Kalikambal Temple, Hindu temple in Parry's Corner, Chennai, India.
Kalikambal Temple is a Hindu temple in the Parry's Corner neighborhood of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The shrine rises with a 10-meter (33-foot) tower, its surface richly decorated with figures and scenes from South Indian mythology.
The temple left its original location near the shore in March 1640 when the British East India Company built Fort St. George. The relocation allowed the shrine to survive during the colonial expansion in the region.
The name Kalikambal combines the protective deity Kali with the Tamil word for mother, reflecting deep reverence in the region. Devotees visit the shrine regularly to offer flower garlands and pray before the richly adorned deity figures.
The shrine opens daily for prayer, and visitors should follow specific dress codes. Market stalls around the building sell offerings such as flowers and coconuts.
The temple's sacred water is seawater, and its sacred tree is the mango. The main deity faces west, and the goddess is also called Kottaiamman, "fort goddess", from the shrine's first site at Fort St. George, and Chennamman, from the Tamil word for holy crimson.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,679 contributors worldwide.
