Few 'aah' facts about the temple:

• Temple's main tower (Rajagopuram) is 217 feet tall, is the second tallest tower in South India and was the tallest temple tower until Srirangam's temple tower was built recently and still 1 feet taller than the Thanjavur temple tower
• Temple has a 1000 pillared hall ('ayirangaal mandapam'), commissioned by none other than the king Krishnadevaraya
• It is one of the "pancha pootha sthalams" - attributed to Agni
• The four famous saints (Nayanmargal), Appar, Sundarar, Manickavasagar and Sambandar have composed poems on the main deity 'Arunachaleswarar' of the temple - hence is called 'padal pettra sthalam'
• Many kings - Cholas, Vijayanagara Kings, Sambuvarayas, Hoysalas had been the patrons of the temple and have built portions of the temple, since 8th century AD