10 Most Famous Temples in Tamil Nadu

There are several holy places in Tamil Nadu, It is blessed with more than 33,000 temples, so known as the Land of Temples. With numerous temples scattered over its land, the state is a true treasure mine of stunning architectural and spiritual legacy.

Even though history reveals that many temples were destroyed during the British period in Tamil Nadu, what remains now properly captures the state's rich religious and cultural heritage.

Today, let's take a deep dive into the 10 most famous temples in Tamil Nadu, where ancient architecture meets spiritual serenity, offering a glimpse into the state's rich cultural heritage.

Top 10 most famous temples in Tamil Nadu

1. Meenakshi Temple- Madurai
2. Rameshwaram Temple- Rameshwaram
3. Brihadishwarar Temple- Thanjavur
4. Kapaleeshwarar Temple- Mylapore
5. Kumari Amman Temple- Kanya kumari
6. Nataraja Temple- Chidambaram
7. Ekambareswarar Temple- Kanchipuram
8. Mahabalipuram Shore Temple- Mahabalipuram
9. Rock Fort Temple- Tiruchirapalli
10. Mayuranathaswami Temple- Mayiladuthurai

Let's read in detail

• Meenakshi Temple- Madurai

The Madurai Meenakshi Temple is one of Tamil Nadu's most stunning temples, located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai India. It is an impressive example of both classical sculpture and architectural design.

The statue of the goddess Meenakshi is said to have been made from a single piece of emerald.

The temple is devoted to Goddess Parvati as Meenakshi and her husband Lord Shiva as Lord Sundareswarar. The Meenakshi Temple is one of the most ancient and famous temples in Tamil Nadu and India.

According to historical and archaeological sources of information, the temple was originally constructed in the 6th century AD, and most of it was damaged in the 14th century by the Muslim invaders in India. The temple's present structure dates back to the 16th century when the Nayak rulers restored it to its original beauty.

• Rameshwaram Temple- Rameshwaram

The Ramanathaswamy Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is located in the serene island of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, India.

According to mythology, Lord Rama prayed to the deity Shiva to receive a blessing and beg for his forgiveness, which is how the Rameshwaram temple turned out to be. This temple at Rameshwaram also has several fascinating tales.

The structure of the temple is believed to have been built during the 12th century CE by the Pandya ruler. The four Gopurams stand at a height of 126 feet meters and are built in the usual Dravidian style.

The temple is also known for housing the longest corridor hall in India, which is made up of around 1000 finely carved granite pillars. Many people are attracted to the tremendous Nandi statue, which stands 6 meters tall.

• Brihadishwarar Temple- Thanjavur

Thanjai Periyar Kovil is another name for the Brihadishwarar temple, located on the south bank of the Cauvery River in Thanjavur Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the city's most popular tourist destinations. Lord Shiva is the temple's Patron Saint.

The temple tower is 216 feet long and it's worth mentioning that Tamil Nadu's largest temple is named Brihadishwarar Temple. The Kumbam structure on top of the Vimana weighs 80 tons and was carved from a single granite which contributes to the overall structure.

The Brihadishwarar Temple is notable for being the world's first temple completely built from granite, along with its massive corridor housing one largest Shiva lingam in India.

Today, this temple enjoys the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the list of Great Living Chola Temples and is been visited by thousands of devotees and tourists each year.

Also read: Monuments of Tamil Nadu

• Kapaleeshwarar Temple- Mylapore

The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is located in Chennai's Mylapore district and was built during the Pallava King's rule in the 7th century CE. However, the temple building that remains now dates back to the 16th century CE, because the original structure was destroyed by the Portuguese in the 16th century, and the Vijayanagara Kings brought the temple back to its pristine beauty.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is adored here in the form of Kapaleeshwarar, the temple is a major pilgrim place in Tamil Nadu for Shaivites, attracting thousands of pilgrims every day.

Kapaleeshwarar Temple is adorned with a massive rainbow-coloured Gopuram, pillared halls, and a water body, and is an excellent example of the original Dravidian style of architecture.

The temple draws large crowds to the Karpagambal shrine on Fridays where the presiding deity is draped with a garland of gold coins. Another interesting site of the temple is a small shrine under the old Punnai Tree in the courtyard that represents the story of Goddess Parvati in the form of a peahen (mayil in Tamil) worshipping the Shiva linga.

• Kumari Amman Temple- Kanya kumari

Tamil Nadu has various Amman temples, among them the Kumari Amman temple holds importance as one of the holiest pilgrimage sites.

