Tamil Nadu is a state located in Southern India, known for its beauty, majestic hills, scenic lush green landscapes. Other than its mesmerizing scenery, Tamil Nadu is famous for its grand and ancient temples, festivals and rich cultural heritage and is often called “the land of temples”.
The popular temples in Tamil Nadu are embellished with great precision, they are carved with the scriptures of deities, mythological characters or celestial beings.
The pillared halls or Mandapas of these temples are large and can easily be occupied by quite a huge number of people gathering for ceremonies or rituals etc.
Other than the architectural treasure of these temples, there is so much more you should know while exploring Tamil Nadu.
Let’s learn more about these temples of Tamil Nadu in order to gain the spiritual experience you’re looking for:
1- Meenakshi Amman Temple
- Deity: Goddess Parvati
- Climate: Summer- 26°C to 40°C / Winter- 20°C – 29°C
- Best time to visit: October to February
- Timings: 5:00 am to 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
- Entry fee: Free to enter
- Best ways to visit: Madurai Junction Railway Station, Madurai Airport, Mattuthavani Bus Stand (Nearest bus stand)
The centuries old Meenakshi Temple is one of most popular temples, located in the heart of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Known for its magnificence, precise carvings, and affluent cultural legacy.
It’s hard to believe but as a matter of fact, this temple was built in the early 16th century with the contribution of the Pandyas, Nayakas and others, special thanks to king Tirumalai Nayak under whose ruling the temple was made.
The main deities worshiped here are Meenakshi and Sundareswarar i.e Shiva and Shakti with great devotion and that is why the temple is also known as Meenakshi- Sundareshwar temple.
2- Ramanathaswamy Temple
- Deity: Lord Shiva
- Climate: Summer- 27°C to 40°C / Winter- 20°C to 30°C
- Best time to visit: October to March
- Timings: 5:00 am to 01:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 09:00 pm
- Entry fee: VIP Darshan ticket: Rs.250, Spatika Darshan: Rs.50, 22 wells bath: Rs25 and Abhishekam: Rs.1500
- Best ways to visit: Rameshwaram Railway Station, nearest airport is Madurai.
Rameshwaram is a serene town situated in Tamil Nadu and the home to Ramanathaswamy temple where spirituality meets the architectural genius.
It is believed to be the holy spot where Shri Ram (Lord Rama) performed a Pooja dedicated to Shiva Lingam in order to cleanse himself of the guilt of killing Ravan, who was a Brahmin. Thus, making the spot pure divine.
Besides its spiritual roots, it also has an impressive architectural brilliance. in any Hindu temple. Lord Shiva is worshiped here in the form of Ramalingam and Vishwalingam. It is one of the best and must visit sites amongst the cultural and religious sites in Tamil Nadu.
- Suggested Tour: Book Rameshwaram Religious Tour
3- Navapashanam Temple, Devipattinam
- Deity: Nine planets and Goddess Durga
- Climate: 26°C – 33°C
- Best time to visit: January to July
- Timings: 5:30 am to 8:00 pm
- Entry fee: No entry fees
- Best ways to visit: Nearest airport is Madurai, Ramanathapuram nearest Railway Station.
As the name suggests, Navapashanam temple is dedicated to nine planets (Navgrah) and was established by Shri Ram, located in Devipattinam near Ramanathapuram. It is believed that Shri Ram built these nine lead idols to worship Navagraha. They calmed the sea and set up the idols there to perform rituals and offer prayers to the nine planets.
There’s another story which is about the demon Mahishasura. He had a boon to never be killed by a man or god.
And, in this pride, he started destruction in all three realms. The Gods then poured all their powers and created Goddess Durga, an avatar of Goddess Parvati. Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura by cutting off his head and hence, Maa Durga is also worshiped at this temple.
4- Kumbakonam Brahma Temple
- Deity: Lord Brahma
- Climate: 23°C to 30°C
- Best time to visit: January to July
- Timings: 8:00 am to 11:30 am and 05:30 pm to 09:00 pm
- Entry fee: No entry fees
- Best ways to visit: Kumbakonam Railway Station, Nearest Railway Station is Tiruchirappalli Airport.
