Jallikattu is a popular bull sport that is conducted as a part of Mattu Pongal (3rd day of Pongal). Jallikattu is an ancient sport and paintings regarding the same surfaced which is 2500 years ago. Jallikattu is referred to by 3 names Yeruthazhuvuthal, Madu Pidithal and Pollerudhu Pidithal. The festival of Jallikattu was banned in 2014 but the ban was lifted in 2017 as Jallikattu is a cultural pride of Tamil Nadu and has been a part of their history. In this blog, we will highlight the best sport in Tamil Nadu which is Jallikattu Bull Taming Sport.

Avaniyapuram is also a town which is located in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. It has a population of around 90,000. The neighbourhood of Avaniyapuram is also famous for Jallikattu. During the third day of Pongal, the festival of Jallikattu is celebrated in Avaniyapuram and people try to tame the bull, and try to remove the flag from the horns of the bull. The other major business interests in Avaniyapuram are Power-loom textile mills, Towels, Dhotis, and ready-made shirts manufacturing businesses, Furniture works, sawmills and Dairy farms.

Traveller Information:
<ul>
<li>Famous for: Jallikattu</li>
<li>Best Time to Visit: November to March</li>
<li>Distance from Chennai: 467 KM</li>
</ul>

Things to do: 
<ul>
<li>Other Places to visit: Meenakshi Amman temple, Nava Narasimhar temple&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Alanganallur is another panchayat located in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. The distance between Alanganallur and Madurai is 16 km. The panchayat of Alanganallur also boasts the festival of Jallikattu during Pongal which is played with full enthusiasm by the villagers. The main business of this panchayat is agriculture. Some of the crops that are grown in Alanganallur are Rice (Paddy), Sugar Cane, Coconut and Plantain. The panchayat of Alanganallur also constitutes a sugar factory that is built 1 KM away from Alanganallur.

Traveller Information:
<ul>
<li>Famous for: Jallikattu</li>
<li>Best Time to Visit: September to January</li>
<li>Distance from Chennai: 447 KM</li>
</ul>

Things to do: 
<ul>
<li>Other Places to visit: Gandhi Memorial Museum, Vilakkuthon</li>
</ul>

Viralimalai is located in the district of Pudukkotai and is a developing town and city of Tiruchirappalli. The town of Viralimalai is famous for the Jallikattu festival as well as the temple of Muruga. This town also abodes the famous Lord Shanmuganathar temple which is situated on top of a granite hill at Viralimalai. Viralimalai also boasts of a Peacock sanctuary as the population of peacocks in this town is excessive and the sanctuary is visited by a lot of tourists.&nbsp;

Traveller Information:
<ul>
<li>Famous for: Jallikattu, and the temple of Muruga and Shanmuganathar</li>
<li>Best Time to Visit: October to March</li>
<li>Distance from Chennai: 358 KM</li>
</ul>

Things to do:
<ul>
<li>Other Places to visit: Viralimalai top view, Viralimalai peacock sanctuary</li>
</ul>

Thiruvarur is located in the Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. The town of Thiruvarur is known for annual Asia’s biggest chariot festival which is held in April every year. The town also houses the renowned temple of Thyagaraja temple, as well as the famous Jallikattu festival celebrated on the 3rd day of Pongal every year. Thiruvarur comprises several other temples as well as the Muthupet Lagoon where you can enjoy boating with your loved ones and family members. The lagoon is a beautiful one with shimmering beauty.

Traveller Information:
<ul>
<li>Famous for: Thyagaraja temple, Muthupet Lagoon</li>
<li>Best Time to Visit: December to March</li>
<li>Distance from Chennai: 318 KM</li>
</ul>

Things to do:
<ul>
<li>Other Places to visit: Muthupet Lagoon, Thyagaraja temple</li>
</ul>

By Air:
<ul>
<li>There is a total of 7 airports in the state of Tamil Nadu and one can choose any flight to reach by air. The nearest airport is Madurai Airport located 18 KM away from the place where Jallikattu is played.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

By Road: 
<ul>
<li>Tamil Nadu is home to 25 national highways. If you are in neighbouring cities like Andhra Pradesh, and Kerela you can take the buses by State Corporation which will take you to Tamil Nadu’s bull taming sport.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

By Rail: 
<ul>
<li>You can take the train that will take you to M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station which is the main railway station of Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>

The ancient and historical festival of Jallikattu is one of the most prominent activities that is performed on the third day of Pongal in the state of Tamil Nadu. The major districts that celebrate the festival of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu are Kollam, Pudukkottai and Thiruvarur.&nbsp;
The bull-taming festival is celebrated by the natives with great excitement but with the number of injuries happening during this festival was major and the sport was banned in 2014. However, due to local protests, the festival was again celebrated in 2017.

Jallikattu is a famous tradition of Tamil Nadu which is celebrated during the third day of Pongal. In this, a bull of Pulikulam, Kangayam. or another breed is released into the crowd, where the people try to tame the bull, and try to grab the hump of the bull. In some cases, the person needs to grab hold of the bull unless and until he has taken out the flag which is placed on the horns of the bull. This tradition has been running for ages and a ban was placed in 2014 but was lifted in 2017. The best time for Sports is the 3rd day of Pongal.&nbsp;

The bull taming sport Jallikattu was practised as early as the Tamil classical period(400-100 BCE). Jallikattu was practised by the Ayar tribes. Ayar tribes were rumoured to live in the Mullai region of ancient Tamil Nadu. These people were attributed as the devotees of Lord Krishna. These traditions of the Ayar tribe then evolved into what we know today as Jallikattu. The sport of Jallikattu was the perfect sport to showcase bravery, courage, and determination. However, we can also assume that people participated due to the reward which is tied to the bull's horns.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jallikatu is celebrated on the 3rd day of Pongal in the state of Tamil Nadu. This is a bull-taming competition where people try to grab the pouch of money tied to the horns of the bull.

<ul>
<li>Through an entry point which is known as the Vadi Vasal a bull enters.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The participants try to tame the bull and try to lade the bull's hump.</li>
<li>There are many variations to this game across different regions.</li>
<li>The main game is too laden the hump and remains in that position for some time and distance.</li>
</ul>

Palamedu is located in the Madurai district in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a panchayat. It is situated at a distance of 23 KM from Madurai. The village of Palamedu is considered important as it is one of the places where the tradition of Jallikattu is still performed here. Some crops that people grow here are Guava, Ground nut, Sugar Cane and Rice. You can visit here for experiencing Jallikattu Bull Sports.&nbsp;

Traveller Information:
<ul>
<li>Famous for: Farming and Jallikattu</li>
<li>Best Time to Visit: September to February</li>
<li>Distance from Chennai: 441 KM</li>
</ul>

Things to do:
<ul>
<li>Other Places to visit: Kutladampatti Falls, Athisayam park</li>
</ul>

Highlights of Jallikattu Bull Taming Sport in Tamil Nadu

India > Tamil Nadu

19 Feb 2026

Explore in Tamil Nadu

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