Trip members: Karthik and family
Trip date: 12 Nov 2017
Trip Plan : Chennai - Kanchipuram (Kancheepuram) - Chennai
Kanchipuram is around 55 kms from Tambaram. We started around 5:45 am. There are endless number of temples to go; few are selected and special to visit, few relates to one religious interests and few relates to local people.
We decided to visit few popular and special temples around the main area of Kanchipuram.
By 7 AM, we entered Shri Ekambareswarar temple. This temple is open from 06:00 to 12:30 and then 16:00 to 20:30. This temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, associated with the five elements and specifically the element of Earth. The temple complex houses four gopurams; The south tower is one of the tallest temple towers in India - 55m. The temple hosts many deities - the temple is dedicated to Lord Ekambareswarar - Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is embraced by Kamakshi under a Mango tree in this temple. The temple also houses Nilathingal Thundam Perumal temple, a Divyadesam, of the 108 temples. There was no crowd and we spent close to 30 minutes in the temple. He also had prasadams at the temple prasadam stall. Curd rice was very good; so as the thattai.
We then visited, Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, just 300m from the temple. This is an Hindu institution - mutt. The mutt was founded by Adi Shankaracharya. Currently, Sri Jayendra Sankara Swamigal hosts the mutt. We were able to see him and had his blessings. The mutt hosts the Brindavan of Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal. We did prayers there and seek blessings. We spent close to 20 minutes here.
We had breakfast at Upashana Hotel. This hotel is closer to Chitragupta Swamy temple. The south Indian breakfast served were all quite good and so as the service. Hotel Sangeetha used to be here earlier.
We next went to Kachapeshwarar Temple. This temple is very easy to locate - next to bus stand - as you turn right towards Kumara Kotam; present on the left side. It is at the Kachapeshwarar Temple that the Lord Shiva can be seen being worshiped by Lord Vishnu in the form of a tortoise. The sculptures were detailed and nice. The main deity of this temple is called as Kachabeswarar. The goddess is called as Soundarambikai. It took us around 20-30 minutes with no crowd to visit this temple.
Next, we visited, the host of the town - Kamakshi Amman Temple. The Goddess Kamakshi prevails in the form of Shakti as one of the 51 Shakti Peetas across the country. Though there are many Shiva temples in the city, the only temple to have the sanctorum of the goddess is Sri Kamakshi Amman temple. No other temples in the town has sanctorum for goddess. There was considerable crowd in the temple and it took around 15-20 mins in the queue to have our dharshan. Overall, the big temple, for us to get around and see the main deity on a weekend would take close to 45 minutes. The temple premises also hosts deity “Adivaraha Perumal” one of the 108 Vaishnaivaite deity worship temples. The temple pond is quite big and deep in this temple.
The next stop was for Ulagalandha Perumal Temple. This temple is dedicated for Lord Vishnu and one of the 108 Vaishnavaites temple. This is very close the Kamakshi temple - around 300m. The temple is quite low from the ground level and hosts the Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu. The main deity is very tall - around 40 feet with one foot in air and one foot on head of King MahaBali. The deity is quite fascinating to see for the mammoth structure. The Viman of the temple is very different when compared to most of the temples in Tamilnadu - broad and short. There are 3 Divyadesams within this temple - Neeragam, Karagam and Kaaravannam.
Chitragupta Swamy Temple - located on the main road near to the bus stand was our next place. This temple is known to wash away sins and known as Ketu Parihara sthalam. This is one of the rarest temples to be present. We spent around 10 minutes here. Lighting lamps in this temple is a well known way of worshiping in this temple.
We then visited, the most historic - Kailasanathar temple. This temple is under ASI and hosts lots of damaged amazing sculptures. This is said to be the oldest temple in Kanchipuram. The temple is being renovated now. The sand stone carvings are very beautiful, the temple being surrounded by lots of Nandhis. The Lingam is a massive one and not all can do pradakshana in the inner prakaram. One has to be go through a small window like passage by crawling and then walk around the inner prakaram. Again, crawl very inconveniently towards the exit to come out. Children and elders would not be able to do this. This is said to be related to birth and death in one's life. The main prakaram is surrounded by various avatars of Lord Vishnu and Goddesses.
We planned to visit Kumara Kottam before leaving back to Chennai. Kumara Kottam is dedicated to Lord Murugan. This is one of the prominent temples in Kanchipuram. This is on the main road from Kamakshi temple to Ekambareshwarar temple. There was no much crowd and we had the dharshan in 10 minutes and back. It was noon by then.
We had quick lunch at Hotel Saravana Bhavan - parking was available; one of the reasons to stop here. The quick lunch was served quick and was ok. Drive back to home by 14:00!
Trip date: 12 Nov 2017
Trip Plan : Chennai - Kanchipuram (Kancheepuram) - Chennai
Kanchipuram is around 55 kms from Tambaram. We started around 5:45 am. There are endless number of temples to go; few are selected and special to visit, few relates to one religious interests and few relates to local people.
