Tirunelveli - Places to visit
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Tirunelveli - Places to visit
Papanasam (42 Kms)
This holy place is one the western ghat of Pothigai Hills. It is close to the Papanasam Falls, on the banks of the Thamiraparani river where Siva and Parvathi appeared before the great saint Agasthiya. Hence the falls is popularly called the "Agasthiya Falls". To commemorate the visit of the divine couple, the Agasthiya temple was built here.
Kalakkadu (47 Kms)
This name i very popular among botanists and ornithologists for its sanctuary which has a great variety of fauna and bird life. Among the animals that roam here are tiger, panther, jackal and wild dogs while reptile population includes cobra, phthon and several other snakes. The lion - tailed monkey can be spotted a Kalakad Sanctuary. The best season to visit this sanctuary is between March and September. It is Lion tailed macaque preserve. Kudirai Mozhitheri is natural spring which is 12 Kms from Tiruchendur, Nanguneri is famous for tis Thothadri temple.
Tenkasi (53 Kms)
The name itself implies that this town is "Kasi (Varanasi) of the South'. The flag staff of the temple is noteworthy for its sculptural beauty and is 400 years old.
Manapad ( 70 Kms)
Holy Cross Church at Manapad is an ancient one. It was built in the year 1581. The church is associated with St.Francis Xavier.
Srivaikuntam (37 Kms)
Srivaikuntam is famous for the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu known as Srivaikuntapathi Swami with a lofty gopuram. The Thiruvengada Mudliyar Mandapam is rich with sculptures of Yallis, Elephants and Warriors. The Ekadasi Mandapam contains exquisite sculptures. During the conflicting days between the East India Company forces and Kattabomman, this temple served as a fort. The Kailasanathaswamy temple is an another important temple. It contains six inscriptions of the times of Veera Pandiya Kattabomman.
Ambasamudram (38 km)
A small town (a.k.a Ambai) in the foothills of Western Ghats is one of the five taluk headquarters of the district. Ambasamudram serves as the main transit point for Papanasam, Manimuthar, Courtallam and for Sabarimala devotees going through Shengottai. Situated in the banks of the perennial river Tamirabarani, it is one of the most pristine and fertile towns of the district. The town is famous for its Wooden Handicrafts (Kadasal). There is not much industrial presence in the town except for an ailing Madura Coats.
Deivacheyalpuram (21 km)
Deivacheyalpuram is a small village situated at 21 km from Tirunelveli enroute to Thoothukudi. The Rajarajeswari temple and the Ramar temple are situated here. Also a 75 foot statue of Lord Anjaneya constructed in the temple premises, to attain world peace, is here. Poojas are performed in these temples everyday with special poojas performed every Fridays and on festivals. On every full moon day, the temple conducts Annadanam (free food to the poor).
Krishnapuram (13 kms)
The temple in Krishnapuram is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The presiding deity is Thiruvenkatanathar. There are a number of life - size sculptures in this temple with intricate workmanship.
Manapad (70 km)
The Holy Cross Church at Manapad was built in 1581. Thousands of worshippers congregate during the festival season from 1st to 14th September every year. The church is associated with St. Francis Xavier.
Sankarankovil (54 km)
Temple depicts the concept of Hari and Haran being one God. There is a deity by the name Sankara Narayanan, which is half Lord Shiva and the other half Lord Vishnu. Also, there is another deity,named Gomathi Ambal. There is a sacred sand available in Gomathi Ambal temple, which is believed to cure the diseases. There is a famous festival Adi Thabasu in the month of June which is observed in this temple. Sankaranainarkoil, commonly called as Sankarankoil is a town well connected with Tirunelveli and other parts of the district with good bus facilities. The Lingam in this temple is the personification of earth. This temple was built by Ukirapandiar who ruled this area in the early part of the 11th century A.D. It was his daily routine to go to Madurai on elephant's back to worship Lord Somasundarar and Meenakshi.
On one particular day his elephant dug a pit with its trunk, fell and rolled over the earth, and refused to move further. Manikreevan one of the king's watchmen rushed to him and informed about a Siva lingam and a Cobra coiling on it in Punnai forest. When the king came there to witness this an oracle was heard at that time which instructed the Pandiya king to construct a temple and worship him with utmost devotion which the king obliged. Ugra Pandyan constructed a temple and worshiped the deity. Nagasunai, the most sacred one is said to have been dug by two serpent king Sankan and Padman. There is a belief among the people that the dip in this holy water will cure all the diseases. Similarly the earth from the ant hill is also said to have great medicinal value and is said to cure skin diseases.
Sankaranainarkoil & Adi Thapasu Festival
Sri Gomathi Ambal did Thapas at Punnai kshetra and Lord Shiva gave Her darshan as Sankaranarayanaswamy on the Uthirada day in the month of Adi (June-August) and thereby indicating that God Shiva and God Vishnu are same. Further to prove this theory, it is also said that Sankaranarayanasami gave darshan to Sankan and Padman. It is in practice to make the psychiatric patients, or those suffering from diseases and persons believed to have been haunted by evil spirits, to sit on Sri Chakra peetam, in front of Goddess Gomathi Amman continuously for 40 days so that they could be cured.
Nanguneri(31 km)
temple town siutated 31 km south of Thirunelvei famous for the large Vishnu temple. The prime deity in the temple is Thotathri Nathan. The temple is run by the Vanamamalai mutt and houses the famous Ennai Kenaru (oil well). Nanguneri is the taluk headquarters and has a considerably large railway station. The town also has a Lord Shiva temple.There is a naval base name VIJAYA NARAYANA PURAM which is 21 miles from here.
Mukkudal (20 km)
This temple village situated 20 km west of Tirunelveli famous for the large Muthumalai Amman Temple. This Village is famous for its Beedi Industries and Tamirabarani river.
Manjolai - Hill Station
Manjolai is 57 km away from Tirunelveli and is at an elevation of 1162 sq. metre. There are many tea plantations in and around this place. Bombay Burma Tea estate is famous one in this area. About 4000 people are working in these tea plantations. Manjolai is noteworthy for the climate, scenery and calm atmosphere. This place can easily be compared with Udhagamandalam, the queen of Hill stations as far as the pleasing climate and peaceful natural atmosphere are concerned. Just above Manjolai, there are places like Kakkachi and Nalumukka which are real gifts of the nature. On the way to Manjolai from Manimuthar there is a very beautiful place called Dasan Pool with plenty of fresh water, greens and fine climate.
Tirunelveli - Places to visit
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