The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health – Arokia Matha in Tamil – stands a short walk from the sea in the small coastal town of Velankanni, about 12 km south of Nagapattinam. With its white façade, tall spires and red-tiled roof, it is the most visited Catholic shrine in India and is often called the ‘Lourdes of the East’.
Pilgrims come from all over India and abroad, and not only Christians: Hindus and Muslims visit in large numbers too, and many customs here, such as offering hair or walking on knees, will look familiar to anyone who has seen a Tamil temple. From Pondicherry it is about 162 km, roughly 3.5 to 4 hours by car along the coast.
On this page
History and legends
Devotion at Velankanni goes back to the 16th century and rests on three traditions. In the first, the Virgin and Child appeared to a shepherd boy carrying milk, near a pond now called Matha Kulam (Our Lady’s Tank). In the second, a lame boy selling buttermilk was healed and asked to have a chapel built. In the third, Portuguese sailors caught in a violent storm in the Bay of Bengal prayed to Mary, came ashore safely at Velankanni on 8 September – the feast of Mary’s Nativity – and rebuilt the chapel in thanks.
The thatched chapel became a parish church in 1771. The church was extended in 1928 and 1933, and in 1962 Pope John XXIII raised it to the status of a minor basilica. A two-storey extension behind the main altar, added in 1974–75 to hold services in many languages, was designed to echo the basilica at Lourdes.
What to see
- The main basilica: Gothic-style nave with the revered statue of Our Lady of Good Health, shown wearing a sari, above the altar.
- Upper and lower churches: in the extension behind the altar, where many language Masses are held.
- Our Lady’s Tank (Matha Kulam): the site linked with the first apparition.
- Morning Star Church: a separate church within the shrine complex, where daily Masses are also held.
- Shrine museum: filled with votive offerings – silver and gold models of limbs, houses and even cars – left in thanks for prayers answered.
- Velankanni beach: a wide beach a few minutes’ walk from the basilica. The sea can be rough; swimming is not advised.
Feast and busy seasons
The annual feast runs from 29 August to 8 September, starting with a flag hoisting and ending on the Nativity of Mary with a great chariot procession. Millions attend over these days; roads, trains and hotels fill up and many pilgrims walk long distances to reach the shrine. Christmas, Holy Week and Easter are also very crowded. If you want a quieter visit, go on a weekday outside these periods.
Mass timings and shrine hours
At the time of writing, the shrine is open from about 5 AM to 9 PM. Masses are held throughout the day in Tamil and in other languages, including English, Malayalam, Telugu, Konkani and Hindi, with an evening rosary and procession on Saturdays. Schedules change for feasts, so check the official shrine website before you go.
Practical tips
- Dress: modest clothing, shoulders and knees covered.
- Footwear: leave shoes outside the church; some pilgrims walk barefoot the whole way.
- Offerings: candles, garlands and wax models are sold in the lanes around the shrine.
- Silence: Masses run almost all day; keep your voice low and phones silent.
- Heat: the coast is hot and humid for most of the year; carry water and a hat.
Visiting from Pondicherry
Velankanni can be done as a long day trip from Pondicherry, or as part of a coastal loop with the Danish fort at Tranquebar and Nagore on our Tranquebar – Karaikal – Velankanni coast tour. It also fits well with the Navagraha temple tour region around Kumbakonam and Thanjavur. See our spiritual retreats page for more pilgrim trips.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Velankanni from Pondicherry?
About 162 km by road, roughly 3.5 to 4 hours by car via Cuddalore, Chidambaram and Karaikal.
When is the Velankanni feast?
The annual feast runs from 29 August to 8 September, ending on the feast of the Nativity of Mary.
Is there an English Mass at Velankanni?
Yes. At the time of writing there is a daily English Mass along with Masses in Tamil and several other Indian languages. Check the official shrine website for current times.
Why is Velankanni called the Lourdes of the East?
The name reflects the huge number of pilgrims who come to pray for healing, as at Lourdes in France. Pope John XXIII raised the shrine to a minor basilica in 1962.