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class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_Good_Health-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Other_Titles" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Other_Titles"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Other Titles</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Other_Titles-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Basilica_Architecture" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Basilica_Architecture"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Basilica Architecture</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Basilica_Architecture-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Basilica Architecture subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Basilica_Architecture-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Southern_side" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Southern_side"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Southern side</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Southern_side-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Northern_side" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Northern_side"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Northern side</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Northern_side-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Shrine_altar" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Shrine_altar"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Shrine altar</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Shrine_altar-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Extension_basilica-altar" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Extension_basilica-altar"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.4</span> <span>Extension basilica-altar</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Extension_basilica-altar-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Morning_Star_Church" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Morning_Star_Church"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.5</span> <span>Morning Star Church</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Morning_Star_Church-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_Feast_day" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Feast_day"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>The Feast day</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Feast_day-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Geography_and_climate" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Geography_and_climate"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Geography and climate</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Geography_and_climate-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-When_to_visit_Velankanni?" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#When_to_visit_Velankanni?"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>When to visit Velankanni?</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-When_to_visit_Velankanni?-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-How_to_Reach?" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#How_to_Reach?"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>How to Reach?</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-How_to_Reach?-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle How to Reach? subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-How_to_Reach?-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-By_Road" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#By_Road"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8.1</span> <span>By Road</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-By_Road-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-By_Train" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#By_Train"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8.2</span> <span>By Train</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-By_Train-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-By_Air" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#By_Air"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8.3</span> <span>By Air</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-By_Air-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Accommodation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Accommodation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>Accommodation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Accommodation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Church_Timings" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Church_Timings"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>Church Timings</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Church_Timings-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-List_of_parish_priests_served_Velankanni" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#List_of_parish_priests_served_Velankanni"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>List of parish priests served Velankanni</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-List_of_parish_priests_served_Velankanni-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Education" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Education"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>Education</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Education-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Museum" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Museum"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">13</span> <span>Museum</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Museum-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tsunami_-_Aazhip_Peralai" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tsunami_-_Aazhip_Peralai"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">14</span> <span>Tsunami - Aazhip Peralai</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tsunami_-_Aazhip_Peralai-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Other_Churches_representing_Velankanni_Annai" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Other_Churches_representing_Velankanni_Annai"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">15</span> <span>Other Churches representing Velankanni Annai</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Other_Churches_representing_Velankanni_Annai-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Gallery" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Gallery"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">16</span> <span>Gallery</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Gallery-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">17</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">18</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">19</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Velankanni</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 22 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-22" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">22 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-min-nan mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-min-nan.