Nagercoil · Tamil Nadu · Kerala Tantric worship · The temple that named Nagercoil
Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple – Timings, Darshan & Seva Booking
The thatched sanctum of the five-headed serpent king. Today’s darshan timings, pooja schedule, seva ticket prices and festival days for Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil, from the official HR&CE temple portal.
Lord Nagaraja (the serpent king) and Lord Ananthakrishnan
- 5:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- 4 daily poojas
- Sevas from ₹5
Tickets are booked on the government HR&CE portal, which opens in a new tab. If the portal is down, that tab waits and opens it as soon as it’s back.
Right now at the temple
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About Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple
Nagaraja Temple stands at the centre of Nagercoil and gives the town its name. The temple faces east, but by long custom everyone uses the southern gateway. The sanctum of Nagaraja is the only one in Kanyakumari district still roofed with thatch, keeping to the old tradition; the deity is a five-headed serpent in stone, covered with a five-metal kavacham and believed to be self-manifest.
Worship follows the Kerala Tantric system, with priests by tradition from the Pambu Mekkadu Namboodiri family. Nagaraja is worshipped first each day, before Ananthakrishnan and Shiva — except at the Arthajama pooja, when Ananthakrishnan comes first. The prasadam is earth mixed with water, which the temple says is black from Aadi to Margazhi and white from Thai to Aani. Inscriptions show the shrine was a Jain place of worship until the 16th century; an inscription of 1643 calls it a Krishna temple.
- Thatched sanctum of a self-manifest five-headed serpent
- Kerala Tantric worship by Namboodiri priests
- Earth prasadam that changes colour with the season
- Former Jain shrine, now a Krishna and Naga temple
Temple Timings
Time at the temple (India)
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- Open for darshan
- Darshan paused
- Pooja
The ring shows the AM (midnight to noon) hours.
Open for darshan
- 5:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Nadai closed
- 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Darshan runs 5 AM–12 PM and 5 PM–8 PM; on Sundays the hours are longer.
- Enter by the southern gateway; vehicle parking is at the front.
- Milk payasam, infant feeding and wedding bookings are on the portal.
Daily Pooja Schedule
4 poojas are performed every day. Times are India time and change on festival days.
5:00 AM
to 5:30 AM
Ushathkala Pooja
11:00 AM
to 11:30 AM
Uchikala Pooja
6:30 PM
to 7:00 PM
Sayaratchai Pooja
7:45 PM
to 8:00 PM
Arthajama Pooja
Seva & Darshan Tickets
All sevas on HR&CEFees for booking online on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Tickets are issued by the temple; Trypdeals does not sell them.
Annai Tamil Archanai
Archanai · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹5
BookArchanai
1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹5
BookIrumudi fee
Pooja · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹25
BookInfant feeding
Other · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹100
BookMilk Payasam
Abhishekam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹150
BookMarriage
Other · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹1,000
Book
Dress Code & Facilities
Wear
- Men: dhoti or veshti, or trousers with a shirt
- Women: saree, half-saree, or salwar with dupatta
Avoid
- Shorts and sleeveless tops
- Leather items near the sanctum
- Footwear — leave it at the free stands outside
How to Reach
Near the Superintendent of Police Office, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu 629001 Get directions
History
Through the centuries
1505–1645
Twelve inscriptions in Tamil and Grantha, dated 1505 to 1645, name Bhoothala Veera Udaya Marthanda Varma; in the early 16th century the shrine was cared for by the Jain acharyas Gunaveera Pandithan and Kamalavahana Pandithan.
1516
Inscriptions show Sunday worship already being held.
1588
The temple’s administration changes hands.
15th–20th century
The present temple grows in stages over some 400 years.
Temple at a Glance
- Inscriptions
- 12, from 1505 to 1645
- Temple lands
- About 40 acres in the Suchindram area
- Worship
- Kerala Tantric, by Namboodiri priests
Art & Architecture
Halls, sculptures and paintings worth seeking out inside the temple.
- The hunter and the deerPillar before the Nagaraja shrineA hunter on one leg pulling a thorn from his foot, the deer slung round his neck and his dog beside him.
- Jain figuresBefore the Ananthakrishnan shrineParshvanatha and Mahavira, alongside Hanuman and scenes of Krishna on the Kaliya serpent.
- Royal donorMandapam pillarKing Bhoothala Veera Udaya Marthanda in prayer.
Customs & Rituals
Ayilyam star
On Ayilyam — Lakshmana’s star, Adisesha being reborn as Lakshmana — devotees with Rahu–Ketu doshas pour milk over Nagaraja; milk payasam is offered at 10 AM.
Avani Sundays
On the Sundays of Avani, devotees offer salt, pepper and wooden models of hands and feet.
Thai festival
A ten-day festival for Ananthakrishnan, with a hunt on the eighth day, the car on the ninth and the Aarattu at the old river on the tenth.
Online Booking Rules
How seva and darshan booking works on the HR&CE portal — worth reading before you pay.
- 1Book only on the official portalDarshan and seva tickets are sold on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Many temples offer free darshan slots; paid tickets are priced by each temple.
- 2A government ID for every personEach devotee on the ticket needs a government ID number at booking — Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, ration card or driving licence.
- 3One ID, one booking at a timeThe same ID cannot be used again until a gap set by the temple has passed. If a booking fails, the ID is released and can be used straight away.
- 4Your e-ticketA confirmed booking produces a PDF e-ticket to download; it is also sent to the email and mobile number you give. The portal’s “e-Ticket Verification” page lets you check a booking and download the ticket again.
- 5If a payment is stuckA pending payment usually settles within 10 to 30 minutes — the portal re-checks with the bank on its own. If money was debited but the booking failed, the bank refunds it in 3–5 working days.
- 6Paid bookings are finalPaid tickets cannot be cancelled or refunded, so check the date and slot before paying.
- 7Ticket won’t open?On older Android phones the PDF sometimes won’t display — download it and open it in an up-to-date PDF reader.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple timings?
Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple is open 5:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM; the nadai is closed 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Timings change on festival days.
What is the daily pooja schedule at Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple?
4 poojas are held every day, starting with Ushathkala Pooja at 5:00 AM – 5:30 AM and ending with Arthajama Pooja at 7:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
Can I book sevas at Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple online?
Yes — 6 sevas, from ₹5, can be booked on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Each seva above links to its official booking page.
What is the dress code?
Traditional dress is expected: dhoti or pants with a shirt for men, and saree, half-saree or salwar with dupatta for women. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed.
What ID do I need to book darshan online?
Every person on the ticket needs a government ID number at booking — Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, ration card or driving licence. The same ID can be used again only after a gap set by the temple.
Can I cancel a paid seva or darshan ticket?
No. Paid bookings on the HR&CE portal are final and cannot be cancelled or refunded. If money was debited but the booking failed, the bank refunds it within 3–5 working days.
Timings, pooja schedule, fees and festival days come from the official Tamil Nadu HR&CE Thirukoil portal and are refreshed daily (last update 9 Oct 2026). They change on festival days — please confirm on the official temple page before you travel.