Soorakudi:

Soorakudi: The Soorakudi temple is about 10 kms from Karaikudi on the road to Kanadukathaan and the Chettinad railway station. The soorai shrub also abounds here and is given as an explanation for the name of the village. The temple has ten vimanams and two gopurams. Its rajagopuram to the east, comprises five storeys and is richly embellished. Another striking feature of the temple is the sculptured pillars on the corridor around the shrines of the main deities. This is one of the temples of the Nagarathar clan that is held in high regard for its sculptures.

Chengalpattu

Around Chennai

Chengalpattu The TTDC provides boating facilities to the tourists in the beautiful lake at Chengalpattu. Pulicat It is India’s second largest brackish water lagoon, and is located 60 km north of Chennai. The Pulicat Lake is a breeding ground for rare birds. It consists of about 16 island villages and 30 adjoining the lake. The lake offers a good potential for eco- tourism. The principal birds that visit Pulicat lake are the flamingo and heron. About 15,000 of these birds visit Pulicat every year. Mamallapuram It is about 60 kms from Chennai.The monuments of Mamallapuram date back to the Pallava period of the 7th-8thcenturies. It is also a beach resort offering wide range of hotels to stay. Tourists are charged a one-time Entry fee for all monuments:

Vedanthangal (85 kms) This is a bird sanctuary for migratory water birds. It is about 85 kms from Chennai. Season: November- March. Entry Fee: Adult Re 1.00, Child 0.50 paise.

Gudiyam Caves (75 kms) Situated 10 kms from the Poondi Reservoir at Alikuzhi Ghats, it is believed to be a pre- historic hominid habitation. There are about 16 rock shelters that are naturally formed like canopy-like structures in the reserved forests. It is the right kind of expedition for trekkers and nature-lovers.
Around Chennai

Amusement Parks Around Chennai There are many Amusement Parks around Chennai. They are Kishkinta, nearear Tambaram Little Folks, Mayajal, MGM DizzyWorld and V.G.P. Golden Beach on the way to Mamallapuram. Dash and Splash, and Queens Land near Poonamallee.

Mathur

Mathur: The Mathur temple is a little over 5 kms from Karaikudi, that can be reached not long after passing Iluppakudi. Burial urns found in the vicinity indicate that there were settlements here more than 1500 years ago. The temple is rich with sculptures, and there is a unique piece at the entrance to the mahamandapam, where the steps, the two flanking elephants and the pedestals for the two doorkeepers have all been hewn from one stone. The nearly 70-foot tall rajagopuram here has been constructed in five storeys. The vizha mandapam or the festival hall in front of the rajagopuram or the main tower, at the entrance was built in 1949 and can seat 500 persons within the hall and another 500 around it. The main deity here is Lord Ainootheswarar and his consort Periyanayaki.

Vairavanpatti

Vairavanpatti: The Vairavanpatti temple is on the Karaikudi-Madurai road, about 15 kms from Karaikudi. A splendid 19th century temple tank is testimony to Dravidian architectural skills. Behind the Nagarathar choultry Vairava Theertham, a sacred spring said to have miraculous powers. The temple has 23 bronzes, all dating to the first renovation, and 12 vahanams. The temple also has several striking wall paintings, 37 on the Vairava Puranam and 43 on the Ramayana. There are also painting of scenes from the Mahabharata. The main deities here are Lord Aatkondanathar and Sivapurandevi.

Nagara Koil:

Nagara Koil: The people of Chettinad moved on from their settlement to other villages not far from their first settlement and, there were nine main clusters of villages. To each of them the Pandya King granted a temple in perpetuity. The nine temples thus became the family temple for each group and each cluster evolved as a subdivision of the Chettiars or what might describe as a fraternal clan. The clan temple tradition is that a wedding is recognized only if the bride and bridegroom receive wedding garlands from their respective clan temples. The moment the wedding is registered, the bridegroom becomes a pulli.

Ilayathangudi: The first of the clan temples was in Ilayathangudi and it is 25 kms from Karaikudi on the road to Kunrakudi, passing Nemam, Keelasivalpatti and Avinipatti on the way. It is said to have been granted to the Nagarathars in 707 A.D. The temple is known for its great sculptural value and it has the biggest tank, "oorani" of all other temples. Legend has it, that this was the resting place of the gods and it explains the village's name with a syllable break-up that is as follows: ilaippu meaning tiredness, attru meaning to remove and gudi meaning place.