KARAIKAL - A Place of rich religious heritage & Pristine natural beauty

Karaikal is one of the four regions of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. It is about 300 Kms. south of Chennai and about 135 Ks. from Pondicherry on the East Coast.  It is surrounded by the Nagappattinam and Thiruvarur Districts of Tamil Nadu State.

From Times immemorial, Karaikal has been known for its rich religious heritage.

It is an ideal place for those who like to seek solitude, leisure and serenity on the shore.  With rivers and beaches it is, untoushed by tourists.  The French flavour still persists the peaceful land of Karaikal.

The pilgrim tourist visiting Tamil Nadu never fail to include this temple town in their itinerary.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT KARAIKAL

                Area                     ---             161 Sq. Kms.
                Population             ---             1 70 640  ( 2001 Census)
                Climate                 ---             Trophical

HOW TO REACH ?

    AIR :    The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli, 168 Kms. away

    RAIL :  The nearest Railway Station is Nagore, 10 Kms. away from here.

    ROAD: Karaikal is connected directly from Chidambaram, Mayiladurai, Kumbakonam, 
               Thanjavur,  Thiruchirappalli,   Thiruvarur, Velankanni, Nagappattinam and Nagore.

                    Thirunallar             5 Kms.     (Towards West)
                    Kumbakonam       64 Kms.   (Towards West)
                    Thanjavur             103 Kms.  (Towards West)
                    Tiruchirapalli         168 Kms. ( Towards West)
                    Nagore                 10 Kms.   (Towards South)
                    Nagappattinam     19 Kms.   (Towards South)
                    Velankanni           26 Kms.   (Towards South : via - Nagore, Nagappattinam)
                    Chidambaram       57 Kms.   (Towards North on East Coast)
                    Pondicherry          135 Kms. (Towards North on East Coast)
                    Chennai                294 Kms. (Towards North on East Coast)
                   

    BUS SERVICE : Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Pondicherry Tourism & Transport
                             Development Corporation and other private buses are available. Taxis,
                             Auto-rickshaw and Local buses are also available for Local transportation.
                             Tamil Nadu State Express and Omni buses are also run for pleasure travels
                             to Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore etc.,

NAME OF THE TRANSPORT PHONE NOS.
TamilNadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) 222768      
Pondicherry Tourism & Transport Development Corporation (PT & TDC) 226523      
State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) 242455      
PRN Thirumurugan Travels 222107 044-28517607    
Universal Tourist Service        

 VARIOUS ROUTES AT A GLANCE :

FROM VIA  [ * Direct Route ] TO DISTANCE HOURS
CHIDAMBARAM SIRKALI, POOMBUHAR ARCH, AKKUR, THIRUKKADAIYUR, TARANGAMBADI  [*] KARAIKAL 57 KMS. 2
CHIDAMBARAM SIRKALI, VAITHEESWARAN KOIL, MAYILADUTHURAI, AKKUR,  THIRUKKADAIYUR,  TARANGAMBADI KARAIKAL 62 KMS. 2:30
CHIDAMBARAM SIRKALI, VAITHEESWARAN KOIL, MAYILADUTHURAI, KOLLUMANGUDY, NEDUNGADU, THIRUNALLAR KARAIKAL 60 KMS. 2:30
CHIDAMBARAM SIRKALI, VAITHEESWARAN KOIL, MAYILADUTHURAI, KOLLUMANGUDY, NEDUNGADU KARAIKAL 60 KMS. 2:30
CHIDAMBARAM SIRKALI, VAITHEESWARAN KOIL, MAYILADUTHURAI,   PERALAM,  THIRUNALLAR KARAIKAL 65 KMS. 2:45
NAGAPPATTINAM NAGORE, TR.PATTINAM  [*] KARAIKAL 18 KMS. 0:45 M
THANJAVUR KUMBAKONAM, THIRUNAGESWARAM, KOLLUMANGUDY, NEDUNGADU [ * ] KARAIKAL 103  KMS. 3:30
THANJAVUR NIDAMANGALAM, THIRUVARUR, NAGAPPATTINAM, NAGORE KARAIKAL 100 KMS. 3:00
THIRUVARUR NANNILAM, SANNA NALLUR, THITTACHERRY, TR.PATTINAM KARAIKAL 35 KMS. 1:00



BOARDING & LODGING :

GOVT. TOURIST HOME / MOTEL / VIP SUITE / GUEST HOUSES

Name of the Office Officer Name Designation

Phone

 Remarks, if any.
DEPT. OF TOURISM MR. DAKSHINAMOORTHY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR 222177 Contact for any tourism information.
Govt. Tourist Home,
(Near Bus Stand) Koilpathu,Kkl		 Mr. Receptionist 222621 Boarding Only. A/C & Non-A/C rooms available
VIP Suite,
Govt.House,
Karaikal.		 Mrs. Krishnaveni Secretary to Reg.Administrator 222444 ONLY FOUR NO. OF SUITS AVAILABLE FOR VVIPS
Mr. Receptionist 222085
222086PBX
PWD GUEST House, Beach Road Mr. Receptionist 220531
220530		 Boarding Only
[A/C, NON-A/C & SUITS ARE AVAILABLE]
Municipal Motel, Bharathiar Rd., Mr. Receptionist 222757 Boarding Only
Thirunallar Devasthanam Tourist Home, Thirunallar.. MR. KRISHNASAMY.V EXECUTIVE OFFICER 236530 [O]
236501 [R]		 Lodging Only
         
