Karchapeswarar Temple

Karchapeswakar Temple is a Hindu shrine in Kanchipuram built on roughly 5 acres of land with several distinct spaces for worship. The complex includes a central sanctum, a sacred water tank, smaller gateway towers, and multiple shrines dedicated to different aspects of Lord Shiva.

The structure was founded during the Pallava Dynasty in the 7th century and later significantly expanded by rulers of the Chola and Vijayanagara kingdoms. These construction phases over many centuries show how the shrine was supported and developed by successive kings.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and visitors come here to worship in the form known as Karchapeswarar, following the Tamil Shaiva tradition. The spaces and courtyards show how devotees practice their daily prayers and keep this faith alive through their rituals.

The site is open daily to visitors with opening hours split into two sessions to allow flexible planning of your visit. There is no entrance fee and the complex is straightforward to walk through, though you should be prepared for warm and sunny weather.

Carved into the stone steps leading to the Ishta Siddheeswara Theertham water tank are ancient verses from Mayura Kavi's Surya Satakam. This engraved literature from centuries past remains preserved within the structure itself, linking religious poetry directly to the physical layout of the shrine.