Top 10 Most Famous Temples in Kanchipuram – Pallava Dynasty

Kanchi or Kanchipuram is one of the seven holiest cities in India, Also known the City of 1000 temples and house 108 holy temples of the God Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Devi Durga.
Most of the Temples in Kanchipuram are built by Pallavas, Later Cholas, then Pandyas and Vijayanagara Empire.

Ekambareswarar Temple (Prithvi lingam)

Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalas of Lord Shiva, specifically the element of earth, or Prithvi.
The five element temples of Lord Shiva, represented by the lingam as Prithvi lingam and worshiped as Ekambareswarar.

Kailasanathar Temple

Kailasanathar Temple is a historic Hindu temple in Kanchipuram by Pallavas and listed as one of the
oldest surviving monuments in Tamil Nadu.
The Kailasanathar temple is credited to the Pallava dynasty and maintained by Archaeological Survey of India.

Vaikunta Perumal Temple

Vaikunta Perumal Temple or Thiru Parameswara Vinnagaram is dedicated to God Vishnu, And second oldest temple in Kanchipuram after the Kailasanathar temple.
This temple is among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to the God Vishnu, worshipped as Vaikuntanathan and Sri Vaikundavalli.

Kamakshi Amman Temple – Tripura Sundari

Kamakshi Amman Temple or Kamakoti Nayaki Kovil is one of the most famous temple of Kanchipuram, dedicated to the goddess Kamakshi – Adi Parashakti.
Goddess Kamakshi also known as Tripura Sundari, is the highest aspects of Adi Parashakti and supreme goddess in Shaktism, One of Ten Mahavidyas.

The Kamakshi Amman Temple is also the center for the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham or Sri Kanchi Matham, A Hindu religious center of Vedic learning.

Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Varadharaja Perumal Temple is dedicated to God Vishnu and one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu in Tamil Nadu.
The temple has old inscriptions from various dynasties like Chola, Pandya, Kakatiya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara.

Kumarakottam Temple

Kumarakottam Temple is dedicated Lord Murugan, A war god and the son of the gods Shiva and mother Parvathi.
The Kumara kottam temple is one of the 10 major temples in Kanchipuram and is an important pilgrimage centre in for Lord Murugan in Tamil Nadu.

Ulagalantha Perumal Temple

Ulagalantha Perumal Temple dedicated to Vishnu as Ulagalantha Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Amuthavalli.
The temple has house image of
Vamana, the Brahmin dwarf avatars of Vishnu who appeared here to quell the pride of the asura king Mahabali.

Yathothkari Perumal Temple

Yathothkari Perumal Temple constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.
One of three oldest Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram, Ulagalantha Perumal Temple and Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple are other two.

Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple

Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple dedicated to the Hindu god Krishna, an avatar of the god Vishnu and one of the oldest temples in Kanchipuram.
Tiruvelukkai and Tiruththanka temples are also dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu Avatars of Narasimha and Hayagreeva.

Ashtabuja Perumal Temple

Ashtabhujakaram temple is located in Vishnu Kanchi or Chinna Kanchipuram with big tank with a tank in front and tall Gopuram gateway tower.
Sathyanatheswarar temple, Jurahareswarar temple and Anekadhangavadeswarar, Ona Kantheeswarar Temple and Metraleeswar temple are few more famous temples in Kanchipuram.

One of the rarest temple in India is Chitragupta temple in Kanchipuram, dedicated to Chitragupta, the assistant of Yama, NOT to link with Chitragupta Temple in Khajuraho.

Kanchipuram to Mahabalipuram Temples by Pallava dynasty

The Pallava kings ruled Mahabalipuram from Kanchipuram and Among the major Hindu temples in Kanchipuram are Shore Temple, Descent of the Ganges, Pancha Rathas, Cave Temples with images of Varaha and Durga.

Varaha Cave Temple – is an example of Indian rock-cut architecture and Part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram.

Descent of the Ganges – Rock cut monument at Mamallapuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal are one of the giant open-air carved on two monolithic rock boulders.

Shore Temple – complex of temples and shrines, one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram by Pallava dynasty, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.