Seagulls [ GOVT OF PONDY.UNDERTAKING],
Beach road,
karaikal.		   The Manager 223379 Restaurant-cum-bar

BOARDING & LODGING (PRIVATE) :

NAME & ADDRESS OF THE HOTELS BOARDING / LODGING PHONE NOS., IF ANY (04368) REMARKS, IF ANY
PARIS INTERNATIONAL, BHARATHIAR ROAD, KARAIKAL. BOARDING & LODGING 220304, 220305, 220306 BOARDING-VEG.(Both South Indian & North Indian Food)
LODGING - Both A/C & Non A/C Rooms available.
Hotel Nanda,
Kamaraj Salai, Karaikal.		 Boarding, Lodging & Conference Hall 225033, 220533 Boarding : Both Veg & NOn Veg items which includes South Indian and North Indian Food
Lodging : A/C and Non-A/C Rooms
BAR ATTACHED
Hotel Kayal,
(Behind Hotel Paris International),
Bharathiar Street, Karaikal.		 Boarding Only   Boarding - Non Vegetarian (Both South Indina & North Indian items available)
Hotel French Residency,
(Near Shamina Theatre)
Bharathiar Street, Karaikal.		 Lodging Only   Both A/C & Non A/C Rooms Available
Hotel Nala, (Near New Bus-Stand)
Bharathiar Street, Karaikal.		 Boarding Only 220770 Vegetarian Only
Hotel Presidency, (Near New Bus Stand)
Bharathiar Street, Karaikal.		 Lodging Only   Both A/C & NON A/C Rooms
Hotel City Plaza, (Near New Bus Stand),
Bharathiar Street, Karaikal		 Lodging Only 222730 Both A/C & Non A/C Rooms
Hotel Prabu, (Near Old Bus-Stand),
Bharathiar Road, Karaikal.		 Boarding & Lodging 220361 Boarding : Non Vegetarian, BAR ATTACHED
Lodging : Both A/C & Non A/C Rooms
Hotel Mathura, (Near Thirunallar Road)
Market Street, Karaikal.		 Boarding Only 221002 Vegetarian Only
Hotel Arya Bavan,
Thirunallar Road, Karaikal.		 Boarding Only   Vegetarian Only
Hotel Amsavalli,
Thirunallar Road, Karaikal.		 Boarding Only   Non Vegetarian ONly
Mouriya Restaurant, (Near Pallivasal)
Thirunallar Road, Karaikal.		 Boarding Only   Non Vegetarian Only
Hotel Chola, Bharathiar Road, Karaikal. Boarding Only 220189 Non Vegetarian Only
Hotel Kandas, Bharathiar Road, Karaikal. Boarding Only   Vegetarian ONly
Hotel Chettinad, Bharathiar Road, Karaikal. Boarding ONly   Both Veg. & Non-Vegetarian
Moon Park Hotel, Thirunallar Road, Karaikal. Lodging ONly    
PSR Lodge, (Near Old Bus Stand) Bharathiar Road, Karaikal. Lodging Only   A/C & Non A/C Rooms available
Hotel Annapoorna, (Near Old Bus Stand) Bharathiar Road, Karaikal. Boarding Only   Vegetarian Only
Golden Lodge, Thirunallar Road, Karaikal. Boarding ONly 222550  
       

PLACES OF INTEREST :   

TEMPLES : The total number of hindu temples in the region are said to be 99. Seasonal fesivals are conducted every year during  June-July and October-November.

Lord Darbaraneswara Temple : Lord Saturn is housed in the famous Lord Darbaneswara temple at Thirunallar, 5 Kms. west of Karaikal Town.  This temple also has an 'Emerald Lingam' (Symbol of Lord Shiva).


Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple  is at Karaikal is dedicated to a celebrated woman Siva Saint 'Punithavathi'  and subsequently elevated  to the status of a gooddess.


Jadaayupureeswar temple at T.R.Pattinam is located 5 Kms. south of Karaikal.  It bears the memory of the Kind bird 'Jadaayu' of  the Ramayana Epic.

Mastan Syed Dawood dargah at Karaikal is dedicated to the memory of descendant of the prophet who came to Karaikal from Beughara. 


Our lady Angels church in Karaikal was originally built in 1740 and rebuilt in 1828.


Beach : The vast silent stretch of crowdless windy shore is an deal place to seekers solitude.



Boating Club, Arasalar is located on the backwaters of the Arasalar, Stretching over a distance of 1.75 Kms. from the town. A straight road running along the banks of the river connects the sandy beach and sea with the town.  The boating club provides pedaller, motor and rowing boats to the tourists.


Nagore Andavar Dargah ( Tamil Nadu ) : This is one of the biggest Muslim Pilgrim Centre in India and is located 10 Kms. south of  Karaikal.

Annai Velankanni Church ( Tamil Nadu ):  It is a famous Christian Pilgrim Shrine, 26 Kms. away from Karaikal.

Thrangambadi or Tranquebar (Tamil Nadu)
  Thrangambadi or Tranquebar (Tamil Nadu) where the dancing waves sing eternally.  It is a Danish settlement with an ancient port.  It is a place where the first printing press in India was established. It is located 13 Kms. north of Karaikal.

 

 

Saraswathi Temple (Tamil Nadu) which is unique temple for the Lord Saraswathi, placed in Koothanoor near Poonthottam and about 25 kms. west of Karaikal Town.