Select Country
Velankanni Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Tamil Nadu, mainly owing to the activities that are at the disposal of tourists and its distance from the Church of Our Lady of Health. There are a lot of other churches in the neighboring areas as well as markets thronged by shoppers all through the evening. The beach is marked by swaying palm trees and offers great views of the sunrise and sunset. The beach is the most popular among families, even though it is also frequented by couples and groups of friends, especially from nearby areas.
Visiting the churches and shopping are 2 of the most common activities in and around Velankanni Beach. There are a lot of shops that line the beach, which makes it perfect for families to shop. Also, people of all religions visit extremely popular churches. However, if one wishes to indulge in some water sports, there are also opportunities for the same.
Apart from the regular activities that last all year long, there is the Velankanni Church Festival which is an annual occurrence. The 11-day festival is held in the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health. Lacs of devotees visit the area during this time. Usually, families prefer to visit the celebration together during the festival. Apart from the usual daily events, a grand feast is held which is dedicated to Mother Mary and marks the end of the festival. Roads may be rerouted during this time, and it is better to get information beforehand. There are special trains that ply between Nagapattinam or Velankanni and other cities to ease the movement of devotees during the festival. The security is also beefed up during this time, not only in and around the church but also throughout the area. For the duration of the festival, the number of people visiting the Velankanni Beach also goes up significantly.
Home to one of the most popular Catholic churches in the country, the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni Beach is extremely popular among pilgrims. The site is devoted to Our Lady of Good Health and is commonly referred across the world as ‘Lourdes of the East’. The history of the church dates back to the 16th century and as per tradition then, the church was built in the Roman-Gothic style. Thereafter, changes were made to the architecture of the church when the Portuguese invaded. The church has also since undergone several phases of expansion as the number of pilgrims has increased steadily over the years.
There are some other pilgrimage sites in the vicinity of the Velankanni Beach, including Morning Star Church, St. Sebastian Church and Nadutheru Church. However, the popularity of the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health is unmatchable, and the latter drives pilgrims not just from the country but from abroad as well.
One might face a little bit of difficulty reaching Velankanni Beach as the road is the easiest way of accessing the area. Rail is also available; however popular trains do not connect nearby cities with Velankanni. There are numerous buses and private taxis that one can consider to reach the area. The nearest major railway station is Nagapattinam and the nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli, which are at a few hours’ drive away from the beach.
Buses ply between nearby cities and Velankanni which are operated by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) and State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) (SETC). Private operators also operate buses connecting Velankanni with other cities, and these may also include luxury buses. You will find it easy to reach Velankanni from cities including Chennai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Salem, Trivandrum, Ernakulam, and Bangalore if you’re planning to take a bus. You may also decide to drive down from one of these places if you are comfortable with long drives.
Nagapattinam is the closest popular railway station from Velankanni, which is at a distance of 12km. Regular taxis are available from Nagapattinam to Velankanni. Although there are not a lot of trains moving to and from Nagapattinam, it connects easily with Chennai, which is the capital city of Tamil Nadu and also the hub of transport for all tourists from within the country and abroad. Velankanni-Chennai Egmore Link Express is a direct train running daily between Chennai and Velankanni, while Vasco-Velankanni Express runs between Vasco da Gama and Velankanni every week.
The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli which is located at an approximate distance of 157 km from Velankanni Beach. One may choose to hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Velankanni from here.
Velankanni to Tiruchirapalli: 151 km (approx. 3.5 hours)
Velankanni to Chennai: 328 km (approx. 7 hours)
Velankanni to Puducherry: 161 km (approx. 4 hours)
Velankanni to Bangalore: 482 km (approx. 9.5 hours)
Velankanni enjoys a tropical climate and thus summers here are generally unforgiving. Thus, it is suggested to plan the visits during the spring or autumn seasons. However, a lot of people also prefer to visit during winter months as the weather remains calm during the time and makes it an ideal destination for family holidays. As mentioned earlier, summers are unrelenting, and they usually last from April to May. Once summer comes to an end, monsoons pick up. However, the rains are not enough to give respite from the heat. The scanty rainfall does more damage than good and increases the humidity, thereby making the weather unbearable. October to March are good months to visit Velankanni and enjoy the beauty, the beach offers
The southern part of India is rich in heritage and there are a lot of places that you can visit apart from Velankanni Beach when you’re in this area.
Extremely well-known for its architecture, Thanjavur has a rich cultural history, and this can be seen in the temples of Thanjavur. It is located at a distance of approximately 100 km from Velankanni and can be reached in approximately 2.5 hours by car. The main attractions here include Sangeetha Mahal, Brihadeshwara Temple, Shiva Ganga Temple, Lord Murugan Temple, Vijayanagara Fort, and several other architectural marvels.
Located at a distance of 43 km and only an hour and a 15-minute drive from Velankanni Beach is the quaint town of Tranquebar, or Tharangambadi, as it is commonly called. The literal translation of Tharangambadi is ‘land of the singing waves’, which is a clear representation of the town. The town is set up just next to the sea, and it is away from the hustle and bustle of city life, allowing you to hear the waves of the sea at all times. Apart from natural beauty, you can also witness some exemplary Danish architecture. Danish Fort, officially known as Fort Dansborg, is the epitome of Danish architecture in India.
A short drive of 19 km in under 25 minutes can take you to Nagore, which is another pilgrim destination dotted with temples. However, the most popular pilgrimage site of the town is not a temple, but a mosque known as the Nagore Dargah. It is dedicated to Meeran Sahib Abdul Qadir Shahul Hameed Badshah. Also, there are some other mosques such as Yezhu Lebbai Jamia Masjid, Fathima Jamia Masjid, and Theeru Palli Masjid.
Accommodation is fairly easy to find in Velankanni, and there are a lot of options ranging from budget homestays to luxurious hotels in Velankanni. Since families who are visiting the Church frequent the place, there are several options that are apt for families. Several hotels are also in the vicinity of the church and the beach and offer an impeccable view of these places, which are undoubtedly the biggest attractions in the area.
Most of the restaurants in Velankanni offer delicious seafood. However, there are a lot of restaurants offering vegetarian delicacies as well. Most of the restaurants are budget-friendly and in close proximity to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health and Velankanni Beach. However, since this is a town generally visited by families, you will not find places good to party or with a bustling nightlife.
The state of Tamil Nadu has a rich cultural heritage, which is reflected in Velankanni Beach and its neighboring towns. It is the ideal spot for families to spend some time exploring the rich architectural history and also visit some of the pilgrimage sites that are popular across the world. In a nutshell, a vacation to Velankanni gives an all-round experience that covers great food, a rewarding pilgrimage visit and also a chance to be amazed by the alluring waves of the sea.
Please go back to portrait mode for the best experience
April 15, 2024 
