Beaches, a Danish fort, great temples, a basilica, a dargah and mangrove forests, all within a day of the resort.
Karaikal sits at the edge of the Cauvery delta, one of South India's richest stretches of history and faith. Drive times are from the resort. Tap Directions for a Google Maps route, or let our travel desk arrange a car.
Tap places on the map, add them to your route, and open the whole day in Google Maps.
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A wide, easy-going beach where the Arasalar river meets the Bay of Bengal. Locals come in the evening for the breeze and street snacks.
A temple to Karaikal Ammaiyar, one of the 63 Nayanmar saints of Tamil Shaivism and a poet born in this town. Its Mangani festival fills the streets each summer.
The Dharbaranyeswarar temple, known across South India for its shrine to Saneeswaran. It is busiest on Saturdays and during Sani Peyarchi.
The shrine of the Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed, with five tall minarets, visited by people of every faith.
The Amirthagateswarar and Abirami temple, where many families hold 60th and 80th birthday rituals for long life.
Tharangambadi, the old Danish town. Dansborg fort, built in 1620, stands on the shore with a small museum inside, beside a seafront temple and colonial churches.
The white Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, one of India's best-known pilgrim churches, with a beach a short walk away.
Home of the vast Thyagarajar temple and one of the largest temple chariots in India, beside the Kamalalayam tank.
A town of temples and the Mahamaham tank. Nearby Darasuram's Airavatesvara temple is part of the UNESCO-listed Great Living Chola Temples.
The only temple in Tamil Nadu dedicated to Saraswathi, goddess of learning, near Poonthottam. Families bring children here before exams and school admissions.
A Murugan temple near Karaikal where many families hold their weddings. With few hotels close by, RK Resorts is an easy base for wedding families.
The Nataraja temple, with its golden-roofed hall, is one of the most important temples in Tamil Nadu.
One of the largest mangrove forests in the world. Rowing boats take you through narrow green channels and wide backwaters.
Velankanni is about 50 minutes from the resort. Visit the basilica and beach in the morning, stop at Nagore Dargah on the way back, and spend the evening at Karaikal Beach or by our pool. Calmer than staying in Velankanni itself, especially around the feast in late August and early September.
Cars with drivers, routes and timings for any of these trips, arranged at reception. Tell us your plan the evening before.
Message the travel deskThese photos of temples, beaches and heritage sites are by the photographers below and used under their licences. They are cropped for display. Photos of RK Resorts itself are our own.
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