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manapad beach

Beautiful Manapad – A Secluded Beach With Historical Values

Manapad History

Manapad is a costal village located 60 km away from Tuticorin and 18 km from Thiruchendur. It has unique costal lines that produce beautiful waves throughout the year.

Manapad is famous for its cross in the beach, which has happened in 14th century. In 1540, a Portuguese ship caught in wild storm, while sailing.

The captain of that ship prayed the god to save them from the broken mast. As they escaped from the danger, he builds a cross for thanking the god. After few years St Xavier came to Manapad for his missionary activities and built the shrine at the same place, where the cross was built but by the captain.

Best Time to Visit Manapad

Winter (November to January) is the perfect time to visit Manapad. At this time, it has pleasant temperature around 26°C. Tourist can experience the amazing sightseeing at this season. Also, Christmas is celebrated in a grand manner her in Manapad.

Places to Visit in Manapad

Manapad Beach

Manapad Beach
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Manapad Beach is one of the oldest beaches, which was used for trading in ancient days. After the construction of Tuticorin port, the trading was stopped. Now it is one the peaceful beach to visit to have wonderful sight seeing. Manapad has unique costal lines that produce beautiful waves throughout the year.

Holly Cross Church Manapad

Holly Cross Church
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This is an old church, which was built in the year of 1581. It is located atop of hillock close to the sea and it gives you pleasant experience with quite unique scenery. Holly cross church is famous for the feast of Exaltation of the Holly cross that is celebrated every year on September.

Manapad Point

Manapad Point
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Manapad point is located 24m above the sea level at Kulasekharapattinam. This is well known for Water sports like surfing. This is the main reason for the name “magnificent Manapd”, which is given by foreign tourists.

Activities and Things To Do In Manapad

Water Surfing

In Manapad, surfing is a very popular activity and it is ideal palace for surfing and Stand up Paddle (SUP). This attracts many tourist and foreigners to visit here. There is an option to learn the surfing. This really gives you a best experience like never before. Women can also enjoy the place by doing paddle boarding. In addition to this, Manapad is also a best place for, snorkeling, sailing and scuba diving.

Kite Surfing

Blue lagoon is a shallow lagoon that separates ocean from the shore. The wind speed in this place is very high. This is one of the best places for kite surfing and kayaking in Manapad.

Walk through the village

It helps to know about the heritage of Manapad. This gives you the new experience by visiting churches, palm leaf society. This is the journey through narrow village, which introduce you rich and historic culture of this village.

Hotels to Stay in Manapad

Manapaad, being a small village does not have many hotels to stay. However, there is a resort named Manapad Surf Resort. It’s a heritage bungalow with six bedrooms and modern bathrooms. The rooms are well furnished and this resort has an open terrace restaurant and serve both local and international cuisine.

Alternatively you can check hotels in Thiruchendur. It’s just 18 KMS from Manapad.

How To Reach Manapad

By Air

The nearby domestic airport to Manapad is in Tuticorin (58 Km), which has two flights to Chennai per day (SpiceJet Airlines). Madurai (170 km) and Thiruvandram (150 km) are other place near to Manapad that has airports and it has frequent flights from major cities of India.

Check Flights in Makemytrip

By Train

Thriunchedur railway station is nearest to Manapad. Chendur Express is direct train from Chennai Egmore. There are many passenger trains available that connect major stations Tuticorin and Thiruneveli. From Tuticorin there are direct trains to Chennai (Pear City Express), Coimbatore (Coimbatore Tn Link Express) and Mysore (Tuticorin Express).

From Thiruneveli Jn, you can have direct trains to Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai (Nagercoil Express)

By Road

There are frequent buses and travels are available to Thiruchedur from major cities. From there you can hire a taxi to reach Manapad.

Distance from Important Cities

  • Chennai to Manapad – 655kms (approx 11 hrs)
  • Pondicherry to Manapad – 527kms (approx 9 hrs)
  • Madurai to Manapad –197kms (approx 4 hrs)
  • Trivandrum to Manapad – 176kms (approx 4 hrs)
  • Kochi to Manapad – 342kms (approx 8. 30 min)
  • Bangalore to Manapad – 638kms (approx 11 hrs)

We have tried our best to provide you with authentic information. If you have more information to add, kindly use the comment box below. Like our blog? kindly care to share.

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Thiruchendur – Best Time To Visit, Temple Timings & Places To Visit

Thiruchendur is a small coastal village located in the Tuticorin district. Earlier Thiruchedur was known as Kapadapuram. In 1649, Dutch attempted to takeover Thiruchendur from Portuguese.

But Portuguese defeated them with the help of Madurai Nayaks. Thiruchendur was also ruled by Cheras and Pandyas.

This is the place where Lord Murugan killed demon Surapandman. And this event is popularly celebrated as Soorasamharam till date. During the Soorasamharam, the act is played on the beaches of Tiruchendur. Thousands of people will be present during the event to get the blessings of Lord Murugan.

