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Exploring the Royal City
A land of exquisite silk sarees, majestic temples, and rich cultural heritage
The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport (Meenambakkam)- 70kms away.
Arakkonam railway station is nearest railway station - 32 kms away
Kanchipuram is 75 kms away from Chennai and is well connected by a good network of roads
Advisable to dress modestly, especially when you visit temples. Be prepared to walk a lot when exploring temples and palace complexes
September to March is the best time to visit Hampi.
Chennai International Airport is 70kms away and well connected by Rail and Road.
Kanchipuram is often referred to as the "City of Thousand Temples,". Visiting temples and silk weaving workshops is a must to do.
Kanchipuram is often referred to as the “City of Thousand Temples,” Admire the impressive gopurams (towering gateways), intricately carved pillars, and serene ambience.
Kanchipuram is renowned for its exquisite silk sarees, handcrafted with precision and artistry and so visiting the silk weaving workshops and witnessing the skilled artisans is a must.
Several of the city’s temples date back to the 7th and 8th centuries, and many are ancient and significant. The most famous temples in Kanchipuram include the Ekambareswarar Temple, Kailasanathar Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple, and Varadharaja Perumal Temple.
My journey commences with a warm welcome to Tiruvannamalai, a town pulsating with spiritual energy. It is about 3 hour drive covering 120km before i reach the famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated at the base of the Arunachala hill in the town of Thiruvannamalai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the largest temples in India and is considered one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Shaivites (devotees of Lord Shiva).
The story that revolves around this temple is Lord Shiva appearing as a column of light or fire to eliminate the ego from the face of mankind.
As per mythology, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were arguing with each other to impose the supremacy of one self over the other. While both were fighting, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a column of fire and asked both of them to find the end of this free column. Therefore Lord Vishnu as Varaha [Boar] and Lord Brahma as swan started moving toward both sides separately. Lord Brahma on the way found a Thazhambu flower and asked her to be a false witness. On returning Lord Brahma asked the flower to tell Shiva that he found the end. The flower said so to Shiva which made him so angry that he cursed Brahma that he would not have any temple worshipping him on Earth and also cursed the flower that it would not be used for any pooja kriyas. Lord Vishnu after realizing there is no end to the fire column accepts defeat and bow to Shiva. This fire column is said to be represented by the Arunachala Hills next to the Arunachaleswarar Temple.
Next i travelled to this temple (50 kilometers away from Thiruvannamalai) built by Pallava Kings by 7th Century AD. Later the temple was also patronized by the Vijaya Nagara Kings during 16th Century.
The uniqueness of this temple is that here the Lord Rama is found sitting with eyes closed without any weapons and his hand is placed on his heart in Chin mudra as he listens to Lord Hanuman reading out the scriptures to him.
Travel to Kanchipuram is about 70kms from Chennai by road. Kanchipuram is often referred to as the “City of Thousand Temples.
Arulmigu Sri Vilakkoli Perumal Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Deepaprakasar, and his consort Lakshmi as Maragathavalli. It is about 2kms from City bus-stand.
The temple has inscriptions on its walls dating from the period of Rajaraja Chola III. Temple shrines and two bodies of water are enclosed by a granite wall. Within the temple is a two-tiered rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower.
Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE.
Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Brahmotsavam festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Puratassi, being the most prominent.
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is an ancient shrine with historical and religious significance. The presiding deity of the temple is known as Sri Vazhakarutheeswarar, where “Vazhakarutheeswarar” is a name of Lord Shiva. It is about 1.5kms from City bus-stand.
The architecture of the Sri Vazhakarutheeswarar Temple reflects the Dravidian style, typical of many temples in South India. The temple complex features intricate carvings, beautiful sculptures, and a towering Gopuram (ornate entrance tower).
This temple is facing east with a Thirukulam in-front. The 3 tier rajagopuram is on the north side. Dwajasthambam, Palipedam and Nandhi are immediately after the Rajagopuram.
According to puranas, there was a controversy between devas and sage about postulates in Vedams. At that time devas and sages worshiped Lord Shiva (form of lingam) in this temple to know the truth about their controversy. Lord Shiva got delighted by their worship and appeared in front of devas and sages in this temple and solved the controversy between them.
So now it is widely believed that worshipping “Vazhakarutheeswarar” will relieves oneself from all the lawsuits problems.
