Velankanni is a holy town located in Nagapattinam district in the state of Tamil Nadu off the Bay of Bengal about 350 km away from the state capital of Chennai. About 12 km from the Coramandel coast, Velankanni is also known as the ‘Lourdes of the East’. A lot of pilgrims visit Velankanni to pray at the famous church, Velankanni Church.The church in Velankanni dates back to the mid-16th century. History books tell that the church was built as a result of three miracles. The three miracles are the apparition of Mary and Jesus to a shepherd boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor, and the survival of the Portuguese ship in a violent sea storm.
The Portuguese sailors first built an edifice in dedication to Mother Mary to celebrate the day of their safe landing. The church draws nearly 2 million pilgrims each year and is one of the most frequented religious sites in India.The church in Velankanni is built in the Gothic style and is painted white. The roof of the church is made of red tiles, providing a striking contrast to the colour of the walls.
The Portuguese sailors who escaped from the severe cyclone built a shrine with a dome overhead as a symbol of gratitude for saving them from the storm. The Portuguese brought porcelain plates and other artistic offerings from Portugal to beautify it. The shrine in Velankanni houses a statue of Mary holding her infant son, standing on a globe. A museum holds a lot of artefacts which are the original offerings of the Portuguese sailors.
In the year 1771, Velankanni acquired the status of a parish with Antonio de Rozario as the first parish priest. The church building was raised to the status of basilica in 1962 by Pope John XXIII.Every year, 10 days of festivals are celebrated in August and September, attracting about people from all over the world. Masses are conducted in at least eight languages including Tamil, English, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Konkani, Hindi and Marathi.
Velankanni was one of the worst hit areas in the Tsunami that hit the Coramandel coast on December 26, 2004 after the earthquake in the Indian Ocean. The waves rose up to 5 feet and about 300 pilgrims were found dead inside the church and later buried en masse in a single grave pit almost 4 km away from the church.
Being a holy town, Velankanni is well connected by road, rail and air. The nearest airport to Velankanni is Tiruchirappali, 165 km away. The nearest railway station to Velankanni is Nagapattinam, 12 km away. A lot of state owned buses and private buses ply to Velankanni.
Velankanni : The Land of Miracles