| Location | Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu; 40 km from Tanjore |
| Significance | Headquarters of Kumbakonam Taluk. Major shopping centre for Silk and Brass ware |
| Must Visit | Sarangapani Temple and Darasuram Temple |
| Best Time To Visit | Throughout the year |
| Climate | Cool climate; the North East Monsoon provides an average annual rainfall of 1250 mm in the months of Oct-Dec |
The city dotted with countless temples that wash away all your sins. The streets loaded with intricately carved panchaloha idols that showcase the true cultural aspect. The only place in the world which has temple for Lord Brahma. Welcome to Kumbakonam, where life and religion both are vibrantly coloured. Picturesquely sandwiched between the 'River Cauvery' on the north and 'River Arasalar' on the south, Kumbakonam is a famous temple town in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Myths
As the legend goes, Lord Brahma preserved all the veda's Amirtham (Tamil language) and tools necessary to create lives on earth in a pot during the time of destruction (Pralaya) and kept the pot safely on the top of the Mount Meru. But the pot was washed away by the flood and reaches southern India. Then Lord Shiva broke the pot with an arrow, which formed two tanks- Mahamaha Kulam and Potramarai Kulam. The remains of the pot joined together to form Lord Kumbeswarar (called Shiva in the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple). On the name of the broken pot, the place was called Kumbakonam.
You can find thousands of temples in and around the Kumbakonam city. These temples draw a number of tourists in the charm of unique architectural patterns. Adi Kumbheshwarar Temple, Nageswara Swami Temple, Someswarar Temple, Sarangapani Temple, Darasuram Temple etc. are a few major attractions in the city. These are known for their intricate carvings and beautiful sculptures. The city, because of its peaceful ambiance, is a favourite destination among all the religious minded people and history buffs.
Apart from that, the festival of Mahamaham is celebrated every 12 years at the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam.
Flora
Kumbakonam is a green and unpolluted city. The dense green areas of the region are mainly covered by Coconut, Mango and Tamarind trees.
The town became an industrial center during the 19th century. Today, it is a leading player in silk industries and metal manufacturing. You can find good quality silk sarees, brass vessels, lamps, Kuthu Vilakku, Statues, intricately carved panchaloha idols, and betel nuts in the market area.
Accommodation
The city being a popular tourist destination provides a wide array of hotels and resorts ranging from four and three star luxury hotels to the budget/economy class hotels. Most of these hotels are located quite close to the bus stand or the city centre.
By Air: Tiruchirappalli (92 km) is the nearest airport.
By Rail: Tiruchirappalli is the nearest railway station as well, which is directly linked to all the major cities of India.
By Road: Kumbakonam bus stand is well connected to all the cities located in the region.
