Kanchipuram- "Golden City Of Temples" was
believed to be the most attractive city of ancient India. This city
is one of India's
seven sacred cities and is considered the second holiest place in India
next to Varanasi.
This city was the Historical Capital of the Pallavas, the Cholas and
the Vijayanagar rulers. It was under the Pallavas from 6th to 8th century
A.D. It later became the citadel of the Cholas, Vijayanagar kings,
the Muslims and the British. During Pallava times, it was briefly occupied
by the Chalukyans of Badami, and by the Rastrakutas when the battle
fortunes of the Pallava kings reached a low ebb. Many of these temples
are the beautiful work of Pallavas and later, Cholas. The remains of
a few Buddhist stupas here also bear testimony that Buddhism also prevailed
here for a while. One of the Acharya Peetas of Sri Adi Sankaracharya
- The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam is situated here. It has been a centre
for Tamil learning and Culture for centuries and gives us a clear picture
of the glorious Dravidian Heritage of the Vaishnavites and Shaivites.
Kanchipuram, the "Silken Paradise" is
world renowned for the gorgeous hand-woven silk sarees of myriad
rich colours,
noted for
their shine, finish and matchless beauty. The exquisite silk sarees
are woven from pure mulberry silk in contrasting colours and have an
enviable reputation for lustre, durability and finish. They reflect
a weaving and dyeing tradition hundreds of years old and whose riches
the West came seeking before the industrial age began.