Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1805 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Late medieval · Hindu · India

Kalikambal Temple

George Town, Chennai, Tamil Nadu · 13.0946°, 80.2891°

Kaligambal (Kamakshi), with Kamadeswarar (Shiva)Colonial era
Sacred since
1640 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
rebuilt 1640-1678 after relocation
Colonial era

History & significance

A temple on Thambu Chetty Street in old George Town, moved to its present site on 1 March 1640 when the English East India Company built Fort St George over its original seashore location, with construction continuing to 1678; Shivaji is recorded as having worshipped here on 3 October 1677, and its rajagopuram was added between 1976 and 1983.

Sthala katha — the legend

The goddess is said to have been worshipped here first in a fierce form, which Adi Shankara replaced with the serene Kamakshi.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Colonial era