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Varadarajaswamy Temple

Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
Lord Vishnu
More in Tamil Nadu

Type

Hindu Temple

Deity

Lord Vishnu

Pincode

631501

One of the 108 Divya Desams, the most important Vishnu temple in Kanchipuram. The 100-pillared hall inside is a masterpiece of Vijayanagara art. The 'Atti Varadar' idol (made of fig wood) is kept submerged in a sacred tank and brought out once every 40 years — the last emergence was in 2019, drawing 15 million visitors.

History & Significance

Significance

Varadarajaswamy is the supreme Vishnu of Kanchipuram. The unique 'Atti Varadar' (Vishnu made of fig wood) is revealed only once every 40 years for 48 days — the next emergence will be in 2059. Kanchipuram thus has both the Earth-element Shiva (Ekambareswarar) and the premier Vishnu (Varadaraja) within 1 km of each other.

Plan Your Circuit

Nearby Temples

Closest temples by distance — worth combining into the same trip.

Ekambareswarar Temple

The 'Prithvi' (earth) Pancha Bhoota Sthalam, dedicated to Lord Shiva as Ekambareswarar, in the temple town of Kanchipuram. Its 58-metre gopuram is among the tallest in Tamil Nadu, and its ancient mango tree — said to be over 3,500 years old — is revered as the spot where Parvati is believed to have worshipped Shiva.

Photo: Wikipedia article "Ekambareswarar Temple (Kanchipuram)" — CC-licensed via Wikimedia Commons

Ekambareswarar Temple

Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu1 km
Lord Shiva

Meenakshi

One of the three most sacred Shakti Peethas in South India (Kanchipuram, Madurai, Varanasi), dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi — Parvati in her benevolent form. Adi Shankaracharya installed the Sri Chakra here and is said to have attained liberation in this temple.

Kamakshi Amman Temple

Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu2 km
Goddess Meenakshi
Tiruttani Murugan Temple

The fifth of the six sacred Arupadaiveedu (abodes) of Lord Murugan, atop a small hill 84 km from Chennai. Murugan is said to have married Valli here after defeating the demon Soorapadman.

Photo: Wikipedia article "Tiruttani Murugan Temple" — CC-licensed via Wikimedia Commons

Tiruttani Murugan Temple

Tiruttani, Tamil Nadu38 km
Lord Subramanya

Kamakshi

One of the most important goddess temples in the Chennai region, dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi (Parvati as the love-eyed goddess). Located 20 km from Chennai centre, the temple draws massive crowds on Fridays and Navratri. The Goddess Kamakshi here is said to have done penance by sitting in fire (agni) — hence the fire pit in the temple.

Mangadu Kamakshi Amman Temple

Mangadu, Tamil Nadu46 km
Goddess Kamakshi