Townapedia
Kailasanathar temple Kanchipuram (16)
Kailasanathar temple Kanchipuram (16) · Ssriram mt, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kanchipuram front door
Kanchipuram front door · Myselfpallab, CC BY-SA 3.0
India - Kanchipuram - 022 - chariot unveiled for upcoming festival (2508349542)
India - Kanchipuram - 022 - chariot unveiled for upcoming festival (2508349542) · McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0
India - Kanchipuram - 021 - chariot unveiled for upcoming festival (2507520365)
India - Kanchipuram - 021 - chariot unveiled for upcoming festival (2507520365) · McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0
India - Kanchipuram - 023 - chariot unveiled for upcoming festival (2507526057)
India - Kanchipuram - 023 - chariot unveiled for upcoming festival (2507526057) · McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0
Kanchipuram Temple (c. 1900)
Kanchipuram Temple (c. 1900) · whatsthatpicture from Hanwell, London, UK, CC BY 2.0

Kanchipuram, India

Kanchipuram is a town of 221,715 people in Tamil Nadu, India.

Loading the weather...
Population221,715 GeoNames
RegionTamil Nadu
Elevation88 m 289 ft
Time zoneAsia/Kolkata
Land area11.7 km²
Nearest airportChennai International Airport (MAA) 54 km

Why visit Kanchipuram

Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 4 parks and trails, 14 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya.

About Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram (IAST: kāñcipuram; [kaːɲdʑipuɾam]), also known as Kanjeevaram or Kancheepuram, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Chennai metropolitan area. 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 an important domestic and international tourist destination. The city covers an area of 36.14 km2 (13.95 sq mi) and an estimated population of 232,816 in 2011.

From the Wikipedia article Kanchipuram (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Kanchipuram on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do6

Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya

School · 4.3 km

Deemed university at Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu, India

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Theatre

Cinema and theater · 0.6 km

Mo-Su,PH 09:00-24:00

Open in Google Maps

Anna Kalai Arangam

Cinema and theater

Open in Google Maps

Aruna Theatre

Cinema and theater · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Babu Theatre

Cinema and theater · 0.6 km

Open in Google Maps

Indira Theatre

Cinema and theater · 2.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks1

Kanchi Kudil

Museum · 0.7 km

SVN Pillai Street

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds4

Arignar Anna Memorial Park

Park · 0.8 km

Open in Google Maps

Muniappan chavadi

Park · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Pallava Nagar Park

Park · 2.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Parade ground

Sports field and stadium · 1.4 km

Open in Google Maps

Advertisement

Restaurants and cafes14

Adyar Ananda Bhavan

Restaurant · Regional

Nellukara St., Kanchipuram

Open in Google Maps · +91 44 2723 3295

MSN

Cafe · Juice, Tea · 1.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Sri Balaji Mess

Restaurant · Indian · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Vadivel tiffen shop

Restaurant · 1.0 km

C.S.M Street

Open in Google Maps

Baboo Surya Veg Restaurant

Restaurant · 0.8 km

Open in Google Maps

Gurupatham tiffin shop

Restaurant · 0.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Hotel Poornima

Restaurant · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Hotel Sakthi Ganapathy

Restaurant · 0.8 km

Open in Google Maps

Indian Bakery

Bakery · 0.6 km

Open in Google Maps

Kotta tiffin shop

Restaurant · 0.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Tiffen shop

Restaurant · 0.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Pure Vegetarian Soups

Fast food · Indian, Soup · 1.0 km

Mo-Su 16:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps

2 more on the map.

History

The earliest references to Kanchipuram are found in the books of the Sanskrit grammarian Patanjali, who lived between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. The city was part of the Dravida kingdom of the Mahabharata and was described as "the best among cities" (Sanskrit: Nagareshu Kanchi) by the 4th-century Sanskrit poet, Kalidasa. The city finds mention in the classical Tamil language Sangam literature dated 300 BCE like Manimegalai and Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai. While it is widely accepted that Kanchipuram had served as an Early Chola capital, the claim has been contested by Indian historian P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar who wrote that the Tamil culture of the Sangam period did not spread through the Kanchipuram district and cites the Sanskritic origins of its name in support of his claim.

From the History section of Kanchipuram on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay5

Churches and places of worship452

Advertisement

Shopping14

Gas and EV charging3

Schools, colleges and libraries22

Advertisement

Healthcare63

Map of Kanchipuram

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Chennai International Airport (MAA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 54 km away.

  • Sevilimedu 3 km southwest, about 3 min by car
  • Sirukkāveripākkam 3 km northwest, about 3 min by car
  • Orīkkai 4 km south, about 4 min by car
  • Tenambākkam 5 km southeast, about 5 min by car
  • Nattappettai 6 km east, about 6 min by car
  • Tambaram 47 km east, about 47 min by car
  • Pallāvaram 51 km east, about 51 min by car
  • Vellore 62 km west, about 1 h by car
  • Chennai 69 km northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Tiruvottiyūr 74 km northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 2, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.