Temples

A shrine to Govindaraja or Lord Vishnu lies adjacent to the main shrine and has a beautiful sculpture of the Lord Vishnu reclining on Adisesha - the serpent. There are other shrines, dedicated to Subramanya, Ganesha and Sivakami Amman - the consort of Lord Nataraja. In the courtyard, a large Nandi looks on devotedly at its lord and master through an aperture on the wall. A sprawling Sivaganga tank on the North is an attractive master piece of art and the thousand pillar hall are other attractions.

Kali Temple The Thillai Kaliamman temple is an northern end of the town. It was built by Kopperunjingan who ruled between 1229 A.D and 1278 A.D.


Sirkazhi (20 kms) is renowned in Tamil literature. It is the birthplace of Thirugnana Sambandar the Tamil saint. The Saivite temple is dedicated to him, and the idol in the shrine looks like a child god. A large crowd gathers in Sirkazhi to witness the Tirumulaippal festival celebrated in April. Bus and train services are available.

Annamalai University This is a residential university situated on the outskirts of Chidambaram. It was founded by the Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar. It is a great centre for Tamil learning and Carnatic music for many years. The university now offers educational facilities in various disciplines including Medicine, Engineering etc.,