Kumbakonam Travel Guide

8/18/2019 Kumbakonam Travel Guide

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KumbakonamTemple town' is the most precise

description for the picturesque

town of Kumbakonam. Divinity

makes for every breath that you

take in at Kumbakonam. Apart

from religious pursuits, it is

renowned for its educationalinstitutes and is often referred to

as 'Cambridge of South India'.

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Famous For : City

Kumbakonam, or ‘the town of the celestial

pot’, is foremost a pilgrim centre. For the

devout, this temple town is perhaps the

most special destination in the Cauvery

Delta. Kumbakonam is a beautiful temple

town, set between the tranquil waters of

river Cauvery and Arasalar. It has got

enormous religious significance for Hindusand is a place of reverence. It's well strewn

with remarkable temple structures that can

have one spellbound with their architectural

excellence. A visit to Kumbakonam is

believed to purge the pilgrims of all their

sins. Kumbakonam, or ‘the town of the

celestial pot’, is foremost a pilgrim centre.

For the devout, this temple town is perhaps

the most special destination in the Cauvery

Delta.

Kumbakonam Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/kumbakonam page 1

When To

VISIThttp://www.ixigo.com/weather-in-kumbakonam-lp-1143865

Jan

Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen.

Max: 30.5°C Min: 20.6°C Rain: 14.1mm

Feb


Max: 33.0°C Min: 21.5°C Rain: 11.5mm

Mar


Max: 35.8°C Min: 23.4°C Rain: 24.4mm

Apr

Hot weather. Carry Light clothes.

Max: 37.3°C Min: 25.9°C Rain: 44.2mm

May

Hot weather. Carry Light clothes, umbrella.

Max: 37.8°C Min: 26.4°C Rain: 75.1mm

JunHot weather. Carry Light clothes.

Max: 36.8°C Min: 26.4°C Rain: 47.9mm

Jul

Hot weather. Carry Light clothes, umbrella.

Max: 36.1°C Min: 26.1°C Rain: 59.2mm

Aug

Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen,umbrella.

Max: 35.7°C Min: 25.6°C Rain: 73.4mm

Sep


Max: 35.0°C Min: 24.9°C Rain: 121.7mm

Oct


Max: 32.5°C Min: 24.1°C Rain: 160.8mm

NovPleasant weather. Carry Light woollen,umbrella.

Max: 30.3°C Min: 22.9°C Rain: 196.5mm

Dec


Max: 29.5°C Min: 21.1°C Rain: 92.3mm

What To

SEE5 Sight s

http://www.ixigo.com/places-to-visit-see-in-kumbakonam-lp-

1143865

1 Kanchi Kamakoti PeethamMutt

http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/kumbakonam










No.92, Mutt Road, Kalyana Raman

Street, Valayapettai Agraharam,

Kumbakonam 612001, Tamil Nadu,

India

The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Mutt

stands as a structural consolidation of

beliefs, of the preachings of Adi

Shankaracharya. This is one of the most

renowned and important religious

institutions in all of South India. Itssignificance increases manifold with the

associative confluence of the faiths of

Hinduism and Buddhism alike, in the

preachings and philosophy of the

institution.

2 Nageswarar Temple

Kumbeswarar, Tamil Nadu, India

The 12th century king, Aditya Chola,

built

Nageswarar Temple temple in such a

way that for three days in the month of

Chittirai (Apr-May), the sun’s rays fall directly

on the lingam in the main sanctum insidethe temple through an opening in the

eastern tower. The Nandi, Bali Peetham and

flagstaff, all in a row in front of the sanctum,

have been placed in such a way so as not to

obstruct the sun’s rays from falling on the

lingam through the doorway of the

sanctum.

According to legend, both the serpent god,

Adi Sesha and Surya, the sun god,worshipped Shiva here. There is a well in the

temple called the Naga Tirtham. It is a

spacious, quiet temple, with a well-

ornamented rajagopuram and wide

praharams.

3 Chakrapani Temple

Kumbakonam town, Kumbakonam,

Tamil Nadu, India

A temple that is not so big or ancient but

potent and well loved is the famous Vishnu

sthala, the

Chakrapani (‘he who holds the chakra or

discus’) Temple. A flight of steps leads up to

the sanctum of Vishnu who is here

represented as Sudarshana, with a third eye,

holding weapons in all his eight arms, his

hair fiery with energy. With him is his

consort, Sudarshanavalli Thayar.

Brahma, Surya and Agni are all depicted asworshipping Chakrapani, who is said to cure

all ailments and shower prosperity on his

devotees. Many devotees come here to do

Sudarshana homams (fire sacrifices) to ward

off ill health and enemies. Close to the

entrance of the main sanctum are brass

statues of Maratha king Sarabhoji and his

queen, both great devotees of Chakrapani.The king, it is believed, was cured of a severe

stomach pain by worshipping at this temple.

