Chidambram Tourism

Chidambram Tourism A beautiful temple town in the eastern part ofTamil Nadu,Chidambaramis famous for housing the marvelous Lord Nataraja Temple and a few others which highlight its importance as a special place of pilgrim. If one desires to see the heritage, glorious history, rich cultures, diversity, traditions and festivals and the revered devotion of Hinduism, one must visit Chidambaram. Situated 250 km fromChennaiin the Cuddalore district of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram has been a place of architectural glory and religious importance since antiquity. The town with a populace of just about 90,000 people is famous for its many temples which are a marvellous rendition of the Dravidian style of architecture and a beautiful representation of Dravidian culture. Among these is the famous Nataraja Temple which is devoted to Lord Shiva's cosmic dance battle with Goddess Kali in the Hindu Mythology. The town is a wonderful place to be at and explore the historical past of Southern India. Download Chidambram PDF Guide > What's Great? Excellent for religious tourism and to explore the culture of Tamil Nadu. Engage with the tight-knit community and unravel the secrets of Dravida architecture What's not so Great? Not easy to reach since it is at least 4 hours away from a metro city. Not many options for accommodation.  For Whom Chidambram is the perfect spot if you want to immerse yourself in the ancient architecture of the temples of South India. It is also a must visit for those who want to study Dravida architecture as well as wildlife enthusiasts who can enjoy the mangrove forests and backwaters near the city. 

The Temple Town of Chidambram Chidambram is famous for the many temples that have been built here at different points in history. The evolution of the southern style of architecture - the Dravida style - can be brilliantly traced by observing these temples. The Thillai Nataraja Temple is one of the holiest sites for Shiva worshippers and is also one of the grandest and best-preserved temples in India. The temple complex also consists of a lake, large pillared halls and many shrines to Shiva and other deities. Many prominent kings from the Chola period onwards have made generous donations to this temple, and to this day, it is one of the richest temples in India. The Thillai Kali Amman Temple and Tirunallurpperumanam Temple are the other two prominent religious structures of this town. Pichivaram Forest and Backwaters The unique geographical location of Chidambram makes it home to many mangrove forests. Since the city is located at the confluence of many rivers with the Bay of Bengal, the two estuaries that form as a result - Vellar and Coleroon - host a large number of unique birds and animals. This forested area is known as the Pichivaram mangrove and is the second largest mangrove forest in the world after the Sundarbans. Very close by is the Pichivaram dam and the backwaters are a favourite spot for bird watching among locals and tourists alike. Other water sports like kayaking, canoeing and boating have been developed here, and there are over 400 boating routes that run through the heart of the mangroves.

One Day Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Chidambram by road or rail and take the morning off to explore the city and familiarise yourself with its sights and sounds. After a sumptuous lunch in one of the many small restaurants, proceed to the Tirunallurpperumanam Temple located near the city centre. Close to this temple is a few more like the Tiruvetkalam Temple, Chathapurinathar Temple and Thillai Kali Amman Temple. All of these temples are very close by, and you can visit each one of then at your own pace while enjoying the walk through the city. Day 2:Leave for the Thillai Natarajan temple located a kilometre away from the train station. Since the complex is huge and mostly involves walking, a substantial breakfast before leaving is a must. Relax by the side of the lake within the temple complex and marvel at the large intricately carved pillared halls. The roof of this temple (the vimana) was originally made of gold, though it has now been similarly painted. To fully explore the temple, you will need a minimum of three hours. Day 3:Leave early for the Pichivaram Mangrove Forest and backwaters. After reaching, you can choose from a broad range of activities like boating, kayaking, bird watching or taking a cruise down the rivulets. Be sure to check the tidal chart since the landscape can change dramatically depending on the time of day. For water sports, high tide is an ideal time, but the lower tide is preferable for bird watching and to get a chance to spot some larger animals like deer. 

Restaurants and Local Food in Chidambram Chidambaram is a place for feasting on some delightful Tamil cuisines such as idli, dosai, vadai and others. One can find both veg and non-veg platters, but most restaurants serve vegetarian food. View 4 Restaurants in Chidambram >>

Oct-Janis the best time to visit Chidambram Chidambram is located near the coast of the Bay of Bengal and so has a moderate climate throughout the year. Monsoon is not a distinct season, and there is some rainfall throughout the year. The maximum temperature is 33 degrees Celcius and the minimum ranges around 23 degrees Celcius. Winter is the best season to visit this city, but summers are also popular with tourists.  Weather in Chidambram Loading... Chidambram in Summer (March - June) Summer in this city lasts from March to June, and the temperature ranges between 27 and 37 degrees Celcius. There is intermittent rainfall because of the proximity to the ocean, but this does not hamper tourism in any major way. Summer months also see a lot of crowds since it coincides with the holiday season in India. Chidambram in Monsoon (July - September) Monsoon arrives late in Chidambram, and it receives the maximum amount of rainfall in the months of October to December with August and September also being rainy months. The rainfall in this region is below the state average but is enough to sustain the plentiful forests around the city. Chidambram in Winter (November - March) Winter overlaps with the monsoon in this region and lasts from November to March. January and February are the driest months and so are ideal for tourism because of the low temperature and no rainfall. The temperature ranges between 21 and 28 degrees Celsius and is very pleasant. However, since this season is very popular with all tourists, it is advisable to book all travel and living arrangements in advance.  Monthly Weather in Chidambram Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 22 30 February 21 32 March 25 35 April 28 38 May 28 38 June 28 38 July 27 35 August 27 36 September 26 35 October 26 34 November 24 32 December 22 30