Kanthimathi Nellaiyappar Temple
Kanthimathi Nellaiyappar Temple is the well known twin temple dedicated to Goddess Parvathi (Kanthimathi Ammai) and Lord Shiva ( Nellaiyappar - the Protector of Paddy). Covering an area of 14 acres, it is the biggest temple in Tamil Nadu situated in the heart of the city on the banks of river Taamiraparni at a distance of 2kms from the railway station. The temple, believed to be built by the Pandyas in the 13C was entirely remodeled and extended in 17C - 18C. Some of the inscriptions in the temple dates back to 950A.D. The temple is hailed as one of the 5 Pancha Sabhas (dance halls) of Nataraja (lord Shiva); the others being at Chidambaram, Madurai, Tiruvalankadu and Kutralam.

The temple complex consist of two huge temples, one for Lord Shiva (Nellaiappar temple) and the other for his consort Parvathi (Kanthimathi Ammai temple). The former temple is also called as 'Swamy Venunathar', 'Nelveli Nathar', 'Chaleevadeesar' and later by the names 'Vadivudaya Ammai' and 'Kamakottamudaya Naachiyaar'. These two temples are linked by a big terraced hall namely Sangili Mandapam that has life sized sculptures adoring the pillars. The main deity of Kanthimathi Nellaiyappar Temple is a 'Suyambu Lingam' or a Shiva Lingam which erupted from underneath the earth. 

The Nandi mandapam has a fairly big statue of Nandi (the bull God), similar to those at Tanjore and Rameswaram . The unique feature of the temple is the 'Mani manadapam' located near the nandi mandapam with two giant pillars carved out of a single stone and each one is having 48 sub pillars which produce musical notes when struck. Tamil poet Nellai M.S. Shankar says that the pillars here are a combination of the Shruti Gana Laya types. Other mandapams in the temple include Oonjal Mandapam and the 1000 pillared hall. The 1000 pillared hall is famous for the celestial wedding of Kanthimathi Ammai with Nellaiyappar which is celebrated every year in the Tamil month of Aippasi corresponding to October-November.

A copper dance hall, known as Tamra sabha which is made of wonderful woodwork is located within the temple. Lord Nataraja and Sivakami are worshipped here during the Arudra Darisanam festival, celebrated in the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec 15 - Jan 15). Behind the dance hall, there are shrines of Sandana Sabhapati (Natraja adorned with sandal paste) and Periya Sabhapati where religious services are done only on special occasions. 

With in the temple premises near the sanctum sanctorium, there is a shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Nellai Govindan) where his idol can be seem in a lying posture. It was built on a belief that Lord Vishnu had visited Tirunelveli to solemnize the divine marriage of Shiva and Parvathi. The temple is one of the five sacred places in Saiva religion, worth seeing for its beautiful sculptures, musical pillars, valuable jewels, a golden lily tank and a thousand pillared mandapa. 

Car festival is the most auspicious festival of this temple that is celebrated during Aani (June- July). Temple has 5 cars for Vinayakar, Murugan, Nellaiappar, Kanthimathi, Sandikaeswarar. Weighing 400 ton and having steel wheels, Nellaiyappar car is the 3rd largest car in Tamil Nadu and is the first car to be driven fully automatically. The other festivals celebrated here are Navaratri, Tirukkalyanam in Aippasi (Oct 15 - Nov 15) and  Bhrammotsavam during the Tamil month of Aani (June 15 - July 15).
Contact : 
Nellaiappar Temple 
No 5, Tirunelveli Town , Tirunelveli - 627006
Phone : 0462-2339910 , 2331373

Krishnapuram Temple
Krishnapuram temple also known as Venkatachalapathy temple is situated 12 km from Tirunelveli at Krishnapuram village on Tirunelveli- Tiruchendur main road. This temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is renowned for its remarkable 17C-18C carvings. The lord is installed here as Venkatachalapathy along with this consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. Daily rituals and poojas are performed to the deity. The main festivals of the temple are Vaikasi Visakham held in the month of May-June and Skanda Shasthi festival celebrated for 7 days in October-November.

