Tamil Nadu Famous Temples in 2023

Famous Temples in Tamil Nadu include a number of historic shrines, such as the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Brihadeeswarar Temple, Sri Rajagopala Swamy Temple, etc. The state of Tamil Nadu has a rich history, which attracts many tourists from around the world. The famous temples in Tamil Nadu are a reminder of the rich legacy of the state.

Every year, people from all over the world visit Tamil Nadu to experience the spiritual bliss in its temples and shrines. Learn about the famous temples in Tamil Nadu, their history, significance, and much more here.

Famous Temples in Tamil Nadu

The famous temples in Tamil Nadu represent the beautiful culture of the state. The prominent religion in Tamil Nadu was Hinduism for a long time and that reflects in the historic architecture of the state. There are more than 40,000 temples in Tamil Nadu, all of which are equally stunning.

• The Indian state of Tamil Nadu is known as “the land of temples’ because of the huge number of temples in the state.
• The temples in Tamil Nadu were built by rulers of various dynasties and the origins of some of them can be traced back to 800 years old.

Most Popular Temples in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu temples are some of the most intricate, and historical structures in the world. There are thousands of Hindu temples in the state which come with a rich history. Some of the most popular temples in Tamil Nadu are listed below.

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

• Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the most iconic temples in Tamil Nadu.
• Reflecting the great Dravidian architecture, this temple has a number of sub-shrines.
• Sri Ranganathaswamy is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and spreads across 150 acres of land.
• One of the tower gateways of this temple, the ‘RajaGopuram’ is the tallest Gopuram in entire Asia.

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple

• The Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple is among the most famous temples in Tamil Nadu.
• It was built somewhere in the late 7th to 8th century in Southern India.
• The Kanchi Kailasanathar temple is located in the Kanchipuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu.
• This famous Tamil Nadu temple is believed to have been built during the Pallava dynasty.

Ramanathaswamy Temple

• The Ramanathaswamy temple is a treat for the eyes and is popularly known as “God’s Own Temple”.
• This temple in Tamil Nadu is regarded as one of the four holy temples for pilgrims. It is one of the ‘Char Dhams’ in India.
• Moreover, the Ramanathaswamy temple is also among the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
• This famous temple in Tamil Nadu has a rich history and mythology.

Mayuranathaswami Temple

• The Mayuranathaswami temple is located in the Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu.
• This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has an interesting mythological tale.
• This famous temple in Tamil Nadu is known as a holy shrine in which people come in the months of November-December.
• People take a holy dip in the pond there to rid themselves of their sins.

Kapaleeshwarar Temple

• Located in Chennai, in the heart of Tamil Nadu, the Kapaleeshwarar temple is a sight to behold.
• This famous Tamil Nadu temple was built during the 7th century CE under the Pallava dynasty.
• However, the temple structure was rebuilt in the 16th century after being destroyed by the Portuguese.
• This temple in Tamil Nadu is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped in the form of Kapaleeshwarar in this temple.

Oldest Temples in Tamil Nadu

There are a lot of Tamil Nadu temples whose original construction dates back to ancient times. Some of the oldest and most revered temples in the state of Tamil Nadu are listed below.

History of Tamil Nadu Temples

The history of the temples of Tamil Nadu can be traced back to ages ago. Tamil Nadu is among the Indian states with the most number of temples. The Tamil Nadu Hindu Endowments Board manages some of the temples in Tamil Nadu. According to this organization, there are 38, 615 temples in the state.

• Some of the Tamil Nadu temples date back to 3,000 years.
• Besides temples, there are also unique architectures, known as temple tanks in the state. Temple tanks are water reservoirs built nearby temple complexes.
• Some of the most famous temples in Tamil Nadu are dedicated to deities such as Lord Pillaiyar, Lord Shiva, Lord Murugan, Lord Thirumal, etc.

FAQs on Tamil Nadu Temples

Q1. Which is the most famous temple in Tamil Nadu?

There are many famous temples in Tamil Nadu, some of which are the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Brihadeeswarar Temple, Sri Rajagopala Swamy Temple, etc. The history of the temples of Tamil Nadu dates back to centuries ago.

Q2. What is the name of the most famous temple in Tamil Nadu?

The name of the most famous temple in Tamil Nadu is the Ramanathaswamy temple. This temple is extremely popular and is also known as “God’s Own Temple”. It is one of the ‘Char Dhams’ in India and is among the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

Q3. Which is the oldest temple in Tamil Nadu?

Manakula Vinayagar Temple in Pondicherry is among the oldest temples in Tamil Nadu. The Manakula Vinayagar Temple was believed to have been built around 400 CE. Besides this temple, the Karpaka Vinayakar Temple, and the Adi Vinayagar Temple are some of the oldest temples in Tamil Nadu.

Q4. Which are the most powerful temples in Tamil Nadu?

The most powerful temple in Tamilnadu is the Srirangam temple. This is also known as the largest Hindu temple in the world. The Srirangam temple covers an area of around 156 acres. Occupying such a huge space, the Srirangam temple is one of the biggest religious places in the world.

Q5. Which are the famous Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu?

The famous Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu are Agatheeshwarar Temple, Ponneri (Thiruvallur), Nellaiappar Temple (Tirunelveli), Brihadeeswarar Temple (Thanjavur), Arunachaleshwarar Temple (Thiruvannamalai), Thyagaraja Temple (Thiruvarur), etc.

Q6. Which is the famous Murugan temple in Tamil Nadu?

A lot of temples in Tamil Nadu are dedicated to Lord Murugan. Some of the most famous Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu are Swamimalai Murugan Temple (Thanjavur), Tiruttanikai Murugan Temple (Tiruvallur), Marudamalai Subramanya Swamy Temple (Coimbatore), etc.