Kumbakonam is the Temple City of South India situated in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. The city is famous for the Mahamaham festival that is celebrated once in 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in the heart of it. The town has also been well known for its prestigious educational institutions which have turned out eminent stalwarts in diverse spheres. The town is famous for brass vessels. It is primarily a market town for the predominantly agriculture based villages surrounding it. Betel leaves are cultivated more in Kumbakonam since it is also called as Kumbakonam Vettrilai (in Tamil).
Here are a few must–visit temples or places in Kumbakonam.
ADI KUMBESHWARAR TEMPLE:
At a distance of 2.5 km from Kumbakonam Railway Station, Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is a famous Hindu temple located in the center of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. This temple is considered to be the 26th Paadal Petra Sthalam in the Chola kingdom that spread south of the River Cauvery.
Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, also known as Thirukudamooku, is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while the temple was renovated by Govinda Dikshitar, the Chieftain of Achutha Nayakar of Thanjavur in the 16th century AD. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Among the various festivals, Mahamaham that is celebrated once in twelve years, is of very great importance. Sabthasthanam, Brahmotsavam, Thirukalyanam, Thirumanjanam, Aadi Pooram, Panguni Festival, Butter Pot Festival are grandly celebrated in this temple.
Temple Timings : (Opening and Closing):
Morning : 6 AM – 12.30 PM
Evening : 4 PM – 9.30 PM
Temple Pooja Details:
| Ushathkalam Pooja | 5:30 AM |
| Kalasanthi Pooja | 8:00 AM |
| Uchikalam Pooja | 10:00 AM |
| Sayarakshai Pooja | 5:00 PM |
| Irandamkalam Pooja | 7:00 PM |
| Ardha Jamam Pooja | 8:00 PM |
Temple Contact Details:
Ph: No: 0435 – 2420276
SARANGAPANI TEMPLE:
The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. ‘Sarangam’ means ‘bow’ and ‘pani’ means ‘hand’. The deity is having a bow in the hand. Also known as Tiru Kudanthai, it is the third of the 108 Divya Desams. The Sarangapani Temple is also one of the Pancha Ranga Khestras with the other four being Srirangapatnam, Srirangam, Appalarangam, Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple at Mayiladuthurai and Vatarangam at Sirkazhi.
The Sarangapani Temple existed during the Pallava period. However, the current structure is attributed to the period of Vikrama Chola (1121 AD onwards) and it was renovated in 16th century during the period of Nayaks.
Sarangapani Temple is the biggest Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam. It is of great religious significance and considered to be second only to the Srirangam Temple in Trichy. The temple boasts of 5 prakaras and a holy tank which is known as Porthamarai Kulam. The rajagopuram has 11 tiers and has a height of 150 feet. This is the third tallest temple gopuram among the Divya Desams, the other two being Srirangam (236 feet) and Srivilliputhur (192 feet).
Temple Timings : (Opening and Closing):
Morning : 6:00 AM – 12.00 PM
Evening : 5:00 PM – 9.00 PM
Temple Pooja Details:
| Thiruvananthal Pooja | 8:00 AM |
| Kalasanthi Pooja | 9:00 AM |
| Uchikalam Pooja | 12:30 AM |
| Ntiyanusandhanam Pooja | 6:00 PM |
| Irandamkalam Pooja | 7:30 PM |
| Ardha Jamam Pooja | 9:00 PM |
Temple Contact Details:
Ph: No: 0435 – 2430349
SWAMIMALAI TEMPLE:
Sri Swaminatha Swami Temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan. Swamimalai is famous for being one of the six Padai Veedugal (Battle Camps) of Lord Murugan, the others being Thiruparamkundram, Thiruchendur, Palani, Thiruthani and Pazhamudhircholai.
The temple of Swaminatha is very ancient and believed to have existed before 2nd century BC. It is said that Parantaka Chola I upgraded this temple. The temple was greatly damaged during the Anglo-French war between Hyder Ali and British in 1740. The presiding deity Lord Murugan is depicted here as expounding the meaning of Pranava mantra ‘Aum’ to his father Lord Shiva. Thus Lord Muruga got the name Swaminatha, meaning the Teacher of Shiva. The temple is built on a hilltop with three gopurams and three enclosures. The first enclosure is at the base of the hill, the second halfway up the hill and the third at the top surrounding the sanctum.
Temple Timings (Opening and Closing):
Morning : 5: 00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Evening : 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Temple Pooja Timings:
| Vishwaroopa Darshan | 5:30 AM |
| Udaya Maarthandam | 6:00 AM |
| Kalasanthi Pooja | 8:00 AM |
| Uchikalam Pooja | 12:00 AM |
| Sayaratchai Pooja | 5:30 PM |
| Irandamkalam Pooja | 8:00 PM |
| Ardha Jamam Pooja | 10:00 PM |
Temple Contact Details:
Ph: No : 0435 – 245 4421
PATTESHWARAM DHENUPUREESHWARAR TEMPLE:
Dhenupureeswarar Temple is fairly a big temple and is dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. This temple has 5 tall gopurams and 3 prakarams. The sanctum sanctorum of the main deity Thenupureeswarar is located in the central mandapam of the first prakarams. There are shrines for Chandikeswarar, Natarajar and Sun god. To the north of the main sanctum sanctorum is the shrine for the female deity Sri Gnanambikai.
Though this is a Shiva temple, the most famous deity in this temple is Goddess Durga. The Cholas brought the Durga idol to this place and built a separate shrine for the goddess. She is basically a guardian deity of this temple. Goddess Durga is in peaceful appearance, seated on a lion with her foot on the demon, Mahishasura. She has eight hands with each one holding the conch, discus, bow, arrow, sword, shield and a parrot.
The well called Koti Theertham in Dhenupureeswarar Temple is said to have been created by Lord Rama. The well is considered to be equivalent to Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram. Dhenupureeswarar Temple attracts devotees who have the negative effects of the snake planets Rahu and Kethu.
Temple Timings (Opening and Closing):
Morning : 6: 00 AM – 1:00 PM
Evening : 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Temple Pooja Timings:
| Ushathkalam Pooja | 6:00 AM |
| Kalasanthi Pooja | 9:00 AM |
| Uchikalam Pooja | 12:30 PM |
| Sayarakshai Pooja | 5:00 PM |
| Irandamkalam Pooja | 8:00 PM |
| Ardha Jamam Pooja | 9:00 PM |
Temple Contact Details:
Ph: No : 0435 – 244 5227
Apart from these above mentioned temples , we have a lot of other famous temples that are worth visiting. Uppiliappan Temple, Ramaswamy temple, Sakrapani Temple, Thiruvidaimaruthur Temple etc.
HOW TO REACH KUMBAKONAM:
Nearest airport to Kumbakonam is in Trichy, which is located 96 km away from this place. Kumbakonam is connected by railways with cities like Chennai, Rameshwaram and Tirupati. Regular buses ply on routes to Kumbakonam from Chennai, Chidambaram and Trichy.
Best time to visit Kumbakonam is between October and March.
