Kanchipuram Divya Desam Tour Packages: All 22 Thondai Nadu Temples in 4 Days from Chennai

Today you leave the hotel at 6 am and drive about 53 km down the coast to Mamallapuram. You reach at about 7:35, while the town is still cool. The Sthalasayana Perumal temple stands in the heritage town, near the UNESCO monuments. Tradition says a sage named Pundarika tried to empty the sea to reach the Lord with 1,008 lotus flowers. The Lord came as an old man and lay down on the bare ground. That is why he is called Sthalasayana, the one who lies on the ground. Here he lies without the serpent bed Adisesha. This is believed to be the birthplace of Bhoothathazhwar, one of the first three Azhwars.

For a quick tiffin, Mamalla Bhavan on South Mada Street, right next to the temple, is a pure vegetarian place. The Shore Temple monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India open at 6 am with an entry ticket. They are not in today's plan, but ask us if you would like to add an hour.

Thiruvidandhai is about 18 km back up the coast, roughly half an hour. You reach at about 8:35. The Lord is Nithya Kalyana Perumal, the Lord whose wedding happens every day. Tradition says the sage Kalava had 360 daughters, and the Lord married one each day for a whole year. Here he is in his Varaha form, with the Goddess seated on his left lap. People waiting to get married come here to pray. So weekends can be busy.

Then comes the long drive of the day, about 85 km inland, away from the sea. It takes a little over two hours. You reach Thiruputkuzhi at about 11:10, before the noon closing. Tradition says this is where Rama performed the last rites of Jatayu, the bird king who fought Ravana to save Sita. The name comes from pul, bird, and kuzhi, pit. Here Sridevi stands on the Lord's left instead of the usual right. Ramanuja, the great teacher, is said to have had his early studies here, under his first guru Yadavaprakasa.

From Thiruputkuzhi it is about 14 km to your Kanchipuram hotel. You check in by about 12:30. For lunch, Shastra Veg Restaurant on Gandhi Road is pure vegetarian and known for thattu idli and ghee podi idli. On weekends you may wait about 20 minutes.

The afternoon is yours. Rest, or walk the silk shops of Gandhi Road.

What to buy today: a Kanchipuram silk saree. Kancheepuram Silk is a registered GI product. Buy at a weavers' cooperative society showroom, such as Kamatchi Amman Silk Society, the first one, set up in 1949. Look at the join. A zigzag line where the border is locked to the body is a good sign. A zari testing unit in the town can check it.

Special Tips for This Day: Carry a shawl for the sea breeze at dawn. If a man at a junction offers to take you to a cheap silk shop, smile and say no. Fake Silk Mark labels have been found, so buy at a society showroom and keep the bill.

Today you see all fourteen Divya Desams of Kanchipuram. It is a full day. The first four stand within about two kilometres of each other in the southern lanes. You start at 7 at Thiruvelukkai, close to your hotel. The Lord is Azhagiya Singar, a form of Narasimha. Swami Vedanta Desikar wrote his hymn Kamasikashtakam on this Lord.

Thiruthanka is only a few hundred metres away, and you may wait a few minutes for its doors. The Lord here is Deepaprakasar, the Lord of Light. Tradition says Saraswati sent darkness to spoil Brahma's sacrifice, and Vishnu appeared as a light. Thoopul, next door, is honoured as the birthplace of Swami Vedanta Desikar, born in 1268.

At Thiruvekka you hear a story every Kanchi child knows. Tradition says Thirumazhisai Azhwar asked the Lord to roll up his snake bed and leave town with him, and the Lord did. When the king relented, the Lord came back. So he is called Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal, the Lord who did as he was told. Next is Ashtabhujakaram, where the Lord stands with eight arms, a rare form.

You reach Varadaraja Perumal at about 9, and you spend a full hour here, because this is the great temple of the town. The temple sits on a small hill called Athigiri. Tradition says its 24 steps stand for the 24 letters of the Gayatri Mantra, so devotees climb them slowly, one letter at a time. Look up. On the ceiling are the golden and silver lizards. Devotees touch them, believing it removes the bad effects linked to lizards. Touching has long been allowed. Please follow the staff on the day. Tradition says Thirukachi Nambi fanned the Lord here every day, and the Lord spoke with him.

