Rejuvenate yourself by taking a trip to Kumbakonam, a small town located in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu with two rivers, Cauvery flowing on its northern side and Arasalar flowing on its southern side. Popularly known as the 'City of Temples in South India,' Kumbakonam is believed to have 188 temples around the town. Some of the most frequented temples are the Kumbeswarar Temple, the Sarangapani Temple, the Ramaswamy Temple, the Patteswaram Durga Temple and the Someswara Temple. Apart from temples, there are a large number of mutts which include Raghavendra Matha and Ahobila mutts. Let's explore the area by reading this article, which lists the top tourist destinations in Kumbakonam.&nbsp;

<h3>01. Alangudi</h3>Rated among the 9 Navagraha places in Tamilnadu, Alangudi is located in the Thiruvarur district. It is a beautiful hamlet famous for Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple which is dedicated to the planet Jupiter (Lord Brihaspati). People come here to worship Lord Shiva and Brihaspati or Lord Guru (the planet Jupiter) to get rid of noisy city life.Location: Alangudi, Thiruvarur districtTimings: 24 hoursDistance from Kumbakonam: 17 KM

<h3>02. Chidambaram</h3>Located in the district of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram is a town famous for its Chidambaram Natarajar Temple where Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are worshipped in the same place making it a place of pilgrimage. The temple is one of 5 Shiva temples spread across Tamil Nadu. Also, there are numerous other temples making it a quintessential destination for a religious tour.&nbsp;Location: Chidambaram, CuddaloreTimings: EverydayDistance from Kumbakonam: 78.1 KM

<h3>03. Cuddalore</h3>Situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, Cuddalore has a beauty of beautiful beaches and magnificent temples. Due to its several wonderful beaches, the city has become a famous tourist destination in Tamil Nadu. Silver Beach is the second-longest beach in the state. It is popular for its Shiva and Vaishnava temples. Also, there are many other temples for Hindus to visit.&nbsp;Location: Cuddalore, Tamil NaduBest time to visit: October to MarchDistance from Kumbakonam: 110.1 KM

<h3>04. Dharmapuri</h3>Popularly known for its picturesque beauty and various tourist destinations, Dharmapuri is a city situated in Tamilnadu. Hogenakkal waterfalls and Krishnagiri Dam are the main attractions of this place. The serenity and peace you will find here are beyond imagination! Also, there are famous temples to visit such as Kottai Kovil, Chenraya Perumal Temple and Shri Theerthagirishwarar Temple. The other attractions of Dharmapuri are Mount Carmel Church, C.S.I Zion Church, Sacred Heart Cathedral and Mettur Dam.Location: Dharmapuri, Tamil NaduBest time to visit: During the winter monthsDistance from Kumbakonam: 271.1 KM

<h3>05. Darasuram</h3>Packed with countless attractions, Darasuram, mainly noted for the Airavatesvara temple, is a town located in Thanjavur. Airavatesvara Temple is the main attraction of Darasuram constructed in the 12th century. The temple is considered a World Heritage monument by UNESCO and reflects the Tamil architecture so well. Darasuram is worth visiting while in Kumbakonam.Location: Darasuram, ThanjavurBest time to visit: During the winter seasonDistance from Kumbakonam: 4 KM

By Air: The nearest airport to reach Kumbakonam is Trichy Airport. From the airport, take a taxi and reach your destination.&nbsp;By Road: Many buses are running to Kumbakonam from Tamil Nadu. You can take a bus from Chennai, Chidambaram or Trichy to Kumbakonam.&nbsp;By Rail: The nearest railway station to reach Kumbakonam is "The Kumbakonam railway station". From there, take some local transport and reach your destination.

The Temple Town Kumbakonam is a beautiful place blessed with various holy temples and great cultural as well as religious importance. So, If you are a religious person, this place is worth visiting where you can relax, calm and meditate as well as purify your soul with spiritual powers which is why it is famous as the "Temple Town".

Kumbakonam is believed to have been in existence since the Sangam period. The town has been governed by the major royal dynasties of Southern India like the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Pallavas, the Madurai Nayaks, the Thanjavur Nayaks as well as the&nbsp;Thanjavur Marathas. In the 7th century, when the Medieval Cholas made the town their capital, it gained fame. Kumbakonam reached the height of its prosperity and prominence during British rule. Being entitled to the name of Cambridge of South India, the town became a notable centre of cultural and religious education.

<h3>01. Sarangapani Temple</h3>Situated in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, Sarangapani is the only temple of Maha Vishnu in South India. The temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams in the Hindu culture. Having great religious significance, Sarangapani Temple was majestically built in ancient times. With an elevation of 147 ft, the temple has a grand gopuram which provides a panoramic view of the town. Goddess Komalavalli is also worshipped in the temple.

<h3>02. Uppiliappan Temple&nbsp;</h3>Situated in Thanjavur district, Uppiliappan Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is worshipped here as Lord Uppiliappan Perumal. Regarded as the South Tirupati, Uppiliappan Temple is a popular attraction amongst the pilgrims. The temple is considered as one of the 108 Divya Desams. The Brahmotsavam and the Kalyana are the main festivals celebrated in the temple every year.&nbsp;

<h3>03. Someswara Temple</h3>Dedicated to Lord Someshwar, Chikkesswar and Goddess Somasundari, Someswara Temple is situated in Kumbakonam. The architecture of the temple reminds us of the Dravidian style of the 13th century. It was the time when the later Cholas were the emperors of Kumbakonam. Also, the construction of the temple is dedicated to the Chola kings who worshipped Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati. If you are visiting Sarangapani Temple, you can easily access Someswara Temple from its southern route.&nbsp;

<h3>04. Bhagavatha Padithurai Ghat</h3>Considered a holy place, Bhagavatha Padithurai Ghat is a bathing ghat that lies in the river, Kaveri. Located in Kumbakonam, the river Kaveri has great religious importance for the Hindus. The place is much visited during the festival of Mahamaham when a lot of pilgrims come to take a holy bath in the waters of Kaveri. It is believed that this holy bath washes all earthly sins and purifies both the body and soul. This will give you a sense of ethereal eternity. The river's water is used in many Hindu rituals and ceremonies as well as plays an important role in religious practices.&nbsp;

<h3>05. Ramaswamy Temple</h3>Situated in Kumbakonam, in the district of Thanjavur, the Ramaswamy Temple is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Rama. Are you interested in knowing about it further? So, having said that, let’s learn who built it. The temple was built under the guidance of Govinda Dikshitar who was the prime minister of the Nayakkar kings, the great worshippers of Lord Vishnu. Some of the beautifully handcrafted pieces of architecture are from the times of the Nayaks. In the temple, there are pictures on the walls representing the entire Ramayana. Isn’t that enough to intrigue you to pay a visit to this place?

A Comprehensive Travel Guide to Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu

India > Tamil Nadu

Muskan Choudhary 12 Jan 2024

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