Top 5 Places to Visit in Velankanni

Velankanni is a small and peaceful town on the East Coast along the Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district. Known for its religious significance, it is a popular pilgrimage destination, attracting visitors from across the country. The town features a quiet church, clean beaches, and busy streets. Located around 318 kilometres from Chennai Central Railway Station, Velankanni experiences a hot and humid climate with a long monsoon season. With its coastal charm and religious importance, it offers a peaceful setting for travellers and pilgrims. This Velankanni travel guide highlights the top attractions in Velankanni and helps plan a perfect Velankanni itinerary to explore its spiritual and scenic beauty.

Here’s the Top 5 places to visit in Velankanni and nearby:
 

The most popular place to visit in Velankanni is the Church. It is known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, which is the most popular and most visited pilgrimage destination in Tamil Nadu. This famous pilgrimage church in India is especially renowned for the Velankanni Church festival – the Feast of Our Lady of Good Health, celebrated annually in September for 11 days, attracting millions of devotees and tourists every year. The Velankanni Church in Tamil Nadu is well known for its beautiful architecture and deep spirituality. It offers a meaningful experience for all visitors with faith.

 

Velankanni Beach is a calm and scenic spot, located within walking distance from the church, making it a perfect place to relax after a visit. This Velankanni Beach near the church is known for its soft sands, gentle waves, and the serene view of the Velankanni Church, making it a favourite among families and pilgrims. Local vendors along the shore sell handcrafted seashell items, adding charm to the lively beachside. It gets especially crowded in September during the Feast of Our Lady of Good Health, drawing visitors from across regions, especially Kerala. Whether you're capturing memories or simply enjoying the sunrise at Velankanni beach or a peaceful sunset, it stands out as one of the cleanest beaches in Tamil Nadu, adding a special touch to your trip.

The Velankanni Shrine Museum is a small but meaningful religious museum in Velankanni, located just 1 km from the town centre. It showcases the history of Velankanni in museum displays that include religious artefacts, paintings, models, and offerings from devotees. The collection highlights the town’s rich heritage with items like gold, silver, coins, and currency donated in gratitude for answered prayers. As one of the most insightful cultural places in Velankanni, this museum near Velankanni Church is a must-visit for anyone seeking to understand the town’s spiritual and cultural depth.

The Sikkal Singaravelan Temple is a renowned Murugan temple near Velankanni, located just 14 kilometres away from the Velankanni Church. This sacred site is one of the most visited temples to visit near Velankanni. The temple is famous for the name “Sikkal,” which means “Problem” or “Stuck in life” in English, reflecting the spiritual significance that devotees strongly believe offering prayers here helps overcome problems and challenges in life. A key aspect of Sikkal temple history is that Lord Murugan is said to have received the divine Vel (lance) from his mother, Goddess Parvati, here before defeating the demon Soorapadman. The temple celebrates the Soorasamharam festival during October and November, attracting a large number of devotees. The temple showcases classic Dravidian architecture with colourful gopurams (towers) and sacred ponds. The atmosphere is filled with devotion, the scent of flowers and camphor. It’s one of the most peaceful and spiritually powerful places to visit near Velankanni.

Nagore Dargah Shariff, also known as Nagore Andavar Dargah, is a revered 16th-century Sufi shrine in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to the Sufi saint Sultan Syed Shahul Hameed Qadir Wali. This Dargah near Velankanni is known for its stunning Indo-Islamic architecture and attracts devotees from all faiths. Nagore Dargah stands as a symbol of unity and religious harmony, as it warmly welcomes people from all religions. One of the popular and sacred festivals celebrated here is the Kanduri festival Nagore (Urus Mubarak), a 14-day grand event held annually between December and January. The main event highlights the flag hoisting and the Sandhana Koodu procession—a ceremonial chariot carrying sandalwood paste—which draws a large gathering of devotees and tourists. Recognised among the famous dargahs in South India, Nagore Dargah continues to serve as a powerful symbol of peace, faith, and shared heritage across South India.

