There is no place in this world where temples are as admired as in Tamil Nadu. Temples are fame in this state and they can be found in every nuke and corner. You might see different kinds of temples here, be it a towering one or an historic one, but one sure thing is that you will get wowed. We bring to you a list of 10 of the most important temples in Tamil Nadu that you should definitely visit once.
Temples in Tamil Nadu
Madurai -MeenakshiSundareswarar Temple
Madurai Meenakshi Temple is one of the famous monuments in the world. Nominated for being in the list of wonders of the world, this temple in Tamil Nadu has some impressive facts about itself. It covers over 15 acres of land, a massive 4500 pillars and 12 towers. The sculptures in this temple is the most beautiful to view.
Thanjavur (Tanjore) β Brihadeeswarar Temple
This temple was built during the era of Chola about 1000 years ago. The Brihadeeswarar temple turned 1000 in 2010. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is constructed only with stones. UNESCO acknowledges this temple as one of world heritage sites.
Kumbakonam β Sarangapani Temple
Kumbakonam is regarded as the land of temples. It is situated at about 40 kilometres from Tanjore. The Sarangapani temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and its shrine is in the form of a chariot. The temple art and the stone carvings is something you will admire here.
Kanchipuram -Kailasanathar Temple
Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu is regarded worldwide for its silk sarees. This city is located at about 80 kilometers from Chennai and it belonged to the ancient Pallava dynasty. Kailasanthar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and you would see beautiful architectural effects in this temple.
Rameswaram β Ramanathaswamy Temple
Just by looking at the picture, donβt you want to go visit this place? Yes, the Ranmanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram is that beautiful. The astonishing pillared hallway is the longest in India and consists of number of carved pillars. The speciality here is that the pilgrims have to take a bath before going inside the temple. The temple has 22 wells for this purpose and the water is considered to be holy.
Chidambaram β Nataraj Temple
Chidambaram is not a popular tourist destination in Tamil Nadu but those who come as tourist; they would come with only one reason in mind. And that reason is to visit the Nataraj temple. This temple is one of the rare temples in India to follow Vedic rituals because most of the other temples followagamic rituals. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and βNatarajβ is an avatar of Lord Shiva in which he performs his cosmic dance.
Thiruvannamalai β Annamalaiyar Temple
At the base of Mount Arunachala in Thiruvannamalai, is the Annamalaiyar Temple. One of the largest temples in Tamil Nadu, it consists of 9 towers and 3 inner courtyards. Lord Shiva is the main God worshipped and represents the element of fire. One could find a number of holy men (locally referred as sadhus) around the temple.
Special Fact: It is said that if one thinks about visiting this temple to pray Lord Shiva, all his/her sins are forgiven by the Lord himself.
Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli β Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
Srirangam is a town located near the popular city of Tiruchirappalli. Sri Ranganathaswamy temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The special fact about this temple is its Gopuram (Temple tower). Its temple tower is 73 metres high and it is the tallest temple towers in the country and second tallest in Asia.
The Cave Temples of Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram is one of the most favourite tourist destinations for people worldwide. Not only does it have the wonderful beaches and sight scenes, it also possesses one of the beautiful historical temples. The construction of the temple dates back to 7th century and the temple is admired for its sculptures and arts. Certainly, one of the oldest temples in Tamil Nadu and an Indian masterpiece!
Chennai β Kapaleeshwarar Temple
This temple has a history for itself and is one of the most important places to visit in Chennai. Its history dates back to 7th century. Kapaleeshwarar temple has a number of halls, beautiful pillars and a massive tower of 120 feet height. The temple is crowded most of the time and one could see Hindu fests happening around it quite frequently.
It was almost impossible for us to decide on the 10 best temples because temples in Tamil Nadu are just too many. Visit our Temples section to know more.
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