Visitors' guide to Kanchipuram

Visitors' Online Guide to Kanchipuram

  1. Home
  2. Visitor's Guide


Kamakshi Devi

This guide aims to help you plan and visit Kanchipuram. Visit the links above for details.

Kanchipuram is the city of thousand temples . Every road in this city located in Tamilnadu is studded with temples, making it world-renowned since time immemorial. The famous Sanskrit poet Kalidasa refers to this city as Nagareshu Kanchi which means the best among cities. Kanchi is also world-famous as a centre of learning.

It is one of the Sapta Mokshapuris - the seven divine cities that help us attain salvation, , and the only Mokshapuri in South India.
अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिका ।अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिका ।
पुरी द्वारावती चैव सप्तैते मोक्षदायकाः ॥
Ayodhyaa Mathuraa Maayaa Kaashii Kaan.cii Avantikaa |
Purii Dvaaraavatii Caiva Saptaite Mokssa-Daayakaah ||
Kanchipuram is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas - the divine abode of the Goddess. Goddess Kamakshi is in a sitting posture resembling a Lotus, and hence called the Padmasana.

Names of Kanchi

Kanchi is celebrated by different names: Satyavrata kshetra, Bhaskara kshetra; Taijasa kshetra; Harihara kshetra; Sakti kshetra; Mahapunyaprada kshetra; Kailasa; Vaikuntha; Sripuram.
Satyavrata Kshetra: Primacy to the glory of Sakti; Aspects of Sakti’s glory are visible; Evokes the presence of Siva; Seat of Vishnu, who is another form of Sakti; imperishable; surrounded by the wise and virtuous.
Bhaskara Kshetra: Surrounded by excellent hills, rivers and temples.
Taijasa Kshetra: Surrounded by Mahabilam (Great Cave), Maha Vriksham (Great Tree), Punyakoti Vimana.
Harihara Kshetra: Kshetra of Sakti (Hari) and Siva (Hara).
Sakti Kshetra: Mahadevi, Chit Sakti (Power of Consciousness) is in:
Saguna (with attributes) form as Sakti (Kamakshi) and Vishnu (Varadaraja)
Nirguna (without attributes) form: Mahamaya as Bilakasa (Cave Space).
Kailasa, Vaikuntha, Sripuram: Decayless; Stainless; Abode of people of great religious merit.
Punyaprada Kshetra: All trees are divine; all Tirthas are Ganga; all humans are Devas; idols are all Siva-Vishnu forms; the dust of the feet of those who walk the earth here is purifying; wind is controller of sinful acts; Devas, Siddhas and Mukti-inspired Rishis shine brilliantly; everything is thus divine here.