Best Places To Visit in Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram seamlessly combines religious, cultural, historical, and entertainment elements. South India's religious hub and the city of a thousand temples has much to offer. Get amazed by the architectural expertise displayed in the places to visit in Kanchipuram. 

Kanchipuram or Kanchi is a historic city in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. With numerous temples, it is regarded as a sacred pilgrimage spot for Hindus. The Kailasanathar Temple built in the eighth century and dedicated to Lord Shiva is a huge structure with detailed sandstone carvings. The Ulagalanda Perumal Temple features a sizable statue of Lord Vishnu. 

You must follow this travel itinerary for South India to explore the exciting places to visit near Kanchipuram. Visit Puducherry and then the nearby locations of Auroville, the hill resorts of Kodaikanal and Yercaud, and the temple towns of Tiruvannamalai and Chidambaram along with Kanchipuram.

List of the places to visit in Kanchipuram 

• Ekambareswarar Temple

A second-century Tamil poet wrote about Ekambareswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has undergone a series of renovations. A new temple was erected after demolition of the previous building in the Pallava era. The temple was constructed hastily in the Chola era. The all too famous king of Vijayanagar, Krishnadevaraya, is known to build the temple we can see in its current shape in 1509. 

The temple is a testament to the magnificent architecture that took place in the ancient period in Southern India. The enormous temple has gigantic, almost 40-feet-tall doors. Do not miss to look at the 3500 year old mango tree in the temple.

• Kamakshi Amman Temple

A significant historical treasure in Southern India, the Kamakshi Amman Temple is famous for the rich cultural heritage it presents. The holy site of Kamakshi Amman temple is said to be constructed on the remains of Goddess Sati's corpse fallen from heaven.

You would certainly appreciate a visit to the Kamakshi Amman temple in your Kanchipuram sightseeing. Goddess Kamakshi found sitting at this location is the presiding deity. The temple also has links to Adi Sankaracharya, whose image can be seen inside the shrine. The awe of the temple's stunning Dravidian architecture is sure to charm travellers and pilgrims alike.

• Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

Birds sit on the trees along the banks beyond the isles covered in mangroves at one of the oldest bird sanctuaries in India. A variety of migrating birds find a floating refuge in the Barringtonia mangroves in the sanctuary. The mangroves of Vedanthangal house an abundant avifauna. If you are a nature enthusiast or want to take up bird watching as a hobby, start here by observing a variety of birds like painted storks, egrets, spoonbills, spot-billed ducks and pelicans.

• Kailasanatha Temple

Kailasanatha Temple was one of the first temples to be built in Kanchipuram. The presiding deity of the temple constructed using limestone is Lord Kailashnathar, a manifestation of Lord Shiva. A ruler of the Pallava Dynasty, Rajasimha built the temple. And later, his son Mahendra constructed the temple's gopuram. The Kailasanatha Temple is a must-see in Kanchipuram for its astounding Dravidian architecture.

• Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Varadharaja Perumal Temple or Attiyuran or Varadharaja Perumal or Hastagiri is one of the best places to visit in Kanchipuram. The temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is situated in Vishnu Kanchi, a neighbourhood in Kanchi that has Vishnu temples in abundance. Look at the amazing, antique stone pillars around the temple. Varadharaja Perumal Temple is one of the 108 temples that the Alvars of Lord Vishnu visited. 

The Varadharaja Perumal Temple is thought to have been constructed by the Chola kings in 1053. It has been around since the time of the Chola, Cheras, Pandya, Kakatiya, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara governments.

• Alamparai Fort

The lesser-known historical marvel, Alamparai Fort is considered one among the best Kanchipuram tourist places. The 15-acre fort came to being in the 17th century during the Mughal era. The fort's dockyard originally measured 100 metres and reached all the way to the water. Goods like salt, ghee, zari fabric, and other items were exported from this location. The fort's remnants are definitely interesting to explore even today.

• Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham 

The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is a Hindu monastic building related to Adi Sankaracharya. Constructed in the eighth century, the temple is home to Goddess Kamakshi, a manifestation of Durga. In addition to paying modest respects at the temple, you can also attend the gurukul maintained by the temple officials. While the architecture of the temple may not be grand, the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is worth a visit for the experience it offers.

The illustrious past of Kanchi speaks of its kings who liked and supported the art. The temples of the town are some potent symbols of Dravidian heritage. You can find many historically and architecturally significant temples in the city of temples. If you have extra time, you can visit a number of places to visit near Kanchipuram like the well-known Muttukkadu, Mamallapuram, Dutch Fort and Covelong Beach. 

While visiting Kanchipuram famous places, enjoy the depth of architectural knowledge that the kings left for us. Visit the most amazing Kanchipuram sightseeing places on your trip to South India. You can also buy silk sarees in Kanchipuram for which the city is renowned for.