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The 7 Holy Cities of India 

India has seven holy cities. These cities are sacred because it is easier to achieve moksha (liberation from the cycle of reincarnations in the Hindu religion) there thanks to important events that have taken place there. These cities are Varanasi (Benares), Haridwar, Ayodhya, Mathura, Dwarka, Kanchipuram and Ujjain. 

Kanchipuram 

The city of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu has received several nicknames: the city of temples, the city of a thousand temples, the city of silk. This last nickname comes from the important silk industry, producing hand-woven saris. 

Kanchipuram was a religious center of higher learning for Jainism and Buddhism between the 1st and 5th centuries AD. Nowadays, the population of Kanchipuram is overwhelmingly Hindu. The city has 15 of the 108 holy temples dedicated to Vishnu in India. 

History of Kanchipuram 

The city of Kanchipuram was founded before the 3rd century BCE and was widely recognized at that time for its relaxed lifestyle, "the best of cities" as a 4th century poet called it. The Chola dynasty ruled here from the 3rd century and it took on real political importance when the rulers of the Pallava dynasty set up their capital there in the 6th century, due to frequent attacks by rulers from the north. The ancient capital of the dynasty is not clearly identified today, but some think it could be Thondaimandalam or Thiravallur, also located in the present state of Tamil Nadu 

King Pallava Narasimhavarman built most of the important Hindu temples in the city around the 7th century. 

The Cholas invaded the kingdom of the Pallavas towards the end of the 9th century and continued to build Hindu temples in the city. 

Kanchipuram witnessed several dynasties over the following centuries, alternating periods of peace and prosperity with darker and tumultuous ones. 

The conquest of Kanchipuram in 1687 by the Mughal Empire under the orders of Emperor Aurangzab, renowned for his iconoclastic acts, was synonymous with looting and the city suffered significant damage. The priests of the important temples transferred the precious idols contained in each of them to southern Tamil Nadu and awaited the death of Aurangzeb to bring them back to Kanchipuram. 

Sri Ekambaranathar Temple 

The Ekambaranathar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and one of the largest temples in India and its south tower which has a height of almost 60 meters is the tallest tower of all the temples in the country. It was founded around the 6th century AD. 

A mango tree occupies the center of the inner plaza of the temple. According to one of the legends, Parvati, wife of Shiva came to meditate under this mango tree which is currently 3500 years old. 

Kailasnathar Temple 

Kailasnathar temple is another temple dedicated to Shiva. It was built at the beginning of the 8th century. It is considered one of the most beautiful temples in India, thanks to its unprecedented body of sculpture and the exceptional quality of the rich representations of deities and scenes from Indian mythology. 

silk industry 

Kanchipuram is also known for its silk production. Kanchipuram sarees are famous all over India for their beauty and quality. The city has been renowned for its know-how in the art of silk for over 400 years. 

Culture 

Kanchipuram is also known for its festivals and religious celebrations. Some of the most popular festivals include the Pongal festival, which celebrates the rice harvest, and the Brahmotsavam festival, which celebrates the gods Vishnu and Shiva. The town is also known for its traditional arts and crafts, such as stone carving and jewelry making.

 

Spoken comments in the film: 

Kanchipuram, also called Kanchi is one of the 7 holy cities of India. 

about the place, Kanchipuram: 

Kanchipuram is a small town in Tamil Nadu, India with less than 15,000 inhabitants. The city is famous for its silk mills and the making of sarees. 

The city has several magnificent temples like Kailasanathar Temple and Thiru Ekambaranathar Temple.