The Navagraha temple circuit consists of nine temples clustered around Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery delta, each dedicated to one of the nine celestial bodies that govern astrological charts in Hindu tradition. Together they form one of South India’s most significant pilgrimage routes, and knowing the full list and the correct order to visit them in makes a real difference to how smoothly the tour runs, particularly if you’re attempting it in a single day. This guide lists all nine temples with their presiding deity and explains the sequence most commonly followed by pilgrims and drivers who know the circuit well.
Kumbakonam Temple Tour
The Complete List of 9 Navagraha Temples
Each temple in the circuit is dedicated to one graha, or celestial body, and is believed to hold specific power over the astrological effects that planet has on a devotee’s life.
1. Suryanar Kovil — Sun (Surya)
Located near Kumbakonam, this temple is dedicated to Surya, the Sun god, and is typically the starting point of the circuit for pilgrims who wish to begin with the primary source of all planetary energy in Vedic astrology.
2. Thingaloor — Moon (Chandra)
Dedicated to Chandra, the Moon, this temple is associated with mental peace and emotional balance, and sits a short distance from Suryanar Kovil.
3. Vaitheeswaran Koil — Mars (Angaraka)
One of the more prominent temples on the circuit, dedicated to Angaraka, or Mars, and closely associated with the healing deity Dhanvantari. It is also known for astrologers who read palm-leaf horoscopes, which draws additional visitors beyond the planetary pilgrimage itself.
4. Thiruvenkadu — Mercury (Budha)
Dedicated to Budha, or Mercury, this temple is known for its bronze idols and is associated with intellect, communication, and business success.
5. Alangudi — Jupiter (Guru)
Dedicated to Guru, or Jupiter, considered the most benevolent of the nine grahas and associated with wisdom, knowledge, and prosperity.
6. Kanjanur — Venus (Shukra)
Dedicated to Shukra, or Venus, associated with marital harmony, beauty, and material comfort, and a commonly requested stop for devotees seeking blessings related to marriage.
7. Thirunallar — Saturn (Shani)
The temple most strongly associated with relief from Shani dosha, or the astrological effects of Saturn, and generally considered the most significant single stop on the entire circuit. It is also the furthest from Kumbakonam, located near Karaikal.
8. Thirunageswaram — Rahu
Dedicated to Rahu, one of the two lunar nodes in Vedic astrology, and known for its distinctive sanctum where the deity is depicted with a human face rather than a serpent form, unlike most Rahu representations.
9. Keezhperumpallam — Ketu
Dedicated to Ketu, the second lunar node, and typically the final temple on the circuit, completing the set of nine planetary deities.
The Recommended Visiting Order
While there is no single mandatory sequence prescribed by scripture, the order most commonly followed by pilgrims and experienced drivers is built around minimising backtracking rather than strict ritual order. A typical sequence starts at Suryanar Kovil (Sun), moves to Thingaloor (Moon), then Vaitheeswaran Koil (Mars), Thiruvenkadu (Mercury), Alangudi (Jupiter), Kanjanur (Venus), Thirunageswaram (Rahu), Keezhperumpallam (Ketu), and concludes at Thirunallar (Saturn), since it sits furthest from Kumbakonam and works well as the final stop before returning to town.
Some pilgrims prefer to visit Thirunallar first, particularly if Saturn is the specific planet causing concern in their horoscope, since arriving early avoids the longer queues that build up at this temple later in the day. Your driver can adjust the sequence based on which temple holds particular significance for you, current darshan timings, and traffic conditions on the day, so the order above should be treated as the standard efficient route rather than a fixed rule.
Why the Order Matters More Than It Might Seem
On a single-day tour, sequencing the nine temples poorly can add hours of unnecessary driving. Because the temples are spread across small towns rather than a straight line, jumping between them out of geographic order means covering the same stretch of road multiple times. A well-planned sequence, like the one above, moves in a broadly circular route outward from Kumbakonam and back, which is the main reason experienced drivers stick closely to it rather than following the numerical Sun-to-Ketu order some devotees expect.
Planning Your Visit Around This Order
If you’re organising the tour yourself, it helps to confirm darshan and closing timings for each temple in advance, since several close for a few hours in the early afternoon. Building the day around this order, with the two most time-sensitive temples, Vaitheeswaran Koil and Thirunallar, positioned to avoid their peak crowd windows, makes the difference between a smooth single day and a rushed, frustrating one.
At Laro Travels and Tours, our Navagraha tour packages are built around exactly this sequence, adjusted where needed for the day’s specific temple timings and festival calendar. Our drivers, based in Kumbakonam, run this circuit regularly and know which temples tend to have longer queues at which times of day, which lets them fine-tune the order in ways a first-time visitor planning independently usually cannot.
Why Book With Us
- Full nine-temple circuit planned around an efficient, tested visiting order
- Based in Kumbakonam, at the centre of the circuit, minimising total driving distance
- Drivers experienced with darshan timings and seasonal crowd patterns at each temple
- Sequence adjusted on request if a specific planet holds particular significance for you
- Chauffeur-driven Toyota Innova Hycross and Innova Crysta, both under one year old
- ISO 9001:2015 certified and registered with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the names of all 9 Navagraha temples?
Suryanar Kovil (Sun), Thingaloor (Moon), Vaitheeswaran Koil (Mars), Thiruvenkadu (Mercury), Alangudi (Jupiter), Kanjanur (Venus), Thirunallar (Saturn), Thirunageswaram (Rahu), and Keezhperumpallam (Ketu).
Is there a fixed order to visit the Navagraha temples?
There’s no strict scriptural order, but pilgrims commonly follow a route that minimises backtracking, typically ending at Thirunallar since it’s furthest from Kumbakonam.
Which Navagraha temple should I visit first?
Suryanar Kovil, the Sun temple, is the most common starting point, though some devotees begin with the temple corresponding to the planet most significant in their own horoscope.
Why is Thirunallar often visited last?
Thirunallar, the Saturn temple, is located near Karaikal, further from Kumbakonam than the other eight temples, which makes it a practical final stop before heading back.
Can the visiting order be changed based on personal astrological needs?
Yes. If a specific planet is the primary concern in your horoscope, that temple can be prioritised earlier in the day to avoid longer queues later on.