Kanchipuram, about 75 km south-west of Chennai, is one of the seven holiest cities of Hinduism and is often called the "city of a thousand temples". It was the capital of the Pallava dynasty and later an important city of the Cholas and the Vijayanagara empire, each of whom left their mark in stone.
Main temples:
- Kailasanathar Temple – built by the Pallava king Rajasimha around 700 CE, the oldest structure in the city, with fine sandstone carvings of Shiva.
- Ekambareswarar Temple – a vast Shiva temple with one of the tallest gopurams (gateway towers) in South India; Shiva is worshipped here as the element earth.
- Kamakshi Amman Temple – dedicated to the goddess Kamakshi, a form of Parvati, and one of the most important goddess temples in the south.
- Varadharaja Perumal Temple – a large Vishnu temple, known for its hall of carved stone pillars.
Kanchipuram silk:
The city is equally famous for its silk saris, woven with heavy silk and gold thread in bright colours. A visit to a weavers' cooperative to see the handlooms at work is part of most tours.
Good to know:
Temples usually close in the early afternoon and reopen in the late afternoon, so it is best to start early. In some temples the inner sanctum is open to Hindus only. Kanchipuram is often visited as a day trip from Chennai or Mamallapuram.
