Mahamaham Tank is one of the most sacred water tanks which is located in India. This water tank is located in Kumbakonam town of Tamil Nadu. The tank is a very holy place among the Hindus, and many tourists come every year to visit this place. So, you should definitely visit this temple if you are going for your Kumbakonam tour package.
It is believed that Lord Brahma itself built the temple. There is one story behind this, when Lord Brahma was creating the tank on the ground with his fingernail, that time Lord Brahma filled the tank with all the holy water from all sacred rivers that are present in India.
Not only this, there is one more story, once upon a time Lord Shiva took a dip in the tank at the famous temple festival. This temple festival happens every 12 years.
Another fascinating fact about this temple is that the annual festival celebrated here is a very famous festival in the city. The festival is celebrated during the month of Masi. Masi Month happens from February to March. During this time, it is said that the tank has more positive energy because of God's blessings. The tank is constructed in an area of 6.2 acres. With this big area, this temple is one of the largest Temple Tanks that is present in Tamil Nadu.
So, if you visit the temple, you can easily go to the nearby places to visit also. Along with this scene, nearby temple locations are also really nice. There are Ghats present near the Temple Tank. These ghats have very beautiful carvings and sculptures. The carving present here depicts scenes from Hindu mythology.
During the Chola dynasty's rule, kings used to take baths in the holy tank. During that time, water was used for irrigation also. However, due to the pollution issues, the temple tank faced various problems. However, various types of installations like sewage treatment plants and pollution control measures have been taken to take care of the Temple Tank.
The architecture of the famous Mahamaham Tank
Mahamaham Tank follows a blended style of architecture. The tank is present in a rectangular shape, and a total of 16 step Ghats are present. All the Ghats have very beautiful carvings and designs. You can easily reach the holy water as you go down the steps.
There is a mandapam located on the eastern side of the tank. This Mandapam is known as Mahamaham Mandapam. The architecture of the Mandapam follows Dravidian architecture with beautiful carvings and sculptures. Not only this, but the walls present inside the Mandapam have very intricate carvings and sculptures.
Different dynasties ruled this place. So, the tank has various types of mixed architecture and style. Overall, Mahamaham Tank is a famous holy tank surrounded by beautiful temples in Kumbakonam. The tank follows a Dravidian and Vijayanagara-style architecture. The scenery surrounding the tank is also really amazing. If you are a person who loves visiting temples and beautiful historical places, you should definitely add this place among the different PLACES TO VISIT IN KUMBAKONAM.