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – Minnan" lang="nan" hreflang="nan" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="閩南語 / Bân-lâm-gú" data-language-local-name="Minnan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>閩南語 / Bân-lâm-gú</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ceb mw-list-item"><a href="https://ceb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – Cebuano" lang="ceb" hreflang="ceb" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="Cebuano" data-language-local-name="Cebuano" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Cebuano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D9%84%D9%86%DA%A9%D9%86%DB%8C" title="ولنکنی – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="ولنکنی" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%80" title="वेलांकन्नी – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="वेलांकन्नी" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bpy mw-list-item"><a href="https://bpy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF" title="বেলানকান্নি – Bishnupriya" lang="bpy" hreflang="bpy" data-title="বেলানকান্নি" data-language-autonym="বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী" data-language-local-name="Bishnupriya" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-la mw-list-item"><a href="https://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vailankanni" title="Vailankanni – Latin" lang="la" hreflang="la" data-title="Vailankanni" data-language-autonym="Latina" data-language-local-name="Latin" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Latina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ml mw-list-item"><a href="https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%B5%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%A3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A3%E0%B4%BF" title="വേളാങ്കണ്ണി – Malayalam" lang="ml" hreflang="ml" data-title="വേളാങ്കണ്ണി" data-language-autonym="മലയാളം" data-language-local-name="Malayalam" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>മലയാളം</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mr mw-list-item"><a href="https://mr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%80" title="वेलंनकन्नी – Marathi" lang="mr" hreflang="mr" data-title="वेलंनकन्नी" data-language-autonym="मराठी" data-language-local-name="Marathi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>मराठी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-new mw-list-item"><a href="https://new.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF" title="भेल्लन्कन्नि – Newari" lang="new" hreflang="new" data-title="भेल्लन्कन्नि" data-language-autonym="नेपाल भाषा" data-language-local-name="Newari" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>नेपाल भाषा</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vailankanni" title="Vailankanni – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Vailankanni" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ta mw-list-item"><a href="https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%BF" title="வேளாங்கண்ணி – Tamil" lang="ta" hreflang="ta" data-title="வேளாங்கண்ணி" data-language-autonym="தமிழ்" data-language-local-name="Tamil" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>தமிழ்</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%AC%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%93%E0%B8%93%E0%B8%B4" title="เวฬางกัณณิ – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="เวฬางกัณณิ" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velankanni" title="Velankanni – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="Velankanni" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" 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height: 200px;" data-mw-kartographer="mapframe" data-style="osm-intl" data-width="250" data-height="200" data-zoom="11" data-overlays="["_d0d854d9ebaef99594901d38c2167ab6e8b313b6"]"><img src="https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/osm-intl,11,a,a,250x200.png?lang=en&domain=en.wikipedia.org&title=Velankanni&revid=471111180&groups=_d0d854d9ebaef99594901d38c2167ab6e8b313b6" width="250" height="200" decoding="async" srcset="https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/osm-intl,11,a,a,250x200@2x.png?lang=en&domain=en.wikipedia.org&title=Velankanni&revid=471111180&groups=_d0d854d9ebaef99594901d38c2167ab6e8b313b6 2x" alt="Map" /></a></td></tr><tr class="mergedtoprow"><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header">Population<div class="ib-settlement-fn"><span class="nowrap"> </span>(2001)</div></th></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><div style="white-space:nowrap;"> • Total</div></th><td class="infobox-data">10,144</td></tr><tr class="mergedtoprow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Website</th><td class="infobox-data">www.nagapattinam.tn.nic.in/church.html</td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Velankanni</b> (<a href="/wiki/Tamil_language" title="Tamil language">Tamil</a>:வேளாங்கண்ணி), officially spelled as <b>Vailankanni</b> (Virgin of Velai, the town), also spelled as "Velanganni" (due to Tamil to English <a href="/wiki/Transliteration" title="Transliteration">Transliteration</a>), is a <a href="/wiki/Parish" title="Parish">Parish</a> under <a href="/wiki/Tanjore" class="mw-redirect" title="Tanjore">Tanjore</a> <a href="/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese" class="mw-redirect" title="Roman Catholic Diocese">Roman Catholic Diocese</a> and a <a href="/wiki/Panchayati_raj" title="Panchayati raj">panchayat town</a> in <a href="/wiki/Nagapattinam_district" title="Nagapattinam district">Nagapattinam district</a> in the <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">Indian</a> <a href="/wiki/States_and_territories_of_India" class="mw-redirect" title="States and territories of India">state</a> of <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a>. It is a small <a href="/wiki/Town" title="Town">town</a> located on the shores of the <a href="/wiki/Bay_of_Bengal" title="Bay of Bengal">Bay of Bengal</a> 350 km south of <a href="/wiki/Chennai" title="Chennai">Chennai</a> (<a href="/wiki/Madras" class="mw-redirect" title="Madras">Madras</a>) and 12 km south of <a href="/wiki/Nagapattinam" title="Nagapattinam">Nagapattinam</a> on the <a href="/wiki/Coromandel_Coast" title="Coromandel Coast">Coromandel Coast</a>, in <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>. </p><p>Once a <a href="/wiki/Port" title="Port">port</a> that traded with <a href="/wiki/Rome" title="Rome">Rome</a> and <a href="/wiki/Greece" title="Greece">Greece</a>, the tiny commercial center gradually lost its importance to the larger Nagapattinam. The <a href="/wiki/Canal" title="Canal">canal</a> built to link this town with Vedaranyam still lies to the west of Velankanni. The Vellayar, a minor branch of the <a href="/wiki/Cauvery_River" class="mw-redirect" title="Cauvery River">Cauvery River</a>, runs on the south of this town discharges into the <a href="/wiki/Sea" title="Sea">sea</a>. </p><p>Here located an important <a href="/wiki/Roman_Catholic" class="mw-redirect" title="Roman Catholic">Roman Catholic</a> <a href="/wiki/Shrine" title="Shrine">shrine</a> dedicated to <a href="/wiki/Our_lady_of_Good_Health" class="mw-redirect" title="Our lady of Good Health">Our lady of Good Health</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Demographics">Demographics</h2></div> <p>As of 2001<sup class="plainlinks noexcerpt noprint asof-tag update" style="display:none;"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Velankanni&action=edit">[update]</a></sup> India <a href="/wiki/Census" title="Census">census</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Velankanni had a population of 10,144. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Velankanni has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 68%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 64%. In Velankanni, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_Good_Health">Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health</h2></div> <p><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Velankanni</a> can be traced to the mid-16th century and is attributed to three <a href="/wiki/Miracle" title="Miracle">miracles</a>: the <a href="/wiki/Marian_apparition" title="Marian apparition">apparition</a> of <a href="/wiki/Mary,_the_mother_of_Jesus" class="mw-redirect" title="Mary, the mother of Jesus">Mary</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Christ" class="mw-redirect" title="Christ">Christ</a> Child to a slumbering <a href="/wiki/Shepherd" title="Shepherd">shepherd</a> boy, the curing of a lame <a href="/wiki/Buttermilk" title="Buttermilk">buttermilk</a> vendor, and the rescue of <a href="/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portuguese</a> sailors from a violent sea storm. </p><p>Although all three apparitions resulted in the erection of a <a href="/wiki/Shrine" title="Shrine">shrine</a> to our Lady, it was the promise of the Portuguese sailors that caused a permanent edifice to be built at <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Velankanni</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Chapel" title="Chapel">chapel</a> was dedicated on the feast of the Nativity of Mary (8 September), the day of their safe landing. More than 500 years later, the nine-day festival and celebration is still observed and draws nearly 2 million <a href="/wiki/Pilgrim" class="mw-redirect" title="Pilgrim">pilgrims</a> each year. The Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni, also known as the "<a href="/wiki/Lourdes" title="Lourdes">Lourdes</a> of the East",<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> is one of the most frequented religious sites in <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>. <a href="/wiki/Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_Good_Health" title="Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health">Velankanni church</a> (Our Lady of Good Health) was built in the late 16th century CE with modifications by Portuguese and further expansions later on due to influx of <a href="/wiki/Pilgrimages" class="mw-redirect" title="Pilgrimages">pilgrimages</a>. