STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES OF INDIA
TAMIL NADU
Kumbakonam
Text & Photographs by Lalitha Venkat
Kumbakonam
also known as Temple City, is the second biggest town in Thanjavur District.
It is located about 313 km away from Chennai on the south, about 90kms
from Tiruchi on the east and about 40kms from Thanjavur on the north east.
The town is bounded by two rivers - " River Cauvery" on the north and "River
Arasalar" on the south. Kumbakonam is noted for its many temples with their
colorful semi- erotic sculpture. Sarangapani Temple is the largest Vishnu
temple in Kumbakonam and the Kumbeshwara Temple is the largest Shiva temple.
Besides, there is a temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, which is very unique
and rare in India.
All temples
are closed between noon and 4.30pm. Except
for Gangaikondacholapuram which requires a taxi, all these temples are
quite closely located to Kumbakonam and it is very convenient to hire local
auto rickshaws which have a fixed tariff to a combination of destinations.
They wait for you till you are done with your prayer offerings.
Other temples
in the town are Kasi Viswanatha, Someswara, Somanatha, Gautameswara and
Vedaranya Perumal temples.
Kumbakonam
is a good base from which to visit the nearby temples at Darasuram (5km),
Thirunageswaram (5km), Thiruvinnagaram (6km), Tribuvanam (8km), Tiruvidaimarudur
(8km), Thiruvalanchuzi (8km), Swamimalai (8km), Thirunaraiyur (10km), Gangaikondacholapuram
(35km).
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