Kumbakonam
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Kumbakonam [1] is a town in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. The town is popular for the Betal Leaf Combination (Vettrilai Cheeval) and for the thick-strong coffee.
[edit] Understand
The town is bounded by two rivers - " River Cauvery" on the north and "River Arasalar" on the south. Kumbakonam gets its name from the deity Lord Aadhi Kumbeshwarar. A traditional representation of South Indian Culture, the town is known for its temples, intricately carved panchaloha idols, exquisite brass wares especially lamps and silks(kancheepuram and kumbakonam are the very well known silk producers). The place, like many other sacred places has a unique festival known as the Mahamaham festival. The festival celebrated once in twelve years coincides with the entry of Sun and Jupiter into constellation of Aquarius and Leo respectively. People from all walks of life have a dip in the Mahamaham tank along with the presiding deities of the town.
Kumbakonam is full of temples. Every street, road, locality has a prominent temple. Better reach some litereture on them before your visit them. The Sankara Matam and associated institutions preserve and represent all that is great about the Hindu ancient scholarly tradition.
Some of India's world renowned scholars and intellectuals hail from Kumbakonam including the genius mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujam. The Town High School and the Kumbakonam Arts College are the grand old centres of education with the latter built on the banks of River Cauvery (kaveri) sometimes referred to as the Cambridge of South India.
It has an excellent road link to all the navagraha temples(God's representing nine planets).
The town which was orginaly a religious town become an industrial center during last quarter of the 19th Century and early period of 20th century. Predominance was gained for Silk Industries and Metal manufacturing.
The Major Suppliers of Silk Sarees to the Indian Silk Saree Market is Kumbakonam Silk Industry.
All the South Indian Brass Pooja articles and utensils are manufactured in Kumbakonam and these articles are manufactured nowhere in South India other than Kumbakonam. KuthuVilakku and Statues are the famous articles. Stainless Steel utensils are manufactured.
Betelnuts, Suparis are manufactured in Kumbakonam.
Brass ornamental Lamps (Kuthuvilakku) are also manufactured in Naachiyar Kovil. It is near by Kmbakonam just 8 Km towards Tiruvarur.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
The nearest airport is Tirchy Airport . Kumbakonam can be reached from Airport by Bus which will take 4hours travel.
[edit] By bus
Kumbakonam is well connected to all the major towns and cities. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka State Transport Corporations[2] operate buses to Kumbakonam.
From Chennai 5-6 hrs of travel by bus.There are excellent bus services provided by both government and private travel services. For more comfortable travel its better to choose a private travel service. from Tiruchy it's about 90Kms and about 40kms from Thanjavur.
for online bus reservision visit to ticketgoose.com [3]
[edit] By train
Rock Fort Express connects Kumbakonam to Chennai, JanShatabthi express Connects the town with Coimbatore, while the Mailaduthurai-Mysore Express connects the town with Bangalore and Mysore. There are various passenger trains to Thirunelveli and to other towns nearby.
Janashatabthi express Reaches by 13.30 and leaves to Coimbatore by 14.30
The Train from Bangalore starts @ 19:15 from Bangalore and reaches Kumbakonam early morning at 05:30.
Auto's from the Kumbakonam Station charge a minimum of Rs.40/- even for the nearest Hotel. If you can move out of the Station and get a 'running' auto and talk as if you have visited the city a zillion times :)
[edit] Get around
Auto Rickshaw: The cheapest mode of hired transport. Autos ply to small towns in and around Kumbakonam (less than 10 km). As with any other town in Tamil Nadu, negotiate the price before making the trip.
You can negotiate an Auto for half-day or full day rates for the nearby places and temples within Kumbakonam. Charges range from 500/- to 750/- approximately for half-day, depending on the places you need to visit. For a 1.5 days I paid ~Rs.900/- in total.
Taxis: There are two prominent taxi stands in the town. One near the bus stand and the other near town hall. As with any tourist place, the prices are hiked up once they know you are from out of town.
Its a good idea to check with locals on the average fare for autos and taxis.
Bus: State and private operated buses ply to all towns in the vicinity.
