Mar 30, 2002 06:08 PM
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(Updated Mar 30, 2002 06:10 PM)
Kanchipuram also known as Kanchi. The history of the city goes back into very long period. This is a city of temples with a population of less than one lac. Most of the population consists of Silk weavers and Astrologers.
The city has lot of credits to it.
History Initially this city was, said to be, built in the shape of Peacock. The city was dominated by buddhists and well known monks started their journey from this place. In due course of time the kingdoms ruled this place started giving importance to Hinduism and Budhism spread its roots into SE Asia. This city was ruled by various dynasty kings namely Chola, Chera and Pandya etc and they left their sculpture remarks on the temples and buildings.
Places to Visit There are lot of temples namely Kamakshi Amman temple, Ekambaranathar Temple, Varadharaja Perumal Temple and lot more temples.
Kamakshi Amman temple built in 14 AD in a vast area and has good sculpture. The tower of the temple is gold plated. this temple is managed by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Godess Shakti in the form of Kamakshi is worshipped here.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple This temple is built in a very large are and the main temple is built on the rock called ''Athigiri''. The deity is very large in size. The main deity was made of a wood and is kept under the Pond (Kovela). This pond is also located in the premeses of the temple. The deity is taken out of this pond exactly after every 40 years and is kept out side for 48 days and again only after next 40 yrs it is taken out. Next time it will be in the year 2019 (This I read from https://kanchiweb.com).
Ekambaranathar Temple: This temple is one of the tallest temples in Souther India. Is built up in a vast area and other places of importance are 1000 Pillar Hall, 1008 Shiva lingams and 3500 yr old Mango Tree. During 1997, Queeen Elizabeth visited this place to see this Mango tree. The speciality of the tree is it gives 4 different types of mangoes from its branches. Two large size lizard, sun, moon deity are seen here. Touching Lizard deity releases from all sins.
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam: This is highest institution for Shaiva community. Started by Adi Shankara charya in 400 AD. Here, in the museum a statue of Chandrashekara Saraswati is to be seen. A lively statue.
Reliougious integrity: There is one mosque adjacent to the Kamakoti Peetam. During the Namaz time the Kamakoti peetam head and all other does maintain silence. There is very co-ordial relations among those people.
You have jain temples in the outskirts of this city, which is to be seen.
Another major part is the famous silk sarees of this place. Most of my MS pals have already wrote about this industry.
How to reach there: 75 Kms from Chennai (Madras). You can hire a CAB or you can go by bus.
Hotel: Hotel Saravana Bhavan is very famous and one gets different types of cuisine but vegetarian.
A useful website for this city is https://kanchiweb.com
It is a place to visit once in life time. Especially for those who have in interest in Architecture, sculpture has to visit this place to learn a lot.
