Kanchipuram Tourism | Places to Visit | Things To Do

Kanchipuram is famous for its unique blend of art, history, culture, and entertainment. Located 80 km southwest of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. Kanchipuram used to be the power centre of the Pallava dynasty during the 6th to 8th centuries AD. Kanchipuram, is renowned city for hand woven silk sarees and numerous temples.

The town is home to numerous temples, mostly built under the Pallava or Chola rule.The Ekambereswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Kamakshi Amman Temple dedicated to the Goddess Shakti is some of the famous temples in Kanchipuram.

Lying on the banks of River Vegavathy, Kanchipuram served as an advanced learning center for Buddhism and Jainism during the 1^st until the 5^th century. The city has derived its antiquity from various kingdoms like Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagar, Carnatic, and British. From the inscriptions found here the city was also ruled by Maurya and Chalukyas. This holy city which has enormous temples is the place where ancient Hindu Saint Adi Shankaracharya established the Hindu Monastic Pilgrim Center named “Kanchi Matha.”

Fourteen of the 108 Divyadesams (Pilgrim Center) for Vaishnavites is located in Kanchipuram itself. Kailashanathar Temple and Vaikunta Perumal Temples are the most vital historical monuments in Kanchipuram. From the survey conducted in 2008, nearly 5000 families has weaving silk sarees as their major occupation. Based from the Hindu Mythology, the weavers in this city are the direct descendants of Saint Markanda, a celestial weaver for Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

This town is also one of the largest producers of high-quality silk saris which are woven by locals through the use of handlooms. Shops selling silk wares and saris can be found in abundance along Gandhi Road. Interested tourists can also opt for touring the hand-loom factories where the Saris and other silk products are woven.

Kanchi Kundli is a Heritage Inn at Kanchipuram which educates tourists about the glorious past of Kanchipuram. In the evening cultural programs are held here where it is possible to learn about the art and culture of the town. GRT Regency, Hotel Baboo Surya, MM Hotel, Green Coconut Resorts are some hotels which give the tourists a pleasant stay at decent rates. Tourists can enjoy typical South Indian delicacies in Kanchipuram. The lip-smacking tastes of Dosas, Idlis, Pongal, etc. are highly irresistible.  One can enjoy these delicacies in various hotels in Kanchipuram like Shri Shakthi Ganapathi and Saravana Bhavan.

Kanchipuram is also the home to Vedanthangal bird sanctuary which is among one of the oldest bird sanctuaries in India. The Sanctuary is about 75 kilometres from Chennai and hosts more than 40,000 birds during the migratory season.

Almost every woman in Southern India has a treasured Kanjivaram Silk Saree of her own. Tourists can come across many people who throng the silk saree shops to purchase silk sarees for marraige. While packing up for a journey home, one should also leave some space for traditional handwoven silk sarees which can be purchased at reasonable prices from Silk Societies in Kanchipuram.