Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple (morning) โ Maaligaimedu palace site โ Chola Gangam lake โ lunch in Jayankondam โ Darasuram Airavatesvara temple (evening light) โ Kumbakonam.
๐ Tourism & places to visit
Gangaikonda Cholapuram and other places near Jayankondam.
Land of the Cholas
Jayankondam sits right next to Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the capital Rajendra Chola I built after his victory march to the Ganges โ it ruled South India for about 250 years. Within a short drive are three UNESCO World Heritage temples, a Ramsar bird sanctuary, mangrove forests and some of Tamil Naduโs holiest shrines.
3UNESCO temples nearby
1000+years of Chola history
33places listed
All Navagraha Kumbakonam Temple Heritage Nature Church Spiritual
โ UNESCO World Heritage Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple UNESCO World Heritage temple built by Rajendra Chola I around 1035 CE. ExploreIn & around Jayankondam
Temple
Varatharaja Perumal Temple, Jayankondam
Vishnu temple in Jayankondam town, featured by Tamil Nadu Tourism.
Temple
Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple, Srimushnam
Vishnu temple of Varaha, one of the eight Svayam Vyakta Kshetras.
๐ โ 25 km from Jayankondam
Nature
Chola Gangam (Ponneri) Lake
Large lake created by Rajendra Chola I near his capital, filled with water he is said to have brought from the Ganges.
Heritage
Maaligaimedu (Chola palace site)
Excavation site of the Chola royal palace near Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
Heritage
Lower Anaicut (Anaikarai)
Historic dam and bridge on the Kollidam river, built partly with stones from Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
Day trips (25โ120 km)
Nature
Veeranam Lake
Huge reservoir near Kattumannarkoil that supplies water to Chennai โ lovely at sunset.
๐ โ 30 km from Jayankondam
Church
Elakurichi Adaikala Madha Church
Catholic pilgrimage church built in 1711 by Fr. Constanzo Beschi (Veeramamunivar).
๐ โ 45 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
Ancient Shiva temple of Nataraja, the cosmic dancer.
๐ โ 50 km from Jayankondam
Spiritual
Sathya Gnana Sabha, Vadalur
Hall of True Knowledge founded by Ramalinga Swamigal (Vallalar).
๐ โ 55 km from Jayankondam
โ
Ramsar wetland
Nature
Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary
Ramsar wetland in Ariyalur district that attracts thousands of migratory birds.
๐ โ 60 km from Jayankondam
Nature
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
Boat rides through mangrove canals between the Vellar and Coleroon estuaries.
๐ โ 65 km from Jayankondam
โ
UNESCO World Heritage
Temple
Brihadisvara Temple (Big Temple), Thanjavur
The Thanjavur Big Temple built by Rajaraja Chola I โ a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
๐ โ 85 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
Vast Vishnu temple on an island in the Kaveri at Tiruchirappalli.
๐ โ 110 km from Jayankondam
๐ Kumbakonam โ the temple town (โ45 km)
Kumbakonam on the Kaveri is packed with great temples within a few kilometres of each other โ Shiva, Vishnu and Murugan shrines, the Mahamaham tank, and the UNESCO temple at Darasuram. Also famous for its filter coffee and brass and bronze crafts.
โ
UNESCO World Heritage
Temple
Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram
UNESCO World Heritage Chola temple built by Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century.
๐ โ 45 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
Kumbakonamโs main Shiva temple โ a Paadal Petra Sthalam with four gopurams.
๐ โ 45 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam
Divya Desam of Vishnu on the Kaveri โ one of the Pancharanga Kshetrams.
๐ โ 45 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Mahamaham Tank, Kumbakonam
Huge sacred tank โ scene of the Mahamaham festival held once every 12 years.
๐ โ 45 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Nageswaraswamy Temple, Kumbakonam
Counted as the earliest of all Chola temples โ a Paadal Petra Sthalam.
๐ โ 45 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Ramaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam
Nayak-era Rama temple known for its sculptures and Ramayana murals.
๐ โ 45 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Chakrapani Temple, Kumbakonam
Vishnu as the discus (Chakra), with a third eye like Shiva.
