13 Best Tourist Places in Thoothukudi

Tamil Nadu in itself is a beautiful state with tons of tourist attractions that attract visitors from all over India, and this state is popularly known for its spiritual importance, historical significance, and beautiful beaches. Tamil Nadu is filled with many cities that offer an amazing travel experience, are very beautiful, and provide immense pleasure to the eyes of visitors, and that's why Tamil Nadu is said to be one of the most beautiful states in India. Thoothukudi, which is a district of Tamil Nadu, is also filled with many beautiful and alluring tourist attractions, and apart from being beautiful, these tourist attractions hold some historical and spiritual importance as well. The tourist places of Thoothukudi offer historical monuments, beautiful temples, panoramic landscapes, and scenic landscapes, and all of them make this district one of the most visited districts of Tamil Nadu by tourists. This article thus provides a complete list of popular tourist attractions in Thoothukudi, including some undiscovered and untouched places, and one should not miss any of them while having a trip to Thoothukudi.

(1) St James Church

One of the most popular tourist destinations of Thoothukudi, St James Church is a perfect place for all those visitors who are looking for a peaceful vacation and searching for solace during their trip to this city. Therefore, this church, which is positioned on PHC6+2J3, Ammapettai, should be on the list of every visitor. The visitors should try to attend the Sunday mass in this church which is a great way to offer prayers to the almighty god, and even the stunning structure of this church will definitely leave tourists in awe.

(2) Tuticorin Road Beach

Not witnessing the beautiful and gorgeous sunset at the Tuticorin Road Beach while having a trip to Thoothukudi, is surely a gem to miss during the trip, and everyone who is coming to this district should visit this beach at least once. Not only the amazing sunset of Tuticorin Road Beach, but tourists can also wake up early in the morning and take a walk around this beach during the alluring sunrise time while staying in this city. The sunrise time makes this beach a picture-perfect place as the view of sunrays embracing the blue sky is astonishing in itself. Those who are not morning people can explore the famous street food sold by the street vendors nearby the beach in the evening time, and can enjoy it with the beautiful sunset.

(3) Tuticorin Port

Counted among one of the major ports of India, Tuticorin Port was famed as the V O Chidambaram Port Trust, and this port attracts tourists all around the year from all over India. Visitors who are looking for a tourist destination in the Thoothukudi district where they can enjoy picturesque views while relaxing amidst the serenity, then this port is a perfect place for them, which was declared an eminent port in Tamil Nadu in 1974.

(4) Holy Trinity Church

Positioned at the OV Joseph St, Golden George Nagar, Nerkundram, Thoothukudi, Holy Trinity Church is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations to visit in this city. Holy Trinity Church is a beautiful, peaceful, and calm place to visit, and it is another famous church in this district which tourists can visit during their trip. The best time to visit this church is during Christmas time, when the church is beautiful, beautifully lit up with candles and lights, and this church also organizes meetings and service prayers at regular intervals of time.

(5) Manapad

A beautiful tourist destination which is free from commercialization, Manapad is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Thoothukudi, and the unique thing about this destination is that, unlike many other popular tourist destinations, this is not all exploited by urbanization. This tourist destination is perfectly nestled between naturally formed dunes and clear blue skies, and it is not only unexplored and untouched but also filled with many scenic landscapes. Manpad is an attractive tourist location which is famous for its water sports and leisure activities, and it is also ingrained in the history and gifted with picture-perfect landscape and scenic beauty.

(6) Sri Vaikuntam Temple

Located at JWJ6+G4Q, Srivaikuntam, Thoothukudi, Sri Vaikuntam Temple is one of the few popular tourist destinations in the district which tourists cannot afford to miss during their trip to this city and is counted among one of the most beautiful temples; it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The timings of Sri Vaikuntam Temple, which is one of the nine sacred temples that are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, are 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the morning and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the evening. Being one of the most visited places by tourists in Thoothukudi, this temple is one of the prime religious spots, and it is covered with inscriptions of idols and elephants as well.