4 Airavateeswarar Temple

Thanjavur District, Kumbakonam,

Tamil Nadu, India

The magnificent

Airavateeswara Temple here was built in the

12th century by King Raja Raja II, with

subsequent additions by the Nayak kings.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site(one of the three within this region, the

other two being Thanjavur’s Brihadeeswara

Temple and Gangaikondacholapuram , the

Airavateeswara Temple is being maintained

by the Archaeological Survey of India thoughit comes under the patronage of the

Thanjavur royal family.

This is a temple in which one needs to

spend at least a few hours to take in thesheer wealth of sculptural detail and the

amazing beauty of the stone-work. A lot of

renovation has been done to preserve the

temple’s grandeur. Among the highlights of

this extraordinary temple are: the lovely

vimanam; the hall of the main sanctum,

which has been built at a height and is

shaped like a chariot supported by wheels

on one side and horses and elephants on

the other; the detail in the sculpture on the

pillars in the main hall, which depict scenes

from the Puranas as well as from the lives of

the people of the 12th century - acrobats,

entertainers, dance poses and domestic

scenes. The sculptures are innovative. Thesteps leading to the top of the bali peetham

(sacrificial stone) have been made of a kind

of stone that reproduces musical notes if

you roll a stone down them. On the outer

walls of the temple are niches housing

various deities.



























The walls of the niches are covered with

paintings from the Nayak period. Thewonders of Darasuram are many. Hire a

guide, so you do not miss unique sculptural

details. ASI employees in the temple also

make good guides Legend has it that Indra’s

elephant Airavata worshipped Shiva at this

spot and the lord took on the name of his

devotee. The temple of the goddess,

Periya Nayaki, has a separate entrance and

the sculpture here is neither as fine nor as

impressive as in the Shiva temple. As you

approach Darasuram from Kumbakonam,

you can see the workshops of many stone

sculptors by the highway. It’s interesting to

watch them at work. Apart from the idols of

deities of various kinds, they also make

garden statues - mainly animals and birds

5 Mullaivananathar Temple

Sri Mullaivananathar Temple,

Thirumullaivasal, Nagapattinam Dist.,

Tamil Nadu, India

The

Mullaivananathar Temple in this small

village has a large rajagopuram and a tank

called Kshirakundam (pond of milk). In this

sthala, Goddess Garbharakshambigai (‘she

who guards the womb’) watches over

pregnancies and ensures safe deliveries.

Shiva is here called Mullaivananathar,

because the temple was built in a garden of

mullai (jasmine) creepers.

The lingam in the main sanctum is

swayambhu, and was found in an anthill.

There is a mark snaking across the surface

of the lingam as if a creeper had twinedaround it. Devotees suffering from chronic

ailments make offerings of punugu

(secretion of the civet cat, with which the

lingam is coated) to regain their health.

Childless women light ghee lamps in the

sanctum of the goddess to gain the boon of

offspring, and pregnant women pray to her

to grant them a safe pregnancy and

delivery.

According to legend, a sage called Nitravar

lived in this kshetra with his wife Vedigai.

Once, when the sage was away, his heavily

pregnant wife was slow in answering the call

for alms from an ascetic. He cursed her so

that she may suffer an ailment, which would

deform her foetus. The alarmed Vedigai

prayed to Garbharakshambigai and the

goddess made the foetus well again.Nitravar and Vedigai then prayed to the

goddess to extend her mercy to all pregnant

women who worshipped her. In front of the

goddess’ sanctum is a golden cradle. Those

who have prayed here for a safe deliverylater return to place the infant in the cradle

to seek the goddess’ blessings (the fee is Rs

500). The temple also offers a sanctified

herbal oil for pregnant women to rub on

their abdomens to ensure a safe pregnancy.

Where To

Eat5 Places

http://www.ixigo.com/foods-in-of-kumbakonam-lp-1143865

1 Mami Mess

Kumbakonam

2 Murugan Cafe

Kumbakonam

3 Singh Bakery

4 Saravana Bakery

5 Murari Sweets

























Quick

LOCATEhttp://www.ixigo.com/hotels-in-kumbakonam-lp-1143865

SeeA: Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Mutt

B: Nageswarar Temple

C: Chakrapani Temple

D: Airavateeswarar Temple

E: Mullaivananathar Temple

Accommodation

F: Paradise Resort

G: Mantra Veppathur

H: Indeco Hotels Swamimalai

I: Paradise Resort

J: Mantra Veppathur

K: Indeco Hotels Swamimalai

L: Paradise Resort

M: Mantra Veppathur

N: Indeco Hotels Swamimalai

FoodO: Mami Mess

P: Murugan Cafe

Q: Singh Bakery

R: Saravana Bakery

S: Murari Sweets























Documents

Kumbakonam Travel Guide