| Kamakshi Amman Temple |
| About: |
| Kanchipuram particularly has diversified, rich cultural heritage and traditional temples of all deities. Kanchipuram has various religious names like Buddha Kanchi, Jaina Kanchi, Samana Kanchi, Saiva Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi respectively. Many educated scholars and religious saints have born and been in Kanchipuram. In this holy and sacred city Goddess Kamakshi is seated at the city centre inside an artistic temple “sri Kanchi Kamakshi amman temple”.The Kamakshi Amman temple at Kanchipuram is an ancient one and is associated with Aadi Sankaracharya of the 1st millennium CE. The saying Kanchi Kamakshi, Madurai Meenakshi and Kaasi Visalakshi illustrates the importance of the Shakthi shrine that it is.Although this temple was built in the 7th century and rebuilt in the 14th, it’s not very historical.The Devas prayed to Siva to destroy Bandakasura who harassed them. Siva told the Devas to enter the tunnel at Mount Kailas, get up at Kanchi, and worship Kamakshi. Kamakshi tread upon the neck of Bandakasura who was sleeping at Kailas and returned to Kanchi. At Kanchi she changed her form into a benign figure and stayed there for devotees to her darshan. She presents herself in the same pose to this day. To prevent Eros from harassing the sages with his qualities of amour, she took away the Lotus, Asoka, Mango, Mallikai and Nilotpalam (five flowers) and kept them herself.The temple is built in Chakra peeta form. But the chakra instituted by Adi-Sankara is in the basin like structure opposite to the Devi. The circuit ends a little to the north of the sanctum. A figure called Aroopa Laxmi is in that north circuit facing north. Puranas declare that she got this ugly form as she mocked the black colour of Vishnu. Vishnu thus having rendered his wife ugly in a moment of hasty indiscretion showered the red kumkumam of Kamakshi on Laxmi resulting in restoration of her beauty. Vishnu is also seen here enjoying this transformation |
| Location info: |
| Address:Kamakshi Amman Temple Kanchipuram tamil nadu India |
| District: Kanchipuram |
| Nearest City: Kanchipuram |
| Best time to visit: September to May |
| Climate/Weather: |
| Weather of the temple city of Kanchipuram is pleasant enough. Essentially a tropical climate, the temperature here is stable between 280 C and 380 C all through the year. There are occasional rains with an average rainfall being 87cm. Here, you can expect no wild turnaround in the weather’s mood.Summer: 36.6° C to21.1° C, Winter: 28.7° C to 19.8° C |
| History: |
| This temple is believed to have been in existence during the peirod of Aadi Sankaracharya..Sri Adi Sankara came here and installed Ardhameru (Sri Chakra) which is rare of its kind in India.The sanctum here enshrines Kamakshi, and a Sri Chakram.Legend has it that Kamakshi performed severe austerities in a grove of mango trees. The processional image here is referred to as Raja Rajeswari.This is built in the 14th century A.D by the Chola Kings, is huge and has four different entrances in every direction, each adorned by an artistic gopuram. |
Interesting Places to visit:Lord Varadaraja’s temple:
Lord Varadaraja Temple is located at Arasarkoil and lies near Sri Vyagrapadeswarar Temple in Kanchipuram District. The temple is said to be older than the Kanchipuram Varadaraja Temple. |
Devarajaswami Temple:
The Devarajaswami Temple in the eastern end of Kancheepuram is located at a distance of about 76 kilometers from Chennai. This temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu was built by the Vijaynagar Empire. The 10 meters high idol of Lord Vishnu which is taken out once every forty years for the darshan of the devotees was last taken out in the year 1979. This was a memorable event of the temple. |
Vaikuntha Perumal
This temple is situated at Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. It was built by Pallava emperor, Nandivarman Pallavamalla in the 8th century A. D. This temple is famous for its unique architectural grandeur and religious importance.Vaikuntha Perumal temple is one of the hundred and eight `Divya Desams`. The Vaishnavas regards it as a very sacred place. This temple was once praised by the Tamil Vaishnavite saint, Tirumangai Alvar, who was a contemporary of Nandivarman. This temple was originally known as `Parameshwara Vishnugriham` after the name of this king, Nandivarman whose original name was Parameshwara. |
| How to reach? |
| Nearest Railway Station:Kanchipuram |
| Nearest Airport:Chennai International Airport |
| Road Transport:Well connected by a good roads and bus services to and from Chennai, Bangalore and other places. |
Nearest Visiting places:Arignar Anna Zoological Park :
This zoological park is located in Vandalore which is 35 km away from Chennai. The Natural environment in this zoological park helps the animals to move around freely without any disturbance. There are moat type enclosures in this park. Nocturnal Animals, pre-historical Animal sectors, Aviary and reptiles are found here. The Lion Safari park is very beautiful and adds special credit to the zoo. |
Arignar Anna Illam:
The former and Late Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Arignar Annadurai, dwelled in this house which covers a land area of 273.78 sq.km. The house of Arignar Anna was converted into a memorial place on 16.09.1980. Things displayed in this memorial place are his statue, the life history and photos. |
Chennai Trade Centre:
