Tamil Nadu · India
Kanchipuram
The 'City of a Thousand Temples' and India's silk-weaving capital — an ancient holy city of towering gopurams, sacred tanks and the lustrous Kanchipuram silk saree.
Kanchipuram is temples-and-silk: the Kailasanathar, Ekambareswarar and Kamakshi shrines, one of the seven sacred 'moksha' cities, and looms weaving the famous Kanjeevaram saree.
Plan your trip
Kanchipuram Tour Itineraries
Timed, walkable day plans — plus the best season to go.
Where to shoot
Kanchipuram Photo Spots
Entry Free
Ekambareswarar Temple
- Best timeEarly morning, when soft light falls on the tall south gopuram and the street in front is still quiet.
- ColorsSaffronRedWhite
Medium crowdEntry Free
Kailasanathar Temple
- Best timeEarly morning, when low sun warms the sandstone and the courtyard is still quiet.
- ColorsRustCreamSaffron
High crowdEntry Free
Kamakshi Amman Temple
- Best timeEarly morning, before the queues build and while the light on the gopuram is still soft.
- ColorsRedSaffronGold
Entry Free
Kumara Kottam Temple
- Best timeMorning, for soft light on the gopuram and a quiet street outside; late afternoon, after the temple reopens, also works well.
- ColorsSaffronRedWhite
Medium crowdEntry Free
Varadaraja Perumal Temple
- Best timeEarly morning, when the light on the gopuram is soft and the street in front is quiet; late afternoon, after the temple reopens, is the next best time.
- ColorsSaffronCreamGold
For the feed
Trending Wear in Kanchipuram
Modern, Instagram-friendly looks
Rooted in the city
Kanchipuram Traditional Wear
Local, cultural, handcrafted outfits
Before you go
Temples in Kanchipuram
Darshan hours, dress codes and what gets refused at the gate
Taste the city
Food to Eat in Kanchipuram
Trusted tables
Where to Eat in Kanchipuram
About Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, about 75 km south-west of Chennai, is one of the oldest temple towns in India. It was the capital of the Pallava kings, it is one of the seven sacred cities that Hindus call the Sapta Puri, and it is often called the "city of a thousand temples". The old town has two halves: Shiva Kanchi, around the Ekambareswarar and Kamakshi Amman temples, and Vishnu Kanchi, around the Varadaraja Perumal Temple a few kilometres to the south-east.
The town is just as famous for silk. Kanchipuram sarees, woven by hand from pure silk with gold thread, fill the shops along Gandhi Road. Most visitors come on a day trip from Chennai: reach the big temples as they open, have a banana-leaf Tamil meal while the shrines close in the middle of the day, then shop for silk or visit the quiet, 1,300-year-old Kailasanathar Temple until the temples reopen in the late afternoon. Leave room for the peppery Kanchipuram idli and a strong filter coffee.
Questions
Kanchipuram — FAQ
What is Kanchipuram famous for?
Kanchipuram is famous for its temples and its silk. Known as the city of a thousand temples, it has major shrines such as Ekambareswarar, Kamakshi Amman, Varadaraja Perumal and the 8th-century Kailasanathar Temple. It is also the home of the hand-woven Kanchipuram (Kanjeevaram) silk saree and the spiced Kanchipuram idli.
How many days are enough for Kanchipuram?
One full day is enough for the main temples and some silk shopping, which is why most people visit on a day trip from Chennai. Stay a second night if you want to see the smaller temples at an easy pace, or combine Kanchipuram with Mahabalipuram, about 70 km away.
What is the best time to visit Kanchipuram?
December to February is the most comfortable time, with warm days and little rain. October to December brings most of the year's rain with the northeast monsoon, and April to June is very hot, peaking in May. See the best time to visit Kanchipuram for a month-by-month guide.
How do I reach Kanchipuram?
Kanchipuram is about 75 km from Chennai, usually around 2 hours by road depending on traffic. Government and private buses run often from Chennai, and Kanchipuram has a railway station with trains from Chennai, some via Chengalpattu or Arakkonam. The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport, about 65 km away.
Where can I buy genuine Kanchipuram silk sarees?
Buy from weavers' cooperative showrooms or long-established silk shops, many of them on Gandhi Road, and look for the Silk Mark label, which certifies pure silk. Be wary of drivers or strangers who offer to take you to a "weaver's house" or a special outlet, as they often earn a commission and the sarees may not be pure silk.