Location : In the
northern part of Tamil Nadu in south Indian State of Tamil Nadu.
Tourist Attractions : The Ekambaranathar Temple, The
Vaikunta Perumal Temple, The Varadaraja Temple, The Kailasanathar Temple,
The Kamakshi Amman Temple.
Best Buys : Kanchipuram Silk Sarees, local handloom
products.
Best Hangouts : The Temples
Best Activity : Visiting the temples
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Chennai, Pondicherry,
Mamallapuram.
When to Visit : September to May
About Kanchipuram
Situated in the northern part of Tamil Nadu, Kanchipuram is the city of
thousand temples and one of the seven most sacred pilgrim centres for the
Hindus. Even today, there remains about 126 temples in Kanchi and a few more
in its outskirts. The city was the capital of the early Cholas as far back
as the 2nd century BC and a Pallava capital between the 6th and 8th
centuries.
Given its notable past, it is not surprising that Kanchi was a major seat
of Tamil learning as well as an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists,
Jains
and Hindus. Today, apart from its temples, the small town of Kanchipuram is
also renown for its growing handloom industry and lovely silk sarees.
Major Tourist Attractions in Kanchipuram
The Ekambaranathar Temple
The Ekambaranathar Temple in the city was built by the Pallavas and was
later reconstructed by the Chola and Vijayanagar kings. Lord Shiva is
worshiped here as Prithvi (earth), one of the five basic elements of the
physical world. The dimensions of the temple are reflected in its 20-acre
spread and its tall south Gopuram, which soars to a height of 58.5 m. The
temple has 11 stories and one of the tallest temple towers in South India.
The structure is decorated with beautiful sculptures.
The Vaikunta Perumal Temple
The Vaikunta Perumal Temple was established in the 8th century AD by
Nandivarma Pallava. There are beautiful carvings of battle scenes depicting
Pallava valour on the panels surrounding the main parikrama of this
Vaishnavite temple.
The Varadaraja Temple
The Varadaraja Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is worshipped as
Devarajaswamy here. This temple, which has a 100-pillared hall, was built by
the Vijayanagar kings and displays the mastery of their artists.
The Kailasanathar Temple
The Kailasanathar Temple was erected in the 8th century AD by the Pallava
kings and has an attractive panel depicting Shiva and Parvati in the midst
of one of their innumerable dance competitions. The architecture of this
temple is very similar to the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram.
The Kamakshi Amman Temple
The Kamakshi Amman Temple has an imposing structure and is dedicated to
goddess Parvati in her incarnation as Kamakshi, the goddess of Love.
Getting There
Air
: Chennai is the nearest airport to Kanchipuram. One can take flights
for most of the important Indian cities and important cities abroad from
Chennai.
Rail : Trains for Kanchipuram are available from Chennai,
Chengalpattu, Tirupati, and Bangalore.
Road : Kanchipuram is 75 km away from Chennai and is well connected
by a network of roads. We would provide you all India tourist permit
vehicles for the local transportations and also for the intercity drives
too.
Accommodation
It is difficult to find luxury category accommodation in Kanchipuram. Most
of the lodges are situated near the city bus stand. There are some
guesthouses, which provide basic facilities and a serene environment to the
travelers.
