Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
A1
A1
B2
Sleeping
B3
B2
Eating
(see 4)
B2
A2
8
Transport
8
Bicycle Hire
B2
Sights
All temples are open from 6am to noon and 4pm to 8pm. All have free admission, though
you may have to pay small amounts for shoe-keeping and/or cameras.
Kailasanatha Temple
Kanchi's oldest temple is its most impressive, not for its size but for its weight of historic-
al presence and the delicacy of its stonework. As much monument as living temple,
Kailasanatha is much quieter than other temples in town. Dedicated to Shiva, it was built
in the 8th century by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman II, who also gave us Mamal-
lapuram's Shore Temple. The low-slung sandstone compound has fascinating carvings, in-
cluding many of the half-animal deities in vogue in early Dravidian architecture. The in-
ner sanctum is centred on a large prismatic lingam, which non-Hindus are permitted to
view from a distance of about 8m. The tower rising above it is a precursor of the great
vi-
manas
of later Chola temples. An autorickshaw from the centre is ?40, but it's a nice
walk.
HINDU TEMPLE
EkambareshwaraTemple
HINDU TEMPLE
