Places of Interest

Alangudi

Alangudi is popularly known for being the place to worship Guru, one of the navagrahas. The shrine for Guru is located within the Arulmighu Abthasahayeswarar temple. Alangudi is situated on the Kumbakonam–Valangaiman road. It is 8 kms from Valangaiman and 16 kms from Kumbakonam.

According to Hindu mythology, the great rishis including Aghasthiar and Adi Shankara had worshipped Guru Bhagawan (zodiac sign of Jupiter) in Alangudi. Every year during the Guru Peyarchi when the sign from its present location innumerable devotees visit this temple.

Koothanur

It is situated 21 kms from Thiruvarur, Koothanur lies on the Mayiladuthurai–Thiruvarur road. Koothanur is located near Poonthottam, famous for the Arulmighu Maha Saraswathy Amman temple. It is only here in Tamil Nadu, there is a separate temple especially constructed for the Saraswathi, the Goddess of learning. The great saint poets Kavichakravarthy Kamban and Ottakkoothan offered their prayer in this temple. Devotees from all over India participate during the Navarathiri festival in this temple.

Mannargudi

True to the local popular saying, Mannargudi is nothing but the combination of the temple and the temple tank. Shri Raja Gopalaswamy temple is considered as the king of the temples in the state. This temple is also known as the Kulothunga Cholan Vinnagaram, in memory of its builder. The Shri Raja Gopalaswamy shrine is famous for having a graceful deity, a sacred sthalam, and holy theertham. Its Rajagopuram(main tower) is 154 feet high and inside the temple, there are 16 gopurams or towers, 7 mandapams or halls, 24 sannathi or thresholds and 18 vimanas. Festivals are celebrated around the year in this temple.

Enkan

On the Thiruvarur–Thanjavur road, 1 km north of Mukundanur and 3 kms south of Kappanamangalam on the Thiruvarur–Kumbakonam road is the village Enkan where the Arulmighu Subramanya Swamy temple is located. Raja Raja Cholan I created a permanent endowment for the requirements of the daily poojas and festivals. In praise of the glory of Lord Subramanya, the saint poet Arunagirinathar dedicated his famous hymns of Thiruppugazh. The divine sculpture of the presiding deity Lord Arulmighu Arumuga seated on his peacock inside the sanctum sanctorum in this temple is a marvelous work of art. The Thaipoosam festival celebrated in the middle of January in this temple attracts devotees in large numbers every year.

Valangaiman

Valangaiman Varatharajan Pettai Maha Mariamman temple is situated just 9 kms from Kumbakonam on the Mannargudi road. This temple is popularly known as Paadaikavadi Mariamman. During the Tamil months of Avani (Aug-Sep) and Panguni (Sep-Oct) festivals are celebrated in this shrine.

Muthupettai Dargah

The seven hundred year old dargah here has various glorious aspects and traditional background. This dargah known as Andavar Shahul Dawood Khamil Oliyullh had been built using Mahratta architecture. People irrespective of caste, creed and religion visit this holy place of worship.