Tirunelveli is the fifth largest city in Tamil Nadu. The city has pristine mountains, meadows, forests, and beaches. You can plan your trip to the region with the online resources gathered together on the Tirunelveli Today website. Find great recommendations on places to visit, local culture, and much more!

Around 38 km from the Tirunelveli city is the Koonthankulam Birds sanctuary. At the end of December, many birds come and stay here until July or August of the next year,
Even if the natural flora and fauna are amazing in the Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, the majestic Bengal tiger steals the show. The Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve proves that this beautiful species exists in the south. 

The famous Tirunelveli temple, Nellaiappar temple, is the largest and most beautiful temple in the city. The oldest temple in the city honours Lord Shiva.

Tirunelveli - Tirunelveli today

One of the brightest and most colourful weddings is the Tamil wedding. There are numerous pre- and post-wedding customs and rituals, and the wedding festivities can last up to 3-5 days. Look into our Tirunelveli Today website for details about the available marriage halls in Tirunelveli town.

According to Brahmin rituals, the older family members decorate and place a wooden pole outside the house. The bride and groom's families fast the day before the wedding and allow nine different grains to grow in a pot. The women of the house celebrate by singing popular ancestral melodies.

A brightly decorated car is parked outside the wedding venue, where the couple travels back home after the auspicious event. After returning home, the bride's family welcomes the groom with dresses, nuts, fruits, flowers, and sweets, and the bride's brother puts a Tilak on the groom's forehead.

Marriage Halls In Tirunelveli Town - Tirunelveli today

A glimpse into Tirunelveli Today tells us about the popular festivals held in the Thenkasi temple. The world-famous Udanurai Kashi Viswanath temple is located in Thenkasi, about 56 kilometers west of Tirunelveli. An annual ten-day festival is held here in Masi during which a flag is hoisted over the Swami shrine. The temple's chariot procession is held on the ninth day amidst much fanfare. The Theerthawari takes place on the tenth day of Masi Magam and the  Amman's baby shower is celebrated in Aadipuram in the month of Adi.

The Tamil month of Aipasi is marked with the celebrations of the Thirukalyanam or the celestial wedding and the Kanda Sasti festival. Somawara Puja and Tirukarthigai Chokkapana lighting are very popular during the Karthigai month. During Margazhi month, Tirupalliyeyuchi and Tiruvempa rituals are performed early in the morning.

Apart from this, Masi Shivratri, Thaipusam, Panguni Uthiram, Tamil New Year, six abhishekams of Nataraja, monthly Pradosham and Pournami pujas are also performed.

Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple - Tirunelveli today

Let us discuss about Thiruvilayadal of Thiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple. If you wish to learn more about Tiruchendur temple, visit the Tirunelveli Today website. Shanmukha Chikamani Kavirayar and Sivagami Sundari, who lived in Tiruvaikunda on the banks of the river Thamirapharani in earlier times, did not have children even after so many years of married life. 

The couple performed Kanda Sashti fasting and worshipped Lord Muruga, and by the grace of the lord, a boy was born. The child was named Kumaraguruparan and nurtured with affection. However, Kumaragurupara was unable to speak until the age of five. His parents were distraught. Believing that only Lord Muruga could give their child the ability to speak, they went to Tiruchendur and appealed to Lord Senthil by staying there for 45 days and observing severe fasting. But there was no change in Kumaragurupara. Pained by this, the parents stubbornly told Murugan that they would not leave the temple until their child spoke. 

On the evening of the 45th day, Kavirayar entered the temple with his wife and child and appealed to Murugan. They screamed and cried, saying they would kill themselves by falling into the sea if the Lord didn't make the child talk. As the parents prepared to go toward the sea, the child began to speak with the grace of Murugan. It is more appropriate to say the child began to sing, praising Lord Muruga. His parents became speechless, seeing the miracle. Gandhar Kali Venpa is a collection of songs sung by Kumaragurupara. It is noteworthy that Kumaragurupara, gifted with a speech by the grace of Lord Muruga, composed many wonderful books and added fame to Saivism.

Tiruchendur Temple -Tirunelveli Today

The Nellaiappar temple in Tirunelveli has numerous details about the legend of Lord Nellaiappar and his consort Gandhimathi Amman who are none other than Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Details found in Tirunelveli Today say that Umayammai stood on one leg on the banks of the Patalangambai river and performed severe penance to save the lives of this world. History says that the Lord appeared as a charioteer to the mother who had done severe penance and married her.
 
Legends say that Lord Shiva protected the paddy by surrounding it like a fence. This is how Tirunelveli got its name, where Tiru means divine, "nel" means paddy and "veli" means fence.
 
It is said that the Lord performed this Thiruvilayadal so that the world would know that it is wrong to immediately get angry with the other person without knowing what state he is in and if he is not able to do what he has told his devotee, even if it is the Lord, he will be cursed by the devotee.

Nellaiappar Temple - Tirunelveli Today

Let's walk through the ancient history of the Gangaikondan Kailasanathar Temple, as given on our website Tirunelveli Today. 
 
Legend talks about a grazing cow that automatically discharged milk from its udder into a hole near the roots of a large tamarind tree. The ruling King heard of this miracle and came with an army and entourage to witness it for himself. Under the tamarind tree, he found a termite mound and a Shiva Lingam. 
 
The King decided to consecrate the Lingam and build a temple. However, before he could commence the work, the Lord ordered him to build the temple without cutting down the tree. According to the history of this temple, it is said that the Lingam was consecrated from the tamarind tree, and a temple was built near it.
 
