ABOUT KUMBAKONAM

Kumbakonam is one of the ancient town in asian continent is located at Tamilnadu state in India. Tamilnadu is the one of the state is familiar for Industry , Trades, Cultures and temples . In this way KANCHIPURAM and TANJORE DISTRICT are very famous for temples and sculptures. Kumbakonam is called Temple Town. There are so many Saivaites and Vaishnavaites temples in and around the town.Kumbakonam is one of the oldest places in South India and was the capital of the Chola kings in the 7th century. It is 350km south of Chennai, 70km southwest of Chidambaram, and 40km northeast of Thanjavur. The rivers Kaveri (Cauvery) and Arasalar flow on the two sides of Kumbakonam. From the capital of Tamilnadu (CHENNAI), Kumbakonam is 273 kms distance on the southern side by BUS route and RAIL route. We have to reach this place within Six Hours. For visitors convenience there are so many Star Hotels and Lodges available in this town. There are about 18 temples in the center of town dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva. There is also a Rare Brahma temple here. The Sarangapani Temple is one of the most important Vishnu temples in South India. Some beleifs like Kumbakonam is named after Kumbakarna, the brother of Ravana. In another way wherever angle (Konam in tamil) we look we can see a "Kumbam"(Pot on Temple Vimana) thats why its named as "KUMBA"KONAM". Under Chola kingdom the following places are to introduce very familiar to the World 1.Thanjavur, 2.Uraiyur, 3.Kudanthai . There are so many Urchavas celebrated by temples through out the year. MasiMagam is celebrated in the tamil calendar month of "MASI" and "MAHAMAHAM" is celebrated once in twelve years. Lastly in the year 1992 MAHAMAHAM festival is celebrated. This town is also named TAMILNADU CAMBRIDGE. Here there are so many colleges and they bring the above mentioned scholars to the World In olden days KUMBAKONAM is known as "THIRUKUDANTHAI" and "KUDAMOOKU". Kumbakonam is the heart of Tanjore district. Kumbakonam is a big town and familiar for business, production of Cotton and Silk Sarees, Brass Vessels, Gold Ornaments, Arts and Sculptures. The greatest Mathematician Ramanujam , Sir C.B.Ramaswamy Iyer, Advocate Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, U.V.Swamynadha Iyer, Srinivasa Sastriyar and Narayana Swamy Iyer are born in this town.

Mahamaham Tank
A major festival is held at the sacred Mahamakam Tank once every 12 years, on the full moon day in the month of Magh (Jan/Feb), when Jupiter passes over Leo. At this time the waters of the Ganges, Yamuna, and seven other sacred rivers (Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Narmada, Saraswati, Tungabhadra, and Sarayu) are supposed to flow into the tank. As many as two million people came in February 2004. The next major festival is in 2016.

Every year there is a smaller festival in the month of Magh, when the image of Lord Kumbeswara is taken on procession. The tank covers an area of 20 acres and is by the railway station.

Information
The Indian Bank and State Bank are opposite each other on TSR Big St, ICICI Bank, Canara Bank, Indian Overseas bank, KMBF, City Union Bank, Karur Vysya bank and ATM's are available around the town. To Change Foreign currency Western union money Transfer is available. The post office is on Head Post Office Rd, near the Mahamakam Tank. There is a place to hire a bicycle near Bus Stand, opposite to the New Diamond Lodge, Nageswaran North St. The town is a little spread out, but most of the temples are within walking distance of each other. All the temples in Kumbakonam are closed between 12.30pm and 4.30 pm.

NOTE

Some of the temples have impressive jewelry collections, which often can be seen for a donation.

Hospitals Govt.Hospital, S.T Hospital, Sugam Hospital, Saradha Clinic,Vasan Eye care, Agarwal Clinic and lot of General, Child, Eye, Ortho, Dental Specialised Clinics spread around the streets of Kumbakonam. Schools

T.H.S.S, L.F.H.S, Banadurai, Saraswathi Padasala, St.Joseph, St.Annes, Holy Angel, A.R.R.Matric, Morning Star, Christ the King, Aringar Anna, Shri Matha, Al-Ameen and lot of Nursery schools available. Colleges
Govt.Mens, Govt Womens,Shastra University, Alagappa University,Arasu Engg , Mass Group Colleges, Idhaya College, Annai arts College, Govt. Fine arts college

