|
|

Kanchipuram Travels
Ancient Kanchipuram, the city of thousand temples, is one of the seven
most sacred pilgrim centres for the Hindus. There now remain about 126
temples in Kanchi and a few more in its outskirts. The city was the capital
of the Early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BC and a Pallava capital
between the 6th and 8th centuries.
Given its illustrious past, it is not surprising that Kanchi was a major
seat of Tamil learning as well as an important place of pilgrimage for
Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Today, apart from its temples, this small
town is also known for its thriving handloom industry.
The silk weavers of Kanchi settled more than 400 years ago and have
given it an enviable reputation as the producer of the best silk sarees
in the country. Woven from pure mulberry silk, the sarees in dazzling
colours are embellished with fine gold thread (zari) and are available
in every imaginable design and variety, which can make the job of selection
quite challenging.
| |