6 Places To Visit in Kanchipuram
If you aim to visit a destination that is religious, historical, cultural
and entertainment clubbed in one, Kanchipuram is the place for you.
Considered the religious capital of South India, the city of thousand temples,
has a lot to offer. If you set aside whatever faith you may follow,
you are sure to be impressed by the sheer architectural skills
exhibited in the temples in Kanchipuram. The temples stand proof
for the dominance of Dravidian heritage and the city’s glorious past,
when it was ruled by kings who were not only powerful but loved
and patronized arts. Kanchipuram, which is one of the tourist
cities in Tamilnadu is also famous for silk saris. Given below are 6
important places to visit in Kanchipuram.
1. Ekambareswarar Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple has been spoken about by Tamil
poets who lived in the 2nd century. The temple had undergone many
changes since then. During the rule of Pallavas, the original structure
was pulled down and new temple was built. During Chola dynasty,
the temple was improvised. The temple in its present form
was the work of Krishnadevaraya, the most famous Vijayanagar
King in the year 1509. The temple is huge and the doors are nearly
40 feet tall. The temple is a proof of the architectural splendor of
the bygone era. The temple has a mango tree, which is 3500 years old.
2. Kamakshi Amman Temple
Goddess Shakti is worshipped in three major cities out of which,
Kanchipuram ranks first in importance. The gold plated main tower
and the golden chariot are the temple’s special features. The
sculptures of the 7th century temple are awe-inspiring.
This huge temple is constructed in around 5 acres of land. The temple
houses a gallery, which presents the life history of Adisankaracharya.
3. Kailasanathar Temple
Belonging to the 8th century, Kailasanathar Temple is one amongst
the oldest structures in the city and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The construction was commenced by Rajasimha Pallava. His son
Mahendra Varma Pallava completed the temple. Pallava kings were
famous for their love for architecture and one glance at the temple
would suffice to understand the importance they attached to arts
and architecture. The stone carvings with intricate and dedicated
workings are beyond words.
4. Kanchi Kudil
Kanchi Kudil represents the life of the people of the city with a view
to attract tourists and let them feel the essence of life as
lived here. Kudil means house. The house is over 90 year old
and its architecture resembles the olden style. You will get a clear
picture of the entire town and its specialties. The present heritage
inn was originally an ancestral house. You could gain a deep
knowledge on the city, its cultural richness and heritage. Be it the
food that is served here or the furniture in the inn, everything
speaks of the city’s glorious past. In spite of it being built in
ancestral style, you can expect to have all modern facilities
that you may need. Cultural programs are organized in the
evenings through which you can learn about the arts of the city.
For your information, the city flourished in arts in the ancient
period and you can see the influences even today.
5. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
If you want some time away from man made wonders, you may seek
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, which offers delightful views of birds
across the world. Considered a bird watcher’s paradise and rightly so,
the place would make you a wonderful photographer, if you are
already not one. It is located 48 kms from the city. This is ranked
amongst the oldest bird sanctuaries in India. Spread over a
sprawling 74 acres of land, you will find the views stunning
with migratory birds visiting the place from all over the world.
The best time to visit the place would be between
the months of October and March.
6. Devarajaswami Temple
The temple is famous for its richness of exquisite sculptures. The temple
is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and it was constructed by
Vijayanagar Kings. The intricately carved pillars are examples
of the architectural brilliance of the past. One of the unique features
of the temple is the huge chain that was carved off a single stone.
A 10-meter tall statue of Vishnu lies immersed in the large tank.
The tank is drained once every 40 years and the statue can
be viewed only at that time. Photo Credits
The city of temples has a lot more historically famous and
architecturally rich temples for you to visit. If you have the time
to stretch a bit out of tour, you can find various tourist places in Kanchipuram including the famous Mammalapuram, Muttukkadu,
Covelong Beach and Dutch Fort. You can have a perfect holiday
and have a great time enjoying the wealth of architectural
expertise the ancestors possessed and if you love, you
could buy a few silk saris Kanchipuram is famous for.
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