India is the land of worship for all faiths and has marvels in every direction we go. Today’s fascination has landed us in Tamil Nadu. A quaint little town, Kumbakonam, is home to 188 temples and thousands more in surrounding areas!
Legend has it
Kumbakonam is said to be a product of ‘pralaya’ (doom). Spooky, right? Specially since pralaya is coming back for us soon in ‘Kalyug’. Mythology reads, Lord Brahma had a pot called ‘Kumbha’ which contained the seeds for all living things on Earth. The pot was displaced come ‘pralaya’ and landed where Kumbakonam stands now. The name roughly translates to ‘pot’s corner’.
What is it
Kumbakonam is a religious town in the district of Thanjavur, in South India. With 188 Hindu temples and many ‘Mathas’ or monasteries, the name Temple Town came naturally. Being surrounded by beautiful relics of time, you feel like nothing else matters except the history in front you. The City of Temples has vibrant history from the 7th century era of Chola kings. During British rule, this little town briefly turned into a hub of European education and Indian culture. Thereafter, the name ‘Cambridge of the South’ emerged.
With chaotic patterns of temples all around, the town is held together by the glistening Mahamaham water tank at its centre. The festival of Mahamaham is celebrated every 12 years here. Millions of devotees and enthusiasts from all over the world attend the festival in search of god and art. Another reason for its popularity is its scenic location, lush between two magnificent rivers, Cauvery and Arsala.
How to get there
It is well connected by road to Thanjavur, 40 km away and Chennai, 273 km away. However, we think trains are the most convenient mode of transport with a railway station inside the town. For those who prefer air travel, the nearest airports are Pondicherry and Tiruchirappali, roughly a hundred kilometres away each.
Also read: South Asia’s Only Active Volcano Is In India And This Is How You Can Get There
‘Eat Pray Love’ was shot in India for a reason. While south India only played the pray part in the movie, we Indians know better. Here at Curly Tales, we can’t wait to get to the eating and loving parts in this one of kind Temple Town. Imagine being surrounded by architectural marvels, rivers, and travellers. Sounds like the perfect exploration to us!