Chennai: Tiruvottiyur, a busy northern suburb has its due share of pristine beaches, but it is steeped in the city’s religion, accommodating a 1,500-year-old temple although it became part of Madras city (now Chennai) much later.

The Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Vadivudai Amman temple at Tiruvottiyur with its impressive seven-storeyed raja gopuram – a masterpiece in south Indian temple architecture-  is about 1,500 years old.

The presiding deity is Thyagaraja Swamy and the sthalapuranam claims that this is the first temple in the world to this deity. It is also known as Tiruvotreeswaran, after whom the town came to be known. Goddess Vadivudai Amman, who is among the three Shakthis in and around the city , represents Jnana Sakthi (power of knowledge) and special prayers are offered to the Devi, offering a red saree and jackfruit for neivaedhiyam.

There are 27 lingams in a row, one for each of the 27 stars, and in the inner prakaaram are situated the sannadhis of the 63 Saivaite saints. This temple has attracted numerous saints and poets like Appar, Sundarar, Gnana Sambandhar, Vallalar, Valmiki, Kambar, Adi Shankara. The Kamba Ramayanam was composed here before it was recited at Srirangam, Tiruchy.

There is also the samdhi of saint Pattinathar in Tiruvottiyur.

Tiruvottiyur is a developing northern residential suburb with a population of 2,49,446 and has a heavy concentration of industries. It has good road and rail connectivity, fishing hamlets besides a good number of educational institutions, restaurants and malls.

Other attractions here include the Srinivasa Perumal temple, Ramakrishna Nagar beach, Shanmuganar park, Sri Muthu Krishna Swami Madam, Varadharaja Perumal temple, Kattu Ponaimman temple. This state Assembly constituency is one of the biggest areas in the Chennai-North Lok Sabha constituency.