Temples in Chidambaram
- 01
Anantheeswarar Temple
A smaller Shiva temple directly behind the Nataraja complex, linked to the sage Patanjali and with a shrine to Raja Chandikeswarar. It is quieter and more local than the main temple.
- Time needed
- 30-45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning (6 to 11.30 am) or evening (5 to 8.30 pm), per a temple listing
- Tickets
- Normally free. Dress modestly and leave footwear outside. Timings are from a listing; confirm locally before going.
- 02
Thillai Kali Temple
A 13th-century temple on the edge of Chidambaram, with a fierce east-facing Kali and a benign four-faced goddess in a west-facing shrine. It is tied to the town's story of the dance contest with Shiva.
- Time needed
- 45-60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning; mid-May to mid-June for the Vaikasi festival
- Tickets
- Normally free to enter. Dress modestly, leave footwear outside and follow staff instructions on photography.
- 03
Thillai Nataraja Temple
The great Shiva temple of Chidambaram, where the god is worshipped as Nataraja, the dancer. Four tall gateways, a golden-roofed sanctum and centuries of Chola patronage make it the reason to come.
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours; more at festival times
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning or evening; January to March for comfort
- Tickets
- Entry to the temple is normally free, though some special darshans or the sky-element shrine may need a small ticket. Dress modestly, remove footwear, and ask before using a camera, since photography is restricted inside.
Places of worship in Chidambaram
- 04
Chit Sabha and the Golden Roof
The golden-roofed hall at the heart of the Nataraja temple, where Shiva is shown as the dancing Lord. It is the core of the complex and the focus of the daily pujas.
- Time needed
- 45-90 minutes depending on the queue
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- During a morning or evening puja
- Tickets
- General darshan is normally free, though special darshans may be ticketed. Photography is restricted inside; dress modestly and leave footwear outside.
- 05
Govindaraja Perumal Shrine (Thiruchitrakoodam)
A Vishnu shrine inside the Shiva temple complex, one of the 108 Divya Desams. It is unusual to find the two traditions side by side, with the shared view of Nataraja and Govindaraja.
- Time needed
- 20-30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or evening, outside the busiest times
- Tickets
- Part of the Nataraja temple complex, so the same rules apply: modest dress, no footwear and restricted photography.
Read the Govindaraja Perumal Shrine (Thiruchitrakoodam) guide →
Day trips in Chidambaram
- 06
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
A large mangrove wetland about 15 km from Chidambaram, with channels, creeks and small islands in the Vellar-Coleroon estuary. You explore it by boat, and birdlife is best from November to January.
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours including the drive
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon; November to February is usual
- Tickets
- Boat rides are run by operators including the tourism department, and hours and prices vary by source. Check locally, and do not rely on old figures.
- 07
Vaitheeswaran Koil
A Shiva temple about 27 km from Chidambaram, worshipped as the god of healing and associated with Angaraka (Mars), one of the nine Navagraha temples.
- Time needed
- 1-2 hours plus the drive
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning; January to March
- Tickets
- Normally free entry, with special ticketed pujas. Dress modestly and remove footwear. Confirm timings locally.
Landmarks in Chidambaram
- 08
Sivaganga Tank
The large water tank inside the Nataraja temple complex, framed by stone steps and corridors. It is the quietest corner of the temple and a good place to rest.
- Time needed
- 15-30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or evening
- Tickets
- Part of the temple, so the same rules apply: modest dress, no footwear, and restricted photography. Check local rules on entering the water.
- 09
The Four Gopurams and the 108 Karanas
The four tall gateways of the Nataraja temple, with carvings of the 108 dance poses described in the Natya Shastra on the eastern gopuram. A walk around the outer wall takes you through the architecture and the dance tradition.
- Time needed
- 30-45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon for light and cooler walking
- Tickets
- Viewing the gopurams from the street is free. Entering the temple through them follows the usual temple rules, including modest dress and no footwear inside.
Culture in Chidambaram
- 10
Natyanjali Dance Festival
An annual festival of classical dance offered to Nataraja in Chidambaram, tied to Maha Shivaratri in February or March. It brings dancers from across India and abroad to perform at the temple's dance capital.
- Time needed
- One evening to several days
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- February or March, around Maha Shivaratri
- Tickets
- Details change each year. Check the current schedule with the Tamil Nadu Tourism department or the Natyanjali Trust, and do not assume entry is free or ticketed.
Close enough to combine