Vaikunta Perumal is about 5 km on. This 8th century Pallava temple is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. The walls of its covered walkway carry carved panels on the history of the Pallava kings. The tower has three floors, with the Lord seated at the bottom, lying in the middle and standing at the top. The middle floor is opened only on Ekadasi days.

At about 11 you reach the Ulagalantha Perumal temple, and here you count four Divya Desams at once. The main shrine is Thiru Ooragam, with the giant Trivikrama image. Thiruneeragam, Thirukkaragam and Thirukkarvanam are inside the same walls. Ask the priest to show you all four, because the smaller shrines are easy to miss. Then you walk to the Kamakshi Amman temple. Thirukkalvanur is a small Vishnu shrine to the right of the Goddess's sanctum. Tradition says Vishnu hid here to listen to Kamakshi and Lakshmi, so he is called Kalvar, the hidden one.

Have lunch and rest from about 12:30 to 4. Nithya Amirtham on Annai Indira Gandhi Salai serves pure vegetarian banana leaf meals and has a sweet shop.

At about 4 pm you enter Ekambareswarar, the great Shiva temple. Ask for the Nilathingal Thundathan sannidhi in the first enclosure. It is a rare case of a Divya Desam inside a Shiva temple, and worship follows Shaiva custom. Pandava Thoothar is next, Krishna as the messenger of the Pandavas. His seated image is about 25 feet tall, one of the tallest seated Perumal images. Your last stop is Pavala Vannar, the Lord of coral colour, at about 5, and the emerald Lord Pachai Vannar stands right across the road from him. Pachai Vannar is not one of the 108, but pilgrims visit both together. You are free by about 5:30 pm.

What to buy today: if you did not shop yesterday, this evening is your second chance for silk.

Special Tips for This Day: You will take your footwear off and on many times today, so wear simple slippers. Keep small notes ready for the archanai at each shrine. Phones stay switched off inside Varadaraja Perumal, Kamakshi and Ekambareswarar, as all three are on the list of 52. Fridays are often busy at Kamakshi.

Today you leave Kanchipuram at 6 am and drive about 61 km to Thiruninravur. You reach at about 7:45. The Goddess here is called Ennai Petra Thayar, the Mother who gave birth to me. Tradition says Lakshmi left Vaikuntha and stood here, and the town name means the holy place where she stood. Tradition also says Thirumangai Azhwar walked past this temple without singing. The Lord followed him all the way to Mamallapuram to ask for a hymn. So the shore temple you saw on Day 2 and this temple are joined by one story.

Tiruvallur is about 18 km on, roughly half an hour. The Lord here is Vaidya Veeraraghava, the doctor Lord, and many people come to pray for healing. On new moon days devotees bathe in the big temple tank and dissolve jaggery in it, and the crowds are very large. Tradition says the sage Salihotra fed a hungry guest all his flour and offered him a place to rest. The guest asked, "Evvul?", where shall I lie down? He lay down and showed himself as Vishnu. The temple is looked after by the Ahobila Mutt, the same monastery you meet at Ahobilam if you take the add-on.

Then you drive about 63 km, about two hours, to Sholinghur. You reach at about 11. Now comes the climb. The Yoga Narasimha shrine sits on the big hill, at the top of about 1,305 stone steps. Tradition says that praying here for just one kadigai, 24 minutes, is enough to receive the Lord's blessing. That is how the place got the name Thirukkadigai. A rope car was opened in March 2024, but we cannot promise it is running on your day. We check on arrival. You have until about 1:30 pm here.

From Sholinghur it is about 121 km, roughly three and a quarter hours, to Chennai airport. You reach at about 4:50 pm, so book a flight after about 7:30 pm.

For food, we could not find a vegetarian eatery in Sholinghur or Tiruvallur with recent reviews we trust. So ask your hotel for a packed breakfast, and carry a packed lunch from Kanchipuram.

What to buy today: nothing heavy. Keep your hands free for the climb.

Special Tips for This Day: Start the steps slowly and rest on the landings. Carry water, a cap and a small towel. Monkeys on the steps grab bags and phones, so keep both closed and close to you. If an elder cannot climb, please ask us about a doli. New moon days at Tiruvallur upset the plan, so tell us if your date falls on one.