Soundararajaperumal Temple

Getting there

• By air

  The district tourism page names Trichy Airport as the nearest international airport, 150 km away.

• By train

  Nagapattinam Junction is the town's railway station. The district page says the town is connected by rail, with trains listed for several cities.

• By road

  Roadways are the main way to reach Nagapattinam. State transport and private buses run on the main routes to the town.

Why devotees come here

Soundararajaperumal Temple stands in Nagapattinam, a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to Vishnu, worshipped here as Soundararaja Perumal. The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples praised in the Divya Prabandham.

Legend says Vishnu appeared on the day of Masi Maham on the banks of the Sarapushkarani tank in Nagapattinam. He is worshipped at the temple as Soundararaja Perumal, with his consort Lakshmi known as Soundaravalli. The temple is counted among the 108 Divya Desams.

The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas in the late 8th century. Later additions were made at different times by the Thanjavur Nayaks. The temple follows the Dravidian style. Its five-tiered gateway tower, the rajagopuram, is 90 ft (27 m) tall and stands inside a granite wall, and rectangular walls enclose the temple.

Nagapattinam district was created in 1991, with its headquarters in Nagapattinam city. The district lies on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, 326 km south of Chennai. Along with the Kayarohanaswami Temple, this temple is one of the major Hindu pilgrimage sites of the town.

Festivals

• Chittirai month, March to AprilChariot festival

  The most prominent festival of the temple.

Tips for your visit

• Taxis, auto rickshaws, mini buses and town buses are available in Nagapattinam for getting around locally.
• Look for the five-tiered gateway tower, the rajagopuram, which is 90 ft (27 m) tall and stands inside a granite wall.
• The legend places Vishnu's appearance on the banks of the Sarapushkarani tank, on the day of Masi Maham.

Questions people ask