Kumbakonam temple is one of the few temples dedicated to Lord Brahma, also known as the creator of the world according to Hindu scriptures. It is located in Thanjavur district of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu.
Like other temples, this one is also rich and has the splendid architecture that follows the ancient Dravidian style.
The temple performs regular offerings of prayers, flowers and prasad to worship Lord Brahma. Brahmotsavam is the main festival celebrated in this temple dedicated solely to Lord Brahma.
5- Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple
- Deity: Lord Narayan and Goddess Lakshmi
- Climate: Summer: 35°C to 40°C / Winter: 20°C to 30°C.
- Best time to visit: November to February
- Timings: 06:00 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 08:00 pm.
- Entry fee: No entry fees
- Best ways to visit: Katpadi Junction Railway Station, Tirupati International Airport
Laxmi Narayani Golden temple situated in Vellore, was established in 2007. It is also known as Sripuram Golden Temple.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi. The most attractive feature of the temple that makes it famous is its covering of gold using ample gold making it a must visit during your Tamil Nadu trip.
This temple is the best example of South Indian architecture combined with modernity. Prayers, rituals and Arti are performed here with great devotion and enthusiasm mainly on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Laxmi Puja etc.
6- Bala Murugan Temple
- Deity: Lord Murugan
- Climate: Summer: 30°C to 40°C / Winter: 20°C to 28°C.
- Best time to visit: November to February
- Timings: 06:00 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 08:00 pm.
- Entry fee: No entry fees
- Best ways to visit: Chennai Central Railway Station, Chennai International Airport
Bala Murugan temple is located in Siruvapuri, near Chennai and is dedicated lo Hindu god Murugan also known as Kartikeya. Many people in South India worship God Kartikeya as the God of War. It is believed that Lava and Kusha, the sons of Shri ram and Mata Sita resided there.
The temple is built in Traditional and ancient Dravidian architectural style. A green stone, significance of a peacock is a great feature of this temple Thaipusam is the main festival wherein the devotees offer prayers to God Kartikeya and seek their blessings
7- Kapaleeshwarar Temple
- Deity: Lord Shiva
- Climate: Summer: 30°C to 40°C / Winter: 20°C to 28°C.
- Best time to visit: November to February
- Timings: 05:00 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 09:00 pm.
- Entry fee: No entry fees
- Best ways to visit: Chennai Central Railway Station, Chennai International Airport.
This temple located in Chennai, was built around the 7th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Like many other temples, this one also showcases the Dravidian architectural style. Gopuram or the gateway tower are designed with the precise carvings and beautiful sculptures that depicts the scenes from Hindu Mythology.
Timely Puja’s and Aarti’s are performed on an everyday basis. Many devotees visit Kapaleeshwar temple to seek blessings and receive prosperity, good health etc.
It is deeply believed by the end number of devotees that visiting and seeking blessings from this temple and Lord Shiva can resolve family disputes and marital problems.
8- Kumari Amman Temple
- Deity: Goddess Kumari Amman (a manifestation of Goddess Parvati)
- Climate: 25°C to 35°C
- Best time to visit: October to March
- Timings: 04:30 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 08:00 pm.
- Entry fee: No entry fees
- Best ways to visit: Kanyakumari Railway Station, Trivandrum International Airport
Kumari Amman temple located in Kanyakumari is dedicated to Goddess Kumari Amman who is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. Besides its religious significance, this temple also holds a rich history. While exploring South India, one must add Kumari Amman Temple to their itinerary. This temple is believed to be the place where Goddess Parvati performed penance to convince Lord Shiva for marriage. This is the reason the temple is also known as Kanyakumari Temple.
This temple is the central point of South India Tour Package. Built with complex architecture, beautifully carved pillars and a mesmerizing view of the ocean, this temple is a feast to the visitors’ eyes.
- Suggested Tour: Madurai Rameshwaram Kanyakumari Temple Tour
- Also Read: Best Places to Visit in Kanyakumari
9- Thillai Nataraja Temple
- Deity: Lord Shiva as Nataraja
- Climate: 25°C to 35°C
- Best time to visit: November to March
- Timings: 06:00 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 09:00 pm.
