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
Typetemple
Nearest baseSuryanar Koil
Best timeOctober to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta
Time neededAbout an hour
EntryFree
Nearest town/baseSuryanar Koil
DistrictThanjavur
Place typetemple
Time neededAbout an hour.
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.
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.
Visiting
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
A natural starting point for the Navagraha nine-temple circuit.
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.
Visitor notes
Safety
Good to know
On the map
Where Suryanar Kovil is
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Suryanar Kovil
Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around Suryanar Kovil — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.
Verified inventory is being added here.
Verified places are being added. The category filters will fill in as approved stays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and nature listings go live.
List your placeRoampedia is commission-free — own or know a stay, eatery, guide or shop near Suryanar Kovil? List it and it appears here once verified.
Add a nearby businessNearby
What’s near Suryanar Kovil
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. Fees and timings are indicative — confirm on site before you travel.
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 (1.5 km), Mahalingaswamy Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur (3.1 km), Kasi Viswanathar Temple (4.1 km), Kampahareswarar Temple (5.2 km).
Read next
More stories, legends & guides from Thanjavur
StoryThe Emperor’s Mountain of Granite: Rajaraja Chola and the Big Temple5 min readStoryGods Poured in Metal: The Chola Bronzes and the Lost-Wax Craft5 min readStoryA King Who Collected Knowledge: Serfoji II and the Saraswathi Mahal5 min readStoryThe Nine Planets of the Cauvery Delta5 min readHeritage circuitOne Inscription, Three Temples: The Great Living Chola Temples6 min readStoryKumbakonam and the Pot of Nectar: The Town Where the Rivers Bathe6 min readStoryThe Grand Anicut: Karikala’s Dam That Still Waters the Delta6 min readGuideThe Navagraha Temples of Tamil Nadu: The Nine-Planet Pilgrimage9 min readStoryAiravatesvara Temple, Darasuram: the Chola jewel built as a chariot6 min readItineraryThanjavur & the Kaveri Delta in 3 Days8 min read
Image credits
- Suryanar Kovil:PJeganathan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0