Kanchipuram
Town of temples and textiles

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 the place. As you progress further into the temple, you’ll encounter two water tanks referred to as Shivaganga and Kampa Nadi. the most shrine showcases a Somaskanda panel, which features Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Skanda epic.
Built by the Pallava rulers, Ekambareswarar Temple has 1000 pillared halls and five prakarams or enclosures. With Lord Shiva because the presiding deity, who is worshipped here as prithvi (earth), the temple was later renovated by the Chola and Vijayanagara rulers. During the rule of Krishnadeva Raya, the gopuram (gateway tower) and therefore the outer walls were constructed in 1509 AD. Just behind the sanctum stands a 3,500-year-old mango that also bears fruits. The temple is a crucial religious site of the Hindu sect of Saivism, together of the temples of the Panch Bhoota Stalas, or the five elements. Lord Shiva is represented by his most famous symbol, the lingam, and this particular one is understood as Prithvi Lingam. The lord’s divine consort Goddess Parvati is additionally worshipped here within the avatar of Gowridevi Amman.
The best time to go to is during the festival of Phalguni that continues for 13 days. During this point , Ekambareswarar Temple is decked to the nines, because it prepares for the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

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 240 approximately panels engraved into the temple walls that display Nagara and Pallava Grantha scripts; incidentally, a number of the earliest works of calligraphy also are found at Kailasanathar Temple. It holds one among the earliest sculptures of Jyeshta Lakshmi (Moodevi) and Vaali also . Showcasing Dravidian sort of architecture, this place is right for meditation and reflection.
The construction of the Kailasanathar Temple began during the rule of Pallava king, Rajasimha (695 AD -722 AD) and was completed within the 8th century by Mahendravarman III, of the Pallava dynasty.
Visited by tourists from India and abroad, perhaps the foremost popular attraction of the temple is that the inner-most pathway that runs round the idol of Kailasanathar, signifying the entry of a person’s soul into paradise. Lord Shiva’s vehicle, Nandi (bull god), is additionally worshipped here.
The temple compound is formed of stone, therefore the best times to go to are mornings and evenings, because the stone heats up under the tough afternoon sun, and makes walking barefoot a challenge.

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 couple of moments of quiet and serenity.
Many famous Buddhist monks once lived within the ancient city of Kanchipuram, which was a crucial Buddhist centre. a number of these centres are still present within the city. Sumati, Buddhaghosha, Jotipala, Acharya Dharmapala, Aniruddha, Deepankara Tero, Ananda Tero, Saddhamma Jotipala were a number of the noted Buddhist monks who made Kanchipuram their home.

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 it a premium choice among shoppers. The sarees are crafted with superior-quality silk, and most of them are woven with heavy-plied Mulberry silk yarn, to extend their weight and ensure durability. This also adds to the saree’s shine and life, making it a family heirloom in most South Indian homes. the utilization of heavy silk ensures that the saree drapes better, making the wearer look graceful. to extend the fabric’s thickness, sometimes the yarn is dipped in rice starch and sun-dried.
Kanjeevaram sarees had a humble beginning during the Pallava reign (275 CE to 897 CE). Born within the temple town of Kanchipuram, the thought of Kanjeevaram was conceived to decorate the town’s resident god, Lord Shiva, during festivals. A cotton veshti (a traditional men’s garment worn in South India), woven by expert weavers from the best cotton grown within the region, became a sacred offering to the god. As thrones changed hands over time, so did the gods within the temples of the town. Under the rule of the Chola kings, more and more temples were inbuilt Kanchipuram and were dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The cotton veshti was enhanced with the attachment of a brightly-coloured silk border that was embellished with gold threads. This addition was done by expert Saurashtrian weavers, who are believed to possess migrated to Tamil Nadu from Saurashtra (present-day Gujarat). They created the famous korvai technique of weaving to interlace the border to the body of the material . Gradually, cotton was replaced with silk, which was purer and more luxurious, and ideal for the worship of Lord Vishnu.
Kanchipuram rose to fame within the 13th century when the Vijayangar kings, considered to be great patrons of art and culture, succeeded the Cholas. King Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1529), of the Vijayanagar empire, promoted weaving and had special sarees made for royal women during festivals and weddings. an area legend says that the silk weavers of Kanchipuram are descendants of sage Markanda, who was considered to be the master weaver for the gods. This story can also are inspired by the patterns on the sarees woven here, which were drawn from scriptures and figures of gods and goddess from nearby temples.
Kanjeevaram sarees are believed to be auspicious and convey good luck to the bride. they’re mostly woven in bridal colours like vermilion red and turmeric yellow. The muthu kattam check pattern of those sarees symbolise the harmonious relationship between the bride and groom. They also feature a half-diamond wall lamp niche design, called arai maadam, representing equality between husband and wife.
Even the acquisition of a Kanjeevaram may be a a part of the marriage ritual, and therefore the knowledge of shopping for the proper saree for the trousseau is passed on from generation to generation.

