Page 588 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

586  SOUTH INDIA

colourful gopuras and is one of the 18 temples
the main sanctum has dedicated to Vishnu. Erected by
a gold-plated roof. the Pallava king Nandi Varman II
The Kailasanatha (r.731–96), this unique structure
Temple, to the west of the has three main sanctums, built
bus stand, is the oldest one on top of the other. Each
and grandest structure in of them enshrines an image
the town. Built in the early of Vishnu in a different form –
8th century by Rajasimha, standing, sitting and reclining.
the last great Pallava The hall in the lower shrine has
king, this Shiva temple panels depicting the genealogy,
is surrounded by 58 coronations and martial
smaller shrines, each with conquests of the Pallava kings.
splendid carvings of the The Varadaraja Temple, on
various repre sentations of Gandhi Road, is the town’s main
Shiva. The frescoes here Vishnu temple. The chief deity
are the earliest in South is a form of Vishnu known as
India. The sanctum has Varadaraja (the “King who Bestows
a circumambulatory Benediction”). It is believed that
passage with great the temple stands on the site
symbolic meaning – where Brahma performed
Vaishnavite priests, Varadaraja Temple seven steps (indicating a yagna (sacrifice) to invoke
seven births) lead to a Vishnu’s presence. Among the
3 Kanchipuram dark passage (indicating the temple’s jewels is a valuable
journey of life) and a narrow gold necklace, said to have
Kanchipuram district. 76 km (47 miles)
SW of Chennai. * 162,500. £ @ outlet (indicating death). been presented by Robert
n Hotel Tamil Nadu, 78, Kamakshi On Car Street, the great Clive (see p565).
Amman Sannathi St, (044) 2722 Ekambareshvara Temple, Kanchipuram, famous for
2553/2554. _ Shivratri (Feb/Mar), constructed originally by the its silk, is also the seat of one
Panguni Uthiram Festival (Mar/Apr), Pallavas, has a 16-pillared of the four Shankaracharyas.
Brahmotsavam (Sep). mandapa in front of it – a later They belong to the long line
addition by the Vijayanagar of head priests of the matha
The small temple town of kings. This is one of the five (religious centre) founded
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, as it panchalinga shrines (see p588) by the much-respected 9th-
is popularly known, is one of and houses a linga made of century philosopher-saint Adi
the seven sacred cities of the earth (prithvi). Legend says that Shankaracharya (see p652).
Hindus. From the 6th to the 8th the goddess Kamakshi, as part
centuries, it was the capital of of her penance for disturbing Environs
the Pallavas (see p582), who built Shiva’s meditation, created this The bird sanctuary of
numerous temples here and linga with earth taken from Vedanthangal, 30 km (19 miles)
founded universities for higher under a mango tree. Lingas southeast, attracts more than
learning. Royal patronage from abound in the corridors of the 30,000 migratory birds. Species
the succeeding Chola, Pandya temple complex, while on such as cormorants, egrets,
and Vijayanagar dynasties the western side of the shrine white ibis and grey wagtails
further consolidated the city’s stands the sacred mango tree, can be seen between October
reputation as a religious and said to be 3,000 years old. and February. The sanctuary
commercial centre. The Vaikuntha Perumal has been looked after by locals
Kanchipuram is sacred to Temple, near the railway station, for well over 250 years.
Shaivites (devotees of Shiva) as
well as to Vaishnavites (worship-
pers of Vishnu). The town is thus
divided into two distinct zones,
with the Shaivite temples to
the north and the Vaishnavite
temples to the southeast.
It also has an important
Devi (goddess) temple, the
Kamakshi Temple, situated
northeast of the bus stand.
Dedicated to Kamakshi,
or the “loving-eyed” Parvati,
the temple was rebuilt in the
14th century, during the
Vijayanagar period. It has four Kailasanatha, Kanchipuram’s oldest temple
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp702–703 and pp717–18

586-587_EW_India.indd 586 04/05/17 3:23 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm