Kumbakonam Temple Guide
Navagraha Temples Kumbakonam — Full Tour Guide
All nine Navagraha temples sit within about 60–90 km of Kumbakonam, which makes the town the standard base for planning the full circuit. Here's the temple list in order, what each one is known for, and how to plan a one-day or two-day trip around them.
About the Kumbakonam Navagraha Temples
Navagraha means "nine planets" — nava (nine) and graha (planet) — though it's really seven celestial bodies plus Rahu and Ketu, the two shadow points used in Vedic astrology to complete the nine. In a birth chart, each graha's position at the time of birth is read to understand a person's tendencies and upcoming periods, and pariharam (remedial worship) at the graha's temple is a traditional response to a difficult placement.
What makes Kumbakonam unusual is geography: all nine Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu happen to sit within a short radius of the town, so a pilgrimage that would otherwise mean crossing the state can be done as a single regional trip.
The 9 Navagraha Temples — List, Deity & Distance
1
Surya (Sun)
Suryanar Kovil
Suryanar Kovil village · ~20 km from Kumbakonam
Suryanar, with consorts Usha Devi and Pratyusha Devi
The only one of the nine temples with shrines to all nine planetary deities under one roof, which makes it a natural starting point for the circuit. The current stone structure dates to the Chola king Kulottunga I in the 11th century, with a five-tier gateway tower added later during the Vijayanagar period. Rituals run six times a day, from early morning to around 9 p.m.
2
Chandra (Moon)
Chandiranaar Temple (Kailasanathar Temple)
Thingalur, on the Kumbakonam–Thiruvaiyaru road · ~33 km from Kumbakonam
Chandra (Moon), with the main sanctum devoted to Shiva as Kailasanathar
Known locally for a first-rice-feeding ceremony performed for infants. Its main festivals fall on Mahashivratri, Margazhi Thiruvadirai, Panguni Uthiram and Thirukarthigai.
3
Angaraka / Sevvai (Mars)
Vaitheeswaran Kovil
Vaitheeswaran Kovil, near Sirkazhi · ~70 km from Kumbakonam
Shiva as Vaidyanathar, the "god of healing"
Devotees associate this temple with healing, and its Siddhamirtham tank is considered sacred for the same reason. The village is also a center of Naadi (palm-leaf) astrology. It's one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, temples named in the 7th-century Tevaram hymns.
4
Budha (Mercury)
Swetharanyeswarar Temple
Thiruvenkadu, Nagapattinam district · ~55 km from Kumbakonam
Shiva as Swetharanyeswarar, with consort Brahmavidyambigai
Entered through a seven-tier gateway tower, with three temple tanks inside its granite-walled complex. Chitra Pournami and the Aani Thirumanjanam festival (June–July) are its two biggest annual events.
5
Guru / Brihaspati (Jupiter)
Apatsahayesvarar Temple
Alangudi, Tiruvarur district · ~30 km from Kumbakonam
Shiva as Apathsahyesvarar, with consort Tribuvananayagi
Originally built under the Cholas and rebuilt in its present masonry form by the Nayaks in the 16th century. Its main Brahmotsavam festival is held during Chittirai (April–May).
6
Sukra (Venus)
Agniswarar Temple
Kanjanur · ~18 km from Kumbakonam
Shiva as Agniswarar; Sukra is worshiped as residing within the main idol
Popularly visited by couples praying for a spouse's wellbeing, long life and prosperity — the traditional attributes associated with Venus.
7
Sani (Saturn)
Tirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar Temple (Saniswaran Temple)
Tirunallar, Karaikal district · ~90 km from Kumbakonam
Shiva as Dharbaranyeswarar, with a dedicated Saturn shrine
The best-known of the nine among Saturn devotees specifically, and also a Paadal Petra Sthalam named in the hymns of Appar, Sundarar and Sambandhar.
8
Rahu
Tirunageswaram Naganathar Temple
Tirunageswaram, on the outskirts of Kumbakonam · ~8 km from Kumbakonam
Shiva as Naganathar, with consort Piraisoodi Amman
The closest of the nine to town, with four gateway towers and an ornamental entrance hall from the Nayak period. Rituals run twelve times a year on its festival calendar, more than any of the other eight.
9
Ketu
Naganatha Swamy Temple
Keezhaperumpallam, near Poompuhar · ~85 km from Kumbakonam
Shiva as Naganatha Swamy, with a dedicated Ketu shrine
The last stop on most circuits, close to the coast at Poompuhar, with a two-tier tower and two enclosing precincts.
Planning a Navagraha Tour from Kumbakonam
Two things drive how you should plan this trip: how many days you have, and whether you're going by bus or by hired car.
By TNSTC bus
TNSTC and local operators run tour packages covering all nine temples, usually spread over two days since public bus routes between the farther temples (Vaitheeswaran Kovil, Tirunallar, Keezhaperumpallam) don't connect as directly as a private vehicle would. Timings and current package pricing change often enough that it's worth confirming directly at the Kumbakonam TNSTC bus stand before you go, rather than trusting a number printed somewhere online.
By private taxi
A hired taxi covering all nine in one long day is possible if you start early — most drivers in Kumbakonam who specialize in this route can plan the sequence for you based on that day's road conditions. It costs more than the bus option but removes the waiting between stops.
Suggested grouping, not a fixed order
There's no single mandated visiting order — pariharam can be done at each temple independently of the others. In practice, most tours just cluster the geographically close temples together (Suryanar Kovil, Tirunageswaram, and Kanjanur sit close to Kumbakonam itself; Thingalur and Alangudi are a short additional loop; Vaitheeswaran Kovil, Thiruvenkadu, Tirunallar and Keezhaperumpallam sit further out toward the coast) to cut down on backtracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Navagraha temples are there, and are they all near Kumbakonam?
Nine. Between the seven classical planets and Rahu and Ketu (the two shadow points used in Vedic astrology), all nine have dedicated temples within roughly 60–90 km of Kumbakonam — which is why the town is the natural base for the full circuit.
Can the Navagraha temple tour be done in one day?
It's tight but doable with a hired car or taxi that goes directly between temples, starting early. Doing it by public bus in a single day is difficult given how spread out Vaitheeswaran Kovil, Tirunallar and Keezhaperumpallam are relative to the others — most visitors going by TNSTC bus plan on two days.
What's the usual order to visit the nine temples?
There's no single mandated order — pariharam (remedial worship) can be performed at each temple independently. Most tours simply group temples that are geographically close together to cut down on travel time, rather than following a fixed sequence.
TNSTC bus timings and tour packages — where do I check?
Bus schedules and package pricing change often enough that we'd rather point you to a current source than print a number that's gone stale by the time you read it: check directly with the Kumbakonam TNSTC bus stand or a local travel agent for same-week timings and rates.
Is a private taxi or a TNSTC bus tour better for this route?
A private taxi costs more but lets you set your own pace and skip the wait between stops — worth it if you're short on time. A TNSTC or private bus tour is cheaper and simpler to book if you're not in a hurry and don't mind a fixed schedule.
Planning your visit around a birth chart reading?
கும்பகோணம் ஆஸ்ட்ரோ prepares a personalized horoscope report from your birth date, time and place — useful if you want to know which graha's temple matters most for you before you go.
உங்கள் ஜாதகத்தைப்பெறுங்கள்