Nagapattinam is a coastal district town in the Cauvery Delta, 340 km south of Chennai on the Bay of Bengal. It's the main town in a district that contains an unusual concentration of pilgrimage sites across different religions — Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Jain — within a small area.
The Nagore Dargah, 5 km north, is one of the most important Sufi shrines in south India, drawing pilgrims from across the region regardless of religion. The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at Velankanni, 12 km south, draws three million pilgrims annually — mostly Hindu — in a tradition that says something particular about Tamil Nadu's religious culture. Sikkal, a short drive north, has a significant Murugan temple.
Poompuhar (Kaveripoompatinam), 20 km north, is the site of the ancient Chola port that once rivalled Rome in maritime trade. Much of the city now lies underwater, but the archaeological museum and the beaches at the Kaveri mouth are worth the trip. Fort Dansborg at Tranquebar, 60 km south, is the only Danish fort in India — an overlooked piece of colonial history that has been carefully preserved and is well worth a full-day visit.
The Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (Kodikkarai), 50 km south, protects a coastal wetland that hosts large flamingo flocks and other migratory birds between November and January.