This important port town has the shrine of Soundaryaraja Perumal and is considered as an important Vaishnava shrine. According to the legend, it was at this place that goddess Parvati got back her original Saundarya (beauty) after worshipping Vishnu. Another rarity of this place is the idol of Ashtabhuja Narasimha (Narasimha with eight arms). There is also a separate temple for Nagaraja.
Nagore: 6 kms. from Nagapattinam. Popularly known as the Mecca of South India, it is a holy place not only for Muslims but also for Hindus and Christians. The tomb of the Sufi Saint Shahul Hamid or Saint Miran Sahib of the 16th century is situated here. There are five minarets over the tomb, one of which is 30 metres high and can be seen from a long distance. Every year, a grand festival called Kanduri is celebrated which lasts for a fortnight, when thousands of devotees assemble here and pay their respect to the saint without any distinction of caste or creed.
Karaikal: 12 kms. from Nagore. It was once a French settlement and a trading centre. The place has become famous due to the situation of the temple for the saint Karaikal Ammayar. The real name of the saint was Puithavathiar (which means a lady of merit). She grew up as a great devotee of Shiva and gave a masterly exposition of the Shaivite philosophy by composing several splendid hymns in Tamil. She has been immoratalised as one of the Nayanmars. The life of Ammayar is depicted during the Mangavi festival at Karaikal every year in the Tamil month of Ani.
Tirunallaru: 5 kms. from Karaikal. This small town has become very famous due to the situation of a rare temple for God Saturn. Although Saturn is only represented as one of the Navagrahas, a separate shrine has been constructed for this deity at this place as he is considered as a god granting the wishes of the devotees. Pilgrims flock to this place during the Sani Peyarchi festival. This place is also referred to a Nalleswaram as king Nala worshipped the Saturn at this place. Devotees burn gingely oil lamps and offer heaps of gingely oil seeds.