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Gothic_architecture" title="Gothic architecture">Gothic</a> style of architecture is a unique feature of the church. The church itself is an imposing building with inspiring <a href="/wiki/Architecture" title="Architecture">architecture</a>. While the buildings have been painted white, roof of the church is made by the tiles with striking red in contrast to the colour of the walls. The environment around the shrine is spic and span radiating rays of hope and piety. </p><p>As a token of gratitude to Mother Mary, Portuguese <a href="/wiki/Sailors" class="mw-redirect" title="Sailors">sailors</a> who escaped from a severe <a href="/wiki/Cyclone" title="Cyclone">cyclone</a>, built the chapel 24 feet to 12 feet with a dome overhead. In their possible subsequent visits, perhaps they brought porcelain plates, which could be seen even now illustrating bible scenes and other cultural arts of the time, to beautify the Church they had built earlier. The main statue that they had brought to the altar of the Shrine was Our Lady holding the Baby Jesus, standing majestically on the globe. </p><p>In the year 1771, Velankanni acquired the status of a <a href="/wiki/Parish" title="Parish">Parish</a> with Fr. Antonio de Rozario as the First Parish Priest. </p> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg/250px-VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="168" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg/375px-VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg/500px-VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3000" data-file-height="2010" /></a><figcaption>Basilica (Extension) of <a href="/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Good_Health" title="Our Lady of Good Health">Our Lady of Good Health</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Velankanni <a href="/wiki/Church_(building)" title="Church (building)">church</a> was raised to the status of <a href="/wiki/Basilica" title="Basilica">basilica</a> in 1962 by His Holiness <a href="/wiki/Pope_John_XXIII" title="Pope John XXIII">Pope John XXIII</a>. </p><p>Festivals are celebrated here with all pomp and gaiety. Every year on August 29 the feast of our lady commences with the hoisting of the flag and on the 10th day it ends after the dismounting of the flag. A conservative estimate of the crowd is around 1.5 million on these days (Fifteen hundred thousands). Hotels and houses will be overcrowded during these days and people used to sleep in the open air. Holy masses are conducted in at least eight languages, <a href="/wiki/Tamil_language" title="Tamil language">Tamil</a>, <a href="/wiki/English_language" title="English language">English</a>, <a href="/wiki/Malayalam_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Malayalam language">Malayalam</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kannada_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Kannada language">Kannada</a>, <a href="/wiki/Telugu_language" title="Telugu language">Telugu</a>, <a href="/wiki/Konkani_language" title="Konkani language">Konkani</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hindi_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindi language">Hindi</a> and <a href="/wiki/Marathi_language" title="Marathi language">Marathi</a>. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:Error mw:File/Thumb"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Upload?wpDestFile=Velankannimada.jpg" class="new" title="File:Velankannimada.jpg"><span class="mw-file-element mw-broken-media" data-width="180">File:Velankannimada.jpg</span></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Good_Health" title="Our Lady of Good Health">Our Lady of Good Health</a> <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Velankanni</a></figcaption></figure><p> The Government, for security duty of the feast sends a contingent of 500 police officers, 10 DSPs, 25 Inspectors, 40 SISs and 60 women police. Over and above the Shrine spends enormous amount of money in deploying additional watchmen, sweepers and other work force. A sizable sum is also spent in supplying potable water, and keeping the place clean. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Shrine" title="Shrine">shrine</a> built a big hall of <a href="/wiki/Museum" title="Museum">Museum</a> to display the <a href="/wiki/Offering" class="mw-disambig" title="Offering">offerings</a>. Periodically this is changed and the new ones are kept in the showcases. </p><p>Velankanni church is considered a very powerful holy place in India where one is cured of any medical ailment when one offers prayers with a true heart. Devotees often offer a gift made of gold, silver etc., in the shape of the body part in which they have a medical ailment to God, in thanks for being cured. For example, a person with a heart condition may offer prayers and promise to donate a heart shaped gift made of gold to the church when he or she is cured, and when that happens, they fulfill their promise. It is also possible to offer monetary donations within the church, by dropping such monetary donations into a drop box available for this purpose. People of all religions come to visit this church, and offer prayers. Regardless of their race, religion or other consideration, devotees state that prayers and requests made with a sincere heart are always granted. There is a rectangular mud section leading to the old church, where some devotees can walk on their knees for some distance to show their gratitude for favors they have received, or to make a request by showing some sacrifice on their part first. The church is open from early in the morning to late in the evening, and there are services in various local languages available to devotees throughout the day. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Other_Titles">Other Titles</h2></div> <p><i>Our Lady of Good Health</i> is also referred to as: </p> <ul><li><b>Velankanni Matha</b>- Mother Velankanni <sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><b>Arokia Matha</b> Mother of Good Health</li> <li><b>Velankanni Amma</b></li> <li><b>Punitha Arokia Annai</b>- Saint Mother of Good Health<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Basilica_Architecture">Basilica Architecture</h2></div> <figure class="mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Velankanni_Basilica_complex.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Velankanni_Basilica_complex.png/400px-Velankanni_Basilica_complex.png" decoding="async" width="400" height="178" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Velankanni_Basilica_complex.png/600px-Velankanni_Basilica_complex.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Velankanni_Basilica_complex.png/800px-Velankanni_Basilica_complex.png 2x" data-file-width="1218" data-file-height="541" /></a><figcaption>Layout of the Basilica complex. 1.Basilica, 2.<i>Nadu Thittu</i> shrine-site of second apparition, 3. Adoration & Reconciliation chapel, 4.<i>Our Lady's Pond</i>-site of first apparition, 5.<a href="/wiki/Stations_of_the_cross" class="mw-redirect" title="Stations of the cross">Stations of the cross</a>, 6.Stations of the <a href="/wiki/Rosary" title="Rosary">Rosary</a>, 7.Stations of the <a href="/wiki/Sacraments" class="mw-redirect" title="Sacraments">Sacraments</a></figcaption></figure> <p>The Basilica is built in <a href="/wiki/Gothic_architecture" title="Gothic architecture">Gothic</a> style of architecture. The southern side was extended in 1928 and northern in 1933.