Krishnapuram temple is really a wealth house of stone monument. The temple sculptures are noted for their high workmanship and artistic skills throughout the world. The figures of the sculptures are of life size and are carved with intricate delicacy. On the northern side of the temple, there is a Veerappa Naick Mandapam with two beautifully carved elephants at its entrance. Six pillars can be seen at the center of the mandapam which bear images of exquisite beauty depicting scenes from the Puranas. One of the pillars depicts the story of the adventure of Bhimasena with Purushamrigam, a half-man and half-beast who an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Another shows Arjuna with a flowing beard performing penance with bow and arrow in his hands. Yet another shows a princess and a prince being abducted by a Kuravan and a Kuratti (gypsies) and rescued by a king. The statue of Rati (Goddess of Love) is also carefully illustrated in a pillar with all its eternal beauty, humility, reverent and have a mixture appearance of self-satisfaction and serene contentment . The figures of the female body, dress and ornaments are carved in a magnificent style that shows the wonderful skillfulness of the artist. 

Nanguneri Temple
Located 29 km from the head quarters of Thirunelveli and surrounded by lush green fertile land, Nanguneri is a panchayat town renowned for the famous Vaishnavite temple commonly known as Totadri Mutt dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Also known by the names such as Medini and Sri Nivasam, Nanguneri is considered as the birth place of Sri Devi, one of the consort of Vishnu. The temple is one among the eight Swayamvyaktha Kshtrams.

The presiding deity of Lord Vishnu in the form of Totadri Naadhan can be seen in the sitting posture on the couch and canopy of Adi Shesha, with his two consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi on the two sides besides the celestial dancers Tilottama and Urvashi in attendance with fans in hand. Ennai Kinaru (oil well) in this temple is very famous and devotees consume this oil to get cured of diseases. The temple is known by different names like ‘Bhooloka Vaikuntham’, ‘Totadrikshetram’ and ‘Vanamamalai’. The main festivals of the temple are celebrated in the Tamil months of Panguni (March-April) and Chitra (April-May).

Sri Vaikundanatha Perumal Temple
Sri Vaikundanatha Perumal Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Vaikuntapathi Swami, is located on Tiruchendur road in Srivaikuntam about 37 km from Tirunelveli. The idol of the main deity (Moolavar), also known by the names Kalla Piraan and Paal Pandiyan is kept alone in Nindra Thirukkolam facing east. This idol with the Gadha (a weapon) in one of hand along with the Sangu and Chakkaram in the other hand is in standing position and the Serpent God, Adisesh unfurls his hood over Vishnu. 

The temple gopuram which is 110 feet in height and 500 feet in width can be viewed from the Tamaraibarani bridge. Several poojas are held in this temple and the most important among them is the pooja done by childless couples. It is believed that if the childless couple consume the ghee for 48 nights, that has been offered at the deity's feet, they will be blessed with children.

A unique feature of the temple is that every year on two days (in the period of April-May and October-November) Sun’s rays falls directly on Lord Vaikuntanathan. It is believed that this temple was used as a fort in the fight between the legendary freedom fighter Veerapandiya Kattabomman and the British in the 1800s. 

Tiruchendur Temple
Tiruchendur, the sea side town situated 48km east of Tirunelveli is a popular place of pilgrimage. The ancient Lord Subramanya temple dedicated to Lord Muruga is located on a small rocky promontory on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. The principal sanctum has a stone image of Lord Subrahmanya in standing posture. This idol that faces east is placed next to a monolithic Sivalinga which is believed to be worshiped by Subrahmanyam.

The main entrance of the temple facing south is adorned by a vast mandapam called Shanmukha Vilasa from where one can see the sanctum of the Lord. The temple has three prakarams and the main entrance opens into the first temple prakaram, i.e Sivili Mandapam. The entrance on the west, is a nine storeyed massive structure measuring 45m high and it is a prominent landmark of the temple that can be visible from the ocean. The temple being one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga, draws millions of devotees especially during 'Kanda Shasti Festival' in the month of Aippasi (October-November). The annual 10 days long Vasanta festival is held in the month of Chittirai (April-May).

Sankaranainarkoil
Sankaranainarkoil alias Sankarankoil (Arulmigu Sankaranarayanaswamy Temple), situated 56 km from Tirunelveli on the Madurai-Kollam rail route is dedicated to Lord Sankaranarayana, a combination of Shiva and Vishnu. The idol in this temple is believed to be the embodiment of earth. Besides the main shrine, there are two other shrines dedicated to Lord Sankaralinga (Siva) and Goddess Gomathi Amman (Parvathi). The temple famous for curing illness was built in the 11th century by the then ruler Ugra Pandyan and was later expanded. The gopuram (tower) of the temple is a nine storeyed structure measuring a height of 38meters.

Devotees believes that the sacred tank in the temple named Nagasunai have been dug by serpent kings named Paduman and Sangam and has a miraculous power to heal all the diseases. Adi thapasu festival is the main temple festival held on Uthirada day in the month of Adi (June-July).