Next on the list is one of the important temple -Ekambareswarar Temple which is also about 1.5kms from city bus stand that is spread over a large area and is known for its 1000-pillar hall and a massive temple tank. The temple’s main gopuram (tower) is one of the tallest in South India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, known as Ekambareswarar or Ekambaranathar, and the presiding deity is in the form of a Shiva Lingam. Its history can be traced back to the early centuries, and it has undergone significant renovations and expansions by various dynasties over the years.
It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, which are sacred temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, as praised in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. The main deity, Lord Vaikuntha Perumal, is enshrined in a seated posture, along with his consort, Goddess Lakshmi. The temple also houses separate shrines for other deities like Sri Devi, Bhu Devi, Andal, and Alwars (the revered Vaishnavite saints).
It is believed that once a king lived in Vidarbha Desa, the place where the temple is located now. The name of the king was Viroacha and he remained very sad due to the absence of any children. He prayed to Lord Shiva in Kailasanthar temple. Lord Shiva was satisfied with his sheer dedication of prayer and gave him a boon that the gatekeepers of Lord Vishnu will be born as the king’s sons. The princes born were ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, seeing their prayer and devotion Lord Vishnu is said to have appeared in the form of Vaikundanatha before the princes.
This temple is about 2kms from City center and is one of the oldest structural Shiva temples in South India and is known for its exquisite architecture and intricate carvings. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to have been built in the 8th century by the Pallava dynasty.
The entire temple complex is designed to resemble Mount Kailash, which is considered the abode of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology.
The outer walls of the temple are adorned with beautifully carved sculptures depicting scenes from Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, as well as various other mythological and religious themes.
The temple has retained the Pallava architecture in its original stylized form with influence of the later styles developed by the Chola Dynasty and Vijayanagara Emperors. It is of stone built architecture unlike the rock cut architecture built into hallowed caves or carved into rock outcrops. The temple’s foundations are made of granite, which could withstand the weight of the temple, while the superstructure, including the carvings, are all made of sandstone.
The Kamakshi Amman Temple is one of the 51 Shakthi Peethas. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi, who is worshipped as an incarnation of the Divine Mother Parvati. Kamakshi is considered to be a manifestation of Shakti, the feminine energy or power of the universe. The Kamakshi Amman Temple is an ancient temple with a history that dates back several centuries.
History : Once upon a time, an asura king named Bandhasuran lived in the country. This king with his majestic powers and arrogance gave torture to the innocent people and saints of the country. Unable to bear the torture the saints made prayers to Lord Shiva to save them, who in turn took the form of Godess Parvati.
Hence to kill the asura king, Goddess Parvati appeared as Goddess Kamakshi in Kanchipuram.
Also known as the Devarajaswami Temple, this is a renowned temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the Divya Desams (108 holy abodes of Lord Vishnu) and is believed to have been built by the Chola dynasty. The temple complex is vast and houses several shrines, mandapams, and a sacred tank.
According to Hindu legend, Saraswati cursed the king of celestial deities, Indra, to become an elephant and roam around the place. He was relieved of the curse with the divine power of Vishnu, who appeared as the mount, Hastagiri. Hastagiri indicates a mount/hill in the form of elephant.
Indra, the king of the devas, is believed to have installed the silver and golden lizards in the temple, who were the witness of the ordeal, after being released from the curse of the goddess Saraswati.
The Sri Ulagalanda Perumal Temple is known for its exquisite architecture, intricate sculptures, and rich religious significance. The temple complex features several beautifully carved mandapams (halls) and gopurams (towers), showcasing the brilliance of Dravidian temple architecture.
The presiding deity, Sri Azhagiya Singaperumal, is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of Narasimha, the half-man and half-lion avatar. The temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams, sacred abodes of Lord Vishnu mentioned in the Vaishnava tradition.
The presiding deity of the Nagareeswarar Temple is Lord Shiva, worshipped in the form of Nagareeswarar or the Lord of Serpents. The temple also houses shrines for various other deities, including Goddess Parvati (Goddess Kamakshi), Lord Ganesha, and Lord Murugan.
Kanchipuram is a tapestry of spirituality, art, and cultural heritage that beckons travelers from all over the world.
The city’s magnificent temples, timeless traditions, and silk weaving legacy create an unforgettable experience.
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