Kumbakonam

Also called the City of Temples, Kumbakonam is located between the rivers of Cauvery and Arsala. This southern town is located in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu and attracts all art lovers, history buffs and culture vultures. Surrounded by vast paddy fields, this city lies in a region which is also called Old Delta. It is one of the oldest towns in Indian history and has many famous educational institutes.

The town boasts of its amazing history which dates back to the Sangam age. It invites all the history lovers to appreciate the relevance of the times of Cholas, Pallavas and Pandavas. It was known as the Cambridge of South India and since then it has been a prominent centre to appreciate Hindu culture and European education.

The city has about 188 temples which has earned it the name of Temple Town among the places to see in Tamil Nadu. Some of the most famous temples in Kumbakonam are Airavatesvara Temple, Uppiliappan Temple, Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Nageshwara Temple and Chakkarapani Temple.

One of the most exciting experiences here is the festival of Mahamaham which attracts tourists from the neck and breadth of the country. Tourists attend this festival to take a holy dip in the Mahamaham Tank and soak in the blessings.

While visiting the temples is a must-do activity in Kumbakonam, shopping lovers will take delight in its bustling bazaars. Along with that, the foodies will rejoice in savouring one of the best filter coffees in South India along with tasting the South Indian cuisines to treat the taste buds.

With a typical tropical climate, Kumbakonan experiences cool winters and dry summers. The temperature here ranges between 20 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius. The most suitable time to visit is during the winters when the weather is pleasant and during the monsoons when you can see moderate rains. Summers should be avoided because of the high temperatures.