I reached Kumbakonam on a quiet morning when the streets were still waking up. The town looked slow and calm. A tea vendor pointed me toward the first temple. That was how the day started. One temple led to another. Each place had its own sound, smell, and rhythm. By the end of my journey I had visited seventeen famous temples in Kumbakonam and majority of them are Shiva temples, rare temple like brahma temple, powerful prathyangira devi temple, famous thirumanancheri temple, navagraha temples, etc. Lets start our journey.
Kumbakonam famous temples list
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Adi Kumbeswarar Temple
My first stop was Adi Kumbeswarar. Main gods are Shiva and Parvathi. The tall tower came into view as I walked through the narrow shops. The air smelled of incense. Inside, the old stone halls made me slow down. The priest’s chant echoed through the mandapam. I felt like the town itself began here. You can collect some unique pooja and historical items in near by list of shops. It is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalam. From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 2.5 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 2.6 KM
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Sarangapani Temple
From there I walked to Sarangapani Temple. Main gods are Vishnu and Lakshmi. The eleven tier tower stood high above the street. Devotees moved in a steady line. The reclining form of Lord Vishnu looked calm. The temple felt alive with soft bells and quiet prayers. It is one among the108 Divya Desams temple. From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 1.7 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 2 KM
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Nageswarar Temple
A short walk took me to Nageswarar Temple. Morning sunlight entered the sanctum when I reached the doorway. Main god is Shiva as Nageswarar. It is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalam. The Chola stones looked warm in the light. The temple felt old but strong. From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 1.5 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 1.6 KM
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Kasi Viswanathar Temple
Near the Mahamaham tank I found this small Shiva shrine. Main gods are Shiva as Kasi Viswanathar, Parvathi as Visalakshi, and Nava Kannigas and included in Paadal Petra Sthalam. Local people walked in and out for quick darshan. The temple felt simple. It had a peaceful charm. From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 1 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 1.1 KM
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Ramaswamy Temple
Next I reached Ramaswamy Temple. The walls told the entire Ramayana through paintings. Main gods are Raman and Sita. I followed the story along the corridor like a long picture book. Each panel showed a scene with clear details.From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 1.3 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 1.6 KM
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Someswarar Temple
Near Sarangapani I entered Someswarar Temple. Main god is Shiva as Someswarar and the temple include among other Paadal Petra Sthalam. Few people were inside. The silence gave the temple a warm feel. I sat near a pillar for a short break.From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 1.6 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 1.8 KM
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Chakrapani Temple
The upward facing idol in Chakrapani Temple surprised me. Main god is Vishnu.The priest explained the form of Sudarshana Chakra. The temple felt powerful but still friendly.From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 2.2 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 2.4 KM
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Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram
I travelled a few kilometers to Darasuram to reach Airavatesvara Temple. The temple looked like a sculpture set. The stone chariot stood near the entrance. Main god is Shiva and it is listed one among the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. Carved miniatures covered the pillars. I walked slowly because every corner had something worth seeing.From Kumbkonam New Bus Stop the distance is 4 KM and From Kumbkonam Railway Station it is 4.2 KM
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Uppiliappan Temple
Later I reached Uppiliappan aka Oppiliappan Temple. Main gods are Perumal as Vishnu and Lakshmi as Bhudevi. This temple is one among Diya Desams. This temple is locally considered as small thirupathi.Devotees spoke softly in the queue. Inside, the deity stood bright with Bhoodevi. The tradition of offering food without salt felt special.From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 6.5 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 7 KM
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Swamimalai Murugan Temple
Sixty steps led me to this hill temple. Main god is Murugar and it is one among the Arupadai Veedu temples. Children climbed fast while elders took their time. The view from the top showed the quiet edges of the town. Murugan’s shrine felt warm and welcoming. From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 5.8 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 6 KM
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Brahma Temple
A short drive brought me to the Brahma Temple. There were only a few people inside. The idol holding the Vedas looked rare and peaceful. Main god is Vishnu (Perumaal)and have dedicated holy space for Lord Brahma and Lord Yoga Narasimha. The place felt open and gentle.From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 7.8 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 8 KM
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Suryanar Koil
This temple for the Sun had separate shrines for all nine planets. Main god is Suryanar (Sun) and it is one among the famous Navagrahas Temples in Kumbakonam. People offered lamps and stood in long lines. The energy was steady and focused.From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 12 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 12.5 KM
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Thirunageswaram Rahu Temple
Rahu abhishekam drew many visitors. Main gods are Shiva and Parvathy. This temple famously known as Rahu Stalam one among Navagraha Temples. Milk turned white as it touched the idol. The crowd watched with steady attention. The temple had a strong devotional pull.From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 6.3 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 6.7 KM
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Kampaheswarar Temple
This old Shiva temple is linked with removal of fear. Main gods are Shiva as Kampaheswarar and Ambal as Dharmasamvarthini.The halls were wide and easy to explore. The stone carvings showed old styles.From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 12 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 13 KM
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Kalyanasundaresar Temple
The last temple in my route was a calm village shrine. Main god is Shiva as Kalyanasundaresar and one among Paadal Petra Sthalam.The entrance was quiet. The sound of birds mixed with the faint bells from the sanctum. It was a gentle ending to a long trip.From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 14 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 14.5 KM
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Ayyavadi Pratyangira Devi Temple
I reached Ayyavadi Pratyangira Devi temple in the late afternoon. The village road stayed quiet. Main god is Pratyangira Devi and famous for removing black magics.The temple looked simple from outside, but the energy inside felt strong. The fire ritual, the drum sound, and the chant created a focused mood. Devotees waited calmly for darshan. The deity appeared in a powerful form. I stepped out to a soft village wind that eased the intensity of the homam. From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 8 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 8.5 KM
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Thirumanancheri Sri Kalyana Subramanya Swamy Temple
I reached Thirumanancheri Kalyana Subramanya Swamy temple in the early morning. The village roads were quiet. Main gods are Shiva and Parvati. Lot of devotees came for marriage related poojas. The temple felt calm and steady. Devotees came for marriage related prayers. The inner corridor carried a soft chant. The shrine looked bright with lamps. The place left a gentle mood. From Kumbakonam New Bus Stop the distance is 29 KM and From Kumbakonam Railway Station it is 30 KM
End of the journey
Kumbakonam offers many temples in a compact area. Each one has its own setting and sense of time. As a traveller you can’t move through history and devotion in a single day. Minimum two to three days are required to complete the entire temple visit. These seventeen famous temples list in Kumbakonam give you a clear view of the town and its culture.
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