Kumbakonam

Located in the Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu, India, this picturesque town is renowned for its many temples. The tourist sites in the city are approximately 40 kilometres away from Thanjavur. After the Pralaya (the disintegration of the Universe), Lord Brahma gathered all the necessary materials and Vedha Amrutham in the pot of the same name. In the end, the Pot got carried by the water to where modern-day Kumbakonam is located. Temples including the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, the Abhimugesvarar Temple, the Kasi Vishwanathar Temple, the Nageswarar Temple, the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Mutt, the Bhagavatha Padithurai Ghat, the Ramaswamy Temple, and the Srinivasa Ramanujan House, among many more places in Kumbakonam, draw visitors year-round.

This is the second-largest city in the Thanjavur District, and the tourist sites in the city are conveniently linked to the rest of the state and its major cities by road and rail. The closest domestic and international airports to this city are in the cities of Tiruchirappalli (about 92 km away) and Chennai (approximately 275 km away).

There are several tourist places in kumbakonam, temples and mutts or maths in this city, making it a popular destination for those interested in religious tourism (monasteries). The Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, built by the Cholas in the seventh century, is the city's first Shiva temple. There are other temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in the area, including Kasi Vishwanathar Temple and Nageswarar Temple. In this city, one may see the town's religious history reflected in its many maths. The Mahamaham festival is held every twelve years in Mahamaham Tank and is a great opportunity to showcase the true colours of the town. During the festival, thousands of visitors come to the site to partake in a religious ritual—taking a plunge in the tanks, which is thought to wash away sins. The tourist sites in the city hold religious significance because of the number of temples that may be found there and in the surrounding area.

Kumbakonam Overview

Best Time to Visit Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam Tamil Nadu enjoys the usual tropical climate—mild, rainy winters and scorching, dry summers—thanks to its location in the country's tropical section and the Deccan region. Weather in Kumbakonam during monsoons provides light rains and unpredictable showers, making it a good time to explore tourist sites in the city. The kumbakonam weather becomes quite hot during the summer months. The Kumbakonam temperature during the winter ranges from 20 to 25 degrees celsius, making it ideal for you to explore the places to visit Kumbakonam.

How to Reach the Places to Visit in Kumbakonam?

The nearest airport to tourist sites in the city is Tiruchirapalli Airport, which is located around 91 kilometres away. Tiruchirapalli has daily connections to different cities in India via several local airlines. Fly into Tiruchirapalli, where you may rent a local vehicle to take you the rest of the way to tourist places in Kumbakonam.

Buses run daily from Bengaluru and Mysore to tourist sites in the city via the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. This route is also heavily served by buses operated by private companies. To go to tourist sites in the city from other areas of Tamil Nadu, you can use a bus operated by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation.

When it comes to getting about southern India, this city is a breeze because of its convenient train connections to nearly every major city and hamlet. Express trains run frequently between tourist sites in the city and other major cities including Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchirapalli. There are additional passenger trains accessible from surrounding cities like Thanjavur.

What are the things to see and do in Kumbakonam?

This city in Tamil Nadu, is a lovely temple town with enough attractions to keep visitors busy even though there is no Kumbakonam beach. Tourists and pilgrims are drawn to the area by the thousands upon thousands of temples that are among the topmost places in Kumbakonam. This city is recognised as a "temple town" all over the world since it is home to several renowned religious structures. The main tourist sites in the city are Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Nageswarar Temple, Kasi Vishwanthar Temple and Sarangapani Temple.

Places to Visit in Kumbakonam

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple

The Adi Kumbeswarar temple is one of the best tourist sites in the city and the oldest Shiva temple. The Chola dynasty constructed this temple in the seventh century, and it is from this temple that this city takes its name.

Nageswarar Temple

The Nageswarar temple in this city is one of the city's old Shiva temples. The serpent gods dwell in this sacred building. It is one of the best tourist sites in the city.

Kasi Vishwanthar temple

The Mahamahan festival is celebrated once every 12 years at the Kasi Vishwanthar temple, one of the most sacred tourist sites in the city.

Sarangapani Temple

The Sarangapani Temple is an important Vishnu shrine not far from this city. If you are in search of peace, this is one of the most peaceful tourist sites in the city.

Mahamaham Tank

The Mahamaham Tank, situated in the middle of town, is a sacred site for the locals of South India. Every twelve years, during the Mahamaham Festival, millions of worshippers from all across the country travel to this tank to bathe in its sacred waters. It is among the best tourist sites in the city.

Airavatasvara Temple

Airavatesvara Temple, a holy Hindu shrine in the Tamil Nadu village of Darasuram not far from this city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is among the best tourist sites in the city.

Restaurants in Kumbakonam

Rayas Garden Restaurant

A wide selection of both South and North Indian dishes is available at Rayas Garden Restaurant. Moreover, Chaat and other munchies are also here.

Aathurar High Class Non Vegetarian Restaurant

The greatest non-vegetarian food can be found at Aathurar High Class Non Vegetarian Restaurant. If you're looking for the greatest non-vegetarian meals, you may take your group of friends or family to one of these places.

Hotel New Aryas

Guests at Hotel New Aryas, as well as locals, can expect delicious vegetarian options. Hotel New Aryas serves both traditional and contemporary vegetarian dishes from around India. Meals at these eateries are not only safe and delicious but also quite reasonably priced.

Alif Restaurant

Alif Restaurant in this city is a great spot for a date, a family meal, or just a fun night out with friends.

