Things to Do in Kanchipuram

Kamakshi Amman temple is one of the best places to visit in Kanchipuram and is one of the most historic temples in the city. Visited by millions of pilgrims from all over the globe, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari (a form of Goddess Parvati). 

Spread over an area of 2 hectares Kamakshi Amman temple is built in the Dravidian architectural style. According to the Hindu legend, the Kamakshi Amman temple lies in line with the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai and Visalakshi temple in Varanasi making it an important temple in the Hindu religion. 

Location: New No. 6, Old No. 144/A, Kamakshi Amman, Sannathi St, Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: There is no entry fee to visit the temple. 

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 5.30 AM to 12.15 PM & 4 PM to 8.15 PM. On Friday till 9 PM and on the day of Pournami 10.30 PM. 

Best time to visit: From Aarti to Puja, all the activities around the temple happen on a daily basis. Although the best time to visit the temple would be in mid-February or mid-March as the annual festival of the temple takes place during this period.

One of the finest places to see in Kanchipuram, Varadharaja Perumal Temple or popularly known as Attiyuran or Hastagiri is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is located in the suburb of Vishnu Kanchi, which is home to many Vishnu temples. It is and is one of the 108 temples which were visited by the Alwars of Lord Vishnu. Varadharaja Perumal Temple is surrounded by old pillars which are made out of stone. 

Varadharaja Perumal Temple has been in existence from the times of the dynasties like Chola, Pandya, Cheras, Kakatiya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara and it is believed to be built in 1053 by the Chola dynasty. 

Location: Nethaji Nagar, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501

Price: There is no entry fee to visit the temple. 

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 6 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM

Best time to visit: The best time to visit the temple would be early in the morning or in late evenings as the routine ritual is performed during these hours of the day.""

Ekambareswarar Temple is associated with the Pancha Bhoota Stalam of the Hindu Mythology and is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is deeply associated with the land or Prithvi (earth) of Kanchipuram.

Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the biggest temples in India and is one of the best places to see in Kanchipuram. The architecture of this temple dates back to the Vijayanagara period. This Temple is spread over an area of 25 acres and is home to more than 20 halls with more than 1000 pillars in them. 

Location: Ekambaranathar Sannidhi Street, Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: There is no fee to visit the temple.

Timings: Everyday 5.30 AM to 10 PM

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Ekambareshwar Temple is in March and April as the annual Panguni Uthiram festival is celebrated. 

Kailasanathar Temple or Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple is the oldest temple in the city. The meaning of the name of the temple is Lord of the Cosmic Mountain. The temple was built during the reign of Rajasimha from the years 685 to 705.

The temple is one of the top places to visit in Kanchipuram and a very popular temple as it is entirely made out of sandstone and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are around 58 small shrines of Lord Shiva around the temple.

The architectural style of this temple is in the Tamil style and is one of the beautiful temples in the state.

Location: Pillaiyarpalayam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501

Price: There is no price or entry fee to the temple.

Timings: Monday to Friday from 5.30 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 9 PM. 

Best time to visit: Maha Shivratri is the best time to visit the Kailasanathar Temple.

Tiru Parameswara Vinnagaram is the second oldest temple in the city and is one of the best places to visit in Kanchipuram. It is constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture and was built during the reign of the Pallava King Narasimhavaraman II. 

The walls of the temple are decorated with sculptors of Narsimha and other kings. The temple is more than 1000 years old and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. 

Location: Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: There is no entry fee in the temple

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 7 AM to 8 PM

Best time to visit: The best time to visit the temple is in May or June as the temple organises the annual Vaikunta Ekadashi festival. Also, one can visit the temple during the special aarti time i.e. at 7.30 AM, 8 AM, 12 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM and 7.30 PM.

The Pandava Thoothar Perumal temple has its legend from the stories of Mahabharata and the walls of the temple have historic inscriptions from the Chola kingdom. There are two small water bodies around the temple which are considered holy places and it is considered to be one of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Tamilnadu. 

Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple was built during the reign of the Pallavas in the 8th century. It is one of the oldest temples in the city and is a popular temple in Kanchipuram and it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the 108 Divyadesam of Lord Vishnu. 

Location: Pandavaperumal Koil St, Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: There is no price to visit the temple. 

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 7 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 7.30 PM

Best time to visit: The best time to visit the temple is in August and September as the temple hosts the annual Krishna Janmashtami festival which is attended by thousands of devotees.

Kumarakottam Temple is one of the most important Hindu temples and top places to see in Kanchipuram. The temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan, who is the Hindu God of War. The temple was built in the year 1915 and is one of the most important temples in the city. 

The main deity of the temple, Lord Murugan is depicted holding a water pot or kamandalu and the prayers beads of Rudraksha making the temple deity a very popular in the city. 

Location: Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: There is no entry fee or any price to visit the temple.

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 6 AM to 12 PM and 3 PM to 9 PM. 

Best time to visit : The best time to visit the temple is during November as the annual festival of Kandha Shashti is celebrated.