(7) Ottapidaram

A small town with Tuticorin, Ottapidaram is one of Thoothukudi's tourist destinations that shouldn't be missed by visitors, and this place also holds historical and spiritual importance. This town is filled with a large number of tourist attractions that are famous for their historical importance, and one of these important tourist attractions to visit in this town is the Ulagamman Temple. Other than this, the house of V O Chidambaram is another tourist attraction to visit in this town.

(8) Ettayapuram Palace

Positioned at 4XXX+C37, Ettayapuram, Thoothukudi, Ettayapuram Palace is one of the best tourist places in the district, and it is present only 35 KMs away from the centre of Ettayapuram town. This beautiful palace is still intact even after all these years, and it is one of the fewest palaces that showcases the cultural and historical significance of Tamil Nadu. One of the most fascinating and unique historical piece of fact about this palace is that it is still unknown which ruler lived here, and the architecture of this palace can be witnessed in its glory. The timings of this palace are 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and it also attracts visitors from all over India.

(9) Kattabomman Memorial Fort

Kattabomman Memorial Fort, which is positioned at W2MM+JFG, Panchalankurichi, Thoothukudi, is one of the tourist destinations of the district that are considered and treated like a shrine amongst the native of the city, and this beautiful fort is made so perfectly and well maintained even in today's time. The Kattabomman Memorial Fort is the memorial fort which was constructed by the Government of India, and it was built in the memory of Veerapandiya Kattabomma Karuthayya Nayakkar. Veerapandiya Kattabomma Karuthayya Nayakkar was a freedom fighter who fought against the Britishers in the 18th century, and he was later given the death penalty by the government. So, on the orders of the British government, he was hanged to death, and later, this fort was built at the exact place where he was hanged.

(10) Our Lady Of Snows Basilica

Tamil Nadu is not only popular for some legendary temples but also for many famous churches of the British Era. Our Lady Of Snows Basilica, which is positioned at Plot No, 41, Beach Rd, Matha Koil, Shanmugapuram, Thoothukudi, is counted among the most popular churches in the state. Our Lady Of Snows Basilica is a popular tourist destination which is famous for worship, and it is very popular among tourists for its beautiful architecture. This church is inspired by the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, which is positioned in Rome, and this place of worship is dedicated to St Mary. The times of this church are from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and it is also counted among one of the biggest churches of Tamil Nadu, along with its stunning architecture.

(11) Thiruchendur Murugan Temple

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple, which is positioned at Thiruchendur, Thoothukudi, is one of the most popular temples in the city, and it is also counted among one of the most religious places in the state. Being counted in one of the famous tourist attractions of Thoothukudi, Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is famous for hosting a large number of festivals, and visitors attracted by the beauty and spirituality of the temple come every year from all over India. Tourists from many different places come here to worship the in-house deity Lord Kartikeya, who is popularly known as Lord Murugan, and it is one of the very few temples in India that showcase various forms of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The temple has never flooded despite the fact that it is positioned only 200 meters away from the Sea Shore, and it has stayed strong during many tsunamis as well. The timings of the Thiruchendur Murugan Temple are from 11 in the morning to 5 in the evening.

(12) Kalugumalai

Positioned at Papanasam, Thoothukudi, Kalugumalai is one of the most beautiful tourist places to visit in this city, and it is also known as Kazhugumalai popularly. The name of the town is derived from the fact that it is surrounded by hills as the name "Kalugumalai" is loosely translated to "Hill of Vultures", and this town is famous for its monolithic Jain beds and ancient rock-cut temples. This town had also served as trade during the ancient times, and the hills surrounding the city provide a paranomic view to all the visitors.

(13) Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary

Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary, which is positioned at Papanasam, Thoothukudi, is one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in the state, and it is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in Thoothukudi. Counted among one of the few wildlife sanctuaries of South India that is home to tiger, Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary is home to many species of animals and birds, including some rare species as well, such as Pangolin, flying squirrel, Nilgiri Tahr, langur, bonnet macaque, Nilgiri langur, Lion-tailed macaque, and many others. The timings of the Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary are from 11 in the morning to 5 in the evening.