Kanchipuram
The city of a thousand temples
Kanchipuram, ‘the city of a thousand temples’ bear witness to the glory of the Vijayanagara dynasty and its architectural prowess. Located along the eastern coast, close to Chennai, Kanchipuram is synonymous with its silk-and-gold-thread saris, a traditional handicraft since the days of yore. Legend has it, that the Kanchi silk weavers are descendants of the master weaver for the gods, who wove tissue from lotus fibre. Today, the intricately motifed saris are in great demand for special occasions like weddings and festivals and command high prices in markets worldwide.