Nagore Dargah, Sufi dargah in Nagore, Tamil Nadu, India
Nagore Dargah is an Islamic shrine in Nagore, Tamil Nadu, that features five minarets and four entrance gates. The western minaret rises to approximately 131 feet (40 meters) and dominates the surrounding skyline.
Shahul Hamid, a 13th-generation descendant of Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, arrived in Nagore around 1533–34. After he cured Thanjavur king Achuthappa Nayak, the king donated 81 hectares, and a mausoleum was raised over the saint's grave. In the 18th century the Maratha ruler Pratap Singh built the tallest minaret, the 40-metre Periya Manara, after praying for a son.
The name Shahul Hamid comes from the Sufi saint whose veneration brings together Muslims and Hindus alike. Visitors often see people of both faiths laying flowers and lighting incense together.
The compound opens in the morning from 4 to 7 AM and in the evening from 6 to 10 PM. On Fridays there is an additional midday opening between noon and 2:30 PM for communal prayer.
A sacred pool called Shifa Gunta lies within the grounds and attracts pilgrims who perform ritual baths in its waters. The water is considered healing and is often taken home in small bottles.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,403 contributors worldwide.
