Chola Nadu Divya Desam Tour: All 40 Chola Nadu Temples plus Thiruvanthipuram and Thirukovilur in 6 Days

Today you leave the hotel at about 6:20 and drive about 17 km to Thiruvellarai. You reach at about 7, in the cool of the morning. The temple stands on a raised hill. Devotees believe it is older than Srirangam, and its rajagopuram was never finished. The sanctum has two entrances. One is used in the six months of Uttarayana, from mid January, and the other in the rest of the year. Just outside is the Swastika tank, from about 800 CE, with four sets of steps on four sides.

Then you return about 17 km to Srirangam, and you take darshan from about 9 to 11. This is the Lord you came for. Take your time in the corridors. There is a short pooja break each morning, which is why you come at 9 and not earlier.

Have lunch in Srirangam and rest through the closed hours. In the afternoon you drive about 24 km, roughly an hour, to Anbil, on the north bank of the Kollidam. Here the Lord reclines on Adisesha, and he is called Vadivazhagiya Nambi, the Lord of beautiful form. Copper plates found at Anbil record gifts by the Chola kings.

Koviladi is about 15 km on. Tradition says an old man once ate a whole feast here and then asked for a pot of appam. He was the Lord. That is why he is called Appakkudathan, the one with the pot of appam. Koviladi is one of the five Pancharanga temples of Lord Ranganatha on the Kaveri. Then you drive about 38 km, a little over an hour, to Thanjavur. You reach by about 6:45 pm.

What to buy today: in Thanjavur, look at the Thanjavur Art Plate, with raised silver figures of gods hammered by hand onto brass or copper. Ask to see a few. Thanjavur Paintings, the Thanjavur Doll and the Thanjavur Veena are also officially registered local crafts. Poompuhar, the Tamil Nadu government handicrafts showroom, is the safe place to buy. Ask for the GI logo or the artisan's certificate.

Special Tips for This Day: Srirangam is huge, and you walk barefoot on stone through several gates. The stone gets hot by late morning, so elders should rest often in the shaded mandapams. The Thiruvellarai hill has steps, so take them slowly. Carry water in the car.

Today you take darshan at ten temples. You start at 7 at Thanjai Mamani Koil, close to your hotel. It is really three small shrines, Neelamega Perumal, Manikundra Perumal and Veera Narasimha, counted as one Divya Desam. The priest may need to come with you to open the other two, so we arrange that in advance.

Kandiyur is about 11 km on. Tradition says Shiva bathed in the tank here and was freed from Brahma's skull, the same story you heard at Uttamar Koil on Day 1. Then come Thirukoodalur, about 15 km on, and Kabisthalam, about 7 km further. Kabisthalam is the temple of the Gajendra Moksha story. The elephant Gajendra, caught by a crocodile, called out to the Lord, who came and saved him.

From Kabisthalam it is about 10 km to Adhanur. Here the Lord rests his head on a marakkal, a rice measuring bowl. Tradition says he came as a merchant to help Thirumangai Azhwar pay the workers building at Srirangam. Pullabhoothangudi is only about 2 km away, and here, devotees say, Rama is shown lying down, which is rare, because he is usually shown standing. Tradition says he did the last rites of the bird Jatayu here.

Reach Sarangapani in Kumbakonam by about 11:20, because its doors close at about noon. Then check in to your Kumbakonam hotel, have lunch and rest. For lunch or a coffee, try Sri Mangalambika Vilas, which has been running since 1914 and says it is the home of Kumbakonam degree coffee.

At about 4 pm you drive about 6 km to Nathan Koil. Tradition says Shiva's bull Nandi was cured of a burning curse here, which gives the temple its name. Next is Oppiliappan, about 13 km on, where the Lord's food is cooked without salt. Your last stop is Thiruvelliyangudi, about 21 km on, a remote temple that closes early in the evening. Here Garuda is shown with four arms, holding a conch and discus, and is said to be the only such Garuda among the 108. You are back at your hotel by about 7:35 pm.

What to buy today: Swamimalai bronze, the temple-style images made near Adhanur by the lost-wax method, using fine clay from the Kaveri. It is an officially registered craft. Ask the workshop to show you the process and to give a written note of the metal used.

Special Tips for This Day: Do not bring salted snacks into Oppiliappan. At the village temples, the priest may arrive a few minutes late, so wait calmly. Kumbakonam hotels fill fast in Masi Magam (February to March), so book early for that month.

Today you leave Kumbakonam at 7 and drive about 11 km to Nachiyar Koil. Here the Goddess comes first. She stands in the main sanctum and leads the processions ahead of the Lord. The temple is famous for its stone Garuda, the Kal Garuda. Devotees believe it grows heavier as it leaves the shrine in procession, from 4 bearers inside to 128 outside.

Thirucherai is only about 5 km on. It is said to be the only Divya Desam where the Lord is seen with five consorts. Then you drive about 20 km to Thirukannamangai, where a beehive near the Goddess shrine is treated as holy. Ask the priest to show it to you. Tradition says the gods who came to see Lakshmi marry Vishnu here stayed on as bees.

Thirukannangudi is about 24 km on, near Sikkal, and from there Nagapattinam is only about 10 km away. You reach Soundararaja Perumal at about 11. The temple has a rare eight-armed Narasimha. Have lunch in Nagapattinam and rest. Mura Veg Restaurant on Public Office Road is pure vegetarian and well reviewed.

