Kanchipuram Tour Packages

Down the Centuries the city was taken over by the Cholas, Pandyas, became a part of the Vijayanagara Empire and eventually the British Empire. Each kingdom sought to establish its temples and icons in this region as a result of which there are numerous temples scattered around Kanchipuram and its suburbs. It is the seat of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam or Mutt, one of the 4 mutts established by Adi Shankaracharya way back in the year 482 BC. It is a seat of knowledge and learning of Vedanta and seeks to propagate Santana Dharma. A sightseeing tour of Kanchipuram will take you through all major famous temples.

Temples of Kanchipuram

A Kanchipuram tour package would typically entail visits to temples from 6 A.M which is when the temples open until noon when they all close. The temples again open by 4 P.M and remain open until the final Aarthi at 8 or 9 P.M. The time between 12 noon and 4 P.M can be well utilized in shopping and later having a hearty lunch at one of the plentiful restaurants that have all types of cuisines. Being a well-frequented pilgrimage and shopping destination the city caters to its guests with many restaurants.

Among the bountiful temples dotted around the city, the temples of great importance are Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple which forms part of the Mutt, Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Vaikunda Perumal Temple, Ulagalandha Perumal Temple, Kailasanatha Temple, and Ekambareswarar Temple. Some of these temples are close to each other and can be approached by walk. Our Kanchipuram tours give you a head start so that you can reach the first temples as they open by and after a leisurely Darshan at each temple, the Kanchipuram temple tour would take a break when the temples close for midday. You will get an opportunity to explore the markets of the city. If you have spare time during the trip to Kanchipuram then the tour can be extended further South where you can visit the Thennangur Panduranga Perumal Temple and the Chitragupta Swamy Temple. 

Additional attractions in the area include Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary which is situated en route Kanchipuram. Here you can spot quite a large number of migratory birds that flock here in season. Also en route is Sriperumbudur, the spot where India’s Ex-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. 

Each temple in Kanchipuram has a history and uniqueness that one can read through before a trip to Kanchipuram. The Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt is one of the holiest of places where Maha Periaval was the pontiff till 1994. He was renowned as a scholar and as a Saint with extraordinary intuitive powers. People used to flock to see him and take his blessings. His Samadhi is now a place of frequent visit by devotees and it is said that his presence can be felt in the Samadhi even today. 

Kamakshi Amman Temple is the presiding deity of the Mutt and the Goddess is revered by devotees the world over. Ulagalanda Perumal temple is a Vaishnavite temple considered one of the 108 Divya Deshams of Lord Vishnu. The beautifully carved idol of Lord Vishnu is about 30 ft in height with his left leg extended at 90 degrees to the floor and the right leg rests on Mahabali. The significance of the idol is that when Lord Vishnu in the avatar of Vamana or dwarf man receives a gift of 3 feet of land from Mahabali, Vamana becomes so big that two feet extend the Earth and the third he places on Mahabali head.

Shopping in Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram has also been a hub for the weaving industry, particularly pure silk and Cotton Sarees. Along with the numerous dyeing units, rice mills and manufacturing, and supply industries, Kanchipuram attracts people across the globe to shop for silks. Especially during the wedding season, the city is brimming with marriage parties shopping for the various functions. There are, in fact, more than 5000 families who belong to the age-old weaving lineage and they still carry on the traditional weaving methods and fine skills of their forefathers. Visitors directly purchase from these weavers and from the outlets of the Kanchipuram weavers association too. There are too many designs and varieties to choose from and the retailers and wholesalers together will enthrall you with their range of silks.

How to reach Kanchipuram

The trip to Kanchipuram can be taken by road from Chennai and can be covered in less than 2 hours. Chennai is the nearest airport as well as the railway station. There are frequent bus services also from Chennai to Kanchipuram. Our tour packages to Kanchipuram are tailor-made and can be taken either as a day trip or we can accommodate you in Kanchipuram if you wish to take the temples at a more leisurely pace. Either way, our tour packages are ideal to make this trip to the holy city as memorable as possible and you can return with a heart full of blessings and a silk saree or two!

Best time to visit Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram, being in the South of India has its share of heat in summer. So an ideal time to opt for the Kanchipuram tour packages would be in the winter months of September to November and then again from the last week of December to Mid-March. September to November see monsoon rains that cause difficulty in traveling and moving around and should be avoided.