Kancheepuram

Kancheepuram, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in Tondaimandalam region, 72 km from Chennai – the capital of southern state of Tamil Nadu and is the administrative headquarters of Kanchipuram District. Located on the banks of the Vegavathy river, Kanchipuram has been ruled by the Pallavas and was their capital between 4th and 9th centuries.

Kanchipuram was later ruled by the Medieval Cholas, the Later Cholas, the Later Pandyas, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Carnatic kingdom, and the British, who called the city “Conjeeveram”. The city’s historical monuments include the Kailasanathar Temple and the Vaikunta Perumal Temple.

Kanchipuram was a centre of education and was known as the ghatika sthanam, or “place of learning”. The city was also a religious centre of advanced education for Jainism and Buddhism between the 1st and 5th centuries and is the headquarters of the Kanchi matha, founded by his holiness Adi Sankaracharya.

Vaishnava theologies says that Kanchipuram is one of the seven Tirthas for spiritual attainment. The city houses Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple, and Kumarakottam Temple which are some of major Hindu temples in the state.

Of the 108 divyadeshams of Lord Vishnu, 15 are located in Kanchipuram itself. The city is particularly important to Sri Vaishnavism, but is also a holy pilgrimage site in Shaivism. The city is well known for its hand woven silk sarees and most of the city’s workforce is involved in the weaving industry.