Kanchi Kailasanathar is a Hindu temple built in the Dravidian architectural style in the city of Kanchipuram.
It is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is well-known for its historical significance of the site. It was constructed at Kanchipuram during 685-705 AD by a Rajasimha monarch of the Pallava Dynasty during the period 685-705 AD.
This temple was erected by the Pallavas and is one of the first structural temples in the world as well as the biggest. At the sanctum sanctorum, there are also 16 Shivlings fashioned of black granite stone, which are a beautiful addition to the temple.
This temple may be found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, in the city of Kanchipuram. Kanchi Kailasanathar is a Hindu temple built in the Dravidian architectural style in the city of Kanchipuram.
It is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is well-known for its historical significance of the site. The temple was constructed during 685-705 AD by a Rajasimha monarch of the Pallava Dynasty during the period 685-705 AD. It is one of the first structural temples created by the Pallavas, as well as the biggest one they constructed.
Because of its stone-built architecture and granite foundations, it is strong enough to support the temple’s weight, but its superstructure, including the carvings, is created entirely of sandstone to ensure that the temple’s weight does not shift.
When Rajaraja Chola I of the Chola Dynasty made a visit to this temple, it was considered a sacred site. This temple’s architecture inspired him to build the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur, which he dedicated to Lord Shiva.
When the king’s wife expressed interest in a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the monarch responded by constructing a massive structure in which she might worship for the king’s benefit.
It is of stone-built architecture, as opposed to rock-cut architecture, such as that seen at Mahabalipuram, which is constructed into sacred caves or carved into rock outcrops. The gopuram (tower) is to the left, and the temple complex is to the right of where you are standing.
The temple’s foundations are composed of granite, which is strong enough to support the temple’s weight, but the superstructure, which includes the carvings, is entirely made of sandstone, which is more delicate.
The Kailasanathar Temple in Thanjavur was the inspiration for the most prominent Brihadeshwara Temple in the city.
The shrine has a corridor that leads to the outside. One must crawl through a corridor and then ascend a series of stairs to reach the other side. This verse is said to be a representation of the cycle of life and death.
In Kanchipuram, one of India’s most ancient continuously inhabited towns, the land of a thousand temples is commonly referred to as the “land of a thousand spires,” and its majestic temples are the crowning jewel of the magnificent city. If you’re in Chennai, don’t miss out on this opportunity.
The temple was constructed during 685-705 AD. It is the first structural temple erected in South India by Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha), who is also known as Rajasimha Pallaveswaram. It is the first temple built in the region by a Hindu monarch. His son, Mahendravarman III, finished the front façade and the gopuram (tower of victory) (tower).
Prior temples were either made of wood or hewn into rock faces in caves or on boulders, as can be seen at Mahabalipuram, or they were erected on top of them. The Kailasanathar temple became a model for numerous similar temples in South India, and it continues to be so today.
When the kingdom was at war, the temple, according to local legend, served as a safe haven for the monarchs of the realm. There is still a visible section of a hidden tunnel dug by the monarchs that were utilized as an escape route.
In the past, the temple has been known by several names, such as Kachipettu Periya Thirukatrali (meaning: Stone Temple of Kachichpettu, the former name for the present-day Kanchipuram), which was given to it by Rajaraja Chola I of the Chola Dynasty when he made a visit to the temple.
This temple’s architecture inspired him to build the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur, which he dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Archaeological Survey of India is now responsible for the upkeep of the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple.
- Place / village: Kanchipuram
- State: Tamil Nadu
- Country: India
- The best time to visit is any time of year.
- Tamil, Hindi, and English are the languages spoken.
- Temple hours are 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays.