Kurumbagaram
Sri Lakshminarayanaperumal temple is the principal centre of worship where
Vaikunta Ekadesi is celebrated with some measure of festivty.
This village lies at a distance of 11.215 km from west of Karaikal.
(Nedungadu Commune).
Mallambal
12.3 km. from Karaikal on the Peralam road. Sri Tantonreeswarar temple ascribed
to the Chola period is an important landmark in the village. The outer walls
of the temple carry many inscriptions which do not appear to have been published
so far. There are also a few exquisitely carved granite statues inthe temple.
Nedungadu
10.3 km. from Karaikal.
The most sensational find of bronze images in the Territory was reported
from this village in 1948. They included the images of Pillaiyar,
Manickavasagar, Thirugnanasambandar, Skandan, Uma, Jnanasakti (a
pair), Sivakamasundari, dancing Siva (Anandatandavam) besides a trident,
a conche, a pair of sandals, a copper tripod and a plate. The Siva
(Sri Tantonreeswarar) temple in the village was declared as a protected
monument in 1971. The Thiruvadhirai festival in the Sivan temple
and the annual festival at Sri Mariamman temple attracts a large
number of devotees.
Niravi
5.3 km from south of Karaikal. The village is noted for its temple of Sri
Jambunathaswamy claimed to be about 300 years old. The thiruvathirai (December-January)
and thirukkarthigai festivals (November -December) are celebrated in this
temple Several hundred people take part in the thiruvathirai festival. Vaikunta
Ekadesi is celebrated during December-January in the Kariamanickaperumal
Temple
Oduthurai
The annual festival celebrated in Sri Kaliamman temple.
Serumavilangal
9.65 km from Karaikal. Sri Kailasanathar temple is the most important landmark
here
Settur
(Agarasethur, Pandaravadai Sethur). 10.9 km. and 11.39 km. respectively from
Karaikal-Peralam road. Sri Prathapasimmeswarar temple which may be ascribed
to the xiii or xiv century is a notable landmark of Agara Settur village.
There are chola inscriptions in Sri Prathapasimmeswarar temple which is now
a protected monument under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Sorarkkdi
7.8 km. from Karaikal. Sri Somanathaswamy temple and Sri Lakshminarayana
perumal temple are two important landmarks of the village. The discovery
of two bronze idols of antique value i.e. Sri Thiripurantaka of about 60
cm. height and Thiripurasungari of about 45 cm. height from Periathope near
this village on 30-05-1971 seem to confirm its antiquity. the idols are now
in the Pondicherry Museum.
Thalatheru
4.6 km. north of Karaikal. Sri sivalaganathaswamy temple is the centre of
worship where the celebration of the annual festival and masi magam evokes
some popular interest.
Thirumalarajanpattinam
5.4.km. from Karaikal. The representative of the Vijayanagar ruler Thirumalrayan
built this town and reigned. His inscriptions are found at Thiruvanaikkaval,
Thanjavur, Papanasam and Pattichuram. Poet Kalamegham served as court poet.
Jadayupureeswarar
Temple
Jadayupureeswarar Temple is said to be the oldest. Masimagam is the most important.
Scenes from Ramayana are re-enacted with the help of wooden images during masi
(February-March) festival. The temples of Sri
Abiramiammab, Sri Raghunathaperumal, Sri venkatesperumal, Sri Vizhivaradarajaperumal
and Sri Kamakshiamman are the other important places of worship
inthe village.Sri
Aayiram Kaliamman Kovil is another important famous temple.
Once in every five year the booja with 1000 items of each articles is attracts
devotees comming for from over Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry.
Thiruvettankudi
9.9 km. north of Karaikal. Sri Thirumeniazhagarswamy temple with its 45 feet
tall gopuram is the most important landmark of the village. The presiding deity
of the east facing temple is Lord Siva, known here as Sundareswarar and his
consort Soundarya-nayagi. To the left of the prakaram is the shrine of Lord
Ganesh and to the right are the shrines of Chandikeswarar, Durgai, Ayyanar,
Soorya and Chandra. At the centre of the prakaram is the mahamandapam, fromwhere
one may have a view of the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord inthe form a Lingam.
Behind the sanctum sanctorum may be seen the shrines of Lord Subramaniar, Punnaivana-nathar
and Mahalakshmi. The glory of the presiding deities of the temple has been
sung by such great Saivite Saints as Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasar.
Thirunallar
5 km. west of Karaikal. A Stalapurana published about this village. However,
it is of interest to note that a granite statue of Buddha was discovered from
a site belonging to Darbaranyeswarar temple in 1966. The place is otherwise
famous because of the DARBARANYESWARAR TEMPLE situated. The one-piece emerald
idol of the deity here is claimed to be the largest of its kind inthe country,
while the image of Thiagar here is believed to be the outcome of divine handiwork;
Hence it is also known as one of the `sabthavidangal'. SANI PEYARCHI festival
is celebrated on a grand scale once every two and a half years attracts devotees
from all over the country.
Vanjiur
The Rangayyasami Madam is situated in this village.
Vizhidiur
9.20 km. east of Karaikal. Sri Vizhinadhaswamy (Siva) temple, said to belong
to the Chola period, a monument of some importance which is dedicated to Lord
Siva known as Vizhiandhaswamy and his consort Sri Vimalambigai. Sri Varadaraja
Perumal temple in the village is another important landmark of the temple.
This temple, said to belong to the Chola period is noted also for its stone
carvings.