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STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES OF INDIA
TAMIL NADU
Kancheepuram

This ancient temple town, one of the seven sacred centres in India is located 71 kms from Chennai. It is the district headquarters for Chengalpattu district.

Kancheepuram was the capital city of the Pallavas, Cholas and the Vijayanagar rulers. It had been under the rule of the Pallavas for a long period. They had all contributed greatly, constructing huge elaborate temple structures, from the 4th to the 7th centuries.

It is said that there were around 1000 temples in this city. However today, there are around a few hundred temples. The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam (one of the aachaarya peetam of Aadi Shankara) is located here. This city boasts of both Siva & Vishnu temple of grandeur & hence there are two divisions - Siva Kanchi or Peria Kancheepuram & Vishnu Kanchi or Chinna Kancheepuram. The Kamkashi Amman temple in between is a place of Sakthi worship.

Kancheepuram is famous also for its exquisite silk sarees, handcrafted by the local weavers. Sri Sankaracharya, Appar, Siruthonder, Buddhist Bhikku, Bodhidharma and other learned scholars lived in this region.

Kailaasanaatha Temple - Siva temple
One of the oldest shrines (around 2,000 years old) in Kancheepuram, this structure was built by Rajasimha Pallava(685 A.D.-705 A.D.) & was completed by his son Mahendra Varma Pallava.

Ekaambaranaathar Temple