1- Bala Murugan Temple, Siruvapuri:-

Tamil Nadu is home to several famous Murugan temples, and one of them is the Bala Murugan temple in Siruvapuri. Murugan is another name for Lord Karthikeya, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The temple is 500 years old and famous among devotees to fulfil their wishes. Owing to this, hundreds of devotees visit this Murugan temple in Tamil Nadu each day to worship Lord Karthikeya and wish upon it. Besides, the temple complex has a shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan and his consort Devi Valli as depicted in wedlock. It is visited by couples who wish to get married

2- Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram :-

Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples and a holy pilgrimage site for the Hindus. It is believed that the Shiva Lingam placed at the temple was built and worshipped by Lord Ram before crossing the bridge to Lanka, and that is where the name Ramanathaswamy was derived. Lord Ram wanted to seek forgiveness from his lord for the sins he would commit during the war against Ravana. He requested Hanuman to bring a Lingam from the Himalayas. However, with his delayed arrival, Lord Ram decided to build a Lingam from sand, which is placed at the sanctum. The temple has another lingam which was brought from Kailash and is called Vishwalingam .

3- Meenakshi Temple, Madurai :-

Madurai’s Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is one of the best temples in Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Sundareswarar and his consort, Goddess Parvati in the form of Meenakshi. The complex houses 14 magnificent Gopurams including two golden Gopurams for the main deities elaborately sculptured and painted.
The exact time of the temple’s origin is not confirmed but the structures that are standing today date mostly from the 12th to the 18th century. The present temple standing today was built in the 17th century A.D. by the Nayak rulers. The temple is a superb example of sculpture and magnificent architecture.
The Meenakshi temple is a majestic beauty with exquisite architecture. The image of Goddess Meenakshi is said to be carved out of a single emerald. This exotic temple was renovated by various kings, adding coiled corridors and larger-than-life sculptures. According to the legend of this temple, the marriage of the goddess Meenakshi to Shiva actually took place in Madurai and is still celebrated every summer with great excitement.
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4- Kapaleeswarar temple :-

The Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Chennai is one of the popular temples in Tamil Nadu. The 7th century Amrirulgu Kapaleeswarar temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati in the form of Karpagambal or the ‘Goddess of the Wish-Yielding Tree’ and Lord Shiva.
For a visitor in the temple, divine bliss is all-enveloping. The Gopuram, the main sanctuary in the temple is a unique example of Dravidian architectural style. The inscriptions in the premises of the temple date back to the 12th century. The Temple hosts six different kinds of puja’s namely Ko pooja, Vaikarai Pooja, Kaala sandhi Puja, Uchi Kala Pooja, Evening Puja, Kala Puja and Ardhajama Pooja.
Kapaleeswarar temple is thronged by devotees throughout the year. Major festivals like Brahmotsavam or ‘Arupathumoovar’ Festival, Theppa Thiruvizha Float Festival, Navaratri Festival, and Vasanta Utsavam are celebrated at the Temple premises.
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5- Sri Laxmi Narayanani Golden Temple, Vellore :-

Also known as the Sripuram Golden Temple, it is located at Vellore in Tamil Nadu and is a part of almost all the south India tour packages. The temple is dedicated to Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity and entirely built with pure gold, making it famous as the Golden Temple. Its outstanding carving, sculptures, artwork, and exquisite lighting further give it a unique charm. One of its kinds in the world, this Golden Temple of Tamil Nadu is surrounded by water and offers a magnificent sight to behold during the night.

6- Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur :-

Brihadeeswarar temple of Thanjavur is one of the best places to visit in Tamil Nadu. Popularly known as “Thanjavur Periya Kovil”, this is the largest temple in India. The outstanding architecture makes it one of the best temples in India.
The 1002-year old temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built in 1010 AD by the Chola Emperor, Rajaraja Chola I. The temple represents the brilliancy and excellence of the architectural skills of Cholas. About 130,000 tons of granite were used to build the temple. The 216 ft high Vimana (tower) is the tallest in the world.
The statue of Nandi (Lord Shiva’s sacred bull) 16 feet in length and 13 feet in height carved out of a single stone is one of the largest carvings of its kind.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Brihadeeshwarar has hundreds of sculptures of the lord. The huge idol of Lord Shiva with three eyes is divine to look at. There are 250 lingams (representative of Lord Shiva) and sculptures of his 108 dance pose in the temple premises.
One of the ‘Great Chola Living Temples’, Brihadeeswarar temple has survived the ravages of climatic changes, six recorded earthquakes and a major fire. Recognizing its unique architectural excellence, UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Monument. Marvel at the architecture and the divine magnificence of Lord Shiva.
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7 - Ramaswamy Temple in Kumbakonam :-

