Śvetāraṇyeśvarar Temple, Thiruvenkadu
Navagraha sthala of Mercury, in the white forest
⭐ Why it is famous
The Budha sthala, sought for intelligence, speech and study. The temple has three tanks — Sūrya, Chandra and Agni tīrthas — and a celebrated Naṭarāja and Agora Vīrabhadra bronze tradition.
📜 Pilgrimage history
One of the oldest Chola shrines in the delta, praised in the Tevaram. The Thiruvenkadu bronzes excavated here are among the masterpieces of Chola metalwork now in the Thanjavur gallery.
🕰️ Temple timings
- Darśan 06:00 – 12:30 and 16:00 – 20:30
- Wednesdays for Budha
🙏 Darśan details
- Free darśan; archana ₹20 onward
- Offer green gram, green cloth and green leaves to Budha
🚉 Location & getting there
📍 Śvetāraṇyeśvarar Temple, Thiruvenkadu, Thiruvenkadu, MayiladuthuraiSirkazhi (SY) — 18 km
Thiruvenkadu bus stand — state transport buses stop here.
Tiruchirappalli International (TRZ) — 140 km
Near Poompuhar, 24 km from Mayiladuthurai and 40 km from Kumbakonam.
🪔 Poojas, sevās & tickets
This temple does not publish a rate list. Darśan is free; ārcanā, abhiṣeka and other sevās are booked at the counter inside the temple on the day.
🧭 Around the temple
Places to see besides the temple — tap any one to open it in Google Maps.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Mayiladuthurai and Poompuhar hotels
- Kumbakonam as a base
₹ Indicative trip cost (per head, 2 days)
| Budget | Standard | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1,700 | ₹3,300 | ₹7,800 |
🛕 Nearby temples
📌 Other attractions nearby
- Poompuhar beach
- Tarangambadi (Tranquebar) Danish fort
🧵 Part of these circuits
📅 Best time to visit
October–February