Nagapattinam

The holy coastal town of Nagapattinam sees a strong Buddhist history, the religious shrine for Hindus and Muslims and a famous Christian pilgrimage site. Nagapattinam is also known by the names- Cholakula Vallippatinam, Naganadu and Shiva Rajadhani; and saw its development during the Chola period. The town sees some of the important ancient monuments as old as from 3rd century. the place also houses various churches, beaches, sanctuaries and art galleries.

An important attraction of the town is the Budha Vihar constructed by the Great Ashoka. The salt swamp situated near Nagapattinam is considered to be the most biodiverse area in southern India and worth paying a visit. Also, Sapta Vidangar (Sundara Vidangam) and the 19th Divya Desam are the must-visit places here. The sacred town of Velankanni is often visited by the tourists visiting Nagapattinam.