Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram (IAST: kāñcipuram; [kaːɲdʑipuɾam]), also known as Kanjeevaram or Kancheepuram, is a City in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in Chennai Metropolitan Area. region, 72 km (45 mi) from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the City of Thousand Temples, Kanchipuram is known for its temple architectures, 1000-pillared halls, huge temple towers, and silk saris. Kanchipuram serves as one of the most important domestic tourist destinations in India. Kanchipuram has become a centre of attraction for foreign tourists as well. The city covers an area of 36.14 km² (13.95 sq mi) and an estimated population of 232,816 in 2011. It is the administrative capital of Kanchipuram District. Kanchipuram is well-connected by road and rail.

Kanchipuram is a Tamil name formed by combining two words, "kanchi" and "puram," together meaning "the city of kanchi flowers" (due to the abundance of kanchi flowers in those regions). The city is located on the banks of the Vegavathy and Palar Rivers. Kanchipuram has been ruled by the Pallavas, the Medieval Cholas, the Later Cholas, the Later Pandyas, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Carnatic kingdom, and the British, who called the city "Conjeeveram". The city's historical monuments include the Kailasanathar Temple and the Vaikunta Perumal Temple. Historically, Kanchipuram was a centre of education and was known as the ghatikasthanam, or "place of learning". The city was also a religious centre of advanced education for Jainism and Buddhism between the 1st and 5th centuries.

In Vaishnava theology, Kanchipuram is one of the seven tirtha (pilgrimage) sites for spiritual liberation. The city houses the Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kumarakottam Temple, and the Chitragupta temple, which are some of the major Hindu temples in the state. Of the 108 temples of the Hindu god Vishnu extolled in the work Naalayira Divya Prabandham, 15 are located in Kanchipuram.

The city is significant to the traditions of Sri Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and Shaivism. Most of the city's workforce is employed in the weaving industry.

Kanchipuram is administered by a special grade municipality constituted in 1947. It is the headquarters of the Kanchi matha, a Hindu monastic institution believed by its followers to have been founded by the Hindu saint and commentator Adi Shankara, and was the capital city of the Pallava Kingdom between the 4th and 9th centuries.

Kanchipuram has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for HRIDAY - Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of Government of India.