Kanchipuram

The ancient town of Kanchipuram has been called 'The Benares of the South, by the famous poet Kalidasa. The city has a rich history dating back to the 2nd century BCE and was believed to have been a part of the Dravida Kingdom of the Mahabharata. Kanchipuram has been ruled by many great and powerful dynasties. As a part of the Pallavas kingdom, they contributed immensely to the development and architecture of the city, building roads and many famous temples including the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple and the Varadharaja Perumal Temple. This was followed by the Chola reign in about 890, and the city was served as the capital of their kingdom. The Vijayanagaras defeated the Cholas in around 1361, and following their long reign which ended in the 1600s, the city witnessed a long period of turmoil. Many forces -like the Golcondas, the Bijapur, and the Marathas briefly captured the city before it went under the Mughal Empire under Aurungzeb. Kanchipuram has also served as a strategic battleground for the British East India company’s Carnatic Wars against the French, and also the Anglo Mysore wars of the 18th century.

Kanchipuram is where the typical South-Indian food gets all the more interesting and delicious, with the cities own take on the classics to make the state's platter richer and delicious. While here, you cannot miss the popular South-Indian platter with its delicacies like Rasam, Sweet Pongal, Payassam, Sambhar, Idli, Vada, Dosa. Other than these, do try the 'fourteen Idli', a dish with 14 idlis and sambhar as well as a local favorite called Kovil Idlis with dry garnishing of pepper, ginger and cumin.
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