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. 
Temple festivals are held throughout the year and   apart from the temple car (ratha) festivals which are held in January, April and   May, there are other days when the idols in the temples are taken out in   procession on their respective vahanas or vehicles. 
Places to Visit in Tamil Nadu