Bilal Restaurant

The Bilal Restaurant is a landmark in this city, drawing patrons from all around the city and beyond. Transportation to this location is convenient and easy because of the availability of a variety of options.

Places to Stay in Kumbakonam

Hotel Thangavilas Inn

If you're looking for a hotel near the heart of this city, go no further than the Hotel Thangavilas Inn. The hotel is conveniently located approximately 1.4 kilometres from Kumbakonam Train Station, allowing for speedy and simple transportation.

Bergamont Group of Hotels' Cholaa Dynasty

Staying at the Bergamont Group of Hotels' Cholaa Dynasty is the ideal way to enjoy the magnificent splendour of Chola architecture since the hotel provides guests with 24-hour security, a doctor on call, ticket tour help, free parking, and constant power backup.

Dhauladhar Hotel

The Dhauladhar Hotel is an excellent option for visitors to this city, including a lawn, a dining space, and a meeting room. Large conference rooms are available at the Hotel ARK Kumbakonam, perfect for corporate gatherings.

Mayapuri Amira

The front desk, room service, aid from a doctor upon request, and many more facilities are all available to guests of the quiet, luxurious Mayapuri Amira. Each of the hotel's rooms is also tastefully decorated.

Raya's Grand Kumbakonam

At Raya's Grand Kumbakonam, you may stay in comfortable accommodations, eat at the on-site restaurant, and make use of the hotel's excellent amenities. The hotel provides cutting-edge comforts, such as free high-speed Wi-Fi.

Food to Try in Places to Visit in Kumbakonam

You cannot leave this city without sampling some traditional Tamil food. The rice in most of the recipes here is the main attraction. Most people think of idlis, dosas, sambhar, rasam, uthapam, etc. when they think of South Indian food. However, in addition to traditional South Indian foods, some restaurants in Kumbakonam also serve traditional North Indian fares such as curry, chicken, and mutton. Heavy "Sappadu" meals are served on banana leaves to visitors during festivities. Rice, sambhar, chutney, papad, and poori make up this sappadu lunch. Meals and tiffin can be provided by a few of the town's eateries as well.

There are several vegetarian restaurants, serving both South and North Indian cuisines, so vegetarians have plenty of options if they're looking to explore the tourist sites in the city. Snacks and chaat are available at several of the eateries as well. Sri Adithi Ganesh Bhavan, Rayas Garden Restaurant, Meenatachi Vegetarian Restaurant, Sangeeta Restaurant, and many more are among the finest vegetarian restaurants in town.

Things to Buy in the Places to Visit in Kumbakonam

The tourist sites in the city are well-known for their variety of brass, bronze, copper, and lead utensils and other goods, ceramics, silk and cotton clothing, and betel leaves and nuts. In the marketplaces of this city, you may get silk fabrics, fancy objects, jewellery, metal goods, and cosmetics, among other things. Nageswaran South Street, TSR Big Street, Kumbeswarar Street, Head Post Office Road, and countless more are just a few of the well-known retail districts in town. So, let's talk about some of this city’s major marketplaces.

Shoppers may get whatever they need on Nageswaran South Street, one of the most popular tourist sites in the city. This is the place to go if you're looking for brass or stainless steel cookware. Kumbeswara Street is one of the most famous tourist sites in the city for shoppers looking for a wide variety of products, including but not limited to medicines, tools, electronics, novelties, accessories, and jewellery. Sundaram Readymade Store, Singh Bakery, Haroon Medicals, New Sundaram Stores, and so on can all be found on Kumbeshwarar Street.

TSR Big Street

The central marketplace of this city is located on TSR Big Street. Items, as varied as furniture, cosmetics, jewellery, electronics, silk, and ready-to-wear, can all be found in this market.

Nageswaran South Street

This market is home to a number of establishments, including jewellery shops, banks, and hotels. Bismi Furniture, Jos Alukkas Jewellery Stores, Sangam Super Market, S. Periyasamy Moopnar & Sons Textile Store, Poornima Gift House, and many more can all be found along Nageswaran South Street.

But when one does arrive at that fresh frontier, there are ways better than others to begin your journey of discovery. Follow these steps and see the world with a new light.

• Discover a new city through a food tour. Food tour's are the easiest way to take a tour, learn about the local delicacies, and the best of all, get great tips that aren't just "local" tips for tourists, but sometimes, lessons for a lifetime too
• Use Public Transportation. When you are in a new city, you can possibly see places and people that you wouldn't normally see when simply walking to the places that checks your list. Some buses or rails take you to parts of the city you wouldn't get to see otherwise. Whilst using public transportation, just ensure that you are following the local norms and do remember to watch the locals!
• Find a local festival. Go beyond what other tourists might do while visiting a place. Look for the unique things you would want to do. Use social media or the local tourism website to find out what's going on locally. You may have to move out of the center of the city to do some of the less popular but more unique things, so just keep that in mind!

Conclusion

This one of the oldest cities in southern India was formerly the seat of the Chola dynasty. Located between the Cauvery and Arasalar Rivers, this area is a special category municipality in the Tamil Nadu district of Thanjavur. This can be a relatively tiny town, yet it offers every convenience of a larger city. Everything from Western-style clothing and accessories to makeup, handbags, and shoes is readily available. As a representation of the town's forward-thinking culture, the tourist sites in the city also have upscale boutiques, bespoke tailors, spas, and fitness facilities.