<sup id="cite_ref-archi1_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-archi1-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Shrine Basilica contains three chapels, Our Lady's Tank, Church Museum, Priests' Residence, Offering Center, <a href="/wiki/Stations_of_the_Cross" title="Stations of the Cross">Stations of the Cross</a>, Stations of the <a href="/wiki/Rosary" title="Rosary">Rosary</a>, Shrine Mega Mahal and Vailankanni Beach. The building is totally painted in white, except for the roof that is made of tiles of striking red color. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Southern_side">Southern side</h3></div> <p>Early part of 20th century marked rivalry between <a href="/wiki/Jesuits" title="Jesuits">Jesuits</a> and <a href="/wiki/Franciscans" title="Franciscans">Franciscans</a> on influence on the missionary in Velankanni. In 1928 a solution was found to this problem. The church of Immaculate Heart of Mary (managed by the Jesuits) was demolished and the statues were brought to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Health, eventually in 1933 the Shrine expanded with two new wings, to the right and to the left of the 'Main Altar', meeting the nave at right angles. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Northern_side">Northern side</h3></div> <p>A spacious vestry was also provided immediately behind the Altar. Thus the entire sacred edifice began to assume the shape of a <a href="/wiki/Christian_cross" title="Christian cross">Latin Cross</a>. Right over the center of the ancient main altar was the miraculous image of Our Lady of Good Health. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Shrine_altar">Shrine altar</h3></div> <p>In 1956, a new welcome arch was blessed and opened by Bishop Sundaram. The illuminated arch stood to show the way to the eager pilgrims, who sought the protection of Mary. In January 1961, a new central <a href="/wiki/Altar" title="Altar">altar</a>, delicately executed in spotless white marble, was erected replacing the former one made of cement concrete.<sup id="cite_ref-archi1_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-archi1-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Extension_basilica-altar">Extension basilica-altar</h3></div> <p>In 1974-75, an extension of the basilica was built behind the existing central altar to accommodate the multilingual pilgrims. The extension included a two storied church with 93 feet (28 m) high <a href="/wiki/Dome" title="Dome">dome</a> and 82 feet (25 m) high gothic spirals. The extension was designed to resemble the <a href="/wiki/Sanctuary_of_Our_Lady_of_Lourdes" title="Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes">Basilica</a> in Lourdes, France.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Morning_Star_Church">Morning Star Church</h3></div> <p>A new magnificiant church is being constructed near the Holy Pond - Northern side of the Holy Path. Construction work is going on. Pillers and the columns are ready. This new Church will be 400 ft long, 138 ft in width and 40 ft in height. There won't be any intermediate columns and will be a single hall inside with no pillers hiding the view of the alter from any corner. Front elevation will look similar to the main basilica. The architecture of this church has Portugese artistic approach. The church can accommodate about 15,000 people at a time. From bird's view, this church building will look like a sea shell. <sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_Feast_day">The Feast day</h2></div> <p>September 8 is commemorated as the feast of Our Lady of Good Health. The celebration starts 29 August and ends on the day of the feast.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The feast day prayers are said in <a href="/wiki/Tamil_language" title="Tamil language">Tamil</a>, <a href="/wiki/Malayalam_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Malayalam language">Malayalam</a>, <a href="/wiki/Telugu_language" title="Telugu language">Telugu</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kannada_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Kannada language">Kannada</a>, <a href="/wiki/Konkani_language" title="Konkani language">Konkani</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hindi" title="Hindi">Hindi</a> and <a href="/wiki/English_language" title="English language">English</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Geography_and_climate">Geography and climate</h2></div> <p>Vailankanni, a hamlet on the sandy shores of the Bay of Bengal, is located 350 kilometers south of <a href="/wiki/Chennai" title="Chennai">Chennai</a> and 14 km south of <a href="/wiki/Nagapattinam" title="Nagapattinam">Nagapattinam</a> on the Coramandal coast, at <span class="geo-inline"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1156832818">.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}</style><span class="plainlinks nourlexpansion"><a class="external text" href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Velankanni&params=10.40_N_79.49_E_"><span class="geo-nondefault"><span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location"><span class="latitude">10°24′N</span> <span class="longitude">79°29′E</span></span></span><span class="geo-multi-punct"> / </span><span class="geo-default"><span class="geo-dec" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location">10.40°N 79.49°E</span><span style="display:none"> / <span class="geo">10.40; 79.49</span></span></span></a></span></span> in <a href="/wiki/Nagapattinam_district" title="Nagapattinam district">Nagapattinam district</a> of <a href="/wiki/Tamil_nadu" class="mw-redirect" title="Tamil nadu">Tamil nadu</a> state. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th></th> <th><b>Summer</b></th> <th><b>Winter</b> </th></tr> <tr> <td>Max.</td> <td style="background-color:#FF6600; color:#000000">36 °C (97 °F)</td> <td style="background-color:#FF9966; color:#000000">29 °C (84 °F) </td></tr> <tr> <td>Min.</td> <td style="background-color:#FFFFCC; color:#000000">28 °C (82 °F)</td> <td style="background-color:#CCFFFF; color:#000000">21 °C (70 °F) </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="When_to_visit_Velankanni?"><span id="When_to_visit_Velankanni.3F"></span>When to visit Velankanni?</h2></div> <p>Taking pilgrimage to Velankanni Church can be done throughout the year. It will be good to plan during the months of October to March as the climate will be mild and cool. </p><p>Late August to middle of September is the peak season as the festival is conducted. Millions of pilgrims will be attending the car festival held on 8 September every year. Visiting Velankanni during festival time will be a fun than a pilgrimage. </p><p>During April, May and June it will be very hot due to summer, as well as crowded due to holiday seasons. More number of tourists visit the church than pilgirms in this season. </p><p>November will see the Church almost empty during afternoons as cyclone used to stop the flow of pilgrims. October, November and February,March is the perfect time as the church will be less crowded and the climate will also be good. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="How_to_Reach?"><span id="How_to_Reach.3F"></span>How to Reach?</h2></div> <p>Velankanni is well connected by road, rail and air. Most devotees reach Velankanni by road passing through <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kerala" title="Kerala">Kerala</a>, <a href="/wiki/Karnataka" title="Karnataka">Karnataka</a> or <a href="/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh" title="Andhra Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</a>. The highways connecting Cities with Velankanni are reasonably good and well maintained. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="By_Road">By Road</h3></div> <p>Reaching Velankanni by road is much convenient as '<a href="/wiki/East_Coast_Road" title="East Coast Road">East Coast Road</a>' pass through this town. </p> <dl><dd>Reaching Velankanni <b>From Chennai</b>: Take <a href="/wiki/NH45" class="mw-redirect" title="NH45">NH45</a>, reach <a href="/wiki/Tindivanam" title="Tindivanam">Tindivanam</a> (131 km), from there take <a href="/wiki/NH_66" class="mw-redirect" title="NH 66">NH 66</a> to reach <a href="/wiki/Pondicherry" title="Pondicherry">Pondicherry</a> (43 km). From Pondicherry take <a href="/wiki/NH_45A" class="mw-redirect" title="NH 45A">NH 45A</a> to <a href="/wiki/Cuddalore" title="Cuddalore">Cuddalore</a> (25 km). Up to Cuddalore roads are very fine as its all either 6 lane or 4 lane. From Cuddalore to <a href="/wiki/Chidambaram" title="Chidambaram">Chidambaram</a> (44 km) and After Chidambaram, reaching up to <a href="/wiki/Karaikal" title="Karaikal">Karaikal</a> (64 km) is time eating (takes at least 2 hrs) even though the distance is just 104 km), road is curvy and care is needed while driving. From Karaikal reach <a href="/wiki/Nagapattinam" title="Nagapattinam">Nagapattinam</a> (10 km). From Nagapattinam take <a href="/wiki/NH_67" class="mw-redirect" title="NH 67">NH 67</a> and drive towards <a href="/wiki/Tanjore" class="mw-redirect" title="Tanjore">Tanjore</a> about 5 km, you will reach a village called Puththoor. Take left and drive about 10 km to reach <b>Velankanni Church entrance arch</b>. From the arch, Veilankanni church is just 3 km.</dd></dl> <dl><dd>Reaching Velankanni <b>From Bangalore</b>: Take <a href="/wiki/National_Highway_7_(India)" title="National Highway 7 (India)">NH7</a> to reach <a href="/wiki/Namakkal" title="Namakkal">Namakkal</a> (195 km). From Namakkal take SH25 to reach <a href="/wiki/Trichy" class="mw-redirect" title="Trichy">Trichy</a> (80 km). This road has lots of curves - care is needed while driving. Lots of sand smugglers ply their trucks at very high speed creating traffic jams and accidents. Instead of reaching Trichy via <a href="/wiki/Musuri" title="Musuri">Musuri</a> from Namakkal, go to <a href="/wiki/Karur" title="Karur">Karur</a> (46.6 km) and then travel to Trichy (82.4 km) which will add 50 km more in distance . From Trichy take <a href="/wiki/NH_67" class="mw-redirect" title="NH 67">NH 67</a> to reach <a href="/wiki/Nagapattinam" title="Nagapattinam">Nagapattinam</a> (144 km). Make a note not to go to Nagapattinam. Reach Puththoor (which is located 5 km before Nagapattinam) and take Right and drive about 10 km to reach <b>Veilankanni Church entrance arch</b>. From the arch, Veilankanni church is just 3 km. Total distance is 424 km. Or from Bangalore travel to <a href="/wiki/Tiruvannamalai" title="Tiruvannamalai">Tiruvannamalai</a> (210 km) - <a href="/wiki/Tirukkovilur" class="mw-redirect" title="Tirukkovilur">Tirukkovilur</a> - <a href="/wiki/Panruti" title="Panruti">Panruti</a> - <a href="/wiki/Cuddalore" title="Cuddalore">Cuddalore</a> then via <a href="/wiki/Chidambaram" title="Chidambaram">Chidambaram</a> (113 km) to Nagapattinam (74 km) and to Velankanni Church (18 km). Total distance using this route is 415 km. Even though you save 9 km, the road is very bad comparing to the previous one.</dd></dl> <dl><dd>All major towns and cities in South India are well-connected to Velankanni by the state-owned, scheduled Road Transport Express buses and the private omnibus services as well as by many tour operators.</dd></dl> <p><i>Many pilgrims walk from Puththoor to Veilankanni as a thanks giving or to petition to the Mother to fulfil their prayers.</i> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="By_Train">By Train</h3></div> <p>Railway track work has been completed up to Velankanni which connects Velankanni with Nagapattinam. Passenger services got started on this route with effect from 21 December,2010. There are two local trains running towards <a href="/wiki/Nagapattinam" title="Nagapattinam">Nagapattinam</a> daily in the morning and evening. Now there also exists <i>Velankanni Express</i> Train (No:17315) from Vasco-Da-Gama(VSG) in Goa to Velankanni(VLKN) and <i>Velankanni-VSG Express</i> Train (No:17316) from Velankanni(VLKN) to Vasco-Da-Gama(VSG). </p><p><a href="/wiki/Nagapattinam" title="Nagapattinam">Nagapattinam</a>, which is just 12 km away using seashore road or 18 km using proper road, is well rail-connected to all major cities in India through <a href="/wiki/Chennai" title="Chennai">Chennai</a> and <a href="/wiki/Trichy" class="mw-redirect" title="Trichy">Trichy</a>. Taxi services can be availed from Nagapattinam to Velankanni for a charge of about <span style="white-space: nowrap">₹</span>250. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="By_Air">By Air</h3></div> <p>Nearest Airport to Velankanni is at <a href="/wiki/Tiruchirapalli_International_Airport" class="mw-redirect" title="Tiruchirapalli International Airport">Tiruchirapalli International Airport</a> at distance of about 165 km. It is an International airport with daily domestic flights to <a href="/wiki/Chennai" title="Chennai">Chennai</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cochin" class="mw-redirect" title="Cochin">Cochin</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mumbai" title="Mumbai">Mumbai</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bangalore" class="mw-redirect" title="Bangalore">Bangalore</a>, <a href="/wiki/Madurai" title="Madurai">Madurai</a>, <a href="/wiki/Coimbatore" title="Coimbatore">Coimbatore</a>, <a href="/wiki/Singapore" title="Singapore">Singapore</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur" title="Kuala Lumpur">Kuala Lumpur</a> etc., as well as many international flights. Taxi services are available from Tiruchirappalli to Velankanni for a fare of <span style="white-space: nowrap">₹</span> 2000 approx. for an INDICA Cab. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Accommodation">Accommodation</h2></div> <p>The church management provides lodging facility at a cost of Rs 200 per day, while there are many other private promoters also into hotel business in this town. For availing church lodging facility, one should stand on queue in the counter to book a room and rooms are always provided on first-come first served basis depending on the vacancy. Private hotels provide advance booking. Single rooms to cottage houses are available in plenty. Care should be taken while opting for private economy class lodges as few may run brothel.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (October 2011)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>During the months of January, April, May, June, August, September, December and during every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, getting an accommodation is very tough, as lots of pilgrims pour in there. </p><p>List of hotels/lodges in Velankanni: </p> <ul><li>Hotel Velanganni (Phone: 04365-263527)</li> <li>Hotel Golden Sand – Velankanni (Phone: 04365-263426}</li> <li>Hotel Sea Gate (Phone: 04365-263910)</li> <li>Hotel Picnic (Phone: 04365-263510)</li> <li>Hotel MGM Bethesda Inn (Phone: 04365-263900)</li> <li>Clinton Park Inn (Phone: 04365-264990-98) - a star category hotel</li></ul> <p>There are several other hotels and lodges in different budgets available. Guest houses are also available at very affordable cost. Church-owned rooms will be cheap in terms of price and maintenance. All quality guest houses, avoid giving rooms to singles. Carrying ID cards, return tickets can help to get rooms easily. This is because of increase in number of suicide cases registered in Velankanni and most of the cases relate to people travelled as single.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (October 2011)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Church_Timings">Church Timings</h2></div> <p>The Shrine is kept open from 5.00 a.m. morning to 9.00 p.m. evening.<sup id="cite_ref-church_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-church-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><b>Daily Services</b> </p><p><b>Every Morning</b> </p> <ul><li>5:45 a.m. Holy Mass in Tamil</li> <li>6:45 a.m. High Mass in Tamil</li> <li>9:00 a.m. Holy Mass in Malayalam</li> <li>10:00 a.m. Holy Mass in English</li> <li>12:00 a.m. Holy Mass in Tamil</li></ul> <p><b>Every Evening</b> </p> <ul><li>6:00 p.m. Novena Prayers, Rosary, Evening prayers.</li> <li>6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in Tamil</li></ul> <p><b>Weekly Services</b> </p><p><b>Thursday Evenings</b> </p> <ul><li>6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in Tamil</li></ul> <p><b>All Saturdays</b> </p> <ul><li>7:00 a.m. Holy Mass at Our Lady's Tank</li> <li>5:45 p.m. Car Procession around the Shrine Basilica, Rosary, Novena prayers, Blessing with the Statue of Our Lady.