In India the goddess Shakthi has three main cities where she is worshipped and Kanchipuram is

the most importantly ranked amongst them. Marg and I visited this temple city in 2005, when we
arrived in India our first time, taking a holiday out of Singapore and traveling around the four main
metros before departing again through Burma back to Singapore. We landed first in Madras and
had a day out visiting amongst other sites the temple city of Kanchpuram. On this trip we had a
lot more pleasant memories of Madras that were quite rudely shaken when we came back to live
here 6 years later! In 1995, the streets were still walkable, the traffic a lot less, the city was more
open and fasr less crowded than what it is today, so it was quite pleasant raveling about! These
photos below were taken from that trip when we went to Mammallapuram and Kanchipuram and
had a good look around as you can see. I have also placed in a bit of a descripton of the better
known temples and can highly recommend a visit out to the wonderous city of temples and its
spectacular sights!

The Kamakshi Amman temple is the hub of all religious activities in Kanchipuram and is under the
control of the Sankara Mutt, or head Priest, unlike the other temples which are governed either by
the Department of Archeology or the Hindu Temples Department. Built by the kings of the Chola
Empire in 14 A.D the main tower over the inner temple is gold plated. Also of significance is the
Golden Chariot in this temple, which is taken in a procession around the temple every Friday
evening around 7.00 pm. This temple also features an art gallery with pictures depicting the
history of Sri Adisankaracharya and the Sankara Mutt. As one of the more orthodox temples in
the city, the temple management does not permit equipment such as cameras and video
recorders inside the main building, but you can photograph from the outside.

Probably the best-looking temple in the city, the Kailasanathar temple was built by the king
Rajasimha Pallava and was completed by his son, Mahendra Varma Pallava around 705 AD. This
temple is unique in its architecture as it is constructed mostly of limestone. The walls and
vimaanam or tower of this temple are filled with great sculptures and paintings. The locals believe
that this temple served as a shelter for the king during wars and there are the remnants of an
escape tunnel built by the kings still present. Visitors are allowed to freely photograph the
sculptures in and outside the temple, with the exception of the Sanctum and the main Deity. This
temple is viewed more as an architectural wonder than as a holy place hence it is never crowded
with locals.

Sri Varadaraja temple is in the heart of Vishnu Kanchi and is an extremely large temple with
abundant sculptures. The temple is made up of several sub-shrines that is called the Devaraja
Swamy temple.The main deity of Sri Varadaraja Perumal in this temple is very large, and is
believed to be second largest in all of India. Significant among other things in this temple are the
sculptures of two lizards carved on the ceiling of the corridor enclosing the Sanctum. The lizards,
one covered with a sheet of gold and the other with a sheet of silver, are believed to be the
disciples of an ancient rishi who were cursed to become lizards by their guru. For a long time
now, people who visit the temple stand in line to touch the two lizards, in a gesture that means
both getting the blessings of Sri Varadaraja, and also helping liberate the disciples from the curse.
According to the legend, the Sun and the Moon stand as witnesses to this event and their
sculptures can be found beside those of the lizards. The pond in this temple houses the shrine of
Atthigiri Varadar - the deity carved out of Atthi wood. This deity is not kept for public view as it is
preserved under the pond. It is brought out of the pond exactly once in 40 years for a period of 48
days for public viewing with the last viewing held in 1979, so a few more years to go.Significant
among the sculptures is the 100 Pillar Hall that was sculptured out of a single rock. The pillars of
this hall depict the various Avatars of Lord Vishnu and also features chains that were sculptured
from the same rock.

The name of Sri Ulagalandha Perumal temple stands for Ulagai Alandha Perumal, after the Giant
Vaamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu who is said to have scaled the Earth and Universe in two steps.
To subdue Mahabali, the Demon king, Vishnu is manifested here as Vamana, or as a drawf, who
was requested by Mahabali to space the world in three feet . Mahabali offered the same not
knowing that the dwarf was Lord Vishnu. Immediately Lord Vishnu took on an enormous form
(Viswarupam) and measured the Earth and Heavens with one step each. Not finding place for his
third step, he placed his foot on King Mahabalis head and pushed the King to the netherworld.
The main deity of this temple is 35 feet high and 24 feet wide posing with one foot on earth and
the other on the sky. The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu. Subshrines of
this temple namely Tiruneerakam, Tirukarakam, and Kaarvaanam are Divya Desams as well.This
is a small temple near the Kamakshi Amman temple and inscriptions in the temple depict that it
was built in the Chola period. It is not very rich in sculptures, with the magnificent deity of Sri
Ulagalandha Perumal is the main attraction in this temple.

Sri Ekambaranathar temple is one of the oldest temples in the city and the architecture of this
temple is amazing with the gopuram of this temple standing a massive height of 57 meters - one
of the tallest in South India. The vast temple premises include "Aayiram Kaal Mandapam" or the
hallway with a thousand pillars, an array of 1008 Siva Lingams that decorate the inner walls of the
temple and also the work of practically every dynasty which ruled Kanchipuram. According to
legend, this temple is located around the 3500 year old mango tree called "sthala-virutcham", a
tree whose branches give four different types of mangoes. The temple lies right in the middle of
the busiest intersection in the city and is filled with people almost all the time. Hindu mythology
says that Kamakshi Amman performed a penance here under the mango tree to get married to
Lord Shiva. In Sanskrit, "Eka" means One, and "Amaram" means "Mango Tree". Hence,
Ekambaram literally means "One Mango Tree". Because of its age and vastness, not all places in
the temple are accessible to tourists although some places can be accessed with special
permission.

Though it is believed that Sri Kacchapeswarar temple is located in the center of Kanchipuram and
was built by the Pallava dynasty, althoughg the exact age is not known. The name of
Kaccheeswarar temple is after the main deity in this temple, Kacchapa Eswarar. "Kacchapam" is
Sanskrit for "Turtle". Hindu mythology suggests that the main deity in this temple (Lord Shiva)
was worshipped by Lord Vishnu in the form of a Turtle. Hence the name Kacchapeswarar Temple.
There are not many sculptures or architectural wonders in this temple, however, it is one of the
few temples where you have to pay a fee for taking a camera in.