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           KANCHIPURAM TRAVEL GUIDE


Kanchipuram is a city  of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of
Kanchipuram district. In ancient times it was called Kachi and Kachiampathi.

Kanchipuram is located on the Palar River, and known for its temples and silk
sarees. There are several big temples, notably Ekambaranatha Temple which is
one of the five form of abodes of Lord Siva, (it is the earth abode here, other abodes
include Chidambaram (Sky), Sri Kalahasti (air), Thiruvanaikoil (water) and
Tiruvannamalai (fire)), Kamakshi Amman Temple, Varadharaja Perumal Temple,
Kumara Kottam, Kachapeshwarar Temple, Kailasanathar Temple and many more.
Kanchipuram is also famous for its silk sarees, which are woven manually. These
saris are considered to be of the highest quality; almost every relatively well-off South
Indian woman has a Kanjivaram sari in her collection. The Kanjivaram saris woven
at Kanchipuram are also prized in North India.

The term "nagareshu Kanchi" in the above verse attributed the famous Sanskrit poet,
Kalidasa, means that Kanchi was the best amongst the cities of medieval India.

Kanchipuram is one of the oldest cities in South India, and was a city of learning for
both Tamil and Sanskrit, and was believed to be visited by Xuanzang (Hsuan Tsang).
It was during the reign of Pallava dynasty, from the 4th to the 9th centuries that
Kanchipuram attained its limelight. The city served as the Pallava capital, and many
of the known temples were built during their reign.

The king of Kanchi, Pallava Mahendravarman I was a great scholar and musician, a
man of great intelligence and also a great playwright. Xuanzang, the great Chinese
traveler, visited the city in the 7th century and said that this city was 6 miles in
circumference and that its people were famous for bravery and piety as well as for
their love of justice and veneration for learning. He further recorded that Buddha had
visited the place. As regards learning, Kanchi stood second in glory only to
Banaras.The history of Kanchi can be traced back to several centuries before the
advent of the Christian era. The place finds its name in Patanjali's Mahabhashya
written in the second century BCE Manimekalai, the famous Tamil classic, and
Perumpanatru Padai, a great Tamil poetical work, vividly describe the city as it was at
the beginning of the Christian era. Pattupattu, one of the sangam literatures records
that the king Thondaiman Ilandirayan ruled this town around 2500 years ago.

From the 3rd to the 9th century CE Kanchi was the capital of the Pallavas who ruled
over the territory extending from the river Krishna in the north to the river Kaveri in the
south. The Pallavas fortified the city with ramparts, moats, etc., with wide and well
laid out roads and fine temples. They were a great maritime power with contacts with
far-off China, Siam, Fiji, etc., through their chief Port Mamallapuram, the modern
Mahabalipuram. The Cholas ruled this town from 10th century to 13th century. Kings
of Vijayanagara dynasty ruled from 14th century to 17th century. The temple tower,
192 feet height in Ekamabaranadhar temple and 100-pillar mandabam (building) in
Varadaraja Perumal temple in this town are famous for the architectural techniques
of Vijayanagara dynasty. Robert Clive, of the British East India Company, who played
a major role in the establishment of British rule in India, is said to have presented an
emerald necklace to this temple (the Clive makarakandi, still used to decorate the
Lord on ceremonial occasions). Kanchi was a major seat of Tamil learning as well
as an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Once the seat
of learning and religious fervour started its climb down from the Mughal invasions
followed by three centuries of colonial rule under the British.


PLACE TO VISIT

Varadharaja Perumal Temple - It is an ancient temple built by the Cholas
in 1053  and one of the 108 divyadesams the holy abodes of Vishnu. It is located in
part of Kanchipuram called the Vishnu Kanchi that is a home for a lot of famous
Vishnu temples, including this temple and one of the greatest Hindu scholars,
Ramnujacharya is believed to have resided in this temple . The temple is a huge
one on a 23 acre complex and is famous for its holiness and ancient history. Another
significant thing about the temple are beautiful carved lizards and platted with gold,
over the sanctum. The temple is originally built in 1053 and it was expanded during
the reings of the great Chola kings Kulottunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola.

Sri Adhikesava Perumal Temple - The Legend says that Lord
Adhikesava Perumal killed the snake which came to disrupt the yaga done by Lord
Brahma. Here, Lord Shiva also guards the temple as Sarabeshwarar. The Lord here
is in standing posture with eight hands having Chakra, Knift, Pushpa, Arrow on the
right hand and Shanku, Bow, Gada and Kadga in left hand inorder to save the yagna.
The Legend also tells that Lord had answered to the prayers of Gajendra from here.
Peyalvar was given the vision of Gajendra Varadar at this temple.

Sri Yathothkari Temple - The temple has two prakarams and has five tired
rajagopuram. There are different sannidhis. Pilla Logachariyar sannidhi is also
present. The Lord here is in reclining posture from right to left. Lord Brahma was
doing Yagam at this place when River Vegavati (Saraswati) flowed heavily to destroy
the Yagna. This was planned by Asuras. But Lord Vishnu laid down here as a dam
and saved the Yagna.

Sri Deepa prakasa Perumal Temple - The temple has three tired
Rajagopuram and two prakarams. The Lord here is in standing posture along with
his consorts. There are shrines for Lakshmi Hayagriva, Andal, Vedanta Desika and
Alwars. It is the birth place of Vedanta Desika. There is a separate shrine for Lord
Hayagreeva along with Vedanta Desika. There is also a separate shrine for Vedanta
Desika built by Nayina Varadachariyar who is the son of Desika. Murals depicting
Vendanta Desika can be seen on the prakarams. The temple Vagana Mandapam is
very huge.

Sri Azhagiya Singar Temple - The Tiruvelukkai Divya Desam is one
among the 108 Divya desam. It is said to be the lord favourite place.The Moolavar
here is Azhagiyasingar or Mukunda Nayakar in a standing posture facing East, while
the Thaayaar here is Velukkaivalli or Amritavalli. This Temple has a three tiered
rajagopuram and a single prakaram. There are also shrines to Aandaal and the
Azhwars.