Kanchipuram

Synonymous with spirituality, serenity and silk, the temple town of Kanchipuram, in Tamil Nadu , is dotted with ancient temples that are architectural marvels and a visible treat for the eyes. Situated on the banks of River Vegavathi, this historical city once had a 1,000 temples, of which only 126 (108 Shaiva and 18 Vaishnava) now remain. Its rich legacy has been the endowment of the Pallava dynasty, which made the region its capital between the 6th and 7th centuries, and lavished upon it architectural gems that are a fine example of Dravidian styles.

While the temple trail makes for an entrancing experience, the renowned Kanjeevaram sarees crafted within the city are truly awe-inspiring. Premium sarees made with superior-quality silk, these are known for his or her lustre, weight and gold zari work that make the wearer look graceful.
Kanchipuram was also a crucial centre for Buddhism, and residential to monks like Bhikshu Bodhidharma, Sri Sankaracharya and Sirutho. The town is additionally considered a crucial centre for learning and houses several colleges related to the University of Madras in Chennai.

How To Get There

By Air

The nearest airport is at Chennai, about 75 km away.

By Road

Connected by good motorable roads to all important destinations in southern India.

By Rail

The railhead at Kanchipuram is connected with the capital of the state, Chennai and other parts of the country.

Attractions

Ekambareswarar Temple

An architectural marvel, the Ekambareswarar Temple is cover a huge area of 40 acre. Its most striking feature is that the main entrance or the raja gopuram that rises to an imposing height of 172 ft. Entering through this gate seems like getting into a special era, such is that the grandeur of the structure. A pillared hall sits ahead of the sanctum, and there are idols of the 63 Nayanmars across...

Kailasanathar Temple

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the lord of Mt Kailash, the Kailasanathar Temple is among the foremost important temples in town. the massive temple complex has 60 smaller shrines, but one among the foremost unique aspects is that the main idol of Lord Shiva, which has 16 stripes. The architecture of the temple is in traditional Pallava sort of pillared halls, a vestibule and a pyramidal tower. There are...

Kanchipuram Monastery

Kanchipuram Monastery is that the largest centre for Buddhism in Kanchipuram, and therefore the earliest literary record of the region speaks of an area king commissioning the monastery within the 2nd century. Other evidence points to the location being active till the 14th century. Today, it’s a peaceful place that permits visitors a glimpse of the history of the town while enjoying a coupl...

Kanjeevaram Sarees

Synonymous with style, sophistication and beauty , Kanjeevaram sarees are an integral a part of the wardrobe of South Indian women for hundreds of years . Mostly worn during weddings and festivals, they not only look rich and delightful but also hold traditional importance. The distinct feature of those sarees is that the excessive use of real gold zari threads. Its lustre and opulent drape make i...

Mamandur

Around 15 km from Kanchipuram stands the rock-cut cave temple of Mamandur on the banks of River Palar. Built during the first years of the Pallava rule, the cave temple has been declared by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance. The temple’s main attraction is an inscription within the Tamil Brahmi script. Brahmi is that the earliest Indian alphabetical scr...

Sri Vaikunta Perumal Temple

Located within the quaint village of Uthiramerur, and inbuilt the 8th century by Pallava king Nandivarman (731-796), the Sri Vaikunta Perumal Temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu who is worshipped as Vaikunta Perumal, along side his consort, Goddess Lakshmi, who is revered as Anandavalli. While originally built by the Pallavas, the temple was renovated partially by the Cholas at a later time. This te...

Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Built by the rulers of Vijayanagar, the Varadharaja Perumal Temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu. it’s one among the divya desam temples, the 108 temples said to possess been visited by the 12 poet saints or Alwars. There are variety of other temples within the complex. the most temple features a 100-pillar hall, which has some beautiful exquisitely carved sculptures. The idol of Lord Athi Vara...

Sriperumbudur

Famous for the Ramanuja Swamy Temple, which is additionally referred to as the Adikesava Temple, Sriperumbudur lies on the outskirts of Kanchipuram. This must-visit temple has three images of saint Ramanuja that were made during the saint’s lifetime in Srirangam, his birthplace of Sriperumbudur and Melkote, within the neighbouring state of Karnataka. In front of the shrine of Sri Ramanuja l...

Thiruporur

Dating back to the amount of the Pallava rulers, the traditional temple of Thiruporur is one among the 33 most vital temples of Lord Muruga. Its name translates to the place of the holy war. It faces east, sitting within the shadow of the Pranava Mountain. Lord Muruga’s triumphs are represented within the positioning of the temple. consistent with the Puranas, Thiruporur is hailed because t...

Tiruthani

Dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya (Muruga), the temple at Thiruthani is situated on alittle hillock and is claimed to be one among the six abodes, or “padai veedu”, of Lord Muruga. Legend has it that Lord Muruga married one among his two consorts, Valli, here. He also stayed in Thiruthani after defeating the demon, Surapadman. The temple are often reached by a series of 365 steps. There a...

Vellore

Situated around 70 km from Kanchipuram, Vellore is found on the banks of the River Palar. the most attraction is that the Vellore Fort that’s a spectacular specimen of military architecture in South India. it’s believed to possess been built during the reign of Chinna Bommi Nayak (1526 – 1595 AD) and still remains a well-liked heritage site. Tourists also can visit the Jalakandes...