In order to develop and facilitate the tourism and tourists, Tamilnadu Trade promotion organization has made Chennai a trade centre which is convenient for tourists and to meet the Trade and Business Conventions and Exhibitions and fairs too. Chennai Trade Centre is located in Mount Poonamallee High Road, Nandambakkam, and Chennai-89. |
Dash N Splash :
This spot is located 30 km away from Chennai. This artificial children park has wave, free-fall, spiral children slides and artificial rainfall. There is no vacation or leave for this park. |
Kishkintha :
This is a theme park, located nearly 30 km from Chennai. This place is called Chennai Contalam. The attractions found here are water rides, Bumper car, Twister, Trooper and 30 Cinema shows. The fee varies. |
Madurantakam:
In Madurantakam, there is an Earikatha Ramar Koil. This is situated 90 km away from Chennai on the Chengalpet-Villupuram high ways. This temple is located near the Agricultural Reservoir Bund. There is no portrayal or Statue or idol of Anjaneya (Hanuman) but he is not separated from Sri Rama Sri Ramanujam met one of his mentors, Maha purna (Peria Nambi) and acquired wisdom under the Bakula tree in the Rama temple. |
Kolarai Lake :
This lake is located near Chengelpet, on the National Highways. This is a popular tourist spot. There is a boating centre in this lake. Rajiv Gandhi Memorial:On the way to Kanchipuram from Chennai lies Sriperumputhur. This place is the birth place of Saint Ramanujar who was a vaishnavite philosopher. Saint Ramanujar is the founder of Vishisdadhvaidham. The former prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated here on May 21, 1991. A memorial was built on this spot. There are no holidays for this memorial. |
Sakunthala Jagannatham Museum of Folk Art:
This museum was actually the dwelling place of Damal, land owners and maternal ancestors of Sir. C.P. Ramasami Aiyar. This is situated in Brahma Mandiram. The house is about 400 years old. |
Silk Industries:
The people of Kanchipuram are greatly dependent on the silk saree industries. They work directly or indirectly. But Kanchipuram does not produce silk or any raw materials. Here the industries are fully hand-woven and produced. |
Thiruparuthikundram:
This village lies on the banks of the palar River, a suburb of the Pillaiyaar palayam of Kanchipuram. There are 2 great monuments of Jainism that flourished in Kanchipurams ancient times. Now Siva kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi exists. This area can be termed Jina Kanchi. This goes to the 9th century AD and Lord Mahveer is the main idol of the temple. |
Uthiramerur:
The village is very unique. It deals with the constitution and election. One can find the written historic inscription of the Constitution here. The written inscription deals with election of the village assembly, qualifications required for candidates, disqualifying of candidates, election mode, period of office for the elected candidates, recall of elections in case of failure in duties of the candidate. It is really startling to know how the democracy was enforced here. There is also an ancient Shiva Temple in Uthiramerur. It was built according to the Shilpa Shastras |
Queens Land :
In Queens Land one can enjoy the thrill of going on a longest sky Journey for 30 minutes by cable cars. It is the longest in India. Apart from this free fall tower, centrox, Himalayan water Ride, Alphen Blitz, and Water slides are also found here. This is located on the Bangalore Trunk Road in Palanijar, Chennai |
Vedanthangal:
One of the major water bird sanctuaries in India is located in Vedanthangal. This place is 48 kms away from Kanchipuram. The season for birds which migrated from other countries is during the months from October to March. Storks, Egrets, Cormorants, Darter, Flamings, are the rare breed of birds which arrive here. There is also a 24 inch high observation point which shows the clear view of the whole place. This point is near the lake bund. |
War Cemetery:
This is a circular shaped war cemetery built in memory of 855 commonwealth soldiers both men folks and women. This is maintained by both Government of India and common wealth war Graves Commission in Collaboration. This war cemetery is located in Nandambakkam, Chennai |
Kalpakkam (RRC):
There is a Reactor Research Centre (RRC) in Kalpakkam, established in 1971. It is undertaken by the Department of Atomic Energy which belongs to the Indian Government. In 1985 it was given the name after the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It was named as Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR). It is a broad based sector and it is aimed in developing the fast Breeder Reactor Technology. |
| Nearest Petrol Pump:Petrol Pump :Kanchipuram,India |
| Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:MM Hotels:65, 66 Nellukara Street,Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu,india,ph:044 27227250 |
| Help Line/Phone Number: |
| Police Station:Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu |
Nearest Hospital:
Sri Sankara Hospital Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
CSI Hospital Hospital Road Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
Manohar Hospital,Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
General Hospital, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
Emmes Nursing Home Hospital Road, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
Chettinad Hospital Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Kelambakkam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu ph 044 2747 5225 |
