Guide details
Best time to visit
October to March, weekday mornings
How to get there
About 2 hours by road or train from Chennai
Highlights
Ekambareswarar Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple, silk weaving
Good for
Culture trips, saree shopping, temple architecture
Price range
Mostly free entry, silk sarees from Rs 3,000 up
Kanchipuram is one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from Chennai, known across India both for its temples and its silk. Locals call it the city of a thousand temples, and while that’s a bit of poetic exaggeration, Kanchipuram genuinely does have well over a hundred temples scattered through its streets, several of them among the finest examples of Dravidian architecture anywhere in Tamil Nadu.
It sits about 75km southwest of Chennai, and a day trip here comfortably combines temple visits with a stop at a silk weaving unit, since the two things this town is famous for happen to sit side by side.
Ekambareswarar Temple
This is Kanchipuram’s largest temple complex and one of the five great Shiva temples associated with the five elements, this one representing earth. Its towering gopuram (gateway tower) rises around 59 metres and is visible from much of the old town. Inside, look out for the ancient mango tree said to be over 3,000 years old, with branches traditionally believed to represent the four Vedas, and the thousand-pillared hall, which is exactly as atmospheric as it sounds. The temple is generally open from around 6.00am to 12.30pm and 4.00pm to 8.00pm.
Kamakshi Amman Temple
Dedicated to the goddess Kamakshi, a form of Parvati, this is one of the most important Shakti Peethas in South India and a major pilgrimage site in its own right. The temple’s golden gopuram and the peaceful tank nearby make it a lovely stop even for visitors without a religious interest, and it’s usually a little calmer than Ekambareswarar in the middle of the day.
Varadaraja Perumal Temple
Kanchipuram splits its temple devotion fairly evenly between Shiva and Vishnu, and this is the city’s principal Vishnu temple, set slightly outside the main town on Hastagiri hill. It’s known for its exceptionally detailed carvings, including a hundred-pillared hall with a chain carved from a single block of stone, a favourite party trick of the Vijayanagara-era sculptors who worked on it.
Kailasanathar Temple
For anyone interested in the roots of Dravidian temple architecture, Kailasanathar is the one to see. Built by the Pallava king Rajasimha in the early 8th century, it’s older and quieter than the bigger temples in town, with sandstone carvings that have weathered beautifully over the centuries. It gets far fewer crowds, which makes it a peaceful place to slow down and look closely at the stonework.
Kanchipuram silk: where to see the weaving and where to buy
Kanchipuram silk sarees are famous across India for their weight, their rich colour combinations, and the pure mulberry silk and real zari (gold thread) used in the weave. Many families in the town have been weaving for generations, working on traditional pit looms set up in their own homes, often in the narrower lanes around the temple areas.
Several cooperative societies and showrooms in town, including government-run emporiums, let you see looms in action and buy directly, which usually works out better value than a Chennai showroom. Handwoven sarees generally start from around Rs 3,000 and climb steeply from there depending on the silk quality and how intricate the zari work is. It’s worth asking to see the pallu (the decorative end piece) up close, since that’s usually where the finest work is concentrated.
How to get to Kanchipuram from Chennai
- By road: around 75km, roughly 2 hours by car or taxi via the GST Road or the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway
- By train: regular services run from Chennai Egmore and Chennai Beach stations, taking about 2 to 2.5 hours
- By bus: frequent government buses run from Chennai’s CMBT bus terminus, a budget-friendly option though slower than a car
- Organised tours: several operators combine Kanchipuram with Mahabalipuram in a single long day trip, though that makes for a rushed visit to both
A full day is enough to see the main temples and fit in some unhurried saree shopping, especially if you start early and avoid the midday heat between temple visits. Wear comfortable clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, as most temples expect modest dress, and be ready to remove your shoes before entering, so socks or sandals that slip off easily are a good idea.