A tour to Poompuhar is a must-include in your tour itinerary of Tamil Nadu if you want a taste of the intrinsic culture and essence of Tamil Nadu. Noted as the backdrop of one of the greatest Indian epics, the Silapathikaram or the “Epic of the Anklet”, Poompuhar has always enjoyed an immense importance as one of the most important tourist destinations of Tamil Nadu. Located on the estuary of the River Kaveri, this beautiful port town was named so because of the estuary itself which is signified by “Poohar” which actually means an estuary. Located just around 24 kms away from Mayiladuthurai and 21 kms away from Sirkali, Poompuhar is one of the greatest tourist attractions of Tamil Nadu.

The festivals of Poompuhar are varied and add an extra spark of life to the town’s daily lives. Perhaps the most important of these is the festival of Pongal, which shows its influence on almost all the different regions and cities of Tamil Nadu. However, Poompuhar is perhaps, one of the most important places where the festival of Pongal can be witnessed in its true glory and colors, a trait which perhaps stems from the fact that Poompuhar has been regarded by many social historians to be the birthplace of the festival itself during the reign of the Chola kings at Kaveripattinam, the ancient name used for Poompuhar. Besides this, another important festival of Poompuhar is the Festival of Lights, in which lamps of Karthigai are lit on the full moon day of the month of Karthigai which banishes all forms of evil from the world. The festival which takes place towards the end of November is a definite must see if you are planning a tour to Poompuhar during that time.