Kanchipuram Temples
Kanchipuram is one of the seven holiest ancient cities of India and was also
called “Kanchiyur” in the Sangam period. It is a temple city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in
Tondaimandalam region, 72 km from Chennai. Kanchipuram traces its history to the 2nd century BCE as an
early Chola capital.
Kanchipuram is a Tamizh word formed by combining two words "Kanchi" and
"-puram" meaning "brahma" and "residential place" respectively. It is located on the banks of the
Vegavathy river.
From the 3rd to the 9th century CE, it was the Pallava capital, and from the
10th to the 13th century, it served as the late Chola government headquarters.
The city is important to both Shaivism and Sri Vaishnavism. The city can
broadly be classified into four zones, namely Shiva Kanchi, Vishnu Kanchi, Buddha Kanchi and Jaina
Kanchi based on the evolution of Kancheepuram through history. It houses some magnificent temples in the
Dravidian style. A brief list is as below
List of ancient temples in Kanchipuram
- Sri Onagadeeswarar Temple
- Sri Ekambaranathar Temple
- Sri Kumarakottam Murugan Temple
- Sri Ulagalandhar Perumal Temple
- Sri Adhi Kamatchiamman Temple
- Sri Chitragupthar Temple
- Sri Kamatchiamman Temple
- Sri Kachabeswarar koil Temple
- Sri Thirumetraleeswarar Temple
- Sri Soleeswarar Temple
- Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
- Sri Ananda Rutheeswarar Temple
- Sri Karukinil Amarnthaval Temple
- Sri Sitheeswarar Temple
- Sri Kayarogineeswarar Temple
- Sri Valatheeswaran Temple
- Sri Nagareeswarar Temple
- Sri Panamudeeswarar Temple
- Sri Azhagiya Singa Perumal Temple
- Sri Desigar Temple
- Sri Vilakkoli Perumal Temple
- Sri Vazhakarutheeswaran Temple
- Sri Astabujam Temple
- Sri Iravatheeswarar Temple
- Sri Piravatheeswarar Temple
- Sri Kailasanathar Temple
- Sri Jurahareswarar Temple
- Sri Mutheeswarar Temple
- Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple
- Sri Madangeeswarar Temple
- Sri Thavalageswarar Temple
- Sri Pachaivannar Temple
- Sri Pavalavannar Temple
- Sri Pandava Perumal Temple
- Sri Mandukaneeswarar Temple
- Sri Vaneeswarar Temple
- Sri Mutheeswarar Temple
- Sri Anjaneyar Temple
- Sri Yadhodakari Temple
- Sri Manigandeeswarar Temple
- Sri Puniyakoteeswarar Temple
- Sri Sathyananda Temple
- Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple
- Sri Vadakku Kailasanathar Temple
- Sri Laxmi Narasimha Perumal Temple