</li> <li>6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in Tamil</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="List_of_parish_priests_served_Velankanni">List of parish priests served Velankanni</h2></div> <p>The basilica first became a <a href="/wiki/Parish" title="Parish">parish</a> in 1771. Many of these priests later became Bishop for Diocese of Tanjore </p> <div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2"> <ul><li>1771 Sep. Fr. Antonio de Rozario</li> <li>1774 Aug. Fr. Jose de Santa Roza de Viterbo</li> <li>1777 Jul. Fr. Antonio de Rosario, Commissary</li> <li>1779 Sep. Fr. Luis dos Remedios</li> <li>1783 Jan. Fr. Antonio de Rosario, Commissary</li> <li>1788 Dec. Fr. Antonio do Jesus Maria Jose</li> <li>1789 Sep. Fr. Antonio de Rosario Commissary</li> <li>1792 Sep. Fr. Jos. Roza de Giterbo Commissary &V. F.</li> <li>1814 May Fr. Constantine de Jesus Maria Commissary</li> <li>1819 May Fr. Thomas de Piedade</li> <li>1822 Feb. Fr. Francisco Xavier Masearenhas</li> <li>1822 Aug. Fr. Francisco Das Dores</li> <li>1824 May Fr. Felipe de Jesus</li> <li>1825 Sep. Fr. Francisco Dos Dores</li> <li>1828 Jun. Fr. Felipe de Jesus</li> <li>1829 May Fr. Clemente Das Dores</li> <li>1847 Oct. Fr. Isidore Manuel Alimao</li> <li>1858 Apr. Fr. Jose Felis Fernandes AG.PP</li> <li>1863 Nov. Fr. Felipe Nery Joaquim Dias</li> <li>1876 May Fr. Ignacio Antonio d' Andrade</li> <li>1886 Aug. Fr. Miguel Francisco Fernandes</li> <li>1890 Dec. Fr. Joaquim Jose Ag. P. Vic. Nagapattinam</li> <li>1891 Feb. Fr. Cuilherme Jose Dias</li> <li>1892 Dec. Fr. Joaquim Jose Luis Ag. P. Vic. Nagapattinam</li> <li>1893 Mar. Fr. Martinho Valeriane de Sa</li> <li>1899 Sep. Fr. Joaquim Francisco da Fiedade Dias</li> <li>1900 Aug. Fr. Camilla Fernandes</li> <li>1910 Jun. to 1942 Fr. Sebastio Xavier de Noronha</li> <li>1942 Sep. to 1963 Fr. M. V. Rodriguez</li> <li>1963 Jun. to 1980 Fr. S. Mariasoosai</li> <li>1980 Sep. to 1982 Fr. Thomas Vaz</li> <li>1982 Sep. to 1990 Fr. S. L. Gabriel</li> <li>1990 May to 1998 Fr. M.M. Sammanasu</li> <li>1998 Jun. to 2003 Fr. G. Arul Iruthayam</li> <li>2003 Jun. to 2009 Fr.P.Xavier</li> <li>2009 Jun. till date Fr.A. Michael</li></ul> </div> <p><br /> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Education">Education</h2></div> <p>There are five schools situated in Vailankanni town<sup id="cite_ref-ourladychurch_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ourladychurch-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Our Lady of Health Higher Secondary School</li> <li>Our Lady of Health Middle School</li> <li>Our Lady of Health Elementary School</li> <li>Infant Jesus Primary School (English Medium)</li> <li>Christ the King High School special school for handicapped and Deaf & Dumb Children.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Museum">Museum</h2></div> <p>The Museum which is located in Vailankanni stands as a live-witness to Our Lady's blessings upon her devotees and to the gratitude of pilgrims.<sup id="cite_ref-ourladychurch_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ourladychurch-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Offerings of gold, silver other metals and kinds, received from pilgrims, are displayed here. The Museum Open from 6.30 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. every day. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Tsunami_-_Aazhip_Peralai">Tsunami - Aazhip Peralai</h2></div> <p>Vailankanni was one of the worst hit areas in the <a href="/wiki/Tsunami" title="Tsunami">Tsunami</a> - Aazhip Peralai that came on December 26, <a href="/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake" class="mw-redirect" title="2004 Indian Ocean earthquake">2004 Indian Ocean earthquake</a>. Worst started happening at around 9.30 am on the evil Sunday. As the 8 am Tamil Mass was over, pilgrims from Kerala were inside the church to attend the Malayalam Mass. Sea water rising up to 5 feet even near Bus Stand area washed almost all who were standing near the beaches. thousands of pilgrims were dead and they were buried en masse in a single grave pit almost 4 km away from the church.,<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Other_Churches_representing_Velankanni_Annai">Other Churches representing Velankanni Annai</h2></div> <ul><li>Our Lady of Health, <a href="/wiki/South_Florida" title="South Florida">South Florida</a>, <a href="/wiki/USA" class="mw-redirect" title="USA">USA</a></li> <li>Church of Our Lady of Velankanni, Farla, <a href="/wiki/Karnataka" title="Karnataka">Karnataka</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li>Velankanni Church, <a href="/wiki/Besant_Nagar" class="mw-redirect" title="Besant Nagar">Besant Nagar</a>, <a href="/wiki/Chennai" title="Chennai">Chennai</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li>Velankanni Church, <a href="/wiki/Vadipatti" title="Vadipatti">Vadipatti</a>, <a href="/wiki/Dindigul_district" title="Dindigul district">Dindugal Dist</a>., <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li>Velankanni Church, Soolagiri, <a href="/wiki/Hosur" title="Hosur">Hosur</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li>Our Lady of Velankanni Church, <a href="/wiki/Irla" title="Irla">Irla</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mumbai" title="Mumbai">Mumbai</a>, <a href="/wiki/Maharashtra" title="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li>Our Lady of Velankanni Church, <a href="/wiki/Ernakulam" title="Ernakulam">Ernakulam</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kerala" title="Kerala">Kerala</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li>Our Lady of Velankanni Church, <a href="/wiki/Chandigarh" title="Chandigarh">Chandigarh</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li>Our Lady of Health Church, <a href="/wiki/Uttar_Pradesh" title="Uttar Pradesh">UP</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li>Our Lady of Good Health Church, <a href="/wiki/Pratappur" class="mw-disambig" title="Pratappur">Pratappura</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li>Our Lady of Health Church, <a href="/wiki/Sancoale" title="Sancoale">Sancoale</a>, <a href="/wiki/Goa" title="Goa">Goa</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Gallery">Gallery</h2></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Vailankanni" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Vailankanni">Vailankanni</a></span>.</div></div> </div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Vailankanni_Basilica1.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Velankanni Church - Front View"><img alt="Velankanni Church - Front View" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Vailankanni_Basilica1.jpg/86px-Vailankanni_Basilica1.jpg" decoding="async" width="86" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Vailankanni_Basilica1.jpg/130px-Vailankanni_Basilica1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Vailankanni_Basilica1.jpg/173px-Vailankanni_Basilica1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2304" data-file-height="3196" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Velankanni Church - Front View</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Velankanni Basilica - Extension - Fron View"><img alt="Velankanni Basilica - Extension - Fron View" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg/120px-VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="80" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg/180px-VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg/240px-VeilankanniChurchExtn.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3000" data-file-height="2010" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Velankanni Basilica - Extension - Fron View</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:VelankanniPanorama.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Veilankanni Basilica - A Panoramic Side View - Church and Church Extension seen at a stretch"><img alt="Veilankanni Basilica - A Panoramic Side View - Church and Church Extension seen at a stretch" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/VelankanniPanorama.jpg/120px-VelankanniPanorama.