Full-Day Private Tour to the Kanchipuram Temples from Chennai

4.9 (86 reviews) Chennai, India
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Duration13h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
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TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism. The Pallava kings who ruled here between the 4th and 9th centuries pioneered the Dravidian stone temple tradition that shaped temple architecture across South and Southeast Asia.

Kailasanathar Temple, built around 700 CE by King Narasimhavarman II, is one of the earliest structural temples in South India. Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the five Pancha Bhuta Sthalas, with a mango tree said to be over 3,500 years old.

The city is equally famous for its silk sarees, woven in pure mulberry silk with gold zari borders by thousands of weaving families. Go behind the showroom: visit a silk dyeing unit, then sit in a weaving family’s home to watch a saree take shape on the loom. Dyers and weavers are paid directly by 5 Senses Tours.

Private car from Chennai, expert guide, entry fees included.

Ministry of Tourism approved. Outlook Responsible Tourism Award. Tripadvisor Travellers Choice 2025.

What's included

  • Transportation by private car
  • Private guide
  • Parking Fees
  • Lunch

What to expect

  1. 1h · Admission ticket included
    Kanchipuram was the capital of the medieval South Indian Kingdom of Pallavas. The Pallavas were instrumental in the transition from rock-cut architecture to stone temples. We visit Kailasanathar temple of Pallava dynasty to appreciate these architectural wonders built in the 7th century by by Pallava king Rajasimha known as Narasimhavarman II. The Kanchi Kailasanathar temple is famous for its magnificent Vimana, the gopuram over the Sanctum Sanctorum. It speaks volumes of architectural beauty that flourished in the reign of Pallava King.
  2. Ekambareswarar Temple
    1h · Admission ticket included
    Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.

    It is one of the five major Shiva temples or Pancha Bootha Sthalams (each representing a natural element) representing the element - Earth. The other four temples in this category are Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara (water), Chidambaram Natarajar (ether), Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswara (fire) and Kalahasti Nathar (wind).
  3. Kanchipuram
    1h
    Go behind the scene to see how a Kancheepuram saree is made. Begin at a silk dyeing unit, where the dyers work through their day and you see how colour is set into the silk yarn before it ever reaches a loom. Then walk to a weaving family’s home, where the loom sits in the house itself. Watch the weaver work pure mulberry silk and gold zari into a saree, and see how the korvai technique joins the body and the border. Ask about the craft, the patterns and what it means to weave in the town whose silk carries a Geographical Indication tag. You visit during real working hours, unscripted, and the dyers and weavers decide what to show you. They are paid directly by 5 Senses Tours, built into your tour price

Meeting and pickup

Pickup details

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Additional information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Since we will be visiting temples, the dress code is covering knees and shoulders
  • Minimum age is 18 years
  • A valid international driving license for riding motorcycle in India is required (if option selected)
  • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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4.9 (86)
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