We decided to visit few popular and special temples around the main area of Kanchipuram.
- Ekambareswarar Temple
- Kailasanatha Temple
- Kamakshi Amman Temple
- Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham
- Sri Ulagalanda Perumal Temple
- Chitragupta Swamy Temple
- Kachapeshwarar Temple (very close to Kumarakottam Muruga temple)
- Sri Subramaniya Swami Temple (Kumarakottam Muruga temple)
By 7 AM, we entered Shri Ekambareswarar temple. This temple is open from 06:00 to 12:30 and then 16:00 to 20:30. This temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, associated with the five elements and specifically the element of Earth. The temple complex houses four gopurams; The south tower is one of the tallest temple towers in India - 55m. The temple hosts many deities - the temple is dedicated to Lord Ekambareswarar - Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is embraced by Kamakshi under a Mango tree in this temple. The temple also houses Nilathingal Thundam Perumal temple, a Divyadesam, of the 108 temples. There was no crowd and we spent close to 30 minutes in the temple. He also had prasadams at the temple prasadam stall. Curd rice was very good; so as the thattai.
We then visited, Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, just 300m from the temple. This is an Hindu institution - mutt. The mutt was founded by Adi Shankaracharya. Currently, Sri Jayendra Sankara Swamigal hosts the mutt. We were able to see him and had his blessings. The mutt hosts the Brindavan of Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal. We did prayers there and seek blessings. We spent close to 20 minutes here.
We had breakfast at Upashana Hotel. This hotel is closer to Chitragupta Swamy temple. The south Indian breakfast served were all quite good and so as the service. Hotel Sangeetha used to be here earlier.
We next went to Kachapeshwarar Temple. This temple is very easy to locate - next to bus stand - as you turn right towards Kumara Kotam; present on the left side. It is at the Kachapeshwarar Temple that the Lord Shiva can be seen being worshiped by Lord Vishnu in the form of a tortoise. The sculptures were detailed and nice. The main deity of this temple is called as Kachabeswarar. The goddess is called as Soundarambikai. It took us around 20-30 minutes with no crowd to visit this temple.
Next, we visited, the host of the town - Kamakshi Amman Temple. The Goddess Kamakshi prevails in the form of Shakti as one of the 51 Shakti Peetas across the country. Though there are many Shiva temples in the city, the only temple to have the sanctorum of the goddess is Sri Kamakshi Amman temple. No other temples in the town has sanctorum for goddess. There was considerable crowd in the temple and it took around 15-20 mins in the queue to have our dharshan. Overall, the big temple, for us to get around and see the main deity on a weekend would take close to 45 minutes. The temple premises also hosts deity “Adivaraha Perumal” one of the 108 Vaishnaivaite deity worship temples. The temple pond is quite big and deep in this temple.
The next stop was for Ulagalandha Perumal Temple. This temple is dedicated for Lord Vishnu and one of the 108 Vaishnavaites temple. This is very close the Kamakshi temple - around 300m. The temple is quite low from the ground level and hosts the Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu. The main deity is very tall - around 40 feet with one foot in air and one foot on head of King MahaBali. The deity is quite fascinating to see for the mammoth structure. The Viman of the temple is very different when compared to most of the temples in Tamilnadu - broad and short. There are 3 Divyadesams within this temple - Neeragam, Karagam and Kaaravannam.
Chitragupta Swamy Temple - located on the main road near to the bus stand was our next place. This temple is known to wash away sins and known as Ketu Parihara sthalam. This is one of the rarest temples to be present. We spent around 10 minutes here. Lighting lamps in this temple is a well known way of worshiping in this temple.
We then visited, the most historic - Kailasanathar temple. This temple is under ASI and hosts lots of damaged amazing sculptures. This is said to be the oldest temple in Kanchipuram. The temple is being renovated now. The sand stone carvings are very beautiful, the temple being surrounded by lots of Nandhis. The Lingam is a massive one and not all can do pradakshana in the inner prakaram. One has to be go through a small window like passage by crawling and then walk around the inner prakaram. Again, crawl very inconveniently towards the exit to come out. Children and elders would not be able to do this. This is said to be related to birth and death in one's life. The main prakaram is surrounded by various avatars of Lord Vishnu and Goddesses.
We planned to visit Kumara Kottam before leaving back to Chennai. Kumara Kottam is dedicated to Lord Murugan. This is one of the prominent temples in Kanchipuram. This is on the main road from Kamakshi temple to Ekambareshwarar temple. There was no much crowd and we had the dharshan in 10 minutes and back. It was noon by then.
We had quick lunch at Hotel Saravana Bhavan - parking was available; one of the reasons to stop here. The quick lunch was served quick and was ok. Drive back to home by 14:00!
