Like other villages in Tamil Nadu, Nakkasalem has its share of temples. The village has small and medium-size temples to Shiva, Vishnu, Vinayagar, Mariamman, Chelliamman and Ellaiamman, Karuppu the village's guardian deity at the eastern entrance of the village. The Ellaiamman temple houses a unique, imposing statue of the war god Virabhadra, with a large curved moustache, a sharp sword in one hand and burning embers in the other. According to village folklore, Virabhadra was not to be taken out on festive processions, but the villagers once ignored this tradition, incurring the wrath of the deity and causing large fires. Virabhadra was never again taken out of the temple. The village also has a small temple to Hanuman at the foot of the hills. Chettikulam, 5 km away, is a famous local pilgrim centre with a large temple to Shiva in the town centre and a large hilltop temple to Murugan, which draws a huge number of devotees during the festivals of Thai Pusam and Panguni Uthiram. Another nearby village, T Kalathur, 4 km away, has a large dargah, a place of worship popular with local Muslims and people of other faiths.