Early medieval · Hindu · India

Kailasanathar Temple

காஞ்சிபுரம் கைலாசநாதர் கோயில்

Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu · 12.8423°, 79.6897°

ShivaPallavaDravida (sandstone)

Sacred since

685 CE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

c. 700 CE

patron: Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha)

History & significance

The oldest surviving structural temple of Kanchipuram — the Pallava capital and one of the seven moksha-giving cities. Its sandstone walls hold 58 small shrines and some of the earliest and finest Somaskanda panels; the design is regarded as a prototype that influenced later Chola grandeur and, arguably, temple export to Southeast Asia.

Sthala katha — the legend

A narrow circumambulatory passage requires devotees to squeeze through — entering and emerging is likened to passing through death and rebirth toward liberation.

Reaching there

Kanchipuram railway station lies about 3 km from the temple and Chennai International airport roughly 62 km away; Kanchipuram bus stand serves the town for road arrivals.

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