Where to Stay
New Diamond Lodge , 93 Nageswaran North St, has clean rooms. Chellam Lodge , nearby at 57 Ayikulam Rd, has clean rooms . Pandiyan Lodge , 52 Sarangapani East St, has clean rooms . PRV Lodge, 32, Head Post Office Rd, has rooms with or without A/C. Kasi Towers, 140 TSR Big Street, by the Hotel AAR, has basic rooms and A/C rooms. Femina Lodge , 8 Head Post Office Rd, has clean double rooms with bath . Sterling Near Swamimalai. Le-Garden 3 star hotel. Hotel Rayas. Hotel Tamil Nadu (30422), Poompuhar Rd, nears the Art College, north of town. Hotel ARR, (21234), 21 TSR Big Street, is a good place with rooms. Lot of mini lodges spread around....

Where to Eat
Arul Restaurant, Sarangapani East St, opposite the Pandiyan Lodge, is a good vegetarian. PRV Lodge, 52 Sarangapani East St, has a good, cheap vegetarian restaurant. Hotel ARR has a vegetarian restaurant along with a non-vegetarian restaurant. Hotel Rayas has a Veg and Non-Veg restaurant. Hotel Athitya (421-794), 11-12 Thanjavur Main Road, is in a quiet part of town. Lot of Medium Class hotels and Teashops available all over the town.

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Travel

Kumbakonam is on the bank of the Kaveri River, 68km southwest of Chidambaram and 311km south of Chennai.

Air: Trichirapalli is the nearest airport from Kumbakonam. From Trichy it will take 2.5 hrs drive to reach the town,But road and rairoute well connected with Chennai even we started down from chennai. Train :- The railway station is just east of the Mahamakam Tank, about 2km from the main temple area. There are trains to Chennai (8 hr, 4 daily), Chengalpattu (6 hr), Tiruchirappalli (3 daily), Chidambaram, and Thanjavur (3 daily). There is a good train to Chennai at about 8.30 am which takes about 8 hours. Train route Presently under renovation

to make as broad gauge directly from Chennai.

Bus :- The bus station is north of the Mahamakam Tank, southeast of the center of town, about a ten-minute auto-rickshaw ride from the main temple area. There are regular buses to Chidambaram(15 min once), Pondicherry, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli (5 min once), Chennai (7 hr),Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,Ernakulam and Bangalore. Buses depart to Papanasam ,Ayyampettai,Thanjavur via Darasuram every few minutes. Area Population Altitude Temperature (Summer) Temperature (Winter Rainfall No.of.Streets Length of Streets Length of Water mains Length of Sewer Length of Open drains No.of Public Fountains No.of Assessed Houses No.of Water Supply Service Connection No.of Metered Service Connection No.of OHTs No.of Staff for Water supply works No.of Vehicles for Garbage Collection No.of Mechanised Vehicles No.of Sanitary Staff No.of Area of Dumping / Compost Yard No.of Street Lights No.of Parks No.of Schools No.of Maternity Hospitals No.of Other Hospitals/Dispensaries 12.58 sq. kms. 1,40,021 (2001 census) 59 meters Max. 36.6c / Min. 32.5c Max. 23,5c / Min. 22.8c 111.37 mm average 544 120 Km 110 Km 23Km 41Km 715 19854 9477 158 10 28 25 25 458 4145 2 44 3 25

No.of Noon Meal Centres Total Revenue Collected (1999-2000) Total Expenditure year 1999-2000 STD Code ISD Code

52 35725243 107825075 0435 +91

Kumbakonam is one of the oldest towns in Tamilnadu and is famous for its Mahamaham festival. In the 7th Century it was the Capital of Chola Kings. Kumbakonam, the famous temple town of South India, is picturesquely located amidst the two rivers, Cauvery & Arasalar.

Kumbakonam is the temple city of South India situated in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. The city is famous for the Mahamaham festival that is celebrated once in 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in the heart of it. The town has also been well - known for its prestigious educational institutions which have turned out eminent stalwarts in diverse spheres. The town is famous for brass vessels. It is primarily a market town for the predominantly agriculture based villages surrounding it. Betel leaves are cultivated more in Kumbakonam since it is also called as Kumbakonam Vettrilai (in Tamil). Kumbakonam is a busy, dusty commercial centre, nestled along the Cauvery River some 37 Kms northeast of Thanjavur. Dozens of temples are scattered around the town and this is a good base to visit the superb Chola temples nearby, or to head east to the coastal towns of the Cauvery Delta.