States › Tamil Nadu › Tirunelveli

Tirunelveli Travel Guide

Seated on the west bank of Thamirabarani River, Tirunelveli is an important destination in Tamil Nadu. Like many other tourist places in the state, Tirunelveli also boasts some impeccable Hindu temples as attractions and pilgrimage destinations. Tirunelveli's history dates back to 2000 year ago, and thus, the city is inarguably one of the best places to trace the stories of various dynasties and its legends. The major attraction of this sixth largest city in the state, is the Kanthimathi - Nellaiappar Temple, which stands in the centre of this ideal pilgrimage spot and boasts the largest Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu. Though the Hindu shrines make the top attractions in the city and around it, there also exist a Science Centre for those seeking to explore something different. Tirunelveli also has a gourmet treat for you in the form of Halwa, for which the city has been famous since 1800s. Yes, the melt-in-the-mouth delight is a must-try and has to be taken home as a souvenir for friends and family.

Apart from this, Tirunelveli's twin city, seated just opposite to it on the east bank of Thamirabarani gives you a glimpse of the elements of the modern era. Earlier known as the Oxford of India, Palayamkottai is home to numerous colleges and educational centres. Not only this, this city is famed as the venue for several national-level sports in India. Other than this, Tirunelveli's surroundings boasts of more Hindu temples, two dams - Manimuthar and Papanasam, Ariakulam and Koonthakulam Bird Sanctuaries, Manjolai and Upper Kodaiyar. Some odd 59 km from Tirunelveli, one also has the opportunity to sight breathtaking waterfalls in Courtallam/Kutralam which are said to have medicinal or healing properties. Our insightful Tirunelveli travel guide endeavours to offer you detailed information about this worth seeing city in Tamil Nadu. Find useful insights on top attractions, means of transportation, best time to visit and accommodation.

Best Time to Visit Tirunelveli

Due to its geographical location, Tirunelveli is hot and humid in the summer and monsoon season, but in the winters the city becomes ideal to visit. With the temperature going as low as 25°C, Tirunelveli promises a hassle-free sightseeing opportunity.

  • Summer

    Summer

    The month of June marks the start of monsoon season in Tirunelveli which lasts until September. Throughout these months, the city receives a heavy rainfall that hinders travellers to go on sightseeing tours in Tirunelveli.

  • Monsoon

    Monsoon

    The month of June marks the start of monsoon season in Tirunelveli which lasts until September. Throughout these months, the city receives a heavy rainfall that hinders travellers to go on sightseeing tours in Tirunelveli.

  • Winter

    Winter

    Winter season in Tirunelveli commences in the month of December which lasts until February. The season is all about the pleasant weather and favourable conditions to visit Tirunelveli. During these months, the city records a maximum temperature of 33°C.

View More

Popular Tourist Attractions In & Around Tirunelveli

Tirunelveli tourism is not only confined to temples, even though the sacred places dot the city and its nearby areas significantly. There are also some scenic destinations near Tirunelveli where a nature lover would love to visit. Waterfalls, dams and wildlife sanctuaries all make the holiday in Tirunelveli unlike the other.

  • Kanthimathi-Nellaiyappar Temple

    Kanthimathi-Nellaiyappar Temple

    The most important Hindu shrine in Tiruvelneli, Kanthimathi-Nellaiyappar is a twin temple which is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and Lord Siva. The temple houses the famous Musical Pillars which produces sounds in varied pitches.

  • Krishnapuram Temple

    Krishnapuram Temple

    Located 10 km from Tirunelveli, Krishnapuram Temple is a Dravidian style shrine built by the Nayak and Vijayanagara kings in 16th century. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Thenkalai tradition of worship is followed here.

