Kumbakonam or Kudanthai is a city located in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. Kumbakonam is known as a “Temple town” due to the presence of a large number of temples here. The famous Mahamaham festival takes place in this city once in 12 years and attracts people from all over the country.
The beautiful city is also home to some of India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Additionally, the quaint city lies peacefully in South India and gives tourists a perfect destination to relax and spend their time exploring the ancient temples around the area.
How to reach Kumbakonam?
By air:- Tiruchirapalli Airport is the closest airport and lies around 91 km away from Kumbakonam. Several regular domestic flights connect Tiruchirapalli with other Indian cities. Travellers can board a flight to Tiruchirapalli and then take a cab or bus ride to reach Kumbakonam.
By rail:– Kumbakonam is connected by rail with important cities and towns of south India. Regular express trains from places like Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirapalli to and from Kumbakonam.
By road:- Kumbakonam can be reached from Chennai via Chennai – Theni Highway/Chennai – Villupuram – Trichy – Kanyakumari Road. Alternatively, tourists can reach the city from Coimbatore via NH81.
Kumbakonam tourist places to visit and things to do
If you are planning to visit Kumbakonam and want to know about all the best places to visit, here are some recommendations which will help you plan an itinerary:-
Airavatesvara Temple
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Airavatesvara Temple is one of the best temples in Kumbakonam. The temple boasts of Dravidian architecture style and was built by the Chola emperor Rajaraja II in the 12th century. This temple is also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is called one of India’s Great Living Chola Temples. The temple is home to many deities like Indra, Agni, Varuna, Vayu, Brahma, Surya, Vishnu, and so on. Tourists can tour its grounds and explore this ancient temple while marvelling at the architectural skills of people in the Chola Kingdom.
See also: Best places to visit in January in India
Patteeswaram Temple
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Patteeswaram Temple is a temple located in the holy village of Patteeswaram, which lies only 8 km away from Kumbakonam. The presiding deity here is Lord Shiva, who is worshipped as Thenupuriswarar and consort Parvati, who is depicted as Nyanambikai (Soma kamalambigai). The temple complex covers around four acres and has a seven-tiered gopuram at the main gateway. The Brahmotsavam festival is a major attraction here and occurs in the months of April or May. You can easily take a cab or bus from Kumbakonam and reach the holy village in a few minutes.
Adi Kumbeswarar Temple
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Adi Kumbeswarar Temple in Kumbakonam is another major temple in the town. This temple is dedicated to the deity Shiva, who is worshipped as Adi Kumbeswarar and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Mangalambigai Amman. The major attraction at the temple is the sixteen-pillared hall built during the Vijayanagar period. The primary structure was commissioned by the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions were made by Vijayanagara rulers. Regular pujas at the temple take place in the evenings, and tourists are welcome to join if they want.
Arulmigu Swaminatha Swami Temple, Swamimalai
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Swaminatha Swamy Temple lies in Swamimalai village, around 5 km from Kumbakonam. This temple rests on the banks of a tributary of the river Kaveri and is the fourth abode of Murugan, among six others. The shrine of the presiding deity, Swaminatha Swamy, is located atop a 60 ft hillock. The shrines of his mother, Meenakshi (Parvathi) and father, Shiva (Sundareswarar), are located downhill at the base of the temple. The temple is thought to belong to the 2nd century BC and was believed to have been modified and rebuilt by Parantaka Chola I. The annual Vaikasi Visagam festival is attended by thousands of devotees who come here to join the festivities and offer worship.
Mahamaham Tank
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Mahamaham Tank is a fairly large temple tank located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is considered to be one of the largest temple tanks in Tamil Nadu. The famous Mahamaham festival of Kumbakonam is held in the tank once every 12 years. During the Mahamaham festival, the tank has close to 2 million visitors who come here to take a dip in the cool waters. The tank is well maintained and has clean steps all around. You can spend your evening here resting by the tank and enjoying the cool water under your feet.
Nageswaraswamy Temple
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Nageswaraswamy Temple in Kumbakonam is a temple dedicated to Shiva. The temple is regarded as one of the earliest Chola temples in South India. The presiding deity Lord Shiva is presented here in the guise of Nagaraja, the serpent king. The temple is said to be constructed and maintained by many empires like the Cholas, the Thanjavur Nayaks and the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom. The temple complex is one of the largest in the state, and it houses three gateway towers known as gopurams. You can explore the entire premise of the Temple and spend some time reading about its history of the temple.
Sarangapani temple
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Sarangapani Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and located in the heart of Kumbakonam. The temple lies on the banks of River Kaveri and is a holy place for people of the Vaishnava sect. The most beautiful sections of the temple include several tiers of carved and decorated mythological sculptures. It has the tallest tower in the town. The temple is considered to be one of the 108 holy temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is not known when the temple was created, but evidence suggests that it was altered by the Nayaks in the 15th century. You can visit the temple and offer worship here during regular pujas and explore the majestic temple at ease.
Uppiliappan Temple
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Oppiliappan Temple is a temple that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is situated just on the outskirts of Kumbakonam and is one of the best places to visit here. The temple has been mentioned in ancient religious texts that date back to the 6th century. The structure is made in the Dravidian style of architecture and is considered to be one of the 108 Divya Desams. The inner sanctums worship Vishnu as Oppiliappan and his consort, Lakshmi, as Bhumi Devi.
Shopping
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Shopping is one of the top activities in Kumbakonam. South India is known for its exquisite jewellery and premium textiles. You can shop around in the markets of Kumbakonam and explore the various local handicraft items that these shops can offer. You can also explore the spice shops that sell a huge variety of freshly ground species which you won’t find anywhere else in India.
Local Cuisines
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The local cuisine of Kumbakonam offers some of the most delicious dishes in South India. South Indian food is known for its use of species and herbs, which impart a distinct flavour of savoriness. There is a huge variety of South Indian dishes that should be tried by everyone visiting Kumbakonam. You can choose to eat at the local eateries and restaurants or simply munch away snacks from the shacks and street food stalls in the town.
FAQs
Is Kumbakonam worth visiting?
Kumbakonam is a beautiful and quaint city with many beautiful temples scattered within its territories. The beauty of these temples definitely makes them worth visiting.
How many days are enough for Kumbakonam?
To get a full and comprehensive tour of Kumbakonam, an itinerary of two or three days will be more than enough.
Which is the Best time to visit Kumbakonam?
The best time to visit Kumbakonam will be in the months of March-May and September-February.
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