The temple is located in the town of Kanya Kumari, at the southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu, India. The Kumari Amman Temple pays tribute to the virgin Goddess Kanya Kumari, an avatar of Goddess Shakti. The idol of the presiding deity is in the form of a delightful young girl with a rosary in her right hand. Every worshiper who visits this temple is believed to receive blessings from the goddess Amman.

The nose ring worn by the deity has another fable related to it- it is believed that the diamonds of the nose ring are so bright that in earlier times, few ships sailing in the sea confused the brightness of these diamonds as light from a lighthouse destroying the adjacent rocks. Because of these accidents, the eastern door towards the sea-facing of the temple remains closed.

• Nataraja Temple- Chidambaram

The Nataraja temple is one of the most famous temples in Tamil Nadu. It is situated right in the centre of Chidambaram. It is one of the Panch Bootha Sthalas where the Lord manifests the sky with each one dedicated to the five elements of the universe—earth, air, water, fire, and space. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraja or the celestial dancer performing the Ananda Tandava (Dance of Delight).

The intricate designs on the walls of the temple represent all 108 Karanas from Bharata Muni's Natya Shastra and these postures serve as the foundations for the famous Indian classical dance called Bharatanatyam.

The yearly Natyanjali Dance Festival on the auspicious day of Maha Shivaratri is a notable one here. The temple is said to have been built under Pallava rule in the 11th century and further renovations were made during Cholas, Pandyas, and Vijayanagara periods.

• Ekambareswarar Temple- Kanchipuram

Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the most significant temples of Kanchipuram. The city is known for its traditional temples in addition to its sarees and clothing and also it is India's most prominent pilgrimage destination.

According to legend, Goddess Parvati performed a penance here under a sacred mango tree, for Lord Shiva with a Shiva linga made of sand. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before her and came to be known as Ekambareswarar or the Lord of Mango Tree.

The temple is believed to have existed since 600 AD, but the present structure is said to be dating back to the 11th-12th centuries. The temple's architecture is generally Shaivite, with a high Gopuram and five concentric surroundings. The 1000-pillared hall with sculptures of 1008 Shiva Lingams is said to have been built by the Vijayanagara kings in the 15th century. The Prithvi Lingam is located in the inner sanctum.

• Mahabalipuram Shore Temple- Mahabalipuram

Located along the Bay of Bengal coast near the city, this Shiva temple in Mahabalipuram is renowned as the most famous seaside temple in Tamil Nadu.

The temple dates back to the 8th century AD and is said to be one of the oldest structural stone temples in South India, built with granite stones.

It has three sanctums and is devoted to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. It is topped by a pyramidal tower which is shaped like a chariot and full of captivating artworks and carvings.

A visit to Mahabalipuram is incomplete without witnessing the beautiful relief work of Arjuna’s Penance representing Arjuna undertaking penance to obtain a powerful weapon from Lord Shiva that can lead to Pandava's victory over Kauravas in the battle of Mahabharata.

The Shore Temple is no longer a functioning temple but it is worth a visit for its extraordinary architecture.

• Rock Fort Temple- Tiruchirapalli

The Rock Fort Temple, also known as Malaikottai is considered the world's oldest temple dating back almost a billion years ago. It is located in the city of Tiruchirapalli on the banks of Kaveri River. The temple is perched on a large rock and consists of two temples namely the Ucchi Pillayar Temple at the top mainly devoted to Lord Ganesha, and the Thayumanaswamy Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva.

The beautiful Kaveri River that streams nearby adds to the temple's remarkable attractiveness.

Today, the Chennai Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India maintains and supervises the fort. Do visit the Rock Fort Temple during your spiritual tour of Tamil Nadu. The wonderful atmosphere and stunning views from the temple, with Trichy extending all about it, are well worth the visit.

• Mayuranathaswami Temple- Mayiladuthurai

Mayuranathaswami Temple or Mayuranathar Temple is located in the Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is devoted to Lord Mayuranathaswamy a form of Shiva, and has given its name to the town itself.

According to a legend, it is said that once Lord Shiva was angered by Goddess Parvati, so he cursed her to be born as Peahen, to repent her mistakes, goddess Parvati worshipped at Mayiladuthurai and Mylapore in the form of a Mayur (Peahen).

The idol worshipped here is a lingam and the presiding deity is called Mayuranathar, Goddess Parvati is worshipped here as Abhayambikai. Small shrines of Ganesha, Nataraja, and Durga also adorn the temple premises to shower their divine blessings to the visitors.

So these are some of the most famous temples in Tamil Nadu, known for the state's rich religious and cultural heritage.