- Entry fee: No entry fees
- Best ways to visit: Chidambaram Railway Station, Puducherry International Airport, Chennai International Airport.
If you’re looking for Tamil Nadu India temple tour, then you must consider exploring Thillai Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram. Lord Shiva is worshiped at this temple in the form of Lord of Dance also called Nataraja. You can experience a majestic atmosphere by looking at the temple’s vast courtyards, huge carved pillars and Dravidian style architecture.
- Suggested to Read: Places to Visit in Chidambaram
10- Annamalaiyar Temple
- Deity: Lord Shiva as Agni Lingam
- Climate: Summer- 30°C to 40°C and Winter: 20°C to 30°C.
- Best time to visit: October to February
- Timings: 05:00 am to 09:00 pm
- Entry fee: No entry fees
- Best ways to visit: Tiruvannamalai Railway Station, Chennai International Airport.
This temple is located in the city of Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalam and represents Agni (Fire). The temple is believed to have been built around the 9th century by the Chola dynasty.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshiped here in the form of Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai Amman. Festivals like Karthigai Deepam, Panguni Uthiram, Girivalam etc. are celebrated here which attracts a lot of devotees to pay their offerings and seek blessings from the divine.
11- Mahabalipuram Rathas
- Deity: Lord Shiva
- Climate: Tropical; hot and humid year-round, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March for cooler weather.
- Timings: Typically 6:00 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
- Entry Fee: No entry fee.
- Best Ways to Visit: Accessible via taxi or local buses from Kumbakonam Railway Station.
Amazingly wonderful, the Mahabalipuram Rathas Temple are monoliths(an pillar, segment, extensive statue, and so forth., framed of a solitary square of stone) and the impact of the Buddhist Viharas and Chaityas can be found in their engineering styles. These Rathas sanctuary are a ponder in themselves and are prevalently known as the Pancha Pandava Ratha.
12. Brihadeshwara Temple
- Deity: Lord Shiva (as Brihadeeswarar)
- Climate: Tropical; hot and humid with temperatures between 25°C and 35°C.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March.
- Timings: Typically 6:00 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
- Entry Fee: No entry fee.
- Best Ways to Visit: Reachable by taxi or local buses from Thanjavur Railway Station.
Brihadeswawa Temple is a World Heritage Site visited by sightseers from great distances abroad. Situated in the city of Tanjavur, it is an essential journey of the Hindus. A standout amongst the most old sanctuaries, the Brihadeswara Temple is outstanding for its surprising design excellence. The sanctuary is incredibly trimmed with frescoes in the run of the mill Thanjavur style of painting. The picture of Nandi bull at the passageway of the sanctuary is most likely the biggest of its kind on the earth.
13. Airavatesvara Temple
- Deity: Various Hindu deities depicted in the rock-cut temples.
- Climate: Hot and humid; temperatures range from 25°C to 35°C.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March.
- Timings: Typically 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
- Entry Fee: Minimal entry fee; sometimes included in the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) ticket for the group monuments.
- Best Ways to Visit: Easily visited by taxi or local buses from Chennai.
Airavatesvara Temple Rewarded with the title of ‘World Heritage Site’, the Airavatesvara Temple at Dharasuram, 34 km from Thanjavur, is an absolute necessity visit sanctuary in the state. Mirroring the Dravidian style of design, the sanctuary has a pinnacle ascending to 23 m in tallness. The hundred-pillared Maha Mandapam and the impeccably cut boards in the sanctuary are very remarkable. Plan a sanctuary visit to Tamil Nadu and get absorbed peace and magnificence. The most ideal approach to end this article is by the statement of Hap Hagood. “Inside each square of wood and stone, there stays a soul, holding up to be discharged. Coordinate cutting is a method for liberating the soul – my very own and that of the stone or wood”.
Every temple is unique in its own way and has a narrative to tell, including historical details and breathtaking views of South India. Make sure you explore them all to experience the best spiritual and geographical bliss, during your South India Tour.
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