List of most famous temples in Kanchipuram
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Kanchipuram, also known as Kanchi, is a famous city in Tamil Nadu. Also known as the temple city, Kanchipuram is considered one of the seven holiest places in India for Hindus. Kanchipuram is about 72 kilometers from Chennai and is home to some of the most important Shiva and Vishnu temples. There are 15 Divya Desams which are specific temples of Lord Vishnu and 11 Padal Petra Stalams which are dedicated to the worship of holy saints. The city can be divided into two halves with a dotted line according to the temple deities concentrated in the area. The northern part of the city is called the Shiva Kanchi circuit and the southern part is called the Vishnu Kanchi circuit. There are many temples near Kanchipuram which also reflect the Dravidian style of architecture seen in Kanchi. In this article, we will explore more about some of the important temples in Kanchipuram.
List of Kanchipuram Temples:
Check out these major temples in Kanchipuram:
Contents of the table:
- Onakanthan Tali Temple.
- Pandawa Perumar Temple.
- Illavataneswara Temple.
- Khacha Bethwara Temple.
- Kaila Sanatar Temple.
- Thiru Virukai Temple.
- Kamakshi Amman Temple Kanchipuram.
- Chitra Gupta Swami Temple.
1. Onakanthan Tali Temple:
The Onakanthan Tali Temple in Kanchipuram is a gathering place for Shiva worshippers, and legend has it that Onana and Kantan, two of Lord Shiva’s greatest devotees, devoted themselves to establishing this place of worship. The existence of two Lingams represents the existence of Oneswarar and Kantenswarar. This medieval-style temple is a small, compact dwelling, an ancient treat.
- address: Onakanthali, Kanchipuram
- time: 5.30am to 8pm
- Dress Code: strict traditional dress
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: You can rent a taxi from Kanchi train station
- Temple website: not applicable
- Best time to visit: Marga Day from December to January and Apasi from October to November
- Other attractions: Three Shiva Lingas in the temple
[Read: Must Visit Temples in & Around Madurai City]
2. Pandawa Perumar Temple:
The Pandavar Perumal temple is enclosed by a solid wall of cold granite that protects the shrine including the two bodies of water. This temple was built during the Pallava Dynasty in the late 8th century and is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Besides peace, this temple also has beautiful scenery. This is one of the famous temples to see in Kanchipuram.
- address: Pandavaperumal Koil St, Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502
- time: 7:00pm to 11:00am and 4:00pm to 7:30pm
- Dress Code: strict traditional dress
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: You can rent a taxi from Kanchi Railway Station, which is 1.4 km away
- Temple website: not applicable
- Best time to visit: Sri Krishna Jayanti, Diwali and Mukkoti Ekadasi
- Other attractions: Seated statue of Lord Krishna, 25 feet high
3. Irawataneshwara Temple:
Iravatanesvara Temple is an ancient temple with a unique architectural style, built in the 8th century by Pallavas, this temple is famous for its Vimanas. Not long ago, the archaeological survey of India has taken over the revival and restoration of this temple to its original grandeur. This is an old Kanchipuram temple in Tamil Nadu.
- address: Iravatanesvara Temple, Kanchipuram
- time: 5:00am – 12:00pm and 4:00pm – 8:00pm
- Dress Code: strict traditional dress
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: It is located 75 kilometers from Chennai.You can take the train to Kanchipuram and rent a taxi from there
- Temple website: not applicable
- Best time to visit: Maharashvarati
- Other attractions: Sub-shrines of Ganesha, Subramanyam and other gods
4. Kachabeswarar Temple:
In the small village of Thirukkachur stands a large temple dedicated only to the mighty Lord Shiva, which stretches across acres of beautiful granite chiseled beige temples. The main deities of this temple are Shri Kachabeswarar and his wife the goddess Shri Anjaanakshi Ambaal. There are various interesting histories inside the temple, displayed through banners for devotees to learn about.
- address: Nellukara St, Pillaiyarpalayam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- time: 5am to 12pm and 5pm to 8pm
- Dress Code: strict traditional dress
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: The nearest railway station is the old Kanchipuram station which is 1.7 km from the temple
- Temple website: www.kanchipuramkachabeswarartemple.tnhrce.in/
- Best time to visit: Chithirai Brahammotsavam and Chitra Poornima – Full Moon Day
- Other attractions: Anandana is available in temples
[Read: Holy Temples to Visit in Ooty]
5. Kailasanathar Temple:
Kailasanathar Temple is one of the oldest and most famous religious centres in Kanchipuram, comprising megalithic-hewn structures dedicated to the mighty Lord Shiva, who inhabited one of his many forms, Kailasanathar, which takes its name from the fact that he lived in His main residence, Mount Kailash. This temple showcases the most spectacular architectural forms of Kanchipuram and its surrounding temples.