Best Time to Visit Thiruchendur

Winter (November to January) is the perfect time to visit Thiruchendur. At this time, it has pleasant temperature around 21 to 25°C.

This is the time when the famous Soorasamharam will be enacted in Thiruchendur. It is a must event to get blessings of Lord Murugan and to see Thiruchendur in its complete glory.

Places to Visit in Thiruchendur

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple & Beach

Murugan temple & Beach
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Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is the second “aaru padai veedu” of Lord Muruga. This is the only murugan temple, which is located on the seashore. Thiruchendur is the place where the Lord Muruga fought and defeated the asura Surapadma and worshiped Lord shiva after the victory.

In most of the ancient temples the rajagopuram will be on the eastern side, but Thiruchendur Murugan temple is the only temple that has its rajagopuram on the western side. The rajagopuram is 137 feet high and has nine storeys. And to depict the 9 storeys, there are 9 kalasams at the top of the gopuram.

Some of the famous festivals grandly celebrated in this temple are

Vaikasi Visagam in the month of May and June

Skanda Sasti Festival – This festival is grandly celebrated for 7 days during the month of October and November

Masi Festival – This festival is celebrated for 12 days during the month of Febraury and March. It is believed that around 3 lac people visit the temple during the Masi festival.

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is open on all days from 5.10 AM to 9.00 PM

Read more about the Thiruchendur Murugan Temple history and pooja timings

Nazhi Kinaru Thiruchendur

Nazhi Kinaru Thiruchendur
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Nazhi Kinaru is one of the must visit places in Thiruchendur. It is a tradition that after taking bath in sea and in Nazhi Kinaru the devotees should go into the temple to have a dharsan of Lord Murugan.

This well is 14 feet wide and very near to the sea, but surprisingly this well has fresh water and not salty sea water. It is actually a natural wonder

Valli’s Cave or Dattatreya’s Cave

Valli’s Cave or Dattatreya’s Cave - Thiruchendur
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This is situated on the seashore, which is on the northern side of the Thiruchendur murgan temple. Valli’s Cave has stone mandapam with 16 pillars. Recently, it was renovated with granite flooring and new paintings.

Panchalamkurichi Fort

Panchalamkurichi Fort - Thiruchendur
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Pancahalamkurichi Fort was built by the famous tamil warrior king Veerapandiya Kattabomman. It is believed that the fort was built during the 18th century. During the war in 1799, king Kattabomman was defeated and was hanged in a tree near Kayathar. There is a memorial for him in Kayathar. After the defeat of Kattabomman, the fort was taken over by British and destroyed.

It is also believed that Kattabomman’s brother tried to recapture the fort again and in the process British completely destroyed the Fort. And the nearby lands are destroyed using castor oil, so that the lands are sutable for cultivation.

Navathirupathi

Navathirupathi - Thiruchedur
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There are 9 srivaishnava temples near Thiruchedur, which is known as Navathirupathi. They are srivaikundam, thenthirupathi, thiru puliankudi, thiru kurugoor, thiru kulanthai, thiru koloor, twin thirupathi, thiru varagunamangai. People who visit Thiruchendur visit Navathirupathi to seek blessings.

Ayyanar Sunai

Ayyanar Sunai - Thiruchendur
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It is located around 10 kms from Thiruchendur in Melaputhukidi. There is natural spring of fresh water, where the water flows throughout the year. It is surrounded by many plants and cashew nut trees. There is an ayyanar temple situated on the bank of ayyanar sunnai.

Timings: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (all days in week)

Entry fee: free

Kulasekarapattinam Beach

Kulasekarapattinam Beach - Thiruchendur
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Kulasekarapattinam is an ancient port which has featured in many sangam literatures. Even this port was mentioned by Marco Polo in his journals. The famous Mutharamman temple is located here; it is 300 years old temple. This temple is very famous for its dhasara celebrations. During the dhasara festival, it is estimated that nearly a million people come here dressed as various goddesses and perform the rituals.

In other parts of India, Dhasara or Navaratri is celebrated for 9 days. But in this temple it is celebrated for 12 days.

How to Reach Thiruchendur

By Air
Tuticorin airport is the nearest to Thiruchendur, which is located at the distance of 27km. Currently there are two flights(SpiceJet Airlines) are available from Chennai International Airport per day.

By Train
Thiruchendur railway station is nearby junction. Chendur Express is the direct train from Chennai. There are passenger trains available from Tuticoirn and Thirunelveli Junction.

By Road
Thiruchendur is well connected by road to all the major cities. Frequent bus facilities available from Chennai, Tuticorin and Thirunelveli.

We have tried our best to provide you with authentic information. If you have more information to add, kindly use the comment box below. Like our blog? kindly care to share.

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