Top Religious Places in Tamil Nadu

Known For : Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal Vaigai Dam

Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India located in Tamil Nadu. It was ruled by Pandya kings for the longest time in its history and is constructed in the form of a lotus.

Best Time: October to March

20 Madurai Attractions

Known For : Kamakshi Amman Temple Varadharaja Perumal Temple Devarajaswami Temple

Widely known for its beautiful ‘'Kanchipuram sarees' and also referred to as the 'golden city of a thousand temples', Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu is a popular tourist attraction.

Best Time: October to May

16 Kanchipuram Attractions

Known For : Rameshwaram Temple Dhanushkodi Temple and Beach Jatayu Tirtham

Rameshwaram is one of the holiest places in India and is located on a beautiful island. It is separated by a small Pamban channel from Sri Lanka. According to the Hindu mythology, this is the place where Lord Rama created a bridge across the sea to Sri Lanka.

Best Time: Throughout the year

22 Rameswaram Attractions

Known For : Brihadeeswara Temple Saraswathi Mahal Library Shiva Ganga Garden

Also known as Tanjore or the city of temples, Thanjavur has a lot of cultural value and is known for its famous Tanjore paintings, antiques and handicrafts, textiles and saris , its Carnatic music and musical instruments and of course the temples.

Best Time: October to March

15 Thanjevur Attractions

Known For : Kallanai Dam Rockfort Ganpathi Temple Tiruchirappalli Rock Fort Samayapuram Amman Temple

Trichy is a mid sized, fast emerging city in Tamil nadu. It is a refreshing change from cities that are either completely religious and some that are nothing but concrete jungles. Trichy is one of those places that you can explore in a weekend and will hold secrets even after several years.

Best Time: October to March

15 Tiruchi Attractions

Known For : Matrimandir Marc's Cafe Arka

Auroville is one of those towns which appear to come to life right out of fiction. In the union territory of Pondicherry, this township runs on the principles of peace, harmony, sustainable living and 'divine consciousness' which was the philosophy of the Mother of Sri Aurobindo Society, Mirra Alfassa.

Best Time: November to March

21 Auroville Attractions

Known For : Gingee Fort Sathanur Dam Annamalaiyar Temple

A town that offers a significant history adorned in its countless temples and ashrams, Thiruvannamalai is where Hindu Mythology takes the form of stunning architecture

Best Time: October to March

9 Thiruvannamalai Attractions

Known For : Velankanni Church Velankanni Beach Velankanni Church Museum

Quaint and calm, Velankanni is a little hamlet tucked away in the state of Tamil Nadu, on the coast of Bay of Bengal. It is a famous Roman Catholic pilgrim centre and is visited by thousands of devotees for its shrine of ‘Our Lady of Good Health’ aka Mother Mary. Inspired by the Lourdes in France, Velankanni is also known as the “Lourdes of the East”. It has become one of the vital Marian sanctuaries of the world.

Best Time: October to March

6 Velankanni Attractions

Known For : Adi Kumbeshwara Temple Nageswaran Temple Shopping in Kumbakonam

Sandwiched between two great rivers of southern India, Cauvery and Arsala, Kumbakonam is a gorgeous temple town in the heart of the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.The town is a place for the lovers of history and those seeking to understand India's cultural roots and Hinduism.

Best Time: November to February

25 Kumbakonam Attractions

Known For : Chettinad Palace Chettinad Museum Chettinadu Mansion

Located in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, Chettinad showcases the rich heritage, striking art and grand architecture of the state. The word "Chetti" is a Sanskrit term meaning wealth. It is derived from the original traders of the region who dealt in salt and spices for marbles and other decorative items used in the construction of their properties. The place is touted as a temple town, but it is also a foodie’s paradise. There is more to Chettinad other than just an exotic cuisine. It has an elaborately vibrant culture and an over the top extortionate township comprising of ridiculously opulent mansions, palatial homes, magnificent temples and fascinating museums.

Best Time: November to March

13 Chettinad Attractions

Known For : Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctuary Papanasam Agasthiyar falls

Tirunelveli is a big city in the midst of numerous small towns, each with its own bounty of beautiful sights, temples, waterfalls and much more. Unlike many temple towns, it also does offer many other sites to its tourists, including some breathtaking waterfalls. The city is located on the west bank of the Thamirabarani River.

Best Time: October to February

32 Tirunelveli Attractions

Known For : Pichavaram Mangrove Forests Shopping in Chidambaram The Nataraja Temple

A beautiful temple town in the eastern part of Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram is famous for housing the marvelous Lord Nataraja Temple and a few others which highlight its importance as a special place of pilgrim.

