It you want to see and enjoy the beauty and serenity of temples with amazing structures, one of the best places to visit is Kanchipuram. Considered one of the most sacred places in India, it has innumerable temples of great importance.
On the basis of temples, this place has been divided into two parts — Shiva Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi. In Shiva Kanchi, one can see many Shiva temples, whereas in Vishnu Kanchi, one can see a variety of Vishnu temples.
In Shiva Kanchi, Ekambareswarar temple is one of the tallest and most beautiful structures. I was delighted to see that this gigantic temple is spread over 20 acres of land. Its gopuram, which is 11 storeys, 58 feet high, is one of the tallest gopurams in South India.
This colossal temple is just a kilometre away from the main bus stand and it is right in the centre of town. It is very close to the Sri Kamakshi Amma Temple, which is another important and towering place of worship.
The moment you reach the vicinity of Ekambareswarar temple, you will be astonished to see the huge and towering size of its gopuram. There are four such huge gopurams, which embellish the ancient temple from all directions.
After entering this enormous temple from the main gopuram, one gets to see the outside sabhagana with marvellously sculpted stone pillars on either sides. Large sized stone pillars with remarkable carvings on them adorn the four sides of the sanctum sanctorum. It is a feast for the eyes to see these incredible structures on huge pillars on either side of the Garbhagudi.
There is a huge Shivalinga with 1,008 small Shivalingas on it. This unique linga is called “Sahashralinga.” One has to be lucky to get a darshan of this unique linga in their lifetime. There is also a mango tree which is nearly 3,000 years old. So if you are there, don’t miss it.