Temple Towns Near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

[Asawari Ghatage]

 

Nothing beats the feeling of traveling or going on a trip with your family. Vacations are necessary to de-stress and bond with your companions, and if they include temples, the results are even better- you come out with a well-rested body and a relaxed mental state. With that in mind, let's take a look at a few of the temple towns near the industrial giant of Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore:

Namakkal

Namakkal is not the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of temple towns, but that does not mean that it's importance in Dravidian culture is any less. Namakkal is located around 170 km from Coimbatore, so the easiest way to get there is to rent a car in Coimbatore.

The city is known for its infrastructure and well-maintained environment and is famous as a historical and educational place. Being a temple town, Namakkal has many shrines and temples that tourists flock to visit around the year. These include the Anjaneyar Temple, Narasimhar Temple, Koolippatti Murugan Temple and Thathagiri Murugan Temple. The weather tends to be quite hot during the summers, so visiting this town in winter would be the better choice.

Palani

One of the most famous temples in southern India is located in Palani, a town located in western Tamil Nadu. Palani is situated at a distance of around 120 km from Coimbatore, but the smooth roads and low traffic mean that getting outstation cabs in Coimbatore would be the best way to get there.

Palani is famous mainly for its Murugan temple, which is situated atop a small hillock right in the middle of the city. This temple is known as one of the six "Padai Veedu" temples of Lord Murugan. It is believed that Lord Murugan traveled to Palani and settled atop the hillock, after a row with Lord Shiva. There are many places to visit near Palani, but its proximity to hill station Kodaikanal means that you can easily visit the temple on your way to the famous tourist destination.

Pollachi

Located in the Coimbatore district itself, Pollachi is another exquisite tourist destination in Tamil Nadu. The place also doubles a bustling center for trade, owing to its proximity to the Kerala state border. Pollachi has located around 40 km from Coimbatore, so just get a cab booking in Coimbatore and head right over!

Famous holy destinations in and around the city include the Alagunachi Amman Temple, Subramania Swamy Thirukoil and Sulakkal Mariamman Thirukoil. Also, Pollachi has located just 60 km away from Palani, so visiting the Palani Murugan temple from Pollachi is also within the scope of a one-day trip. The temples of Pollachi are well-maintained, and most of these are not mainstream tourist destinations; if you want some peace and calm, Pollachi would be a great choice. Summers in Pollachi tend to get hot, and the monsoon is marked with torrential rains; therefore, the best time to visit this beautiful city is in the winter season, between the months of October and March.