Kumbakonam

Religious

Tamil Nadu

29°C / Clouds

History
Places to visit
How to reach

For all the spiritual seekers, Kumbakonam aka the temple town is a must-visit. Sited between the Cauvery and Arsala rivers in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, the majestic charm of this town is simply unquestionable.

It is a town to be explored by history lovers, people who love life, people who want to witness the true face of Indian culture and know something about Hinduism as well.

One of the oldest towns in Indian history, Kumbakonam comes across something which is worth celebrating and cherishing for a lifetime. As the name might suggest, Kumbakonam is brimming with several temples from the older periods. It was a town that saw development at a very early stage in terms of architecture, art, and cultural significance.

Best Time to Visit Kumbakonam

The best time to visit Kumbakonam is between the months of October and February. During these months, the temperature is very pleasant for tourists to explore the town around and know the beautiful local culture.

History of Kumbakonam

In the Sangam period, Kumbakonam was under the rule of various dynasties at different points of time like the Cholas, Pallavas, and the Pandavas.

However, it was only under the British rule that this town truly tasted what prominence felt like (however, many people have a counter opinion on this as well) as this was the time when it came to be known as the Cambridge of South India and became an integral center of Hinduism as well as European education.

Major Attractions in and Around Kumbakonam

1. Nageswaran Temple

This temple is constructed as a chariot and is considered to be one of the most important Shaivite temples in India. In terms of its architecture, it won’t be wrong to consider it a marvel of those times. It is quite hard to understand but Nageswaran Temple is constructed in such a way that it only allows the sunlight to enter in the months of March-April. This only further proves the genius of our people back in ancient times.

2. Adi Kumbeshwara Temple

This temple is believed to have been created in the 7th century AD by the Chola kings. It is considered to be one of the oldest Shiva temples. The spectacular architecture of this temple is simply worth witnessing, so don’t forget to take your camera for clicking some cool snaps of the temple and its surroundings.

3. Mahamaham Tank

Situated in the center of the town, the Mahamaham Tank is a place of great reverence amongst the people of South India. This tank is the spot where literally millions of pilgrims gather from all over the country once in every twelve years to celebrate the Mahamaham Festival.

4. Sarangapani Temple

This is again one of the most ancient temples honored by Lord Vishnu. It is sited on the banks of River Kaveri and is frequented by hundreds and thousands of devotees on an annual basis. And along with being a place of worship, this temple is also a work of art wherein you get to see several sculptures and images depicting the grandeur of Hinduism.

How to Reach Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam is one of the best places to visit in Tamil Nadu. It is located at a distance of about 2,501, 1,361, 1,966, 372 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Check out the important details on how you can reach Kumbakonam by the following modes of public transportation.

By Air

The nearest airport is the Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ) situated 90-100 km away. This airport is located on NH336 and is considered the 31st busiest airport in India, and is served by three Indians and a total of four foreign carriers connecting several domestic as well as a total of 7 international destinations. From the airport, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transportation.

Kochi - Board IndiGo flights from Kochi Airport. The airfares start from INR 5,000 - INR 10,000
Trivandrum - Board SpiceJet, IndiGo flights from Trivandrum Airport. The airfares start from INR 7,000- INR 8,000
Bengaluru - Board IndiGo, SpiceJet flights from Bengaluru Airport. The airfares start from INR 3,000 - INR 4,000

Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Kumbakonam

By Train

Kumbakonam has its own railway station that goes by the same name and its station code is KMU. This station is a part of the Tiruchirappalli railway division of the Southern Railway Zone. One of the highlighting features of the station is that the Mahamaham tank is just about 1-3 km from here. Once you deboard at the station, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transportation.

By Road

You can travel to Kumbakonam by well-connected roadways and a set of national highways. From the nearby regions and states, there are state-run buses readily available. You can also travel via taxis and your own car to Kumbakonam.

From Coimbatore - 294 km via NH81
From Dindigul - 187 km via NH45
From Madurai - 220 km via NH38

Frequently Asked Questions about Kumbakonam

Q. Where is Kumbakonam located?
A. Kumbakonam is a town located in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu

Q. What are some popular tourist attractions in Kumbakonam?
A. Some popular tourist attractions in Kumbakonam include Brihadeeswara Temple in nearby Thanjavur, Sarangapani Temple, Kumbeswarar Temple, Nageswaran Temple, Ramaswamy Temple, and Mahamaham Tank.

You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven trip planner.