Part 1- Ancient architecture of India — Places to visit in Kanchipuram,TamilNadu
Kanchipuram, also known as the “City of Thousand Temples”, is a historic city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is renowned for its stunning temples, ancient architecture, and rich cultural heritage. As it is said, we can see more and more temples on each and every street in the city. It is also famous for some of the astonishing architecture that made me go “really? this place has just been 2 hrs from my own residential village and i never saw it”. The architectures are so massive and each has its own story. Some temples date back to 3000 years back. “Yes, I am not making it up, some temples here are really very ancient”. Check the below list to know more about their history.
Places to visit in Kanchipuram:
1 . Kailasanathar Temple 2. Ekambareswarar Temple 3. Kamakshi Amman Temple 4. Varadharaja Perumal Temple 5. Sri Ulagalandha Perumal Temple 6. Sri Kachapeswarar Temple 7. Sri Ashtabujakaram Temple 8. Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple
1 . Kailasanathar Temple:
The Kailasanathar Temple is one of the oldest temples in Kanchipuram, dating back to the 8th century AD built by the Pallava king Rajasimha. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is renowned for its stunning architecture and intricate carvings. The temple features a 16-sided Shiva lingam and several shrines dedicated to other deities. The intricate carvings on the temple walls depict scenes from Hindu mythology and are considered some of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture.
2. Ekambareswarar Temple:
The Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the largest and most prominent temples in Kanchipuram. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is renowned for its impressive gopurams (towering gateways) and stunning architecture. The temple also features a massive 3,500-year-old mango tree, which is believed to be one of the oldest trees in the world. The significant feature is that the temple hosts this tree has the “temple stalaviritchigam”, the temple is built around the tree. Isn’t it fascinating that the old Indians somehow found this tree to be very old and built a temple around it by cutting other trees?
9. Sri Vaikunta Perumal Temple:
It was built during the reign of the Pallava dynasty in the 8th century AD. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the 108 Divya Desams, which are considered to be the holiest abodes of Lord Vishnu. The temple was built by the Pallava king Nandivarman II and was later renovated by the Chola and Vijayanagara dynasties. The temple is renowned for its stunning architecture, including intricate carvings and sculptures, and is an important pilgrimage site for devotees of Lord Vishnu.
4. Kamakshi Amman Temple:
The Kamakshi Amman Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi, a form of the goddess Parvati. The temple was originally built by the Pallava kings in the 7th century AD and was later expanded by the Chola and Vijayanagara dynasties. The temple is renowned for its stunning architecture, intricate carvings, and ornate gopurams. It is also one of the few temples in India where the main deity is depicted with both eyes open, symbolizing her all-knowing nature.
5. Varadharaja Perumal Temple:
The Varadharaja Perumal Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the most important temples in Kanchipuram. It was built in the 11th century AD by the Chola king Kulottunga I and was later expanded by the Vijayanagara dynasty. The temple is renowned for its stunning architecture and features a massive 100-pillared hall, intricate carvings, and a golden vimana (tower). The temple also has several shrines dedicated to other deities, including Lord Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi.
6. Sri Ulagalandha Perumal Temple:
Also known as the Thiru Ooragam Temple, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the holy abodes of Lord Vishnu. The temple is renowned for its stunning architecture and intricate carvings. It was built in the 9th century AD by the Pallava kings and was later expanded by the Chola and Vijayanagara dynasties
7. Sri Kachapeswarar Temple:
The Sri Kachapeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is renowned for its stunning architecture and intricate carvings. The temple features a unique sculpture of Lord Shiva in a reclining position. Built-in the 14th century AD by the Vijayanagara dynasty.
8. Sri Ashtabujakaram Temple:
The Sri Ashtabujakaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is known for its unique idol of Lord Vishnu with eight hands. The temple is renowned for its intricate carvings and stunning architecture. Built in the 11th century AD by the Chola king Kulothunga III.
9. Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple:
The Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple is one of the oldest temples in Kanchipuram and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It was built in the 12th century AD by the Chola kings and was later expanded by the Vijayanagara dynasty. The temple is renowned for its stunning architecture, including a massive 100-pillared hall.
TRANSPORTATION
Average costs for different modes of transportation:
- Taxi: The average cost of a one-way taxi ride from Chennai Airport to Kanchipuram is around INR 1500 — INR 2000.
- Bus: The average cost of a one-way bus ticket from Chennai Airport to Kanchipuram is around INR 100 — INR 200.
- Train: The average cost of a one-way train ticket from Chennai to Kanchipuram is around INR 30 — INR 100.
Please note that these are approximate costs and may vary based on factors such as time of travel, type of vehicle, and availability.
