10 Must-see temples in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is the land of temples. The state has over 33000 temples and many of them are older than 3500 years. These temples are excellent specimens of the Dravidian architecture and boast of intricate carvings.
Here are the most famous temples in Tamil Nadu.

Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Chennai

The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is one of the most famous landmarks in Chennai. It was built in the 7th century AD. The original temple had been destroyed by the Portuguese during their invasion of India. The structure that we see today was built in the 16th century. This temple in Mylapore, Chennai is famous for its many halls and numerous shrines. The gateway tower of this temple stands at a staggering height of 120 feet. It has ornate details. Colorful, crowded and vibrant, the Kapaleeshwarar temple hosts several festivals and events and attracts thousands of devotees all year round. It is one of the must-see destinations in Chennai.

Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur

The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur is one of the largest temple complexes in the whole world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Brihadeeswarar Temple is a fine example of the Chola style of temple architecture. It is older than 1000 years old. The temple is built of granite and has giant sculptures inside and outside of it.

Meenakshi Sundareswarar, Madurai

The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai was one of the contenders for the ‘7 New Wonders of the World’. It didn’t make it to the final list but the fact that it was shortlisted speaks volumes of its architectural grandeur. The Meenakshi Temple is situated on the banks of the Vaigai River. Meenakshi is an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi. The temple is dedicated to her and her consort Lord Shiva. One of the most crowded temples in Tamil Nadu, the Meenakshi Temple attracts close to 25000 devotees every day. Its history is closely linked to the history of Madurai. Meenakshi Temple has about 14 towers. Some of them reach 50 meters in height. The temple also boasts of some 33000 beautiful sculptures.

The Cave Temples of Mahabalipuram

Perched on a hill overlooking the Bay of Bengal, the Cave Temples of Mahabalipuram are famous all over the world. These carved caves or mandapas are thought to have been places associated with Buddhists and Jains. They also show a considerable influence of Hindu artistic traditions. Many of these temples date back to the 7th century. The most notable is the Mahsisuramardhini Cave Temple.

Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil

The Nagaraja Temple at Nagercoil follows many customs and traditions typically followed by temples in Kerala. Male devotees are required to remove their shirt and vest before entering the temple. Nearly all temples in Kerala require this. Nagercoil is on the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu and hence the influence of Kerala traditions is nothing unusual. This temple is dedicated to Nagaraja, the king of serpents. It houses a vast pond in the middle.

Kumari Amman Temple, Kanyakumari

The Kumari Amman Temple at Kanyakumari has been mentioned in epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of mainland India. It is a major pilgrimage center for Hindus because of the confluence of Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. This temple dedicated to Goddess Kumari is older than 3000 years.

The Vivekananda Rock situated near the temple is a small rocky island in the sea. This is the place where Swami Vivekananda meditated on the future of the nation. It is believed that Bharat Mata (Goddess whom Indians regard as their mother and country) appeared before him and showed him the right path. Vivekananda Rock attracts a large number of visitors.

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram

This is the oldest temple in Kanchipuram. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built out of sandstone by the Pallava kings in the 7th century AD. This temple is a fine specimen of the Dravidian style of architecture and has several sculptures and carvings showing half-animal deities.

Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval

Tamil Nadu has five major temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Jambukeswarar Temple is one of them. It represents the element of water. It was built by the Chola dynasty around 1800 years ago. The temple has five enclosures. The outer wall is 25 ft high and stretches over a mile.

Annamalaiyar Temple, Thiruvannamalai

The Annamalaiyar Temple at Thiruvannamalai has a huge fan-following. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is associated with the element fire. It is spread across an area of 10 hectares. The temple has four towers and the tallest among them reach 66 meters.

Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram Island

This 12th century temple stands on Rameshwaram Island. It is a majestic temple with a long corridor. Actually, no other temple in the country has a longer corridor than the one at this temple. Rameswaram is a major pilgrimage center and attracts thousands of devotees.