Swami Sri Kailasanathara and Sri Anandavalli Ammai
 
In the sanctum sanctorum facing east, Sri Kailasanathar is seen in the Lingam or Suyambu Thirumeni form. He is decorated with sandalwood on special occasions or with the Nagaaparanam during Pradosha. In the sanctum sanctorum facing east, Sri Anandavalli Ammai is depicted with four arms in a standing posture.
 
Special features of the temple
 
Every year, on one day in the Tamil month of Thai, devotees throng the temple to witness the miraculous event of the sun's rays falling directly on Kailasanathar during sunrise.
It is believed that the Lord appeared to Vamadeva Maharishi. Thus,  Vamadeva Rishi has a shrine here. Another highlight is that the Anandavalli Amman and the Utsavar murthys are displayed with four arms.
 
This temple has a sculpture of Maha Vishnu with Nachiyars on the stone pillars found at the entrance to Amman's sanctum sanctorum. There is no separate shrine for Navagrahas.
 
It is said that Agni Deva bathed in the Tirtham here and worshipped the Lord in this temple. The inscription of Seevalamaara Pandyan found in this temple mentions that Kailasanathar, the presiding deity is also known by names such as Gangaikondan Udaiyar, Srivallabha Mangalathu Kailayathu Bhattarakar, Kailayathu Peruman, Pandi Naatu Kudi konda Kodi Valanaatu Keezha Kalakootrathu Gangai Konda Chola Chaturvedi Mangalathu Kailayamudayar and Kailayamuda Nayanar.
In the Saiva Agamas, according to Karana Agama rules, there are four period Pujas  held here, namely Kalasandhi, Uchikalam, Sayaratsai and Arthasamam.
 
The major festivals held here are:
 
 
Chithirai Visu
Vaikasi Visakham
Aani Thirumanjanam
Aadi Pooram
Puratasi Navratri
Aipasi Thirukalyanam
Thirukarthikai
Margazhi Thiruvadhirai
Masi Shivratri

Kailasanathar Temple -  Tirunelveli Today

The Nichayathartham, or betrothal ceremony, is the first of many rituals performed in South Indian weddings. A series of ceremonies take place in the homes of the bride and groom separately. But if you want to book a wedding hall, you can learn about the marriage halls in Tirunelveli by logging onto the Tirunelveli Today website.

The procedure for the Nalangu Ritual in Tamil Mudaliyar Weddings begin with the bride and groom sitting on a mat. The family's women apply turmeric paste to their hands, legs, feet, and cheeks. The Nalangu ceremony for the bride and groom is an exciting event that allows both parties to get to know each other better.

Marriage halls in Tirunelveli town - Tirunelveli today

Marriage Halls In Tirunelveli - Tirunelveli today

Hindus used to think of religious rites in their homes, but in recent times, weddings are taking place in halls, on public property, and on beaches. A marriage hall is where a man and a woman take their wedding vows. The mandapam is a four-post temporary structure with a canopy for conventional Hindu marriages that creates the sacred area. Check out the Tirunelveli Today website to know more about the best marriage halls in Tirunelveli. 

The mandapam is built with organic pillars consisting of young stalks of banana, sugar cane, bamboo, or wood. Red and gold colours, silks, turmeric, kumkum, and the traditional greens of banana leaves, betel leaves, and mango leaves are used to decorate traditional Hindu weddings. A kalasam is a brass or silver container that symbolises the human body and is filled with holy water at every Hindu wedding. It is decorated with five mango leaves to represent the five senses and is topped with coconut.

Best marriage halls in Tirunelveli - Tirunelveli today

Marigold flowers, miniature mandapam, and a shehnai mridangam have been a part of Tamil weddings for a long time. Tamil weddings are often expensive affairs! Check out the Tirunelveli Today website to learn about the various AC marriage halls in Tirunelveli.
 
The venue can be adorned with canopies, chandeliers, floral fountains, floral accents, hanging flower pots, and inverted gardens to make the wedding look even more opulent. Exotic wedding flowers can also be used as part of the decoration.
 
Be sure to place a spectacular mandapam in the exact center of the venue to make the Tamil wedding a lavish affair. Use royal cutlery and hire celebrities to perform at the event to add sparkle and make the ceremony magnificent.

AC marriage halls in Tirunelveli - Tirunelveli today

Among the famous Pandya Nadu Divya Desams, the temples around the Tamirabarani river are collectively called "Navathirupathi". To know more about 108 Divya Desam, log on to the Tirunelveli Today Website.

The second temple in the order of Navathirupathis is ThiruVaragunamangai Perumal Temple Divya Desam. This temple represents Chandra Graham (Planet). Inside the temple sanctum, under the Vijayakodi Vimana, is seated the Vijayaasana Perumal holding Sangu (his divine shell) and Chakra. Boomagal and Nilamagal, the divine consorts of God, are also seen inside the sanctum.

108 Divya desam - Tirunelveli today

Welcome to Tirunelveli, the land of ancient temples, soulful cuisine, and an exclusive halwa heritage! We celebrate all that Tirunelveli has to offer and give you a glimpse into this ancient Indian city. 
 
Experience the heart of Tamil culture and heritage with our guide on the temples of Nellai. Don't miss this section when you're planning a trip here!   
 
If you're a serious foodie looking for cuisine that takes itself seriously, you'd be at home in Nellai! The food culture here is pretty exclusive, with inspirations from all over India and specializations you won't find anywhere else! At the heart of it all, you will find the fragrant, melt-in-your-mouth Tirunelveli halwa, a can't-miss feature of the culture.
 
Come experience this jewel of a city that brings past, present, and future together in an unforgettable experience you won't want to miss!

Tirunelveli - Tirunelveli today

Tirunelveli Today

Related tracks