Avudaiyarkoil, also called Tirupperunturai, is a rewarding temple excursion from Pudukkottai. The main temple is dedicated to Shiva as Atmanathar, but unlike many South Indian temples it is known for a more abstract ritual focus and for sculpture rather than a towering gopuram skyline.
Look for the stone chains, ceiling work, and carved details that reward slow wandering. This is not one of Tamil Nadu's headline temple cities, and that helps: the atmosphere is calmer, the craftsmanship easier to study, and the visit feels less like moving through a monument checklist.