In and around Karaikal there are many temples (Shiva and Vaishnava) and tourist places.
Apart from the above:
There is a small but beautiful temple in the heart of the town of Karaika belonging to KARAIKAL AMMAIYAR, the only woman out of the 63 Nayanmars.
The traditional temple of LORD SANEESWARA (Saturn) at Thirunallar is just 5 kms., away from Karaikal town. This is the only temple in the town dedicated to Lord Saturn and is well known throughout India.
The Karaikal Sandy Beach is one of the best natural beaches in the South of Tamil Nadu. The beach is easily accessible by means of a 2 Kilometer long road along the Arasalar river and is illumined with Sodium Vapour lamps. In addition to the beach, a boat ride in the Arasalar river, a Children’s Park, chairs meant for sitting along the road, a place to park Vehicles, a Beach Restaurant, a Tennis Court are also provided. TOP
THE FAMOUS PILGRIM/TOURIST CENTRES OF REPUTE AROUND KARAIKAL ARE AS FOLLOWS:
NORTH : Anandamangalam (Hanuman temple), Tharangambadi(Danish
Fort), Thirukkadiyur, Poombukar, Sirkazhi, Chidambaram
NORTH WEST : Mailaduthurai, Vaithiswaran Koil, Sembonnar Koil (Holy temples)
and all the `Navagragasthalngal' are around Karaikal.
WEST : Thirunakeswaram, Uppiliappan Koil, Ayyavadi, Kumbakonam,
Swamimalai, Alangudi, Thirubuvanam, JayamKondam,
Anaikarai, Kangaikonda Cholpuram, and other famous
Navagiraga temples. Moreover, the world famous Thanjai
Brahadeeswarar Temple is just 95 kms. away from Karaikal.
SOUTH WEST : Thirumarugal, Thiruchengattangudi, Thirukkannapuram,
Thirupugazhur, Thiruvarur, Engan, and other famous temples.
SOUTH : Apart from the world famous Basilica of Velankanni Madha
Temple and Nagore Dharga, Nagappatinam, Vedaranyam
and all `Sabdavidangal'-the famous hindu temples are around
Karaikal.
NOTABLE VILLAGES
AKALANKANNU: 9.4 Km. from Karaikal. It is famous for its water-works and temples. The water-works located here serve as the fountainhead bringing water to the people of Karaikal. TOP
KEEZHA KASAKUDY: 4 km. north of Karaikal. The famous Kasakkudi copper plates discovered in this village in 1879 by M.J. Delafon and ascribed to Nandivarman-II throw much light on the high cultural level of the people who lived in this part of the country during the Pallava days. The Siva temple in the village is the principal centre of worship.
MELA KASAKUDY: 7 km. from Karaikal on the Karaikal-Nedungadu road. Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple here, said to belong to the XII century, is protected as an ancient monument. Some of the stone carvings in the temple add to its monumental value.
KOTTUCHERRY: 5.7 km. from North Karaikal. Sri Kodeeswaramudayar temple is the principal place of worship. A statue, a broken kuthuvilakku and some other vessels used for temple workship were unearthed from Perumalkoil maidan in this village on 28-03-1972.
PONBETTI: The name Ponbetti is said to be derived from Ponbattri. It is also regarded as the native place of Ponpattrikavalan Buddhamitran, the author of Veerachozhiam. Interestingly even the Old Siva temple in the village is built in the shape of a Buddha Vihara. TOP
PUTTAKUDI: This village is situated at a distance of about 7 km. from Karaikal. The name suggests its possible early association with Buddhism. A granite statue of Buddha was unearthed in the village. Puthamangalam and Agaraputhakudi are the names of two other villages in the region.
SETTUR: (Agarasethur, Pandaravadai Sethur). 10.9 km. and 11.39 km. respectively from Karaikal-Peralam road. Sri Prathapasimmeswarar temple which may be ascribed to the XIII or XIV century is a notable landmark of Agara Settur village. There are Chola inscriptions in the temple of Sri Prathapasimmeswarar, which is now a protected monument under the care of the ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA.
SORARKKDI: 7.8 km. from Karaikal. Sri Somanathaswamy temple and Sri Lakshminarayana perumal temple are two important landmarks of the village. The discovery of two bronze idols of antique value i.e. Sri Thiripurantaka of about 60 cm height and Thiripurasungari of about 45 cm. height from Periathope near this village seems to confirm its antiquity. The idols can now be viewed in the PONDICHERRY MUSEUM.
