Kanchipuram
From Freepedia
Image:Kanchipuram engraving 1811.jpg Kanchipuram, Kanchi, or Kancheepuram (also sometimes Conjeevaram) is the name of a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. In ancient times it is called as kachi and kachiampathi.
Kanchipuram is located on the Palar River, and known for its temples and silk sarees. There are several big temples, notably Ekamranatha Temple which is one of the five form of abodes of Lord Siva, (it is the earth abode here, other abodes include Chidambaram(Sky), Kalahasthi (air), Thiruvanika (water) and Thiruvannamalai (fire)), Kamakshi Amman Temple, Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kumara Kottam, Kachapeshwarar Temple, Kailasanathar Temple and many more. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silk sarees, which are woven manually and considered as a finest quality in India.
History
Kanchipuram is one of the oldest cities in South India, and was a city of learning for both Tamil and Sanskrit, and was allegedly visited by Hsuan Tsang. It was during the reign of Pallava dynasty, from the 4th to the 9th centuries that Kanchipuram attained its limelight. The city served as the Pallava capital, and many of the known temples were built during their reign.
The Kanchi matha
Kanchipuram is also the seat of the Kanchi matha, an influential religious institution.