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 script and has several regional variations, one among which is Tamil Brahmi. The inscription is claimed to possess been laid down sometime between 300 BC and 300 CE.
The caves of the temple, another point of interest here, were commissioned by Pallava king Mahendravarman I. There are four cave temples dig the hills within the area, two of which dwell Mamandur, and therefore the others within the neighbouring village of Narasapalaiyam.
The first cave temple is reached via a stone staircase, and therefore the façade comprises pillars inbuilt the Mahendravarman sort of architecture. The second cave temple has an ardha mandapa and a mukha mandapa, and is devoted to Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The third and therefore the largest temple is merely partially complete, with five empty shrines right at the rear . The fourth and therefore the smallest cave temple is additionally incomplete, and has two pillars and two pilasters supporting the roof.

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 temple is taken into account together of the 108 divya desam temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and has even been mentioned within the Divya Prabandha, the first medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints, who lived between the 6th and 9th centuries AD.
Inside, the idol of the lord is flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi, with an auditorium spread across 2,500 square foot within the center of the temple. There are not any pillars here, and therefore the roof is supported solely by walls.
The Sri Vaikunta Perumal Temple was constructed within the Dravidian sort of architecture and is now an Archaeological Survey of India protected monument.

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 Varadaraja Perumal, 40 ft long and made from athi wood, is seen during a reclining position. This statue is brought out just one occasion every 40 years for darshan (sighting). The raja gopuram (main gateway) may be a feast to the eyes, soaring to a height of 96 ft.
Over 350 inscriptions from the Chola, Pandya, Telugu Choda, Kandavaraya, Cheras, Kaaktiya, Sambuvaraya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara dynasties also can be viewed here. Lizards engraved in stone and plated with gold are often seen within the temple complex.
Four services are held by priests who are believed to be the descendants of Yagna Valkyar. While festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm here, the Vaikasi Brahmmotsavam, observed for 10 days, beginning on the Poornima Vishaka day, is that the most spectacular. The Purattasi Navaratri festival also goes on for 10 days, and is sort of the show at the temple.

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 lies a resplendent golden mandap, which was built by the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore. Four kalasas, representing the four Vedas, are built on this mandap. There are several idols that sit on the mandap, under the kalasas, which is why the mandap seems like a temple itself.
On the day of Vaikunda Ekadasi, which usually falls between the months of December and January, both the saint and Lord Vishnu, to whom the temple is devoted , are worshipped. On this occasion, the belled doors of the temple are opened so devotees can have the lord’s darshan.
Other festivals, like Masi Pooram in February-March, and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are celebrated with much pomp and show.

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 the Aghayamarg (skies) where the lord fought and won against demons.
The temple houses inscriptions dating back to the 10th century, including some from the 12th century Chola dynasty. one among the inscriptions alludes to the temple being built by the Pallavas. The temple was lost for several years, before it had been rediscovered and restored by Chidambara Swamigal, said to be a descendant of 1 of the poets of the Tamil Sangam of Madurai.
Thiruporur celebrates festivals all year round, but it’s more important ones are Vaikasi Visagam, Kanthasashti, and Navaratri. 

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 are four enclosures, along side a shrine dedicated to Aapat Sahaaya Vinayakar, who supposedly helped Lord Muruga in winning Valli’s hand in marriage. The image of Lord Muruga himself is placed within the Rudraksha tower, and is seen wearing exquisite ornaments.
The town of Thiruthani is additionally the birthplace of leading scholar, statesman and former President of India, Dr S Radhakrishnan. It receives thousands of tourists during the festivals of Poosam and Panguni Uthiram, which are celebrated with tons of enthusiasm by the priests of the temple and locals alike.

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 Jalakandeswarar Temple, inside the fort, which is like the Vijayanagar architecture. The Kalyanamantapa to the left of the doorway is another example of the architectural prowess of the creators of old. Another must-visit attraction during this small, interesting town is that the tower , within the bazaar, inbuilt 1928 AD.
The history of Vellore is dynamic and therefore the town served together of the strongest fortresses within the Carnatic War within the 17th century. Thus, it had been the seat of power of the Pallava, Chola, Nayak and Maratha dynasties, also as of the Arcot Nawabs and Bijapur Sultan kingdoms. It also bore witness to the massacre of a eu army during the mutiny of 1806. In fact, the town’s monuments provide great insight into a number of the main strategically significant battles fought in Ambur in 1749 AD, Arcot in 1751 AD and Vandavasi in 1768 AD between the French and therefore the English for dominance.