THIRUMALARJANPATTINAM: 5.4.km. from Karaikal. This town was built and ruled by Thirumalrayan, the representative of the Vijayanagar ruler. His inscriptions are found at Thiruvanaikkaval, Thanjavur, Papanasam and Pattichuram. Kalamegham served as his court poet.
HINDU TEMPLES
AMBAGARATTUR: Its is the Second largest village at a distance of 13.8 km. west of Karaikal-Peralam road. The famous Bhadrakaliamman temple is worth visiting during the Twelve days of annual festival celebrated during May-June, which attracts many thousands of devotees. The festival is accompanied by a fair catering to the visiting devotees (Thirunallar Commune).
DHARMAPURAM: 1.8 Km. of west of Karaikal. Sri Yazhmurinatheeswarar temple is a famous temple of this village. TOP
KARAIKAL: Sri Uppilamaniar, Sri Kailasanathar, Nitya Kalyanaperumal, Karaikal Ammaiyar, Sri Parvatheeswaraswami Temple (Karaikovilpathu) and Sri Kothandaramaswami are famous temples of this village. The Mangani festival has been said to be celebrated for many centuries in the Karaikal Ammaiyar temple.
KARAIKOVILPATTU: This village is often referred to as THIRUTHELICHERRY in religious legends. This is one of the four places in Karaikal region which was visited by Saint Thirugnanasambandar who sang a ‘pathigam’ in honour of Sri Parvatheeswaraswamy. Surasmaharam, Vijayadasmi, Kadaimuzhukku and Thiruvadhirai are festivals which are celebrated in this village.
KARUKKALACHERRY: 3 Km. from Karaikal. Sri Mariamman and Sri Vella Vinayagamurthi temples are the centers of worship and tourism in the village.
MELA KASAKUDY: 7 km. from Karaikal on the Karaikal-Nedungadu road. Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple, said to belong to the XII century, is protected as an ancient monument. Some of the stone carvings in the temple add to its monumental value. The Vaikunda Ekadesi and Masi Magam festivals are famous occasions in this village. Thiruvathirai, Chithirai Pournami and Masi Magam festivals are celebrated in Sri Naganathaswamy temple.
KOTTUCHERRY: 5.7 km. from North Karaikal Sri Kodeeswaramudayar temple is the principal place of worship in this village. A statue, a broken kuthuvilakku and some other vessels used for temple workship were enearthed from Perumalkoil maidan in this village.
KURUMBAGARAM: Sri Lakshminarayanaperumal temple is the principal centre of worship where Vaikunta Ekadesi is celebrated. This village lies at a distance of 11.215 km from west of Karaikal. (Nedungadu Commune) TOP
NALLAMBAL: 12.3 km. from Karaikal on the Peralam road. Sri Tantonreeswarar temple ascribed to the Chola period is an important landmark in the village. The outer walls of the temple carry many inscriptions, which do not appear to have been published so far. There are also a few exquisitely carved granite statues inthe temple.
NEDUNGADU: 10.3 km. from Karaikal. The most sensational find of bronze images in the Territory was reported from this village in 1948. They included the images of Pillaiyar, Manickavasagar, Thirugnanasambandar, Skandan, Uma, Jnanasakti (a pair), Sivakamasundari, dancing Siva (Anandatandavam) besides a trident, a Conche, a pair of sandals, a copper tripod and a plate. The Siva (Sri Tantonreeswarar) temple in the village was declared as a protected monument in 1971. The Thiruvadhirai festival in the Sivan temple and the annual festival at Sri Mariamman temple attract a large number of devotees.
NIRAVI: 5.3 km from south of Karaikal. The village is noted for its temple of Sri Jambunathaswamy claimed to be about 300 years old. The thiruvathirai (December-January) and thirukkarthigai festivals (November -December) are celebrated in this temple. Vaikunta Ekadesi is celebrated during December-January in the Kariamanickaperumal Temple.
ODUTHURAI: The annual festival celebrated in Sri Kaliamman temple.
SERUMAVILANGAI: 9.65 km from Karaikal. Sri Kailasanathar temple is the most important landmark here.
SORARKKDI: 7.8 km. from Karaikal. Sri Somanathaswamy temple and Sri Lakshminarayana perumal temple are two important landmarks of the village. The discovery of two bronze idols of antique value i.e. Sri Thiripurantaka of about 60 cm height and Thiripurasungari of about 45 cm. height from Periathope near this village seems to confirm its antiquity. The idols are now in the Pondicherry Museum.
