Located on the banks of river Amaravati, Karur is famous for being home to numerous ancient temples and is also one of the seven sacred Shivalayams. The most popular temple in Karur is the Pasupathiswaralingam Temple which houses a five feet tall lingam. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple is one of the seven major Shivalingams in the region. Other must-visit temples in Karur include Sri Karuvur Mariamman Temple, Kalyana Venkataramana Swamy Temple. Tourists should also visit the Karur Government Museum which exhibits a great collection of bronze items, metal ware and ancient musical instruments along with coins, rocks, fossils and molluscan shells. Karur is also a prime shopping destination and is famous for its cottage industries and brassware. The city also produces some precious and semi precious gems like moonstones, aquamarines, jasper, feldspar and quarts. Important festivals like Pongal, Aadi Perukku, Vaikunata Ekadasi and Karur's annual festival Mariamman, are celebrated with great fervour and draw a large number of tourists. Karur is located at a distance of about 140 km from Madurai.