Description:
Athiyamankottai is located 8-km from Dharmapuri on the Dharmapuri Salem Highway. The Central Archaeological Department has taken over the site and is being protected by them. At the centre of the Fort site, is an old temple called "Chennakeswar temple" that is believed to have been constructed both by the King Krishnadevaraya and Hoysala Kings.
Paintings depicting Ramayana and Mahabharata scenes are found inside the temple. All the paintings belong to the 13th century. The place acquires its name after the Tamil King "Athiyaman Neduman Anji" who ruled the Thagadur (the present Dharmapuri) area and Kottai meaning fort. The main villages of Athiyamankottai are located on the eastern side of the Salem-Bangalore Highway about one km from the Fort.
