What to expect
Suryanar Kovil
The Navagraha temple dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, unusual for having separate shrines for all nine planetary deities within one complex. Built during the Kulothunga Chola I period in the 11th-12th century, it is the principal Sun temple of the Kaveri delta Navagraha circuit. Pilgrims doing the nine-temple Navagraha tour typically centre their journey here.
Practical guide
Plan Suryanar Kovil
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Before you go to Suryanar Kovil
Entry rules not verified for this temple. Some Hindu temples admit only Hindus, and most enforce a dress code at the door. We have not verified the rule for this particular temple, so please check before you travel — especially if you are not Hindu or are visiting from outside India.
We report each site's own published rules neutrally, and only where we can source them.
Typetemple
Nearest baseSuryanar Koil
DistrictThanjavur
Best timeOctober to March is the cooler, drier…
Time neededAbout an hour
EntryFree
Suryanar Kovil is planned from Suryanar Koil, one of the travel bases in Thanjavur district. Use Suryanar Koil for stays, food and local transport, then plan this place as a focused stop.
Getting there
How to visit
- Base yourself in Suryanar Koil or nearby in Thanjavur, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel.
- If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
Distance by road
- Tiruchirappalli (Trichy)58 km
- Madurai190 km
- Puducherry170 km
- Coimbatore215 km
- Chennai350 km
Road km to Thanjavur; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
Weather in Suryanar KovilSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Suryanar Kovil
Sunrise6:02 am
Sunset6:23 pm
Golden hour best light5:23 pm–6:23 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:23 pm–6:48 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 279°
Moon tonight🌖 Waning gibbous · 83%
South-west monsoon. June to September is the south-west monsoon in Tamil Nadu. Expect heavy showers, mostly in bursts rather than all day — carry rain cover, allow extra time for getting around, and note that ferries and open-air sites are the first things affected.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
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Stays, food & things to do near Suryanar Kovil
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Suryanar Kovil — at a glance
Timings6:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Best timeOctober to March (cooler and drier)
Entry: Free
Getting here
How to reach Suryanar Kovil
~15 km from Kumbakonam railhead; Tiruchirappalli airport ~100 km
Getting around Suryanar Kovil
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
If you need help at Suryanar Kovil
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Suryanar Kovil
On the map
Where Suryanar Kovil is
Good to know
Suryanar Kovil — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Suryanar Kovil?
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
What are the entry fee and timings at Suryanar Kovil?
Entry: Free. Timings: 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM.
How do I reach Suryanar Kovil?
Base yourself in Suryanar Koil or nearby in Thanjavur, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel. If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
How much time do I need for Suryanar Kovil?
About an hour.
What else is near Suryanar Kovil?
Nearby you can pair Agneeswarar Temple (1.8 km), Mahalingaswamy Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur (5.1 km), Thirubuvanam Silk Weaving (6.6 km), Kampahareswarar Temple (6.7 km).
Read before you go
Suryanar Kovil guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Suryanar Kovil itself yet. These cover Suryanar Koil, the town it sits in, and the wider district.
Tamil Nadu-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Tamil Nadu.
Story
The Emperor’s Mountain of Granite: Rajaraja Chola and the Big Temple
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Story
Gods Poured in Metal: The Chola Bronzes and the Lost-Wax Craft
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Story
A King Who Collected Knowledge: Serfoji II and the Saraswathi Mahal
5 min read · Read →
Heritage circuit
One Inscription, Three Temples: The Great Living Chola Temples
6 min read · Read →
Story
Kumbakonam and the Pot of Nectar: The Town Where the Rivers Bathe
6 min read · Read →
Story
The Grand Anicut: Karikala’s Dam That Still Waters the Delta
6 min read · Read →
Image credits
- Suryanar Kovil:PJeganathan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0