  • Kutralam

    Kutralam

    Nestled in the Western Ghats, Kutralam is a popular tourist destination near Tirunelveli for its waterfalls which are believed to possess medicinal properties. The place is perfect for the nature lovers and is truly a feast to the eyes. Read more

  • Thoothukudi

    Thoothukudi

    Some 46 km away from Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi is a port city which is also famous for pearl fishing. The major tourist attraction in Thoothukudi is the bakery made, macaroon. A Shiva temple along with a church also make important places to visit in Thoothukudi. Read more

  • Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary

    Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary

    An important wildlife destination in Tirunelveli, Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a plethora of animals like Tiger, Sloth Bear, Leopard, Rusty spotted cat, Brown palm civet and many more animals. The sanctuary is also an ideal place for birdwatching. Read more

  • Panchalankuruchi

    Panchalankuruchi

    A small historic village, some 54 km from Tirunelveli, Panchalankuruchi is home to the freedom fighter Veerapandia Kattabomman. The village is famed for a memorial fort dedicated to Veerapandia Kattabomman, and it also houses the temple of Devi Jakkamma, the hereditary Goddess of Kattabomman family.

  • Kalakadu Wildlife Sanctuary

    Kalakadu Wildlife Sanctuary

    Home to the rare lion-tailed macaques, Kalakadu Wildlife Sanctuary is situated some 47 km from Tirunelveli. The wildlife sanctuary also houses a beautiful natural spring, Kudirai Mozhitheri and several species of wildlife animals including tigers.

  • Sankaranarayanan Koil

    Sankaranarayanan Koil

    Situated in Sankaranarayanan Kovil town, the famous shrine is said to date back to AD 900 and houses a deity that is a meld of Lord Shiva and Vishnu. The temple also has an impressive dome that is 135 m high and is 9-tiered.

  • Papanasam

    Papanasam

    Some odd 60 km from Tirunelveli, Papanasam is a picturesque destination that makes a great picnic spot on family vacations. This travel place in Tamil Nadu offers a visual treat of meandering Thamirabarani River, foaming Agasthiyar Falls, majestic Papanasam Dam and a sacred Shiva Temple.

Where to Stay in Tirunelveli?

Tirunelveli Hotel

Tirunelveli is replete with budget to mid-range hotels that promise to cater to their guests' every need. For families on vacation to budget travellers, all can rest assured to find a place to stay of their choice in Tirunelveli. Thoothukudi, close to Tirunelveli also promises some best accommodation options as well.

How to Reach Tirunelveli?

Tirunelveli enjoys a brilliant connectivity with all its neighbouring destinations. The three major means of transport - airways, railways, and roadways connect Tirunelveli to other parts of the country making accessibility in this tourist destination in Tamil Nadu easy.

  • By Air

    Tuticorin Airport is the nearest airport from Tirunelveli which is in Thoothukudi. The airport is at an approximate distance of 40 km from the city of Tirunelveli and is well-connected by domestic airlines to cities like Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. One can hire a taxi to reach Tirunelveli from Thoothukudi.

  • By Rail

    Tirunelveli has its own railway station, Tirunelveli Junction. This station connects the city with other major places like Mumbai, Coimbatore, Delhi, and Bengaluru. Trains from these cities operate at regular intervals for Tirunelveli.

  • By Road

    The city of Tirunelveli is a drive away from its nearby southern cities like Madurai, Dindigul, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli, and Thanjavur. These cities are connected with Tirunelveli through roads and national highways like NH 38 and 44. Tamil Nadu state road buses are also available which offer easy accessibility to Tirunelveli from these cities.

View More

Popular Tour Packages Tamil Nadu

View More

Tamil Nadu Tourism- Top Things to Do and See

Tamil Nadu Travel Information at a Glance

There's an abundance of culture, tradition, art, craft, nature, and wildlife experiences awaiting in Tamil Nadu. Choose from our wide array of Tamil Nadu travel packages and get that incredible holiday experience at this colour palette kind of a destination. We design the finest tour packages keeping your likes and dislikes in mind so that you are guaranteed a holistic travelling experience that too in a budget of your choice.

x
LET'S PLAN YOUR TRIPLet us Plan Your Trip