Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple

Temple information

Darshan timings

05:30 – 21:30

Established

6

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Deity

Deity form

Radiant seated stone vigraha of Goddess Kamakshi in padmasana holding sugarcane bow, flower arrows, pasha, and ankusha, with the consecrated Sri Yantra (Ardha Meru) at her lotus feet

Religious tradition

Vedic Sri Vidya Shakta Agamic Tradition established by Adi Shankaracharya

Sanskrit name

श्री काञ्ची कामाक्षी अम्बा मन्दिरम्

Also known as

Kanchi Kamakshi Temple, Nabisthana Shakti Peetham, Kamakoti Peetham Kanchipuram

Darshan hours

Daily

05:30 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:00 PM - 09:30 PM

Break timings

12:30 PM - 04:00 PM (Monday to Thursday)

Special days

Masi Brahmotsavam, Navaratri, Chitra Pournami: 04:00 AM - 11:30 PM (Continuous Darshan)

Festival timings

Open continuously till 11:30 PM during Navaratri and major festival days

Aarti & rituals

Morning aarti

07:30 AM

Midday aarti

12:00 PM

Evening aarti

06:00 PM

Night aarti

09:00 PM

Special aarti days

Every Friday, Tuesday, Purnima, Navaratri days, Masi Therottam

Ritual schedule

Nitya Arukala Puja, Sri Chakra Navavarana Puja, Sahasra Kumkumarchana, Suhasini Puja, Golden Chariot (Thanga Ratham) procession

Pooja timings

06:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:30 PM - 09:00 PM

Abhishek timings

Abhishekam is not performed directly to the stone Kamakshi; it is performed to the consecrated Ardha-Meru Sri Chakra and Utsava deity at 06:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 05:00 PM

Special poojas

Available

Online pooja booking

Via portal

History & heritage

Historical period

Ancient

Built by

Pallava Kings; enhanced by Chola Emperors (Kulothunga I) and Vijayanagara Emperors (Harihara II and Krishnadevaraya)

Architect / builder

Master traditional royal sthapathis of Tamil Nadu; spiritual leadership of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham

Construction materials

Solid dressed dark granite stone masonry, pure gold-plated Vimana roof, brass flagstaff, sacred temple tank

Historical events

Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya consecrated the Sri Chakra here and entered Mahasamadhi; recovery of the city’s spiritual peace; King Krishnadevaraya covered the Vimana in gold in 1516 CE

Renovations

Punarprathishta and massive Swarna Bandhana Mahakumbhabhishekam completed under the divine presence of the Kanchi Sankaracharyas with pure gold vimana renovation

Archaeological importance

Priceless living Shakti Peetham monument preserving ancient Chola, Vijayanagara, and Pallava epigraphs

Legends

Goddess Kamakshi performed intense penance under a mango tree on the banks of Vegavathi river, making a Lingam of sand (Prithvi Lingam) to unite with Lord Shiva

Inscriptions

More than 40 monumental stone inscriptions in Tamil, Telugu, and Sanskrit detailing royal donations of gold, jewels, and villages by Chola and Vijayanagara kings

Architecture

Architectural style

Dravidian

Architectural period

6th Century foundations with 14th - 16th Century CE expansions

Structure

Colossal 5-acre walled temple complex with four entrance Rajagopurams, pure gold-plated Gayatri Vimana, sacred Panchaganga lake, and circumambulatory cloisters

Floors

1

Gopuram

Four towering multi-tiered Rajagopurams guarding the cardinal directions, with the eastern tower rising 100 feet

Mandapa

Spacious Mukhamandapa and 100-pillared hall supported by polished granite columns depicting Shakta puranic themes and dancing devatas

Sculptural features

Radiant seated stone murti of Goddess Kamakshi in padmasana; consecrated golden Ardha-Meru Sri Chakra; golden chariot (Thanga Ratham); Santhana Ganapati

Artistic elements

Gayatri Vimana plated in pure gold representing the 24 sacred syllables of the Gayatri Mantra, embossed silver sanctum frames, and gold kalashas

Construction technique

Interlocking monolithic granite block masonry combined with heavy gold repousse cladding

Unique features

The all-encompassing Shakta presence in Kanchipuram: none of the historic Shiva temples in the city possess a separate Ambal shrine because Kamakshi represents the universal mother of all shrines

Festivals & events

Festival calendar

Masi month (February/March Brahmotsavam), Ashwayuja Navaratri

Special celebration days

Every Friday, Tuesday, Full Moon day (Pournami), Sankatahara Chaturthi

Cultural events

World-class Carnatic music concerts, Bharatanatyam dance performances, and Veda Parayana during Navaratri and Brahmotsavam

Annual events

The monumental Masi Brahmotsavam Therottam and Silver Chariot procession drawing over 300,000 devotees

Peak crowd season

Throughout the year; peak during Navaratri, Masi Brahmotsavam, and every Friday

Visitor information

• ✓ Parking
• ✓ Restrooms
• ✓ Drinking water
• ✓ Shoe keeping
• ✓ Prasadam counter

Dress code

Traditional

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Parking capacity

50+ vehicles

Parking fees

Approx. 20-50 INR

Donation counters

Yes

Donation methods

Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer

Prasadam

Vibhuti/Kumkum.