If you are planning to visit the best tourist destination in South India this year, then you must not skip visiting the city of Kanchipuram. It is one of those tourist spots where you can get a combination of mundane as well as celestial tourist attractions, albeit with a heavy dose of the temples. However, it is not just known for its temples it also hosts other natural attractions that need to be experienced.
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Kanchipuram is home to famous and popular relics of architectural excellence laden with works of sculpture of Dravidian kingdoms. There are a lot of places to see in Kanchipuram. The architecture and decor of monuments in Kanchipuram are simply awe-inspiring. Patronization of kings and kingdoms for works of art becomes evident after a tour of the place and the temples. If architecture is not your forte, you can soothe your nerves by visiting the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. Indeed, there are a lot of places to visit in Kanchipuram.
Ekambareswarar Temple is a part of the five temples dedicated to worshipping Lord Shiva and is one of the primary tourist attractions of Kanchipuram. It is known to be one of the holiest temples of India. The idea of five Shiva temples is to represent the five elements –fire, space, water, wind, and earth. The Ekambareswarar represents the element of Earth. The temple is so old that Tamil poets of the 2-century had sung eloquently about it. The original structure of the temple was pulled down during the rule of the Pallava Kingdom. The Chola Kings decorated and improvised the temple in many ways. King Krishnadevraya of the Vijaynagar Kingdom gave the temple its present form in 1509.
It is a huge temple with very big doors. The huge tower of the temple, known as ‘Gopuram’, dominates the skyline of this temple town. It is one of the most ancient temples. It commands an area of over 40 acres and reaches up to a height of 57 metres. The main entrance of the temple, also known as ‘Raja Gopuram’ is the tallest one in Southern India. Elegant artworks and sculptures adorning this tower can hold you in trance for hours. It is a must-see for connoisseurs of art.
There is a hall in the complex, which is built on one thousand pillars. The hall itself is intricately designed and located in front of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The divine highlights of this temple are the 1008 Shiva lingams, which had been built by King Krishna Deva Raya. Though it is a Shiva temple, there is no temple or statue of Goddess Parvati here. However, there is a Shiva-Parvati shrine just below a mango tree. This tree is believed to be 3,500 years old and known to bear four varieties of mango till now.
This temple is located at the centre of Kanchipuram and is among the must-visit places to see in Kanchipuram. While on one side of the temple is Shiva Kanchi consisting of Shiva temples, on the other side is Vishnu Kanchi consisting of Vishnu temples. The origin of the temple is unknown and it is believed that this temple has been existing since time immemorial. Annals of history about this temple go back to the time when Adi Shankaracharya had set up the Sri Chakra inside the temple. However, archaeologists have calculated the age of the temple to be about 1600 years, i.e. during the rule of the Pallava Dynasty. Goddess Kamakshi is the presiding deity here.
The sanctum sanctorum of the temple has Goddess Kamakshi Amman sitting in Padmasana, a kind of yogic pose. There is also a silver plated pillar with a hole, which represents the navel of the Goddess. It is believed that even King Dashratha had come here to pray for children. There is a curved stone in front of the idol, which is known as Sri Chakra, and it is this Chakra that is worshipped in this temple. If you visit this temple during the month of Phalgun, i.e. February to March, you can witness the celestial wedding celebration of Shiva and Kamakshi. On this day, the Goddess Kamakshi Amman rides a boat.
The Kailasanathar Temple is quintessentially the testimony to the architectural excellence during the reign of Pallava Dynasty in Southern India. It is believed to be the oldest building in Kanchipuram and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has been built with sandstone and is spread over a large area. Yet, for entering the sanctum sanctorum of the temple there is just a tight tunnel through which only one person can enter at a time. There are 58 sub-shrines dedicated to different deities. There are stone carvings of half-animal deities in the temple. The enchanting sculpture and beautiful paintings can hold people in trance for hours. They are just beyond description. You need to take a long detour inside the complex to get an idea about the architectural and artistic marvel involved in building and adorning this ancient temple. Tourists visit this temple throughout the year, but it is during the Maha Shivaratri Festival in the month of February or March that people flock the temple to offer prayers.
It is a 100-year-old house in Kanchipuram, which has been maintained as a heritage house. You can experience and see all the traditional staff that was used in South Indian homes back in the times of the kings and kingdoms. There is a raised platform in front of the house, which is known as ‘thinnai’. People used to sit here and enjoy natural air. Neighbours used to visit and chat on this raised platform. Even strangers from other places would take rest and sleep on the thinnai. In the living room, there is a teak-wood table and some chairs. It feels strange as well as nostalgic to see that people on those days were using wooden tables and chairs. However, the design of the chairs and the table are different from those we use these days. Needless to say that the furniture is made of solid wood and is in excellent condition.