If you’re planning to explore Velankanni and looking for a peaceful stay nearby, MGM Vailankanni residency is a perfect choice, which offers a peaceful stay with comfortable rooms and a family-friendly atmosphere, various amenities, and a cozy ambience. The property features a variety of accommodations, including Grandeur Suites, Deluxe Rooms, and Villas designed to suit different travellers' needs. Guests can enjoy delicious meals at the multi-cuisine restaurant Virundu, which serves both local and international dishes, and relax at The Gold Bar with a wide selection of Beverages from classic Indian to foreign liquor. This is the only restaurant that caters to the dietary requirements of customers around Velankanni. If you are looking for the best place to relax and unwind after exploring the beautiful sites of Velankanni, MGM Vailankanni Residency is the perfect choice for a comfortable and memorable stay.

1. How to travel from Chennai Airport to Velankanni Church?

By Car:

• Route 1 - 311 km via NH32: Via Tindivanam, Cuddalore, Chidambaram
• Route 2 - 340 km via NH 179B: Via Tindivanam, Viluppuram, Ulundurpet, Perambalur, Thanjavur
• Route 3 - 323 km via NH38: Via Tindivanam, Panruti, Kumbakonam, Thiruvarur

By Bus: 

• RR Travels, Raja Travels, Lion Travels, etc, offer direct buses from Chennai to Velankanni and can be booked through RedBus.
• Buses will typically leave from CMBT, and the journey will take 6-8 hours.

By Train: 

There is no direct train from Chennai to Velankanni.
There are five trains from Chennai Egmore (MS) to Mayiladuthurai J(MV)
 

• BSBS RMM EXP (22536) (only on Tuesday)
• CHOZHAN SF EXP (22675)
• MS RMM EXP (16751)
• MS MQ EXP (16179)
• UZHAVAN EXP (16865)
• MS TCN SF EXP (20605)

Upon which you have to book a cab to Velankanni, which will take approximately. 1h 53m (66.9 km) or can take public transport.
Alternatively, there is one train from Chennai Egmore(MS) to Thiruvarur: MS MQ EXPRESS (16179) 

Upon which you have to book a cab to Velankanni. Approx. 47 min (34.1 km) via NH 83 and NH 32, or you can take public transport.
Lastly, Tambaram to Nagapattinam: MS KIK EXP (16175)

Upon which you need to book a cab to Velankanni. Approx. 25 min (13.5 km) via NH 32, or you can take public transport.

2. What is the distance between Chennai and Velankanni?
 

• 7 hr 9 min (332.7 km) via NH 179B/NH 32 and NH 32.
• 7 hr 53 min (362.1 km) via NH 179 B.
• 8 hr 42 min (434.4 km) via NH 179B and NH 83.

3. How many trains from Kerala to Velankanni?
 

• There is generally one daily train from Kerala to Velankanni.
• Ernakulam Jn. - Velankanni Express (16361)

4. What is the distance between Pondicherry and Velankanni?
 

• 3 hr 29 min (167.3 km) via NH 32
• 4 hr 8 min (220.6 km) via NH 83 and NH 32
• 4 hr 17 min (214.7 km) via NH 36

5. What is the distance between Kerala and Velankanni? 

There are 3 Routes can travel from Kerala to Velankanni.
 

• Kochi - Thrissur - Palakkad - Pollachi - Udumalaipettai - Dindigul - Trichy - Thanjavur - Pattukkottai - Velankanni [9 hr 53 min (477.8 km) via NH 83]
• Kochi - Muvattupuzha - Thodupuzha - Kumily - Cumbum - Dindigul - Trichy - Thanjavur - Velankanni [10 hr 37 min (501.0 km) via NH 85]
• Kochi - Palakkad - Pollachi - Dharapuram - Dindigul - Trichy - Thanjavur - Velankanni [10 hr 52 min (502.9 km) via NH 383 and NH 83]