Sobhita Dhulipala visits Kumbakonam, the ‘temple city’ of India; learn why the place is culturally significant

Kumbakonam, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is a stunning temple town with a wealth of attractions. Tourists and pilgrims are drawn to the area year after year by the thousands of temples that dot the landscape around the city. In a recent Instagram post, actor Sobhita Dhulipala shared snippets of her visit to the sacred place.

Kumbakonam is commonly referred to as a “temple city” since it is home to several well-known temples. (Source: Instagram/@sobhitad)

Dhulipala's love for the frothy filter coffee, iconic to the Southern belt of India, is unmatched! (Source: Instagram/@sobhitad)

Kumbakonam also hosts a number of annual events, including the popular Mahamahan Festival. (Source: Instagram/@sobhitad)

According to MakeMyTrip, after the Pralaya (the disintegration of the Universe), Lord Brahma gathered all the necessary materials and Vedha Amrutham in the pot of the same name. In the end, the Pot got carried by the water to where modern-day Kumbakonam is located. Temples including the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, the Abhimugesvarar Temple, the Kasi Vishwanathar Temple, the Nageswarar Temple, the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Mutt, the Bhagavatha Padithurai Ghat, the Ramaswamy Temple, and the Srinivasa Ramanujan House, among many more places in Kumbakonam, draw visitors year-round. (Source: Instagram/@sobhitad)

Some must visit destinations:

The Someswarar Temple is a holy Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva that is located 6 kilometres from the city of Kumbakonam. Also known as Pazhayarai Someswarar Temple or Keezh Pazhayarai Vadathali, the temple is believed to have been erected during the Chola Period somewhere between the 8th and the 9th century. (Source: Instagram/@sobhitad)

Known locally as Vedanarayanaperumal, Brahma Temple is a Hindu temple in Kumbakonam that is primarily dedicated to the Hindu god, Lord Vishnu. On the right, next to the sanctum sanctorum, is a shrine dedicated to Lord Brahma. Because it is one of just two temples in the world devoted to Brahma, the temple is sometimes referred to as the “Brahma Temple”. (Source: Instagram/@sobhitad)

Dedicated to the Hindu god, Lord Sukra, the Kanjanur Sukran Temple (also called Agneeswarar Temple) can be found in the little town of Kanjanur, some 18 kilometres from Kumbakonam. Lord Shiva, in his incarnation as Agniswarar, is, nonetheless, the primary focus of worship there. (Source: Instagram/@sobhitad)

The best time to visit Kumbakonam is between November to March, says Make My Trip. A flight to Chennai Airport, followed by a train to Kumbakonam will take you to your destination. (Source: Instagram/@sobhitad)