๐ โ 45 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Swamimalai Swaminatha Swamy Temple
Fourth of the six abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan.
๐ โ 35 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Oppiliappan Temple, Thirunageswaram
The 60th Divya Desam, next to the Rahu temple at Thirunageswaram.
๐ โ 35 km from Jayankondam
Temple
Patteeswaram Thenupuriswarar Temple
Paadal Petra Sthalam where Nandi moved aside for Sambandar; known for its Durga shrine.
๐ โ 40 km from Jayankondam
โ๏ธ Sun (Suryan) ยท Sunday
Temple
Suryanar Kovil (Sun)
Navagraha temple of the Sun God near Aduthurai โ the only temple in Tamil Nadu with shrines for all nine planets.
๐ โ 30 km from Jayankondam
๐ Moon (Chandran) ยท Monday
Temple
Thingalur Kailasanathar Temple (Moon)
Navagraha temple of the Moon on the Kumbakonam โ Thiruvaiyaru road.
๐ โ 60 km from Jayankondam
๐ด Mars (Sevvai) ยท Tuesday
Temple
Vaitheeswaran Koil (Mars)
Shiva as Vaidyanathar, the god of healing โ the Navagraha temple of Mars (Sevvai / Angarakan).
๐ โ 50 km from Jayankondam
๐ข Mercury (Budhan) ยท Wednesday
Temple
Thiruvenkadu Swetharanyeswarar Temple (Mercury)
Navagraha temple of Mercury (Budhan) near Sirkazhi; a Paadal Petra Sthalam.
๐ โ 65 km from Jayankondam
๐ก Jupiter (Guru) ยท Thursday
Temple
Alangudi Apatsahayesvarar Temple (Jupiter / Guru)
Guru Sthalam โ Navagraha temple of Jupiter in Valangaiman taluk.
๐ โ 55 km from Jayankondam
โช Venus (Sukran) ยท Friday
Temple
Kanjanur Agniswarar Temple (Venus / Sukran)
Navagraha temple of Venus, 18 km north-east of Kumbakonam.
๐ โ 30 km from Jayankondam
โซ Saturn (Sani) ยท Saturday
Temple
Thirunallar Saniswaran Temple (Saturn)
The famous Saturn (Shani) temple near Karaikal, Puducherry.
๐ โ 75 km from Jayankondam
๐ Rahu
Temple
Thirunageswaram Naganathar Temple (Rahu)
Rahu Sthalam on the outskirts of Kumbakonam.
๐ โ 35 km from Jayankondam
๐ Ketu
Temple
Keelaperumpallam Naganathaswamy Temple (Ketu)
Kethu Sthalam, 2 km from Poompuhar.
๐ โ 70 km from Jayankondam
๐บ๏ธ One-day trip ideas
Day 1: Suryanar Kovil (Sun) โ Kanjanur (Venus) โ Thirunageswaram (Rahu) โ Alangudi (Guru) โ Thingalur (Moon). Day 2: Vaitheeswaran Koil (Mars) โ Thiruvenkadu (Mercury) โ Keelaperumpallam (Ketu) โ Thirunallar (Saturn). Hire a car โ buses between villages are infrequent.
Thillai Nataraja temple, Chidambaram (early) โ Pichavaram mangrove boat ride โ Veeranam Lake for sunset on the way back.
Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary at sunrise (NovโMar) โ Elakurichi Adaikala Madha Church โ Thanjavur Big Temple in the evening.
๐ All places on the map
๐ก Travel tips
- Best season: October to March. Summer afternoons are very hot โ visit temples early morning or evening.
- Most temples close for a few hours around noon (about 12โ4 pm).
- Dress modestly at temples; footwear is left outside. Photography may be restricted inside sanctums.
- Carry water and cash โ small towns may have few ATMs and card machines.
๐งญ How to reach
Jayankondam is about 270 km from Chennai, 45 km from Kumbakonam, 38 km from Ariyalur and 50 km from Chidambaram. Gangaikonda Cholapuram is about 10 km away by road.
See all โFollow Jayankondam updates
News, shop offers, jobs and announcements โ straight to your phone. One tap to join, free.
๐ Living abroad? Stay connected with your hometown.