Places to Visit Near Kanchipuram

Highly influenced by the Hindu religion, many of the temples here can be seen are in fact Hindu temples. The ancient culture as well as the cultural heritage of Hinduism is shown at Kanchi Kudhil. It is a small house that shows exactly how the Hindu religion is intertwined into India's history and modern day way of life. This delightful place of discovery is open to visitors. There is no fitting way for a person of another faith to apprehend and acknowledge the captivating religion of Hinduism than to visit the Kanchi Kudhil.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 71 km

Thennangur Panduranga Temple is located in the Thennangur village in the district of Tiruvannamalai in Kanchipuram. The town is also known as the birthplace of Goddess Meenakshi. Thennangur Panduranga Temple is dedicated to Panduranga and his consort Rukmayee. It attracts tourists from all over the world for its religious importance, its unique architecture and the divine idols of Lord Panduranga and Rukmayee. The main idol of the temple was installed by Swami Haridas Giri which he had brought along with him from Pandharpur about 500 years ago.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 35 km

Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple is a place of worship dedicated to Lord Vijayaraghava Perumal located in the town of Kanchipuram. This glorious temple is the 57th of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It was built in the 13th century during the reign of the Pandya rulers. Certain inscriptions on the temple walls denote the era it was constructed. The temple architecture is similar to the traditional temples found in Kanchipuram. A majority of the devotees that visit the revered shrine are women who wish to bear a child.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 11 km

Eri Katha Ramar Temple is a temple dedicated to Lord Rama or Ramanuja located in the beautiful city of Kanchipuram. The temple is of immense religiously important for the followers and devotees of Lord Rama. It was built during the reign of the Pallava Kingdom. The temple complex has the same traditional architecture as seen in many temples in south India. It faces eastward and situated very near to Lake Madhuranthakam. The idol of Lord Ramanuja is about 8 feet tall and is a major attraction in Kanchipuram.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 56 km

Known For : Sri Venkateswara Temple Akasaganga Teertham Silathoranam

Situated in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is known for Venkateshwara Temple,  one of the most popular pilgrimage centres in the country. Known as Balaji and Govinda, Tirupati is one of the oldest cities of India and finds mention in plenty of ancient Vedas and Puranas. Tirumala is the home to seven peaks of Tirumala Hills.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 108 km

Best Time: September to March

40 Tirupati Attractions

Known For : Marina Beach Government Museum, Chennai MGR Film City

Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu, in the southern part of India. Located on the Coromandel coast of Bay of Bengal, Chennai is as dynamic as it is immersed in tradition. This 'capital of the south', is one among the four metropolitan siblings of India, having a rich cultural history which it perfectly balances with its metropolis lifestyle.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 72 km

Best Time: October to March

91 Chennai Attractions

Known For : Vellore Fort Jalakandeswarar Temple St. John's Church

An ancient city in the northeastern part of Tamil Nadu, Vellore is located on the banks of river Palar Vellore. Nicknamed ‘The Fort City’ due to the marvellous Vellore Fort which sits at the heart of Vellore city, it is an ideal place to glimpse Tamil Nadu's rich cultural heritage through its temples.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 70 km

Best Time: October - March

17 Vellore Attractions

Known For : Srikalahasteeswara Temple Veyilingala Kona Waterfall Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple

Located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, the holy city of Srikalahasti is a popular tourist destination due to its famous Srikalahasti temple. It is one of the most important Shiva temples of South India built during the ancient Pallava dynasty. With vibrant yesteryear, this place has showcased its potential to allure the visitors with its extravagant shrines and pristine beauty.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 126 km

Best Time: July to March

9 Srikalahasti Attractions

Known For : Gingee Fort Sathanur Dam Annamalaiyar Temple

vedanthangalA town that offers a significant history adorned in its countless temples and ashrams, Thiruvannamalai is where Hindu Mythology takes the form of stunning architecture. Perched on top of the Malai hill, Thiruvannamalai is a holy town, most famous for its Arunachala temple among numerous other temples and ashrams dedicated to saints of olden times. Sri Ramana Ashram, Sathanur Dam, Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram are some of the important tourist spots as well as significant areas for followers.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 119 km

