Places to visit @ Tiruchendur
Valli cave temple
The Valli cave temple complex consists of a sanctum sanctorum in which Goddess Sri Valli resides. The sanctum sanctorum is situated inside a cave. A narrow path from the Mahamandapam leads to the sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum sanctorum and the paths are situated inside the caves of sandal mountains. In front of the cave, a mandapam with 16 pillars is constructed which is 24.5 feet long and 21.5 feet broad. The main gateway to the temple is situated in south facing towards the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur. Inside the cave, paintings and statues of God Muruga and Valli story are present.
Nazhik Kinaru
The bath there is to be in two waters! One is a remarkable spring of fresh crystal water almost in a stone receptacle known as Nāzhik Kinaru. It is a foot square and about 7 feet deep and inset within the larger major well referred to. The latter is one of saltish and highly sulphurous smelling and muddy-looking water. This swells up during the day and pumped out daily so as not to allow it to over-flow into the smaller one.
Where from do these two distinct supplies of water with different tastes spring and how they are kept separate are a mystery and a problem for the physiographers to solve. A bath in the sea as well in these two waters is considered to be of much spiritual merit. The Nāzhik Kinaru swells up and maintains its level in spite of bailing out any quantity of water as the worshippers bathe out of it.
Nāzhik-kinaru is said to have sprung up as Shanmukha planted His lance the Vel on the spot. The demons Surapadma and Tarakasura had enslaved the Devas after attaining divine boons. People were tortured by the regime of Tarakasura in the North and Surapadma in the South. After the annihilation of Tarakasura in the North, Lord Muruga came down to South at the request of the Devas to exterminate Surapadma. Celestial King Indra was the peacock, Lord Murugan’s mount.
Lord Murugan’s intense battle with Surapadma went on for five days. Surapadman’s brothers and his army were wiped out. On the sixth day Surapadman came to the battlefield all alone. He fought with Lord Muruga with all his might. But he could do nothing against the might of Lord Muruga. At the end, he lurked in his palace under the sea. He emerged as a huge mango tree and confronted Lord Karttikeya. But the mighty spear of Karttikeya-Murugan split the tree in two. A part of it turned into a rooster and the other into a peacock. Lord Murugan accepted the peacock as His ride and let the rooster adorn His staff. Only after this He is seen with peacock and a rooster on His staff.
To quench the thirst of His war-weary warriors, Lord Muruga thrust His lance into the ground bringing out water and forming a well, called Naazhi Kinaru. The square well with the circumference of 14 feet square has a small well within it. The water in the larger well is brackish and salty in contrast to the smaller one with one foot square in extent which contains crystal clear sweet water. These two wells, despite their proximity, give two completely different tastes which is indeed a divine miracle.
Panchalamkurichi Fort
Panchalamkurichi Fort, also known as the Kattabomman Memorial Fort is a famous historic attraction located at Salikulam. The legends say that this fort was constructed in the 18th century by the Panchalamkurichi King Veera Pandya Kattabomman, who was a Palay-karra of the Madurai Nayak kingdom. The fort is associated with several freedom fighters and rulers. In 1799, the British had destroyed the fort in the war when King Veera Pandya Kattabomman was imprisoned by the British. His brother recaptured the fort from the British. After Independence, the Archaeological Survey of India maintains the fort. In 1974, the Tamil Nadu Government built a new fort in memory of the Panchalamkurichi fort and named it the Kattabomman Memorial Fort. The fort also houses a shrine dedicated to the ancestral goddess of Kattabomman, Goddess Jakkammal, within its premises. It is a must visit for history lovers.
Kayalpattinam Beach
Kayalpattinam Beach situated near Kayapatnam city at a distance of 5 km even consists of many admirable attraction sights. This beach resides few mosques near for its pilgrims. Hundreds of devotees make a plan for this beach so that they can worship their deities even.
The Appa Palli Mosque, The Kutti appa Palli Mosque and Hafil Ameer Oliullah Masjid, are widely worshipped by devotees. Furthermore,, this beach inhabits a park near to it which is majorly visited by women and children.
This beach is not only perfect for family outing, but this beach can also be visited by newly wedded couples. Romantic weekends can be planned by the partners.Moreover, this beach is considered as a romantic gateway and, therefore, it inhabit most breathtaking sunset and sunrise views. Also,, this beach holds thick natural vegetation and many species of flora and fauna. Tourists visiting this beach can enjoy some activities such swimming and sunbathing.
