PHT SITE VISIT
Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple (Re-visited)
Waterfall Road, Penang
Sunday, 27th April 2008 at 3.30 pm
To meet at the Main Entrance at 3.30 pm sharp

The Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple (or in full, Nattukkottai Chettiar Thendayuthapani Temple) on Waterfall Road (Jalan Air Terjun) was founded around 1854, after the chettiar community in Penang Street bought the piece of land to build the chettiar quarters, or chettinar. Being astute businessmen and moneylenders, the chettiar build temples that are hallmarks of quality, and are usually well managed as well as financially  secure.  Within the Chettiar quarters is the temple of Thendayuthapani, an incarnation of the deity Murugan.

This temple was consecrated in 1857. It was built in the chokkatan, or chequered design.  During Thaipusam, male chettiar carry a peacock feather yoke accompanying the silver chariot. They retreat to the chettinar for three days before accompanying the chariot back to Penang Street.  All Chettiar families move into the temple to help with the celebrations of Thaipusam.  The Chettiar community in Penang has around 500 members.  The main shrine contained the icon of Lord Subramaniam in the form of Thandayuthapani, the destitute.

PHT’s last site visit to the Temple was in year 2001.
Image downloaded from AsiaExplorers.com