At about 3:30 pm you leave for Thirukannapuram, about 29 km, so that you reach as the doors open. Tradition says a priest once gave the king a garland with a hair in it and called it the Lord's own hair. To save the priest, the Lord appeared with hair, so he is called Sowriraja Perumal. There is no Paramapada Vasal here, because the temple itself is treated as heaven.

The evening has three more temples. Thirusirupuliyur, about 23 km on, is the small tiger town, where the Lord lies in a small form called Bala Sayanam. Thiru Indhalur in Mayiladuthurai is about 18 km further, and it is another of the five Pancharanga temples. Your last stop is Therazhundur, about 13 km on. It is honoured as the birthplace of Kambar, the poet of the Tamil Ramayana. You reach your Mayiladuthurai hotel at about 8:30 pm.

For dinner, Vasans Parambariya on Pattamangala Street is an old, well-loved vegetarian place. It gets busy, so ask your driver to phone ahead.

What to buy today: a Nachiarkoil brass lamp, the tall kuthuvilakku made in Nachiyar Koil town. It is an officially registered craft.

Special Tips for This Day: This is the longest day of the tour, about 167 km. Use the afternoon rest well, and keep snacks in the car for the evening. In mid November, Mayiladuthurai fills for the last Aippasi bath in the Kaveri, so tell us if your dates fall then.

Today you leave Mayiladuthurai at 6 for the day you will remember most. Thalaichangadu is about 19 km away. Here Lord Vishnu wears a crescent moon on his head, which you usually see only on Lord Shiva.

Then you drive about 8 km into the Thirunangur group. The village shrines stand close together, and we arrange the priest round in advance. You see Thetriyambalam, where the Lord lies on the serpent bed like Ranganatha of Srirangam. At Manimadakoil, the main temple of the eleven, you may wait a little for the doors to open at about 8. Then come Vaikunda Vinnagaram, Semponsei Koil, Purushothamam and Arimeya Vinnagaram, each a minute or two apart. At Arimeya Vinnagaram the Lord is Kudamadu Koothan, who dances with pots. Manikoodam is next. It stands about 2 km away, a little outside the village, on the road towards Kavalampadi.

From Manikoodam you drive about 14 km to Sirkazhi and the temple of Thadalan, the Lord who measured the worlds in three steps. You reach by about 10:45, before it closes. Sirkazhi is also the birthplace of the Shaiva child saint Thirugnanasambandar. Have lunch here and take a long rest. Mangala Vilas, opposite the new bus stand, is a decades-old family vegetarian place, best for a simple tiffin. Tell us at booking if you would like a room for the afternoon.

At about 4:30 pm you drive about 18 km to Parthanpalli, where Arjuna is shown holding a sword. Kavalampadi and Thevanar Thogai follow, each about 4 km apart. Next is Thiruvali. It is the first half of the Thiruvali Thirunagari Divya Desam. Annan Koil, also called Thiruvellakulam, is about 4 km on, and it is called the southern Tirupati. Tradition says Kumudavalli, the wife of Thirumangai Azhwar, grew up here. Your last temple is Thirunagari, about 10 km on. Thiruvali and Thirunagari are the home ground of Thirumangai Azhwar, who was born close by, at Thirukuraiyalur.

From Thirunagari it is about 34 km, around 50 minutes, to Chidambaram. You reach at about 9 pm. Sri Krishna Vilas on East Car Street is a busy pure vegetarian place near the east gopuram of the Nataraja temple.

What to buy today: nothing heavy. Keep your hands free and your mind on the temples.

Special Tips for This Day: Keep small notes ready for dakshina at each Thirunangur temple. Carry water too. The village roads are narrow, and the turnings are easy to miss, so trust the driver's plan. In early February, the Garuda Sevai week upsets the usual hours at Thirunangur, so tell us if you travel then.

Today you begin at 6:30 at Govindaraja Perumal, inside the Chidambaram Nataraja temple. From one spot in the hall, you can see Nataraja and the reclining Govindaraja together. Ask a local to show you the spot. Kulasekhara Azhwar sang the story of Rama here. Tradition links the name Thiruchitrakoodam to Chitrakoot, where Rama lived in the forest.

Then you drive about 46 km, about an hour, to Thiruvanthipuram. You reach at about 8:15. The Lord here is Devanatha Perumal, and the Gadilam river flows past the temple. Vedanta Desika, the great teacher, is said to have lived here for many years. A shrine of Lord Hayagriva, the god of learning, stands on the small Oushadagiri hill above. Students come to pray there before exams.

Thirukovilur is about 67 km on, roughly an hour and three quarters, and you reach at about 10:45, before the noon closing. Here the Lord is Ulagalantha Perumal, who measured the worlds. He holds the conch in his right hand and the discus in his left, the reverse of most Vishnu images. The main image is very tall and is made of wood. It is one of the tallest images you will see. Take a quiet moment here. Your Chola Nadu and Nadu Naadu count is complete.

From Thirukovilur it is about 184 km, roughly four and a half hours, to Chennai airport. Keep lunch short on the way, and you reach the airport at about 3:45 pm. Book a flight that leaves after about 6:30 pm.

What to buy today: Panruti cashew and, in summer, Panruti jackfruit, which both got their GI tag in April 2025. A GI tag is the government mark of a genuine local product. Panruti is a town in Cuddalore district, so ask your driver if your road passes it.

Special Tips for This Day: Pack your bags the night before. At Chidambaram, the Nataraja temple has its own rules for the Kanaka Sabha hall, so follow what the staff say. If you fly abroad, Chennai airport has international flights, so it is an easy end point.