THALATHERU: 4.6 km. north of Karaikal. Sri Sivalaganathaswamy temple is the centre of worship where the celebration of the annual festival and masi magam evokes some popular interest.
THIRUMALARJANPATTINAM: 5.4.km. from Karaikal. The representative of the Vijayanagar ruler Thirumalrayan built this town and reigned. His inscriptions are found at Thiruvanaikkaval, Thanjavur, Papanasam and Pattichuram. Poet Kalamegham served as court poet.
JADAYUPUREESWARAR TEMPLE is said to be the oldest. Masimagam is the most important. Scenes from Ramayana are re-enacted with the help of wooden images during masi (February-March) festival. The temples of SRI ABIRAMIAMMAN, SRI RAGUNATHAPERUMAL, SRI VENKATESPERUMAL, SRI VIZHI VARADARAJAPERUMAL and SRI KAMAKSHIAMMAN are the other important places of worship inthe village. SRI AAYIRAM (THOUSAND) KALIAMMAN KOIL is another important famous temple. Once in every five year the pooja with 1000 items of each articles is attracts devotees comming for from over Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry. TOP
THIRUVETTAKUDI: 9.9 km. north of Karaikal. Sri Thirumeniazhagarswamy temple with its 45 feet tall gopuram is the most iimportant landmark of the village. The presiding deity of the east facing temple is Lord Siva, known here as Sundareswarar and his consort Soundarya-nayagi. To the left of the prakaram is the shrine of Lord Ganesh and to the right are the shrines of Chandikeswarar, Durgai, Ayyanar, Soorya and Chandra. At the centre of the prakaram is the mahamandapam, fromwhere one may have a view of the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord in the form a Lingam. Behind the sanctum sanctorum may be seen the shrines of Lord Subramaniar, Punnaivana-nathar and Mahalakshmi. The glory of the presiding deities of the temple has been sung by such great Saivite Saints as Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasar.
THIRUNALLAR: 5 km. west of Karaikal. A Stalapurana published about this village. However, it is of interest to note that a granite statue of Buddha was discovered from a site belonging to Darbaranyeswarar temple in 1966. The place is otherwise famous because of the DARBARANYESWARAR TEMPLE situated. The one-piece emerald idol of the deity here is claimed to be the largest of its kind in the country, while the image of Thiagar here is believed to be the outcome of divine handiwork; Hence it is also known as one of the `Sabthavidangal'. SANI PEYARCHI festival is celebrated on a grand scale once every two and a half years attracts devotees from all over the country.
VANJIUR: The Rangayyasami Madam is situated in this village.
VIZHIDIUR: 9.20 km. east of Karaikal. Sri Vizhinadhaswamy (Siva) temple, said to belong to the Chola period, a monument of some importance which is dedicated to Lord Siva known as Vizhiandhaswamy and his consort Sri Vimalambigai. Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple in the village is another important landmark of the temple. This temple, said to belong to the Chola period is noted also for its stone carvings.PLACES OF INTEREST (MUSLIMS)
KARAIKAL: The Kandoori festival in the Karaikal durgha is the most important. The festival is celebrated in honour of Syed Dawood, the muslim saint born at Bukkara, the capital of Turkistan. He came to India in search of his spiritual guide Halareth Syed Ahamed Kalkhel Diwan Oliulla of Trichirapalli, spent his last years in Karaikal and passed away on 24-02-1829 (i.e 1244 of the Muslim era) at the ripe age of 120 years. The body was entombed in the durgha at Karaikal where the annual Kandoori festival is celebrated. The festival, which is marked by processions, music, and dance, is brought to a finale with an elaborate display of fire-works.
PLACES OF INTEREST (CHRISTIAN)
KARAIKAL: The church of Our Lady of Angels built in 1891 is the chief place of worship for Catholics in the town. The ‘Tettaravu Madha’ festival is celebrated on the 15 of August every year. The festival commences with the flag hoisting ceremony on the 6 th August. On the 10th day, the statue of the Blessed Virgin, mounted on a beautifully decorated car, is taken out in procession along the main streets surrounding the church.
MELAKASAKUDI: One Roman Catholic Church is here.
ODUTHURAI: The naming festival of Child Jesus in St. Antony's Church is important for the villagers.
