INFORMATION ABOUT KANCHEEPURAM

Kancheepuram, the capital of the Pallava and dynasty is one of the serene sacred cities of India. It is situated 76 kms from Chennai, 35 kms from Chingleput & 64 kms from Mahabalipuram via Chingleput.

KANCHEEPURAM HISTORY

The land of eternal reverence! The city of a Thousand Temples Ancient Kancheepuram, the city of thousand temples, is one of the most sacred pilgrim centres for the Hindus. There now remain 126 temples in Kanchi and a few more in the outskirts. This city was under the control of the Cholas as far back as the 2nd Century BC and a Pallava capital between the 6th and 8th centuries. Kanchi is also a well known centre of the finest silk sarees made in the country.

KANCHEEPURAM TOURISM

The Places of Interest and Sight Seeing



• Sakkiswarar Temple : Built by the Cholas, this temple is located near the Kamakshi Amman Temple.



• Vaikuntha Perumal Temple :An important Vishnu temple built by the Pallava King Nandivarman Pallavamalla, in the 7th century AD. Numerous inscriptions are found in the temple, relating to the wars between the Pallavas and the Chalukyas.



• Kailasanatha Temple :Built by Rajasimha and his son Mahendra the 3rd, in the 8th century AD.



• Ekambareswarar Temple :Another ancient temple, renovated by the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Vijayanagar kings. The 57 metre high Rajagopuram, is one of the tallest towers in South India.



• The magnetic pull of the town :Sightseeing Also known as Varadarajar temple, it is a massive and impressive edifice. The shrine of Devarajaswamy is located on an elephant-shaped rock called Hastagiri.



• Kamakshi Amman Temple :This is one of the three holy places of Shakti worship in India. The other two are in Madurai and Varanasi. The temple in its present form was built by the Cholas, during the 14th century AD.



• VEDANTANGAL--BIRDS SANCTUARY :It is one of the major Water Bird Sanctuaries in India.of 48 Kms from Kanchipuram . The birds nest on the branches of submerged trees. Storks, Egrets, Cormorants, Darter, Flamingos, Pelicans, moor hens, herons, kingfishers, sandpipers, white ibis,spoonbills, swans and grey wagtails are some of the birds which arrive here during season.The best season time is between October and March, when a large number of migratory birds visit. The birds can be viewed from the bank or from the watch tower.



• MUTTUKKADU :This is a large lake formed out of the backwaters, with boating and wind surfing facilities. It is located at a distance of 80 Kms from Kanchipuram . The Backwaters of Muttukkadu have been developed by the Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation to serve as a picnic spot and a centre for water sports.Training and demonstration programmes are organised for beginners.



• MAMMALAPPURAM :It was a flourishing port town during the time of Pallavas.This is one of the main tourist place in kanchipuram. The monuments of Mamallapuram are excellent specimen of Dravidian temple architecture and Pallava art.



• COVELONG--THE BEACH :This is a small fishing village 40 kms from Chennai on the Mahabalipuram road. There are the remains of a fort which now functions as a luxury beach resort. Facilities for windsurfing and swimming are available here. A dargah and an ancient church are located here.



• DAKSHINA CHITRA – little Tamil Nadu :Dakshina Chitra has relocated 18th, 19th and early 20th century houses and re-created village streets and work places providing authentic insights into the domestic architecture, spatial organisation, life-styles and character of the essential Tamilian or Keralite or Andhrite or Kannadiga.



• KANCHI KAMAKODI PEETHAM :The kamakodi peetham and kammakshiamman temple are closely associated with the life of Sankaracharya. The Kamakoti Peetham is enshrined in the Sri Chakra just in front of Sri Devi and all pujas and sacrifices are offered to the Sri Chakra.



• SADRAS--THE BEACH :This fine beach is located 16 kms from Mamallapuram. Originally this was a Dutch settlement but now it is coming majorly as a beach resort.



• KANCHI KUDIL--ANCIENT HOUSE :Kanchi Kudil was born of a desire to turn ancestral property into a place of tourist interest, that tourists may get a feel of the life as lived in a historic place as Kanchipuram. While temples and monuments index the cultural life of a city, the real soul of a place is to be found in its people and their homes.



• ANNA MEMORIAL :Kanchipuram is the birth place of Dr. C.N. Annadurai, the scholar statesman, affectionately called Anna - The Elder Brother - by the general public. His ancestral house located here has been converted into a memorial.



• THE CROCODILE BANK :Just 14 kms from Mamallapuram is a crocodile breeding center. At this center about 5000 crocodiles of 6 different species,alligators & other reptiles are bred in captivity, kept in open, marshy enclosures. There is also a snake farm where anti venom is produced and there is a regular venoem extraction show.



• SRIPERUMPUDUR :It is 29 kms from Chennai on the way to Kanchipuram. It is the birth place of Saint Ramanujar, the Father of Visishtadvaida philosophy of Vaishnavism and hence an important pilgirim centre for the Vaishnavites.



• KANCHIPURAM SILKS :Today, apart from its temples, this small town is also known for its thriving handloom industry. Kancheepuram is also known as Silk City. since the main profession of the people living in and around is weaving silk sarees. The silk weavers of Kanchi settled more than 400 years ago and have given it an enviable reputation as the producer of the best silk sarees in the country.

ACCOMODATION/STAY OPTIONS IN KANCHEEPURAM

• FISHERMANS COVE
• T.M. HOTELS PVT. LTD


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