[edit][add listing] See
There are several prominent temples in the town:
- The Kumbeswara Temple (the town's namesake)
- The Sarangapani Temple (one of the 108 Divyadesams of Srivaishnavites)
- The intricately carved Mahamaha Kulam where the Mahamaham is held once in twelve years
- Chakrapani Temple
- Ramaswamy Temple
- Patteswaram Durga Temple
- Thiruvidaimarudhur Shiva temple
- ThirudevanKudi Shiva temple
- Oppilliappan Vishnu temple (one of the 108 Divyadesams of Srivaishnavites)
- Nageswaram Shiva temple
- Ayyavadi Pratyankara Devi temple
- Nachiyar Koil Vishnu temple (one of the 108 Divyadesams of Srivaishnavites)
- Tirucherai SaranathaSwamy Vishnu temple (one of the 108 Divyadesams of Srivaishnavites)
- Kabistalam Gajendra Varada Vishu temple
- Ganapathi Agraharam Vinayaka temple
- Swamimalai Murugan Temple
- Darasuram Shiva temple ( The temple is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage monument)
- Tirubhvanam Sarabeshwara Temple
- Koothanur Saraswathy temple
- Tirupambupuram Shiva temple ( Dakshina Kalahasti)
- Nageswara Temple
- Kasi Viswanatha Temple
- Someswara Temple
- Ragavendra Mutt at Kumbakonam city
- Tirumangalakudi Shiva temple
- Papanasam 108 Shiva linga temple
Surrounding Kumbakonam are the popular Navagraha temples. Although the presiding deity in all these temples are various forms of Shiva, the Navagraha Sannidhis are quite popular.
- Navagraha - Town - Presiding Deity - Phone Number
- Surya (Sun) - Suryanarkovil - Kasi Viswanathar - 0435 247 2349
- Chandran (Moon) - Thingaloor - Kailasanathar - 04362 236 0936
- Guru (Jupiter) - Alangudi - Aabhatsakayeswarar - 04374 269 407
- Rahu (North Lunar Node) - Tirunageswaram - Naganathar - 0435 246 3354
- Budhan (Mercury) - Tiruvenkadu - Swatharanyeswarar - 04364 256 424
- Sukkran (Venus) - Kanchanoor - Agneeswarar - 04435 247 3737
- Kethu (South Lunar Node) - Keezhaperumpallam - Naganathar - 04364 275 222
- Sani (Saturn) - Thirunallaru - Tharparaaneswarar - 04368 236 530
- Chevvai (Mars) - Vaitheeswaran Kovil - Vaitheeswarar - 04364 279 423
[edit] Navagraha Temple Tour Route Map
Here is the link to temple route map for the travellers visiting Navagraha temples in Tamilnadu. [4]
The Mullaivananathan Temple at Thirukarukkavur is quite famous for the goddess Garbharakshambika who is the God's consort there.
[edit][add listing] Do
Most of the cinema halls in Kumbakonam are in pretty bad state:
- 1. Vasu A/c Dts - This is probably the best theatre in the town. It is pretty decent for a middle class standard.
- 2. Kasi A/c Dts - This theatre looks very old with shabby interiors. The maintenance also is quite bad. Fortunately the A/c works, and the movie is shown in digital format which makes it pleasant to watch.
- 3. Vijaya A/c Dts - It is quite moderate, ranking third in line.
- 4. Baranika A/c Dts - It is also quite moderate, not so clean, but provides the basic amenities.
- 5. Selvam Dts - This theatre is in a pretty bad condition, but it features only new movies.
- 6. Diamond Mahal - One of the worst cinema halls in the town featuring new movies.
- 7. Meenatchi Theatre - This is on the verge of closing down. This theatre often screens old movies.
[edit][add listing] Eat
There are a lot of restaurants in Kumbakonam. But most of them are not hygenic, and some are of poor quality. Check out for good hotels around the place. Hotel Raayas is better for Non Veg, whereas Hotel Meenatchi Bhavan, Archanas & Venkatramana is good for a veggie.
Sterling Resorts provide excellent food for the rich. But if a simple home style food of the local cuisine is what you want, try out one of the 'mess'.
- Meenatchi Restaurant. Good veggie food. edit
- Paradise Resort. Try it for over the top stuff. Rs.300/- Lunch. edit
[edit][add listing] Drink
Coffee. You'll be missing the essence of the trip if you didn't taste the coffee here. Kumbakonam filter coffee is one of the best in India.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
There are quite few good hotels that one can stay
* Hotel Raya's & Hotel Raya's Annexe-I [5]
- Hotel Rayas [6] Rooms are good,service is also good. Simply the best hotel in heart of the city kumbakonam Tel : 0435-2001712.
- Green park Hotel
* Hotel Rayas [7]
- Adithya Hotel
- Kasi International
- Kasi Towers
- Paradise Resort
- Hotel Chella
- Siva International
- ARK International
- Hotel Rayas Annexe-I room reservation [8]
- Sterling Resort (Swamimalai) - This is on the outskirts of the town, but easily commutable if you take an auto or hire a taxi
[edit][add listing] Sleep
Sterling resorts which is located just outside the town is one of the best place to stay and eat. There are other medium budget hotels around the city like Raayaas.
[edit] Get out
- Thanjavur
- Thiruvaiyaru
- Vaitheeswaran Koil
- The world heritage UNESCO sites of Gangaikondacholapuram, Darasuram
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