About Kumbakonam | Facts | History | Best Places To Visit
In this article, we provide detailed information about the geography, history, population, and top tourist attractions of Kumbakonam. Kumbakonam, a small town in Tamil Nadu, is often called the “Temple Town” because of its rich heritage and the abundance of beautiful, ancient temples. The town also holds an important place in Tamil history and is famous for its traditional art, dance, and cuisine. Kumbakonam is also famous for its vibrant festivals, delicious traditional food, and the iconic Kumbakonam Degree Coffee—a must-try for coffee lovers. With its spiritual vibe and timeless charm, Kumbakonam offers a peaceful retreat into India’s rich cultural and religious past.
| About: | Kumbakonam, also known as Coombaconum or Combaconum, also called Kudanthai, is a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Thanjavur district. Geographically, it is located 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Thanjavur and 282 kilometers (175 miles) from Chennai. It acts as the administrative center for the Kumbakonam taluk in the Thanjavur district. Population-wise, it is the second largest city in the district after Thanjavur. The city is bounded on the north by the river Kaveri and, on the south, Arasalar River. Kumbakonam is often called the “Temple town” because the number of temples here in abundance and is renowned for a Mahamaham festival, which takes place only once in 12 years, attracting people from various parts of the country. |
| History: | Kumbakonam was ruled by some major dynasties such as Cholas, Pallavas, Pandayas, Vijayanagar Empire, Madurai Nayaks, Thanjavur Nayaks and Thanjavur Marathas. It had great importance during Chola Dynasty and served as its capital during medieval period. Kumbakonam started growing during the British Rule and became the centre of European education and Hindu culture. It was considered as the “Cambridge of South India”. Kumbakonam was conquered by East India Company in 1799 and it helped it to promote the trade. After independence, this town grew very well, but due to some lack of infrastructure facilities its growth declined. But now the town is developing and tourism and trade are growing here. |
| Geography: | Kumbakonam is located at 10.97°N 79.42°E and has an elevation of 24m from the sea level. Alluvial and black soil can be seen here which is good for the rice crop. Other than rice crop, mulberry, cereals and sugarcane are also grown here. Although the temperature goes up to 40°C during summer, yet during the rainy and winter season, it faces a cool climate. It is apt to visit Kumbakonam from October to March as it enjoys nice weather while making fun out of the trip. Average Rainfall: The average rainfall in Kumbakonam is 114.78cm. |
| Country : | India |
| State: | Kerala |
| Language: | Tamil |
| Population: | 1,90,156 (2011) |
| Literacy rate: | 83.21% |
| Major Attractions to Visit: | 1. Airavatesvara Temple 2. Adi Kumbeswarar Temple 3. Sarangapani Temple 4. Kumbakonam Mahamaham Tank 5. Nageswaran Temple 6. Ramaswamy Temple 7. Swamimalai 8. Chakrapani Temple 9. Kanchanur 10. Pateeswaram 11. Thanjavur 12. Mahalingeswarar Temple 13. Theerthandatham 14. Thiruvidaimarudur 15. Kumbakonam Temples Circuit 16. Kumbakonam Handicrafts |