Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram is recognized as one of India's 7 Sacred cities. Kanchipuram was, one of India's seven sacred metropolitan areas. Kanchipuram was the historical money of the Pallavas. It had been below the Pallavas from 6th to eighth century A.D and later on became the citadel of Cholas, Vijayanagar Kings, the Muslim as well as the British. It has been a centre of Tamil understanding, cultural and spiritual background for centuries.

Kanchi can also be recognized centre with the best silk sarees made inside the nation. Kanchi has superb temples of unique architectural beauty bearing eloquent testimony to its superb Dravidian heritage. Adi Sankara established his episcopal seat (Kamakotipeetam). Kanchipuram is the birth place of C.N. Annadurai, previous Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu affectionately referred to as as "Anna" by the individuals of Tamil Nadu.

Kanchipuram, the Golden City of the thousand temples, will be the capital with the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Rayas of Vijayanagar. In the course of the 6th and 7th hundreds of years, some of the greatest temples in the city had been constructed with the Pallavas. The town was also a terrific seat of learning. Sri Sankaracharya, Appar, Siruthonder and also the fantastic Budddhist Bhikku lived, and worked right here. Right now, it is identified not simply for its temples, but additionally for its handwoven silk materials.

Place

Kanchipuram is among the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites in India and the seat with the Shankaracharya. The temple town of Kanchipuram extends from latitude 12° 50' within the north to longitude 79° 45' inside the east. The town is situated around 70 km from Chennai in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Environment

The environment of Kanchipuram is tropical by having an almost uniform temperature all through the year. During summers, the temperature ranges in between 36.6°C and 21.1°C. Winter months are somewhat colder as well as the temperatures remain in between 28.7°C and 19.8°C. The typical yearly rainfall inside the town is 87 cm.

History

Kanchipuram or even the Golden City of Temples is among the most significant centers of Hindu religion and also one of essentially the most picturesque. The place is 1 of India's seven sacred cities and the 2nd holiest right after Varanasi.

The town was once the money in the Pallavas, Cholas, along with the Vijayanagar rulers. It had been under the Pallavas from sixth to eighth century Ad but, in the course of that period, was also briefly occupied by the Chalukyas, as well as the Rashtrakutas. Numerous with the temples located right here are the function in the Pallavas and later Cholas.

Pilgrimage Points of interest of Kanchipuram

Kamakshi Amman Temple
India has three principal cities where the Goddess Shakti is worshipped. Kanchipuram retains probably the most crucial rank among the 3. Inside the very same purchase, the 3 places are Kanchipuram, where the Goddess Kamakshi is worshipped, Madurai, where the Goddess Meenakshi is worshipped, and Kashi, exactly where the deity is 'Visaalakshi'. The Kamakshi Amman temple may be the hub of all spiritual activities in Kanchipuram. The temple is also in closer management with the Shankara Mutt, unlike one other temples, which are governed both with the Division of Archeology, Government of India, or the Hindu Temples Division in the Tamil Nadu Government.

The main tower more than the sanctum (Vimanam) in the temple is gold plated. Also of significance is the Golden Chariot on this temple. The Golden Chariot is taken inside a procession about the temple on Friday evenings around seven.00 p.m. This temple also attributes an Art Gallery with images depicting the background of Sri Adishankaracharya along with the Shankara Mutt.

Kailashanathar Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kailashanathar (also spelt as Kailashnatha) is among the earliest temples built from the Pallava ruler Rajasimha Pallava and was accomplished by his son, Mahendra Varma Pallava within the eighth century Ad. It is the oldest framework in Kanchipuram and also the best instance of Pallava architecture in South India .

The temple is located amongst several low-roofed homes just more than 1-km west from the city middle. Of all the temples in India, no other edifice continues to be so elaborately full of all the 64 aspects of Lord Shiva. The temple is distinctive in its architecture and it is viewed far more as an architectural surprise than as being a holy location. Hence, it truly is by no means crowded with locals. But, once in a 12 months in the course of Shivaratri festival huge crowds go to the temple and there might be hrs of waiting in lengthy queues.

Ekambareshwar Temple
Ekambareshwar temple devoted to Lord Shiva, is among the biggest temples in Kanchipuram, spreading over an location of 12.14 hectares. This ancient temple is surrounded by a huge stonewall developed inside the early sixteenth century during the days of the Vijayanagar Empire.

Ekambareshwar temple is of hoary antiquity, beginning as a tiny fane, it's got grown over the centuries right into a large one with innumerable shrines, Mandapams, Gopurams and Tanks. It truly is considered to become one of the most ancient temples in India and has been in existence even prior to 600 Advert. It enshrines a lot of traditions.

Kumara Kottam
Kumara Kottam is located in between the Kamakshi and Ekambareshwar temples inside the Somaskanda formation within the town of Kanchipuram. It really is a well-visited temple with two Prakarams plus a complete pantheon of Parivara Devatas enshrined within their respective shrines.

In the sanctum, Muruga is in a seated pose. Valli, Deivayani are absent right here, but their festival idols are kept here. In accordance using the function of Creation he has assumed, his appropriate arm is in Abaya pose, the higher hand holds the rosary, and the lower left arm is around the thigh in Katyavailambita pose with all the left arm keeping the Kamandalam. The posture can also be referred to as "Brahma Chattam".

Varadaraja Temple
The Varadaraja temple is among the important shrines of Sri Vaishnavites, also identified as "Hastigiri" and is among the celebrated Vaishnava Divya Desams, located in Vishnu Kanchi or "the Little Kanchi". Originally it was identified as "Attiyuran". The primary deity right here is Varadaraja Perumal in a standing posture facing west and also the Lord here is also identified as "Devaraja", "Pranatharthihara", "Deva Perumal", "Athiyooran" and "Perarulalan".

Varadaraja temple with excellent art has a spectacular history, which can be related with Sri Ramanuja, who used to serve right here. Many miracles are stated to have occurred. It was along with his ministry which the temple, then already many centuries old, started to gain fame.

Ulahalanda Perumal Temple
Ulahalanda Perumal temple, located about fifty percent a kilometre from your centre from the city near Kamakshi Amman temple is among the oldest temples in Kanchipuram. The deity Ulahalanda Perumal in this particular temple represents the "Vamana Roopam", an incarnation of Lord Vishnu taken to save the Devas from the Demon king Mahabali. The deity Ulahalanda Perumal is depicted by an enormous picture of about 35 ft substantial.

Festivals Celebrated In Kanchipuram

Many of the essential festivals celebrated in Kanchipuram will be the Brahmotsavam -Varadaraja temple in May possibly; Garuda Sevai- Varadaraja temple in June; Float festival -Varadaraja temple in February and November; Kamakshi Ammam Festival - February; Mahashivaratri festival - Kailashanatha temple in February; Panguni Uthiram -Ekambareshwara temple in March-April.

How to Get There

Air
Chennai is the nearest airport to Kanchipuram.

Rail
Trains for Kanchipuram are obtainable from Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tirupati, and Bangalore.

Street
Kanchipuram is 75-km away from Chennai and is also well connected by a network of roads. There are frequent buses from the town to Chennai, Bangalore and other places. For nearby transportation bicycles could be employed through the outlets close to the bus stand. Cycle Rickshaws and automobile rickshaws will also be obtainable on employ to move in and about the city.