Soundararajaperumal Temple, Thadikombu

The Soundararajaperumal Temple stands in Thadikombu, a village on the outskirts of Dindigul, and is dedicated to Vishnu as Soundararaja Perumal, with Lakshmi as Soundaravalli. It is believed to have been built under Achyuta Deva Raya (1529–1542), younger brother of Krishna Deva Raya, with outer halls and sculptures added under Thirumalai Nayak in 1629; a hall named Sundarapandya hints that an earlier Pandya temple may have stood here. Legend says Vishnu saved a sage cursed to live as a frog (Mandukya) from a demon and chose to stay on the spot.

The temple covers 1.5 acres within granite walls and has a five-tier rajagopuram. It is known for its Ranga Mandapam, with rare life-size sculptures, and for a separate shrine to Manmatha and Rati, the deities of love. Two Nayak-period inscriptions survive. Six rituals are held daily, and the chariot festival in Aadi (July–August) is the main event.