- address: Pillaiyarpalayam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501
- time: 5:30am to 12pm and 4pm to 9pm
- Dress Code: strict traditional dress
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: 3 km from Kanchipuram bus station
- Temple website: not applicable
- Best time to visit: Maharashvarati
- Other attractions: Unique Pass to Circumambulate Temple
6. Tiruvelukkai Temple:
Built in Dravidian style, the Tiruvelukkai Temple in Kanchipuram has a unique history where the temple was built. The witty Lord Vishnu rescued the locals from this place, and he incarnated as Narasimha. After casting Asura, the evil spirit, he decided to live here for a while, and the temple that followed came into being.
- address: Singaperumal Sannidhi St, Ennaikaran, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501
- time: 7:00 am to 10:00 am; 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm
- Dress Code: strict traditional dress
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: 1 km from Kanchipuram bus station
- Temple website: not applicable
- Best time to visit: Sri Krishnajmashtami
- Other attractions: There are many famous temples nearby
7. Kamakshi Amman Temple Kanchipuram:
Tall and majestic, Kamakshi Amman Temple is one of many rare temples dedicated to the Supreme Goddess Parvati, another form of Goddess Kali. Kamakshi here is actually called a god because the chiseled white rock religious center represents strength and devotion. This is also a Shakti peetam, the only goddess temple in the whole city of Kanchipuram.
- address: New No. 6, Old No. 144/A, Kamakshi Amman, Sannathi St, Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502
- time: 5:30am to 12:15pm and 4:00pm to 8:15pm
- Dress Code: strict traditional dress
- About. Visiting time: 1-2 hours
- how can I get there: 1 km from Kanchipuram Railway Station
- Temple website: http://www.kanchikamakshi.com/
- Best time to visit: Navratri
- Other attractions: There are many famous Hindu temples nearby
[Read: Top Temples in Tamil Nadu That You Must Visit]
8. Chitragupta Swami Temple:
The Chitragupta Temple is dedicated to Shri Chitragupta Swamy, who is believed to be working hand in hand with the bad news omen planet Ketu. This is the main reason why people from all over India flock to this temple for the blessings of the gods. This is one of the rare temples in India, built by Choras in the 9th century.
- address: Hospital Rd, Nellukarast, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501
- time: 5:00am – 12:00pm, 5:00pm – 11:00pm.
- Dress Code: strict traditional dress
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: Less than 5 minutes from Kanchi train station
- Temple website: not applicable
- Best time to visit: All major Hindu festivals
- Other attractions: There are many famous Hindu temples nearby
Kanchipuram is one of the holiest places for Hindus. If you plan a visit to Kanchipuram, you will be amazed by the number of temples in the city. No wonder it is called the “City of Temples”. The famous Kanchi Kama Koti Peetam founded by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya is also located in the city, next to the Kanchi Kamakshi Temple. These ancient temples offer tourists more than religion. Despite being hundreds of years old, their architecture and engineering still amaze us. If you’ve visited any of these temples in Kanchi, let us know your experience in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:
1. I heard that there are no concubines in the Ganchi Temple. What is the reason behind this?
In Kanchi, it is believed that Kamakshi Amman is everywhere. Her residence is the only goddess temple in the city. The rest of the temples have a male god, Vishnu or Shiva, with no consort next to them. People who wish to offer blessings to Parvati Devi go to Kamakshi Temple.
2. Can non-Hindus enter Kanchi temples?
Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple. If you are not Hindu but believe in and respect God, you must obey all the rules of the temple to enter. Also, non-Indians are generally restricted from entering campuses. Before planning a trip to the city, it is important to talk to the temple authorities first.
3. What is the importance of Ekambareswarar Temple Kanchipuram?
This is one of the famous Shiva temples in Kanchipuram city and one of the Pancha BhoothalaSthalas of Lord Shiva. The temple is located on a sprawling 25-acre campus with 4 guphrams. It was built in the 9th century by Chora and is one of the largest holy places in India.
4. Is it good to go to the temple on auspicious days?
In Kanchi, temples come alive on important festivals and auspicious days. Dozens of people visit the temple and it can take 2-3 hours to reach darshan. Avoid these days if you’re planning a leisure trip. However, if you have a special desire to visit the temple recently, be sure to come down at least a day earlier to avoid any inconvenience.