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Kumbakonam is a mid-size city and temple town in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu state of southern India.
Kumbakonam is primarily a market city for the agricultural villages surrounding it. Kumbakonam is sometimes called temple city because of the large number of temples within the city and in the nearby areas. The festival of Mahamaham is celebrated every 12 years in Kumbakonam; the next Mahamaham is in 2016.
The great Indian mathematician Ramanujan and the 'silver-tongued orator' Srinivasa Sastry (who has the distinction of having corrected Sir Winston Churchill's English) are two well-known people from this town.
The town is surrounded by small villages which have great historical importance. The town has agricultural region around the town was famous for its betelnuts and betel leaves. It was a market town where people from all over the Cauvery delta region came and sold their goods in the pre-independence era.
Location
It is located about 313 Kilometres away from Chennai on the south, about 90 km from Tiruchirappalli on the east, and about 40 km from Thanjavur on the northeast.The town is bounded by two rivers, the Cauvery River on the north and Arasalar River on the south. It has a gentle slope towards south from north
History
Kumbakonam is at present a Selection Grade Municipality, and it is the headquarters of Kumbakonam Taluk. It is stated by Mr. Wilks that the town was once the Capital of the Cholas in the 7th century, and Dr. Burnell also confirmed it.The British Government also recognised the importance and stationed a New Zilla Judge here from 1806 till 1863.
One of many temples, most striking is the Lord Sarangapany, a Vaishanavite temple. This was probably built up by the Nayak Kings during 15th Century. It consists of the twelve storied and 147 feet height.The Ramasamy temple which depicts the paintings of Ramayanam is another important Vaishanavite temple.
Somessar temple is situated in the southern portion of Sri Sarangapani temple. This temple is facing the northern side with a small Gopuram at the eastern portion near the entrance. The architectural style and element of this temple resembles the Dravidian Architecture of 13th century of the Chola period. Arumugam and Thenar Mozhi Ammal are the other deities located in this temple complex.
Kumbeswara temple is an important Saivaite temple situated almost in the central part of the town. The important festival of the town is the Mahamaham festival. It takes place once in 12 years during the Tamil Month of Masi(February/March) and lakhs of pilgrin from various parts of India visit Kumbakonam and take a holy bath in the sacred Mahamaham tank which is situated in the heart of the town
Nageswaran temple otherwise known as "Koothandavar Kovil", is located near the old bus stand area and Adithya Cholan of Chola dynasty constructed this temple during 12th century. This temple stands as a great marvel of Chola's architecture, building technology and astronomy. The design and orientation are structured in such a way that it allows the sun rays inside the temple only during the month of Chithirai, therefore, it bears another name called " Soorya Kottam " or "Keel Kottam ". The Karuvarai of Nageswaran temple has similarity with that of Sarangapani temple, as it is made in the form of a Chariot. The temple consists of two Gopurams in the eastern and western directions.
The temple at Thirunageswarar( Oppliyappan Sannadhi), the Lord siva temple which is 8 kms east of Kumbakonam . Sri Thirupureeswarar temple at Pateeswaram which is 5kms southeast of Kumbakonam, was constructed by Govinda Dikshithar, a Minister of Naik King. Acchathappa during 16th Century. Another famous temple is Swamimalai which is one among the six abodes of Lord Muruga. swamimalai is situated 8 kms west of Kumbakonam. Many Nayanmars have sung in praise of this temple.
The Govt. Arts College at Kumbakonam which exits now is one of the very old colleges in the Tamil Nadu State and it gained a title once as " The Cambridge of South India". The Porter Hall was built int he memory of a former principal of the college in 1885. In 1853, a handsome Protestant Church was erected in the town.
On July 17, 2004, at least 84 students died in a school fire in Kumbakonam.
Temples *[2] (http://www.kumbakonamonline.com/abouttemp.html)
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