You can find something called a Kolam, which is nothing but a decorative painting. Such decorative paintings were a regular feature in front of houses in those days. In some houses, you could also find a Kolam inside the house.
You can also see the mat known as payi with banana leaves in front. This is how people at those times used to take their food. Food used to be served on banana leaves and people used to sit on the mat, which was usually laid on the ground.
There is a grain storage room where food used to be stored in containers made of wooden planks. There is a room with a cradle too. All the rooms have a hole apiece on top for ventilation and light.
If you are tired of too much of celestial exposure, you need a break, and while in Kanchipuram the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary can offer you that break. It is a protected place in Kanchipuram sprawling over an area of 74 acres. The cacophony of migratory birds can bring your senses back from the celestial to the mundane. Indeed, there is such a huge range of migratory birds here that the bird watcher in you would be spoilt for choice. You can come across birds like Garganey, Pintail, wag tailed, blue-winged teal, common sandpiper, etc. Its significance lies in that it is the oldest bird sanctuary in the country. The literal meaning of the word Vedanthangal is the hamlet of the hunter. The name refers to the popularity of this place for landlords as a hunting ground for birds. One of the reasons that birds crowd here is that the area boasts of a number of water bodies where the birds could source their food. It was later developed as a bird sanctuary. The best time to visit this place is from November to March since it is during this time that you can see the maximum number of birds. During this time, you can also spot birds building nests. This is indeed a wonderful sight to behold and an unforgettable experience to have.
The Devarajaswami Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and was built during the reign of the Vijaynagar Empire. It boasts of a 10-metre high Vishnu idol.
The temple has two towers or Gopurams. These towers are said to be about 1000 years old. Different rulers from different dynasties have contributed to building this temple. These include the Chera, the Cholas, the Vijayanagar Empire, etc. There are five large corridors in the temple. Also, there are two tanks known as Golden Lotus Tank and Ananda Saras. The magnificent corridors and the large tanks add to the brilliance of the temple complex. There is also a big chain made from a single rock.
Along with the idol of Lord Vishnu, there is another deity known as Lord Atthi Vardar made from Atthi wood. Once in 40 years, both the idols are taken out of the water so that devotees can see the lord. The annual Brahmotsavam Festival is held in the temple for 10 days.
The Vaikuntha Perumal Temple is popular with devotees of Lord Vishnu. The PallavaKing Nandivarman had constructed the temple in the 7-century A.D. The shrine has three levels. There are various large sculptures of Lord Vishnu depicting the Lord in standing, reclining, and sitting postures.
Early South Indian architecture is known for its extensive use of pillars. In fact, there is a 1000-pillared hall in this temple too and it is a significant attraction of the complex. However, the unique nature of this hall does not end with the 1000 pillars. What is really intriguing is that each of these pillars has a figure carved on it while inside the temple there are lion pillars. You can also see the inscriptions in the temple most of which relate to the wars fought between Chalukyas and Pallavas.
This too is a very ancient structure existing before the Pallava Dynasty in South India. However, it was demolished by the Pallavas and also rebuilt by them in the period 600 AD and 700 AD.
The temple stands majestic on an area of 40 acres. The entry tower of the temple at the main gate also known as Raja Gopuram was constructed by King Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar Kingdom. The temple has a height of 174-feet and a width of 57-metre. There used to be a 3500-year-old mango tree in the complex. However, it has perished a few years ago.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram has immense religious significance. It is one of the most important places for people practicing Vishnav religion. The vast temple complex was built by the Chola Kings who were devotees of Lord Vishnu. The 10-day Brahmmotsavam Utsav held in this temple every year experiences a footfall of lakhs as people from all over the world come here. The majestic architecture and intricate carvings on the temple are its prime attractions for tourists. This temple is a part of the trio of temples along with Kamakshi Amman Temple and Ekambareswarar Temple and one of the important places to see in Kanchipuram. The vast complex holds 32 shrines in total. The idol of Lord Vishnu established, here, is made of wood and is kept in a silver box. The box itself is submerged in water.
In essence, a visit to Kanchipuram must include a heady dose of temples and legends, yet there is a strong element of sculpture and architecture that can hold you in trance for hours. Best time to visit this city filled with architectural, religious, and natural marvels post the monsoon as the weather is pleasant and allows you to explore the sites with ease.
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