Annamalaiyar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva located at the base of  thiruvannaalain, Tamil nadu, India it is significant to the Hindu sect of Saivism as one of the temples associated with the five elements the pancha bhoota satlas and specifically the element of fire of again the temple is situated at the bottom of the annamalai hills and faces east lying over 25 acres

the temple complex cover 10 ghecatres and is one of the largest in India it houses four gateway  towers known as gopurams the tallest is the eastern tower with 11 stories and a height of 66 meters (217 ft) making it one of the tallest  temple has numerous shrines with those 3 of annamalaiyar and unnamulai amman being the most prominent the  temple complex houses may halls the most notable is the thousand - pillared Mahall built during the vihayanagar period.

the present masonry structure was built during the chola dynasty in the 9th century while later expansions are attributed to vijayangar rulers of the sangama dynasty (1336- 1485 ce) the saluva dynasty and the ruluva dynasty (1491-1570 ce) the temple is maintained and administrede by the Hindu religious and endowment board of the government of Tamil nadu the main shrine of annamalaiyar faces east housing images of nandi and surya and is the oldest structure in the temple.