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Pilgrimage circuit · from Kumbakonam (via Chennai or Trichy)
Navagraha temples — nine planets
Nine temples around Kumbakonam, each dedicated to one of the nine celestial bodies of Hindu astrology. Families usually do them over a single punishing day by taxi. Over two or three days, with Kumbakonam as a base and the temple breaks planned in, it becomes a relaxed trip through the Kaveri delta's villages.
Photo: PJeganathan, CC BY-SA 4.0
2–3 days, from Kumbakonam (via Chennai or Trichy), from ₹4,500 per person. Best time: October to February. Temples close from about 12:30 pm to 4 pm, so plan mornings and evenings. Saturdays at Thirunallar (Saturn) are extremely crowded.. Suits: Family, Solo, Couple.
The route
| Stop | Leg | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Kumbakonam | Base. Overnight train from Chennai, or 2 h by bus from Trichy | ₹400 |
| Thirunageswaram (Rahu) | 7 km east of Kumbakonam. Local bus | ₹15 |
| Suryanar Koil (Sun) & Kanjanur (Venus) | 15 km north-east. The two are 3 km apart | ₹30 |
| Alangudi (Jupiter) | 17 km south of Kumbakonam | ₹20 |
| Thingalur (Moon) | Near Thiruvaiyaru, 33 km west | ₹40 |
| Vaitheeswaran Koil (Mars) & Thiruvenkadu (Mercury) | Bus towards Sirkazhi, 50–60 km | ₹60 |
| Keezhperumpallam (Ketu) | Near Poompuhar, 10 km from Thiruvenkadu | ₹20 |
| Thirunallar (Saturn) | In Karaikal (Puducherry), 50 km from Kumbakonam | ₹60 |
What to book ahead
| Booking | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Taxi for the long day | Kumbakonam taxis offer an all-nine-temples package. Agree the route and price in advance. |
| Kumbakonam hotel MUST BOOK | Book ahead for weekends and festival days. |
| Special darshan | Not necessary except at Thirunallar on Saturdays. |
Where to stay
Kumbakonam has lodges for every budget within walking distance of the bus stand, and it is the obvious base. Vaitheeswaran Koil has basic lodges if you split the circuit.
Food
Kumbakonam's degree coffee and the meals houses around the Mahamaham tank are the highlight. Every temple town has simple meals for ₹70–90.
Local tip: Split it into two loops from Kumbakonam — the near five on day one, and the Sirkazhi–Karaikal side on day two — and you will never have to rush a temple before it closes for the afternoon.
Plan your own Navagraha temples — nine planets trip
Full route, live fares and every booking link in one place.
Open the planner →Costs are indicative ballparks and change with season and demand — always check live fares before you book, and confirm temple booking windows against the official source. Photographs are sourced from Wikimedia Commons, credited above and in full at /credits/. Trip Under features underrated destinations only, is reader-planned, and takes no affiliate commission on any booking link. Pilgrimage bookings are never affiliate links.