Best Time: October to January

10 Chidambram Attractions

Known For : Dutch Fort Archaeological Museum Sikkal Singaravelar Temple

Nagapattinam is a town on the coastline of Bay of Bengal with major historical significance which is also a renowned pilgrim center with many temples, churches and mosques spread all over.

Best Time: October to March

8 Nagapattinam Attractions

Known For : Hogenakkal Falls Mettur Dam Melagiri Hills

Hogenakkal is where the Kaveri river splits into multiple streams of waterfalls, making it arguably the most heavenly place in the state. The neighboring regions and small villages that surround this place are breathtaking, making your holiday a perfect amalgamation of relaxation and discovery.

Best Time: October to March

9 Hogenakkal Attractions

Known For : Kanyakumari Beach Vivekananda Rock Memorial Thanumalayan Temple - Sthanumalayan Kovil

Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula, Kanyakumari is a coastal town in the state of Tamil Nadu. Earlier known as Cape Comorin, Kanyakumari is surrounded by mountains and bordered by vibrant sea shores, lined with paddy fields and coconut trees, and also boasts of aesthetic elevated patches of hills with undulating valleys and plains in between the sea and the mountainous terrain. Ever since ancient times, Kanyakumari has been one of the major centres of religion, art and culture. Famous for being the only place in India where you can observe the sunrise and sunset at the same beach, Kanyakumari is a very popular tourist destination, not just because of this unique geographical phenomenon, but also because of its pristine beaches as well as its temples and churches which attract a huge number of tourists to this city all year round.

Best Time: October to February

28 Kanyakumari Attractions

Known For : Shore Temple Mahabalipuram Beach Five Rathas

Famous for its intricately carved temples and rock-cut caves, Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram as it is famously known, is a historically important and well-loved tourist location situated on the Coromandel Coast along the Bay of Bengal, in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Best Time: November to February

23 Mahabalipuram Attractions

Known For : Marina Beach Government Museum, Chennai MGR Film City

Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is the fourth largest city in the country, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in South India. A city that has a rich cultural history, Chennai perfectly balances its heritage with its thriving modern lifestyle. A metropolis with a heart, Chennai’s skyline is famous for its towering skyscrapers which form a scenic vista along the coast, but the heart of Chennai still remains in the multitude of old temples and churches dotting various parts of the city. Steeped in rich South-Indian culture, Chennai is a city that has a plethora of dimensions that one can explore, and regardless of where you go, the city has an old-world charm to it that refuses to be overshadowed.

Best Time: October to March

91 Chennai Attractions

Known For : Kalakkad Wildlife Sanctuary Kalugumalai Tuticorin Port

Coming across a city like Tuticorin is not common. It is a beach town, also one of the busiest ports, has a wildlife sanctuary, houses numerous temples and churches and tens of other monumental sites. If this does not make it to you radar, then nothing else would.

Best Time: October to March

14 Tuticorin Attractions

Known For : Fort Dansborg The town gate The Zion Church

Forgotten to be touched by time, and still known for its tranquility, is Tharagambadi, otherwise known as Tranquebar- The land of the singing waves. Tied up together still, and surviving the storms of time, Tranquebar is the ultimate destinations for those who lose themselves, when it comes to History.

Best Time: August to February

7 Tranquebar Attractions

Known For : Shenbaga Falls Five Falls Main Falls

Kutrallam is a perfect getaway for those who want to be connected with nature and get lost in the penchant of spirituality. It is a small town of Tamil Nadu located in its Tirunelveli District perched at an elevation of 167 m on the Western Ghats.

Best Time: July to March

9 Kutrallam Attractions

Known For : Punganur Lake Nature Park Jalagamparai Falls

A quaint little hill station located in Vellore, Yelagiri is just three hours away from Bangalore, making it the perfect spot for a quick weekend getaway. Spread a little over 30 square kilometres, and at a height of over 1100 metres above sea level, Yelagiri offers its tourists some beautiful places like the Jalagamparai falls, sweeping orchards and rose garden, among others. The ideal destination for nature lovers, Yelagiri is a town that is completely off the beaten tourist trail, lending it a quieter and much more peaceful vibe compared to other more famous hill stations nearby. Originally belonging to the Zamindar family of Yelagiri, the hill station began to gain popularity since the colonial rule, when it was used by the British as a summer getaway. Ever since then, it has been one of the hidden gems of South India, replete with rocky hills and natural scenic beauty, making it the perfect place to take a break from the fast-paced city life.

Best Time: November to February

13 Yelagiri Attractions