built by the Chola kings in the 10th century and dedicated to Agastheeswarar. Believers say the athi tree inside is 3,000 years old. Thousands of devotees come here on the first day of Chithirai, the Tamil New Year.