One of the holiest temples of Lord Ram in India, the Ramaswamy Temple in Kumbakonam is one of the most popular temples in Tamil Nadu. Achutha Nayaka of Thanjavur constructed the Ramaswamy temple during the 16th century. The ardent follower of the Lord has lovingly enshrined his revered. Ramaswamy temple worships Lord Ram, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This temple is different from other Ram temples in India as here, Lord Ram is seen with all his brothers, his wife Devi Sita, beloved devotee Lord Hanuman with the musical instrument, Veena in a scene taken from his coronation. The Maha Mandapam is enriched with intricate stone carving works of Rama-Katha. Vamana Avatharam, Meenakshi Kalyanam, Sukreeva Pattabisegam are some of the famous carving works of this temple. There are also 219 wall paintings, which explain the series of incidents from the great Epic “Ramayanam” drawn in herbal colors. Pay homage to Lord Ram and his inspirational life.

8- Nataraja temple :-

One of the most famous temples in Tamil Nadu, the Nataraja temple is located in the heart of the temple town of Chidambaram. This temple is one of the Panch Bhootha Sthalas representing one of the five natural elements akasha (aether). The temple complex is spread over 50 acres built during the days of Pallava/Chola emperors. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in form of Nataraja and Lord Govindaraja Perumal. It is one of the few temples where both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite deities are enshrined in one place.
The Ananda Tandava posture of Lord Shiva is the most noteworthy attraction. This celestial dancing posture is one of the sources of Bharathanatyam. The demon under Nataraja’s feet signifies ignorance. The Fire in this hand means destroyer of evil.
The raised hand signifies that he is the savior of all life. The Ring at the back signifies the cosmos. The drum in his hand signifies the origin of Life. There are also stucco images of 108 Bharatha Natyam Dance poses are depicted in the temple complex.
The celestial ambiance of the temple and the rich heritage of sculptures inspire every visitor. .

9- Monolithic Rock Temples :-

These unique temples are located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mahabalipuram. Dating back to the 7th century, they are one of the best temples in Tamil Nadu that must not be missed. History lovers and architecture admirers visit to see the Monolithic Rock Temples known for their architectural and sculptural achievements.
The highlight of these Mahabalipuram temples is the five monolithic rock-cut temples looking like ‘Pancha Rathas’ or five chariots. It is believed that each of the temples is dedicated to the five Pandava brothers from the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
You can see every sculpture with carvings of animals, humans, and gods. If you look closely at the architecture, it will surely give knowledge about the talent that Pallava Dynasty artisans possessed.
If you want to see the architectural brilliance and take a peep into the rich history behind the temple, make sure to pay a visit to this beautiful Tamil Nadu temple.
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10- Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple :-

Kanchipuram, best known for its sarees is also famous for Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple. If you are an architecture lover, the artistic talent of the Pallava Dynasty can be seen here. The Dravidian style of architecture is something worth seeing here. It is one of the prominent Tamil Nadu temples that date back to the late 7th and early 8th centuries.
Sandstone carvings can be seen all around the temple. Also, it is one of the oldest temples in Tamil Nadu dedicated to Lord Shiva having 16 sided Shivling made of black granite. Something not to miss seeing here is the 58 small Shiva shrines inside the temple complex.
You must see the beautifully sculpted statues of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in different dance postures. It is evidence of the Pallava Dynasty that did not fail to attract thousands of pilgrims, especially on Maha Shivratri.
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11- Ekambareswarar Temple :-

The Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram is one of holiest Shiva temples. The temple town of Kanchipuram is considered to be the foremost among the seven prime pilgrimage centers in India. The Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the five major Shiva temples or Pancha Bootha Sthalams each representing a natural element. This temple represents the element of Earth as the worshipped deity is the Prithvi Lingam.
The legend associated with the temple is that Devi Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva worshiped a Prithivi Lingam built out of sand, under a mango tree. The 3500 years old mango tree is said to be the embodiment of the four Vedas. The tree bears fruits of four different tastes each season here. Six worship services are offered each day in this temple namely, UshadKalam, Kaalasanthi, Uchi Kaalam, Pradosham and Sayarakshai and Ardhajamam.
The divine ambiance of the temple is worth your time. Marvel at the mythological stories, the architecture and the divinely blissful setting. Visit the temple and know why it is counted among the most visited temples in Tamil Nadu.
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12- Kumari Amman Temple, Kanyakumari :-

Dedicated to the virgin Goddess Kanya Kumari, an avatar of Goddess Shakti, the temple dates back to 3000 years. Its complex has a deity in the form of a beautiful girl holding a string of beads in her right hand. Mythological beliefs state that Goddess Shakti took this avatar upon being requested by the Devtas to save them from the Demon King Banasura. As he was blessed by Lord Shiva for only being vanquished by a virgin girl, the Goddess took this avatar to defeat him. However, enchanted by her beauty, the Banasura tried to force her into a marriage that eventually became the cause of his death. .

13- Kumbakonam Brahma Temple, Kumbakonam :-

Kumbakonam Brahma Temple in Tamil Nadu is one of the famous pilgrimage sites for the Hindus that is located in Thanjavur district. The temple is primarily dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Vedanarayana Perumal. Its sanctum also has a deity of Brahma which is placed on the right side of Lord Vishnu’s deity, along with Goddesses Saraswati and Gayatri. On the left side is Yoganarasimha with Bhoodevi and Sridevi. Since Lord Brahma is said to be cursed for not being worshipped, the Kumbakonam Brahma Temple in Tamil Nadu is one of the rare temples dedicated to him in India .

14- Naganathaswamy Temple, Thanjavur :-

One of the famous temples in Tamil Nadu, Naganathaswamy Temple is one of the Navagraha Temples. People from different parts of the country visit the temple to rid themselves of Rahu Doshas.
Dedicated to Sri Naganathaswamy and His consort is Giri Gujambika, this is the only temple where Lord Rahu is enshrined in human form whereas other of his temple have his serpent form. According to legends Lord Rahu worshiped here in this temple on Shivaratri to redeem himself from the curse of a rishi.
Devotees in the temple say that the milk abhishekam to Rahu turns the milk blue. There are twelve sacred water heads in this place, namely, Suriya Pushkarani, Gowthama Theertham, Parasara Theertham, Indira Theertham, Prugu Theertham, Kannuva Theertham and Vasishta Theertham. A dip in the holy waters is said to cure one of the diseases and give prosperity. It also rids of bad karma and ultimately grants salvation.
The temple conducts six pujas daily. The Ushakkala, Kalasandhi, Uchikkala, Sayaratchai, Irandam Kala and Arthajama Pooja are marvelous rituals where visitors are spellbound by the divine bliss.
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15- Jambukeswarar Temple:-

Lord Shiva is worshipped in Jambukeswarar Temple. Many devotees visit here to seek blessings from the supreme being. Located in the Srirangam Island of Tamil Nadu, Jambukeswarar Temple is a temple of the Chola period and thus, displays an excellent work of the Dravidian style of architecture. You can see 7 tiered Gopuram ornamented with fine carvings, which is evidence of the artistic value of the Chola Kingdom.
As per mythological folklore, it is said that Goddess Parvati took the form of Akilandeswari and performed penance under the ‘Jambu’ tree. The tree is said to have grown from a meditation saint’s head. To perform the rituals, the goddess made a lingam from Cauvery river water flowing by, which impressed Shiva and he gave darshan and also taught her Shiva Gnana.
Following this legend, the priests at Jambukeswarar Temple wear saree and offer prayer to Lord Jambukeswarar at noon. How interesting is that? You can get a few insights into the South Indian culture and traditions, which will make your trip worth it.
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