Famous temples of Kumbakonam
Adi Kumbeswarar Temple
ஆதி கும்பேஸ்வரர் கோயில்
The oldest Kumbeswarar temple and the Shiva temple at the heart of Kumbakonam, tied to the legend of Brahma's pot and the Mahamaham.
Sarangapani Temple
சாரங்கபாணி கோயில்
A Divya Desam Vishnu temple built like a chariot, with an eleven-tier rajagopuram in the centre of Kumbakonam.
Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram
ஐராவதேஸ்வரர் கோயில், தாராசுரம்
A twelfth-century Chola masterpiece with a chariot-shaped hall, singing steps and sculpted stories of the 63 Nayanmars, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Swamimalai Swaminatha Swamy Temple
சுவாமிமலை சுவாமிநாதசுவாமி கோயில்
The hill temple where Murugan is said to have taught the meaning of Om to his father Shiva, reached by 60 steps.
The nine Navagraha temples
The temples of the nine planets lie in villages around Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai. See the full Navagraha guide →
Suryanar Koil
சூரியனார் கோயில்
The Navagraha temple of the Sun, 15-16 km from Kumbakonam, where all nine planets have their own shrines.
Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur
கைலாசநாதர் கோயில், திங்களூர்
The Navagraha temple of the Moon, famous for Anna Prasanam, the first rice-feeding of infants, and the story of Appoodhi Adigal.
Vaitheeswaran Koil
வைத்தீஸ்வரன் கோயில்
The Navagraha temple of Mars, where Shiva is worshipped as the divine healer.
Swetharanyeswarar Temple, Thiruvenkadu
ஸ்வேதாரண்யேஸ்வரர் கோயில், திருவெண்காடு
The Navagraha temple of Mercury, also called Aadi Chidambaram, with three sacred tanks, an Aghora Murti shrine and a seven-tiered gateway.
Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi
ஆபத்சகாயேஸ்வரர் கோயில், ஆலங்குடி
The Navagraha temple of Jupiter, about 17 km from Kumbakonam, where Thursdays draw crowds to Guru Dakshinamoorthy.
Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur
அக்னீஸ்வரர் கோயில், கஞ்சனூர்
The Navagraha temple of Venus, 18-19 km from Kumbakonam, where the goddess sits on Shiva's right in his wedding form.
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple, Thirunallar
தர்பாரண்யேஸ்வரர் கோயில், திருநள்ளாறு
The Navagraha temple of Saturn in Karaikal, with a Shani shrine, the Nala tank and the story of King Nala.
Naganathaswamy Temple, Thirunageswaram
நாகநாதசுவாமி கோயில், திருநாகேஸ்வரம்
The Navagraha temple of Rahu, only 5-6 km from Kumbakonam, where milk poured on Rahu is said to turn blue.
Naganathaswamy Temple, Keezhperumpallam
நாகநாதசுவாமி கோயில், கீழப்பெரும்பள்ளம்
The Navagraha temple of Ketu near Poompuhar, with a granite Ketu shrine and daily Rahu kalam pujas.
More Kumbakonam temples are on the way. Want one added sooner? Tell us.