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="45" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/VelankanniPanorama.jpg/180px-VelankanniPanorama.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/VelankanniPanorama.jpg/240px-VelankanniPanorama.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2000" data-file-height="756" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Veilankanni Basilica - A Panoramic Side View - Church and Church Extension seen at a stretch</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Main-Church-Left-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Veilankanni Basilica - Left side view"><img alt="Veilankanni Basilica - Left side view" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Main-Church-Left-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG/120px-Main-Church-Left-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Main-Church-Left-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG/180px-Main-Church-Left-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Main-Church-Left-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG/240px-Main-Church-Left-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Veilankanni Basilica - Left side view</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Main-Church-Righjt-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Veilankanni Basilica - Right side view"><img alt="Veilankanni Basilica - Right side view" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Main-Church-Righjt-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG/120px-Main-Church-Righjt-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Main-Church-Righjt-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG/180px-Main-Church-Righjt-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Main-Church-Righjt-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG/240px-Main-Church-Righjt-Side-View-Veilankanni.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Veilankanni Basilica - Right side view</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Church_of_Our_Lady_of_Health_at_dusk.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Veilankanni Basilica at Dusk"><img alt="Veilankanni Basilica at Dusk" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Church_of_Our_Lady_of_Health_at_dusk.jpg/101px-Church_of_Our_Lady_of_Health_at_dusk.jpg" decoding="async" width="101" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Church_of_Our_Lady_of_Health_at_dusk.jpg/152px-Church_of_Our_Lady_of_Health_at_dusk.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Church_of_Our_Lady_of_Health_at_dusk.jpg/203px-Church_of_Our_Lady_of_Health_at_dusk.jpg 2x" data-file-width="683" data-file-height="808" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Veilankanni Basilica at Dusk</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:VeilankanniPond.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Veilankanni Church Pond"><img alt="Veilankanni Church Pond" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/VeilankanniPond.JPG/120px-VeilankanniPond.JPG" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/VeilankanniPond.JPG/180px-VeilankanniPond.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/VeilankanniPond.JPG/240px-VeilankanniPond.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Veilankanni Church Pond</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Holy_path_Vailankanni.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Pilgrims walking on their knees towards the Pond"><img alt="Pilgrims walking on their knees towards the Pond" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Holy_path_Vailankanni.jpg/120px-Holy_path_Vailankanni.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Holy_path_Vailankanni.jpg/180px-Holy_path_Vailankanni.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Holy_path_Vailankanni.jpg/240px-Holy_path_Vailankanni.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Pilgrims walking on their knees towards the Pond</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:VeilankanniAdorationCenter.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Veilankanni - Adoration Center"><img alt="Veilankanni - Adoration Center" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/VeilankanniAdorationCenter.jpg/120px-VeilankanniAdorationCenter.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/VeilankanniAdorationCenter.jpg/180px-VeilankanniAdorationCenter.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/VeilankanniAdorationCenter.jpg/240px-VeilankanniAdorationCenter.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3016" data-file-height="2264" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Veilankanni - Adoration Center</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Vailankanni_Basilica.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Velankanni Basilica"><img alt="Velankanni Basilica" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Vailankanni_Basilica.JPG/120px-Vailankanni_Basilica.JPG" decoding="async" width="120" height="101" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Vailankanni_Basilica.JPG/180px-Vailankanni_Basilica.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Vailankanni_Basilica.JPG/240px-Vailankanni_Basilica.JPG 2x" data-file-width="709" data-file-height="595" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Velankanni Basilica</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Naduthittu-Church-Veilankanni.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Chappel in Nadu Thittu where Mother Mary appeared for the first time"><img alt="Chappel in Nadu Thittu where Mother Mary appeared for the first time" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Naduthittu-Church-Veilankanni.JPG/90px-Naduthittu-Church-Veilankanni.JPG" decoding="async" width="90" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Naduthittu-Church-Veilankanni.JPG/135px-Naduthittu-Church-Veilankanni.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Naduthittu-Church-Veilankanni.JPG/180px-Naduthittu-Church-Veilankanni.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2304" data-file-height="3072" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Chappel in Nadu Thittu where Mother Mary appeared for the first time</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:St-Sebastin-Chappel-Veilankanni.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="A Chappel for St Sebastin at Velankanni"><img alt="A Chappel for St Sebastin at Velankanni" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/St-Sebastin-Chappel-Veilankanni.JPG/90px-St-Sebastin-Chappel-Veilankanni.JPG" decoding="async" width="90" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/St-Sebastin-Chappel-Veilankanni.JPG/135px-St-Sebastin-Chappel-Veilankanni.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/St-Sebastin-Chappel-Veilankanni.JPG/180px-St-Sebastin-Chappel-Veilankanni.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2304" data-file-height="3072" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A Chappel for St Sebastin at Velankanni</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Velankanni-Office-Priest.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Velankanni Church Office housing office, priest residence and a shop"><img alt="Velankanni Church Office housing office, priest residence and a shop" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Velankanni-Office-Priest.jpg/120px-Velankanni-Office-Priest.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Velankanni-Office-Priest.jpg/180px-Velankanni-Office-Priest.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Velankanni-Office-Priest.jpg/240px-Velankanni-Office-Priest.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Velankanni Church Office housing office, priest residence and a shop</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Velankanni_evening_view.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Veilankanni Basilica evening view"><img alt="Veilankanni Basilica evening view" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Velankanni_evening_view.jpg/90px-Velankanni_evening_view.jpg" decoding="async" width="90" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Velankanni_evening_view.jpg/135px-Velankanni_evening_view.