Ulagalantha Perumal Temple was built and reconstructed during the times of the Chola kingdom, the Vijayanagar kingdom and the Madura Nayak kingdom. The Ulagalantha Perumal Temple is considered as one of the oldest temples in Tamilnadu. 

A historic temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Ulagalantha Perumal Temple is one of the top places to visit in Kanchipuram. The temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture and is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Lord Vishnu. According to the locals, the legend goes like Lord Vishnu descended to the place as Vamana to help Lord Indra get his power back from Mahabali.

Location: Kamakshi Amman Sannidhi Street, Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: There is no price to visit the temple. 

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 6 AM to 6.30 PM

Best time to visit: The best time to visit the temple is January or February and August to September when the annual festivals of Brahmotsavam and Vamana Jayanthi respectively.

The temple was built during the 9th century and was later expanded and reconstructed. Chitragupta temple is one of its kind temples and is one of the fewest temples dedicated to Chitragupta in the world. Women who visit the temple keep a fast to please Chitragupta and seek his blessings.

Chitragupta temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Chitragupta, who is said to be the assistant of Yama, Hindu god of death. According to the local legend, the deity of Chitragupta was set as an accountant of the good and the bad deeds of the humans. 

Location: Hospital Rd, Nellukara st, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501

Price: There is no entry fee or any other fee to enter the temple. 

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 5 AM to 12 PM and 5 PM to 11 PM. 

Best time to visit: The best time to visit the temple is in the month of April as the annual Chitra Pournami is celebrated in April.

Other than the various temples, Kanchipuram houses the wonderful museum of Kanchi Kudil and is one of the best places to visit in Kanchipuram. More than a century-old, Kanchi Kudil has attracted many tourists from around the globe. The locality around the museum is quite popular for its food and shopping centres.

This age-old museum is home to many old and ancient artefacts, paintings and sculptors from the various kingdoms of the city. Kanchi Kudil used to be an ancestral property of a local but it was later turned into a museum. 

Location: 53 A, SVN Pillai St, Pillaiyarpalayam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: A minimal amount of Rs. 10 is to be paid as the entrance fee.

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM

Best time to visit: The evening would be the best time of the day to visit the museum as the local market is also open during the late hours of the day.

Thiru Ekambaranathar Temple is one of the finest places to visit in Kanchipuram. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the city. 

The complex of the temple is one of the widest amongst the other temples of the city and the various walls and pillars of the temple are decorated with ornate carvings. 

Location: Sannathi Street, Periya, near Railway Station, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: There is no price to visit the temple.

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 6 AM to 12.30 PM and 4 PM to 8.30 PM. 

Best time to visit: You can visit the temple at any time of the day.

In ancient times, the temple was the place for procuring justice. The locals of the area who had any problems used to come to this place and were delivered with the perfect solution. Nowadays, people with several issues in their lives visit the temple and perform various rituals to please Lord Shiva.

Sri Vazhakarutheeswarar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is one of the best places to see in Kanchipuram. The literal meaning of the temple is ‘The God who demolishes cases’.

Location: Gandhi Rd, Opp to Nalli Silks, Ennaikaran, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501

Price: There is no entry fee to enter the temple. 

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 6 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 8.30 PM. 

Best time to visit : Maha Shivratri is the best time to visit the Sri Vazhakarutheeswarar Temple.

Sankara Mutt or popularly known as Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is a Hindu institution which is located next to the temple of Goddess Kamakshi. Kanchi Kamakoti was founded in 482 BC by Adi Shankaracharya to preach his teachings. 

This matha is considered to be very important among the Hindus of the city as it is a place of cultural importance to them. Inside the mutt, one can find several Hindu scriptures, paintings and other items. 

Location: 1, Salai Street, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: There is no price to visit the mutt. 

Timings: Every day from 12 AM to 12 PM.

Best time to visit: Most of the important days of the mutt fall in December and January. So it is advisable to visit the mutt during these months. 

According to the legend, Lord Vishnu arrived at the location of the temple and offered his prayers to Lord Shiva in the form of a tortoise. A historic temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple is located close to the Kandakottam temple. Karchapeswarar Temple was built by the Pallavas and was later modified by the various Vijayanagar kings. 

Location: Nellukara St, Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: There is no price to visit the temple. 

Timings: Monday to Sundar from 5 AM to 12 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM.

Best time to visit: Any time of the year and day is the best time to visit the temple.

Pavalavannam temple or Tiru Pavala Vannam is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and is one of the 108 Divyadesam which are dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This beautiful and ancient temple was built during the Chola period with some modifications done during the reign of Vijayanagar kingdom. 

Location: 15J/9-2, Damalwar St, Melkathirpur, Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502

Price: No entry fee is taken to visit the temple.

Timings: Monday to Sunday from 7.30 AM to 11.30 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Pavalavannam Temple is in May and June as the temple celebrates the annual Brahmotsavam festival.