Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram, known as the ‘City of 1000 Temples’, is a famous temple city located in the north-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. Well-known for its glorious culture, heritage and famous silk sarees, the city is bound by Vellore and Thiruvannamalai districts in the west, Thiruvallur and Chennai districts in the north, Villupuram districts in the south and Bay of Bengal in the east. The city has a coastline of around 57 km and a total geographical area of 4393.37 hectares.

Being one of the ancient cities in South India, the history of Kanchipuram can be traced back to the reign of the Pallavas. Kanchipuram acquired its glory under the Pallava dynasty, from the 4th to 9th centuries and was the capital city of the Pallavas. Most of the temples in this town were constructed during this period. Subsequently, the city was ruled by the Cholas, the Vijayanagara dynasty and the British. 

Kanchipuram, considered as the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, is one of the most sacred pilgrim centres for Hindus. The temples and monuments seen in the city are an example of the architectural mastery of Dravidian dynasties in the South.

Sakkiswarar Temple, Vaikunta Perumal Temple, Kailasanatha Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple etc. are some of the important temples in Kanchipuram. The city is regarded as the seat of Kanchi Matha, a Hindu religious institution and is also famous for being the birth place of Saint Ramanuja, the father of Vaishnavisim. Kanchipuram, renowned for its silk sarees, is also called as the ‘Silk City’.

Kanchipuram is 76 km away from Chennai and the nearest airport is also at Chennai. Local transportation facilities are available from the airport to the destination. Kanchipuram has a rail station which is connected to major cities like Chennai, Madurai, Nagercoil and others. State run as well as private buses run from Chennai and other nearby cities to Kanchipuram.

The best time to visit Kanchipuram is during the winter season, from September to February.