Best Time: October to March

9 Thiruvannamalai Attractions

Known For : Punganur Lake Nature Park Jalagamparai Falls

A quaint little hill station located in Vellore, Yelagiri is just three hours away from Bangalore, making it the perfect spot for a quick weekend getaway. Spread a little over 30 square kilometres, and at a height of over 1100 metres above sea level, Yelagiri offers its tourists some beautiful places like the Jalagamparai falls, sweeping orchards and rose garden, among others. The ideal destination for nature lovers, Yelagiri is a town that is completely off the beaten tourist trail, lending it a quieter and much more peaceful vibe compared to other more famous hill stations nearby.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 160 km

Best Time: November to February

13 Yelagiri Attractions

Known For : Paradise Beach, Pondicherry Aurobindo Ashram Auroville

Pondicherry, officially known as Puducherry, and commonly referred to as just Pondy, is one of the seven Union Territories of India. This former French colony is a perfect amalgamation of the traditional Indian sensibilities and French architecture, making it a dreamy escape that offers the best of both worlds.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 126 km

Best Time: October to March

48 Pondicherry Attractions

Known For : Shore Temple Mahabalipuram Beach Five Rathas

Famous for its intricately carved temples and rock-cut caves, Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram as it is famously known, is a historically important and well-loved tourist location situated on the Coromandel Coast along the Bay of Bengal, in the state of Tamil Nadu. Once the abode of the famous demon king Mahabali, Mahabalipuram was later renamed Mamallapuram. The serenity, the alluring atmosphere and the impressive setting with many beautiful white sandy beaches dotted with casuarina trees are all reasons as to why one would want to visit this wonderful town.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 66 km

Best Time: November to February

23 Mahabalipuram Attractions

Known For : Pichavaram Mangrove Forests Shopping in Chidambaram The Nataraja Temple

A beautiful temple town in the Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu, Chidamabaram is famous for housing the marvellous Lord Nataraja Temple and the famed chariot festival. Situated 250 kms away from the city of Chennai, Chidambaram has been a place of architectural glory and religious importance since antiquity. It has been ruled by several dynasties over time namely Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagar rulers, Marathas and the British. Due to the cultural influences, it boasts of a rich heritage and traditions.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 188 km

Best Time: October to January

10 Chidambram Attractions

Known For : Matrimandir Marc's Cafe Arka

Conceived as the 'Universal Town', Auroville is an experimental township where people from across the world of all cultures and traditions come and live together in peace. Located around 15 km from the city of Pondicherry, Auroville is located in Tamil Nadu and was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, a disciple of Aurobindo and fondly known as the 'Mother' of Sri Aurobindo Society.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 119 km

Best Time: November to March

21 Auroville Attractions

Known For : Vedanthangal Bird sanctuary Karikili Bird Sanctuary

Lying close to the important district of Mahabalipuram, is Vedanthangal, best known for its bird sanctuary. The compact water tank of 30 hectares that the sanctuary is built around is home to at least 30,000 birds every year during migratory season. The sanctuary attracts multitudes of birds, starting with herons, spoonbills, storks, ibises and egrets in the season. The Vedanthangal sanctuary is protected by the locals in the area for centuries now, ever since they realised that the bird droppings that fall into the tank are rich in nitrogen and make the water a natural fertilizer, saving the cost of industrial fertilizers.

Distance from Kanchipuram: 48 km

Best Time: November to February

2 Vedanthangal Attractions

Commonly referred to as the ‘Mango Capital of India’ due to mango being the main crop, Krishnagiri is a historically significant city in Tamil Nadu. The fact that the city is prehistorically important is evident in the various rock carvings and paintings of Iron Ages and Indus Valley civilization that are based around it. Moreover, Krishnagiri is home to many tourist attractions such as the Krishnagiri fort, Shree Parshwa Padmavathi Shaktipeet Tirth Dham, and Arulmigu Maragathamigai Chandra Choodeshwara temple, among others.