Air

The nearest airport is at Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), 58-km away.

Rail

The nearest railway station is at Thanjavur, which is directly connected by rail to Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Chennai. Auto from Railway Station to Mariamman temple will cost Rs. 75-100. There is also a Mariamman koil railway station on the Thanjavur- Thiruvarur Rail route but this is a little far from the temple.

Road

Tourists can access Punnainallur by road from Thanjavur, which is just 6 miles away. Regular government bus services are available from Thanjavur.

Buses (towards Ammapet/ Nagapattinam) are available for every 15minutes from old bus stand/Railway Station. Also, mini buses ply between old bus stand and Mariamman temple.

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Sri Vijayanathar Temple

Athamanathar Temple

Nava mohana krishna Temple – gokulam

Shankaranarayanar Temple

Umamaheswarar Temple

Once Lord Shiva had to wage a battle against a demon called Tanjan Asuran. The story goes that before waging the war, Shiva installed one of the Ashta Shaktis (eight goddesses) in each of the eight directions. It is said that the Shakti installed in the eastern direction is now called Punnainallur Mariamman.

Venkoji dream on pilgrimage to Samayapuram

The Maratha King Venkoji Maharaja Chatrapathi was a devotee of Mariamman. He decided to go on a pilgrimage to Tiruchirapalli to visit the other powerful village goddess called Samayapuram Mariamman. On his way he rested under the shade of a tree. Suddenly in his dream Mariamman showed up and told him that she could be found in a forest of Punnai trees about three miles from Thanjavur. The King rushed to that spot and he saw a Puttru or a white anthill. Over this anthill he built the Punnainallur Mariamman Temple’s present structure.

The Maratha rulers Thulaja and Serfoji also worshiped here and renovated the temple during their rule. It is said that the daughter of Tulaja Raja (1729-35) of Thanjavur lost her eyesight in an illness and regained it after offering worship at this temple. The Mariamman Temple is still maintained by the descendants of the royal family of Thanjavur.

In general all Fridays are special; in particular the Fridays of the Tamil month Aadi will be more special. Devotees throng the temple in August/September, the season which relates a lot with this goddess. Sundays are considered to be the most auspicious days for worshipping the Goddess, when huge crowds mainly consisting of womenfolk and children pay their homage.
 

In the month of ‘Purattasi’ (September-October) the Floating Festival (Theppam) takes place in the holy tank located at the temple. Brahmotsavam takes place in the months of ‘Adi-Avani’ (August). Navarathri, Mahasivarathri are the famous festivals celebrated here.