Thirukkadaiyur or Thirukkadavur Temple

What is special here?

This is a special temple where people come here to perform the marriage rituals on special occasions like the ones mentioned below

• Beginning of 60th Birthday - Ukradha Shanthi 
• Beginning of 61st Birthday - Shastiyaptha Poorthy
• Beginning of 70th Birthday - Bhima ratha Shanthi
• Beginning of 75th Birthday - Vijayaratha Shanthi
• Beginning of 80th Birthday - Sadhabishekam
• Beginning of 85th Birthday - Roudhri Shanthi
• Beginning of 90th Birthday - Kaala Swaroopa Showri Shanthi
• Beginning of 95th Birthday - Thrayampaka Mahaarathy Shanthi
• Beginning of 100th Birthday - Maha Mritthunjaya Shanthi

There is a Pasumadam (Cow Farm) inside the temple as well. 

Refer Wiki which has the story of the temple and lots of other details http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amritaghateswarar-Abirami_Temple,Thirukkadaiyur

In general, almost all the temples in Tamil nadu does have colourful tower in the entrance and it is called "Gopuram". These are decorated with sculpture and carvings and painted with various attractive colors.

How to reach

From Mysore or Bangalore

By train - "6232 - Mysore Mayiladuthurai express". Get down at the last station Mayiladuthurai . From here the temple is hardly about 22 kms.
By car - Many options are there. Use google map for your convenient route.

Stay options
a. You can stay at Thirukkadaiyur itself. Mookambigai Residency seems to be a good option with good parking facilities and building looks good. I never stayed. Refer tripadvisor or google reviews for other options.
b. You can also stay at Mayiladuthurai, there are lots of options. Again refer to tripadvisor/holidayiq/google reviews.

Food
Food seems to be bit basic elsewhere here, So dont have high expectations. Instead you can goto nearby bigger town which is Mayiladurai. This will have better options.

How to book for the marriage?

If you do a google search you see many options with the priest details and his savings account details as well to confirm your booking. How amazing. :-) They charge around Rs.9000/= (approx) for 60th year beginning.
For your convenience, listing few sites and look for the "Gurukal" contact. (Gurukal means priest). Call him up and book. Note: You dont need to carry or buy anything for these, the priest have everything ready for you.
http://www.thirukadaiyur.in/
http://www.shastipurthi.com/
http://www.shastiapthapoorthi.com/contact-us

Nearby places

There are plenty of temples in and around Tanjavur and Kumbakonam which you might be interested as well. Poombukar is also closeby where the river cauvery reaches its destination. The famous "Navagraha Temples" are also closeby. Darasuram is also famous and it is a World Heritage monument built on 12th century. Below is my blog link to all the famous temples near Kumbakonam.

http://myjourneysinindia.blogspot.com/2015/01/kumbakonam-temples-and-navagraha-temples.html

Let me share few photos

Gopuram at the main entrance of the temple

Mantap

Inner prakaram

Outer Prakaram

Zoom and see the details of sculptures on the Gopuram.(Vasuki snake and shiva inside elephant stomach)

Abirami Temple entrance

Outside Prakaram

Pasu Madam ( Cow Farm) inside the temple

Cow Farm

View of temple Gopuram

View of Mantap and Temple Elephant

Temple Elephant

Cow Pooja ( Ko Pooja)

Dwarapalaka ( Security Guard)

Inner Gopuram

Zoom to see the details

Inner most gopuram

Innermost Prakaram

See the beautiful sculptures

Marriage rituals happening elsewhere

Navathaniyam ( 9 Pulses) used in rituals

Things used in Homam ( Sacred Fire)

Priests performing rituals

Temple Entrance

Main Gopuram