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Velankanni_evening_view.jpg/180px-Velankanni_evening_view.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="1600" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Veilankanni Basilica evening view</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Velankanni_Main_Basilica_during_Feast.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Velankanni Main Basilica and Flag during Feast"><img alt="Velankanni Main Basilica and Flag during Feast" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Velankanni_Main_Basilica_during_Feast.jpg/120px-Velankanni_Main_Basilica_during_Feast.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Velankanni_Main_Basilica_during_Feast.jpg/180px-Velankanni_Main_Basilica_during_Feast.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Velankanni_Main_Basilica_during_Feast.jpg/240px-Velankanni_Main_Basilica_during_Feast.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1200" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Velankanni Main Basilica and Flag during Feast</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Velankanni_Flagpole.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Flag Pole at the Church"><img alt="Flag Pole at the Church" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Velankanni_Flagpole.jpg/80px-Velankanni_Flagpole.jpg" decoding="async" width="80" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Velankanni_Flagpole.jpg/120px-Velankanni_Flagpole.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Velankanni_Flagpole.jpg/160px-Velankanni_Flagpole.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3456" data-file-height="5184" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Flag Pole at the Church</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Hindu_custom_and_faith_are_followed_in_Velankanni_to_certain_extent.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Hindu custom and faith are followed in Velankanni to certain extent"><img alt="Hindu custom and faith are followed in Velankanni to certain extent" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Hindu_custom_and_faith_are_followed_in_Velankanni_to_certain_extent.JPG/120px-Hindu_custom_and_faith_are_followed_in_Velankanni_to_certain_extent.JPG" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Hindu_custom_and_faith_are_followed_in_Velankanni_to_certain_extent.JPG/180px-Hindu_custom_and_faith_are_followed_in_Velankanni_to_certain_extent.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Hindu_custom_and_faith_are_followed_in_Velankanni_to_certain_extent.JPG/240px-Hindu_custom_and_faith_are_followed_in_Velankanni_to_certain_extent.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Hindu custom and faith are followed in Velankanni to certain extent</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Morning-Star-Church-Construction-Velankanni.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Morning Star church under construction"><img alt="Morning Star church under construction" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Morning-Star-Church-Construction-Velankanni.JPG/120px-Morning-Star-Church-Construction-Velankanni.JPG" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Morning-Star-Church-Construction-Velankanni.JPG/180px-Morning-Star-Church-Construction-Velankanni.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Morning-Star-Church-Construction-Velankanni.JPG/240px-Morning-Star-Church-Construction-Velankanni.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Morning Star church under construction</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Christianity_in_India" title="Christianity in India">Christianity in India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christianity_in_Tamil_Nadu" title="Christianity in Tamil Nadu">Christianity in Tamil Nadu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Marian_churches" class="mw-redirect" title="Roman Catholic Marian churches">Roman Catholic Marian churches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_India" class="mw-redirect" title="Roman Catholicism in India">Roman Catholicism in India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shrines_to_the_Virgin_Mary" class="mw-redirect" title="Shrines to the Virgin Mary">Shrines to the Virgin Mary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Good_Health" title="Our Lady of Good Health">Our Lady of Good Health</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Poondi_Matha_Basilica" class="mw-redirect" title="Poondi Matha Basilica">Poondi Matha Basilica</a>(<i>Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica, Poondi</i>), <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Snows_Basilica" class="mw-redirect" title="Our Lady of Snows Basilica">Our Lady of Snows Basilica</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tuticorin" class="mw-redirect" title="Tuticorin">Tuticorin</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kamanayakkanpatti" title="Kamanayakkanpatti">Kamanayakkanpatti</a> Church of Our Lady of Assumption (பரலோக மாதா திருத்தலம்)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Snow_Kallikulam" class="mw-redirect" title="Our Lady of Snow Kallikulam">Our Lady of Snow Kallikulam</a> (<i>Our Lady of Snow Church, Kallikulam</i>), <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:GR&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Template:GR (page does not exist)">Template:GR</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=53261"><i>Hindus join in India's Marian pilgrimage</i> on Catholic World News</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/29/stories/2007082961000600.htm">'Annai Velankanni Matha’ festival begins today</a> from the Hindu.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vailankannishrinebasilica.org/vailankannishrinebasilica/parish.htm">Parish page</a> of Our lady of Good Health.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-archi1-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-archi1_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-archi1_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vailankannichurch.org/about-vailankanni.htm">About Velankanni</a> on www.velankannichurch.org.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hindu.com/2005/05/08/stories/2005050800720300.htm">All roads lead to Velankanni</a> on The Hindu news.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.vailankannishrine.org/donation.php">http://www.vailankannishrine.org/donation.php</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/09/stories/2007090958170300.htm">Velankanni festival ends with feast mass</a> on The Hindu news</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7BE7690A0C-6A86-4CD4-8692-EBEED7941280%7D&CATEGORYNAME=TAMNA">Lakhs throng Velankanni church</a> on Chennaionline.com</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-church-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-church_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.velankannichurch.com/pages/churchtimings/Church%20Timings.html">[1]</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ourladychurch-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-ourladychurch_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ourladychurch_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.velankannichurch.com/pages/locationmap&campus/Location%20Map%20and%20Church%20Campus.html#Church_-_Campus_Map_1_">[2]</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4382689.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4382689.stm</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/28iype1.htm">http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/28iype1.htm</a></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vailankannishrine.org/">Shrine's official website</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.velankannichurch.com/">More info on Vailankanni</a></li></ul>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1&useformat=desktop" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Velankanni&oldid=471111180">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Velankanni&oldid=471111180</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" 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