Tamil nadu is famous for its rich culture, great history and great architecture. But this beautiful and ancient place is also famous for its beautiful and ancient temples. According to Tamil Nadu Endowments Board, the state has approximately 38615 temples including all the new and old temples. Most of the temples were built in the prehistoric times and they are indeed the country’s rich heritage. The architecture of these temples shows the work and artistic skills of the sculptors of that period.
There are so many “famous temples in india” and most of them are found in Tamil Nadu only. The temples show the rich and lavish tates of the royal kings of that time. You can even find 800 to 5000 years old temple in tamilnadu. The state also has temple tanks and according to the sources approximately 2359 temple tanks are there in 1586 temples of Tamil Nadu. Here is a list of temples that hold major significance in popularizing Tamil Nadu as the “Land of Temples”.
Most Famous Temples in Tamil Nadu
If you are visiting Namil Nadu for the very first time in your life then it is advised that you should go for Tamil Nadu temple tour while exploring the other attractions of the state. Here are some famous temples in tamil nadu you can explore.
1) Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai
Meenakshi Amman Temple is also known as the Meenakshi-Sundareshwar Temple as it is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati (Meenakshi)and Lord Shiva (Sundareshwar). It is situated in Madurani and it is one of the oldest temples in tamil nadu which was built in the 6th century AD but in the 14th century it was damaged by the muslim invaders. In the 16th century the Nayak rulers restored the glory of this temple. It is also considered as one of the famous Amman temples in tamilnadu.
2) Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur
Brihadeeswarar Temple is another famous ‘shiva temple in tamilnadu’. The temple was built during the reign of Chola Dynasty in the 11 century AD and it is declared as the UNESCO world heritage site under the “great living chola temples” and it is visited by a large number of devotees every day. Apart from its beautiful architecture the temple attracts tourists form its 216 feet tall tower or “Vimana”. The structure’s Kumbam or the top of the Vimana is carved with 80 tonnes of single granite that adds to the overall beauty of this epic structure. It is one of the most famous temple in Tamilnadu for marriage as well.
3) Kumbakonam Brahma Temple, Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam Brahma Temple is one of the famous temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The sanctum also has a deity of Brahma placed on the right side of Lord Vishnu’s deity. Goddesses Saraswati and Gayatri are also placed on the right side of Lord Vishnu’s deity. On the other side of the Lord Vishnu’s deity, Bhoodevi and Sridevi and Yoganarasimha are placed. As we all know that Lord Brahma is cursed to be worshipped in the world, this temple is one of the rare Brahma temple in Tamilnadu or in India.
4) Sri Laxmi Narayanan Golden Temple, Vellore
Ths temple is almost included in every tamil nadu tour package and it is situated in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Also known as the Sripuram Golden Temple, it is dedicated to the Goddess Laxmi. The temple is built with pure gold and hence it is known as the “golden temple in Tamilnadu”. The temple gets its unique identity and charm due to its beautiful artwork, sculptures and the graceful lighting. This beautiful temple is surrounded by water and promises a beautiful view in the night.
5) Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram is an ancient town in the Tamil Nadu state and this ancient district is home to one of the pilgrim centres in Tamil Nadu, the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple. Apart from all other festivals of Tamil Nadu, during the Mahashivratri festival, this temple attracts a large number of hordes of people from all over India to take blessings of Lord Shiva. The temple is said to be built during the reign of Pallava Dynasty in 7th-8th century. This is also the oldest temple in Tamilnadu dedicated to Lord Shiva which is carved by beautiful sandstone.
6) Bala Murugan Temple, Siruvapuri
There are many murugan temples in Tamilnadu but the Bala Murugan Temple is one of the oldest and the most famous temples devoted to Lord Karthikeya who is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The temple is believed to fulfill all the wishes of the devotees so many people come here to worship Lord Karthikeya and make their wishes. The temple has a shrine devoted to Lord Murugan and his consort Devi Valli due to their wedlock. This is why many couples who wish to get married visit this temple.
7) Navapashanam Temple, Devipattinam
Navapashanam Temple in Devipattinam is one of the famous “navagraha temple in Tamilnadu”. The temple is a part of the set of nine temples in Tamil Nadu dedicated to the nine planetary deities. The major significance of this temple lies in the reason that the devotees can visit all the nine deities at once. There is a belief in the devotees that the shrine of the nine deities were built by Lord Rama.
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8) Subramanya Swamy Temple, Vallimalai
Subramanya Swamy Temple is one of the famous hill temples in Tamilnadu situated in Vallimalai. This rock cut temple is situated on the banks of River palar and on the slopes of Javadhu Hills. To reach the temple all the devotees have to climb 309 steps. The beautiful 1000 year old temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan and his wives Valli and Devayanai. During the medieval period it was one of the major jain centers.
9) Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
Varadharaja Perumal Temple is one of the famous perumal temple in Tamil Nadu dedicated to Lord Vishnu and situated in the holy city of Kanchipuram. The temple is commonly known as the Perumal Koil as well as it is considered as one of the most sacred places for Vaishnavites. Thousands of devotees visit this temple daily for all over the world to take the blessings of the Deity.
10) Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tiruchirappalli
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the major pilgrimage centers for the Hindus in India and it is the biggest temple in Tamil Nadu which covers an area of around 6,790,000 sq ft. It is also known as the biggest Hindu functioning temple in all over the world. The temple is devoted to Ranganatha, who is another form of Lord Vishnu. The temple is believed to exist from 2nd century BC but the archaeological evidence is available from 10th century CE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Which is the biggest temple in Tamil Nadu?
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is the biggest temple in Tamil Nadu.
Q2: Which is the oldest Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu?
Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram is the oldest Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu.
Q3: Which God has the most number of Temples in Tamil Nadu?
Lord Vishnu has most number of Temples in whole Tamil Nadu.
