Kanchipuram Temples & Silk weaving

Five Senses was a sure bet: A+++ Five Senses organized a spectacular tour for us of Kanichipuram. Our tour guide Hareesh most skillfully combined an overview of cultural and historical highlights. It was a perfect day(it was also my second tour with Five Senses. They were flawless the first time, too).

Kanchipuram 2 éme ville sainte après Varanasi Quel bon souvenir cette visite guidée de Kanchipuram! Satish nous a ouvert les secrets du temple d'Ekambareswar consacré à Shiva où nous voulions passer devantle lingam de l'élément terre. Impossible pour les non hindous mais possible moyennant finances avec un "employé du temple".. Au final grande satisfaction d'avoir pu le faire puisque notre voyage était consacré à la visite des 5 temple alignés géographiquement consacrés au 5 éléments et dont le ressenti est particulièrement puissant.Beaucoup a voir dans ce temple 1008 lingas 1000 piliers un manguier dont le tronc d'origine remonte à 3500 ans . Visite suivie de celle du Kailasanatha temple vieux de 1500 ans: lieu apaisant entouré de pelouse et de frangipaniers. L'architecture est magnifique , à taille humaine . Dans certaines niches il y a encore les couleurs d'origine.Merci à Satish pour son écoute son accompagnement attentionné et son aide efficace et rapide pour résoudre quelques problèmes avec notre tailleur .inoubliable

Historical sights & very knowledgeable guide Kanaan was the best guide. He patiently talked me through the history & stories behind the sights of Kanchipurum. It was fascinating to hear the context of the impressive temples & understand the historical significance of everything. The tour included a wonde Thali which included many dishes - I only wish I could have finished it. Would definitely recommend to anyone!!

Worth the travel time - just Pleasant guide. Was flexible. Closing time of temples at 12.30 limited the temples to just 2. But worth seeing even given the cost and long travel time.

Excellent The tour was great with visiting a lot of sites. The guide Kannan was very knowledgeable and helpful. He facilitated some shopping that we wanted to do.

Kanchipuram temples and silks We went for a day visit to Kanchipuram from Chennai on a Saturday. As temples close around noon, we were picked up at our hotel by Kannan and driver at 7:30am. Arriving in Kanchipuram we had to take a different itinerary as our car was not allowed on the initial route planed but our hosts have found a way to drive us around.1st visit to Shri Kailasanathar Temple, the oldest of Kanchipuram, made of red sandstone and adorned with frescos. Kannan has taken time to provide us with many explanations.Then we headed to Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple where again Kannan was providing us with very interesting comments without us feeling overloaded with too many details.We then visited a silk shop Sri Varshini Silk House where we got to see the silk making process and were able to shop stoles.Thank you, Kannan, for your kindness and interesting comments. We had a very nice experience.

Enjoyable, informative day The historical details were so interesting. it was great to have lunch provided and to have guidance on what to eat when and how.

Highly recommend it It was very relaxing and was catered towards our interest, very flexible and we got to see a lot, it was like having a friend to show us around.

Informative and cultural visit to Kanchipuram We had a great Kanchipuram visit. We were a family of seven. We visited 3 temples with different meanings and historical context, and a silk sari weaving place, and then had a nice lunch. It Our guide, Kannan, was excellent and patient. He even accommodated a slight detour for my dad to be able to visit a place he stayed as a child. The distance is about a 2 hr drive from Chennai, but I thought it was worth the visit.

Knowledgeable Guide, Authentic Cultural Experience What a wonderful tour. It was an interactive tour. Narayanan was an outstanding tour guide. He was very knowledgeable. I learned a lot today about the Indian culture. It was an authentic cultural experience from the visits to the temples, interaction with the weavers, to the lunch.

A near perfect day. A prompt pick up and we were off. Kannan, my guide, is a knowledgeable and personable gentleman. His excitement, passing on the history and stories of the places you visit is palpable. You will be transported to a different era when travelling with him. Chennai to Kanchipuram and places in between. Temples, all different and didn't disappoint. I once travelled to Bali with my children and my youngest said, "no more temples, Mum". The difference between feeling that and the excitement of a new temple must be with the people you travel with and the person who brings the place alive. Kannan is definitely that kind of person. The Kanchi Kudil ( a house museum) was an interesting stop off and a step back in time. It reminds me of museums in Ireland and I suppose, could reflect that universally we have more in common than we think, which is a great thing. The ladies inside in their bright sari's brought an extra element of authenticity to the place. Next stop, silk weaving. Not sure what I was expecting, maybe something on an industrial level but again, in ways, it was a step back in time. An old wooden loom, still worked by hand and foot but with the addition of computer enabled processes to allow "new" programs for patterns show that the old can still work with the new. Three generations have kept this place alive. Educated about the processes to enable this fine silk production we visited the "shop". It was a hive of activity, so many attentive staff catering to any requests you may have. A chance to try on a Sari was not to be missed and the ladies appeared to enjoy the chance to transform a foreigner. So many beautiful things to purchase and a dazzling array of colours to choose from. It was difficult to choose. Next came my Southern India Lunch. It was delicious and Kannan courteously guided me through all the tasty offerings. He also gave me gentle instruction on how best to tackle it without a fork!!! I did my best and certainly did not leave hungry. Over lunch we also discussed other customs and etiquette which I wish I had known before. It was a great way to experience a "local" lunch, to witness the vibrant colours, smells and sounds of families, business people and others just in the moment. Then, hands washed and back in the car for our drive back to the city. Our driver for the day was superb in negotiating the traffic and did an excellent job deftly working through the traffic. He was always ready to open the door, making me feel "grand" and stopped me stepping into traffic. I thank him for this. I thought my "tour" was over apart from the car journey back to the hotel but again Kannan surprised me with an unexpected stop at the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial in Sripurumbudur. I remember when the news broke that he had been assassinated but had forgotten the details. We got out of the car, having passed the statue of his Mother and proceeded inside. With the "Formalities" of having my visit documented dispensed we exited the building and into the beautiful calm surroundings of the Memorial which belies the autroisity which had occurred here. A huge flag of India flapped gently in the cool refreshing breeze which brought calmness to where we walked, then a few drops of rain fell like tears when remembering what had actually happened there. No person should die like this. This memorial, both brutal and sad but so beautiful and intricate. His likeness captured in tiny tiles is a captivating image which is the best way to be remembered. It was a peaceful end to a near perfect day.

Ultimate unique experience Best part was divine Darshana without hustle bustle inspite of too much crowd of festive season.Caring attitude of Mr Ganesh kept us comfortable .His interest to introduce culture and history made it more interesting.He is a good photographer too ,clicked our best pictures. We were feeling at home town. Food was delicious and clean restraunt. Mr Narayan brought me at a comfortable zone while discussing tour plans and our age and health related limitations. Ganesh executed all so well.Cudos to the team.

Awesome Journey Last month, We have visited Kanchipuram temples from Chennai by a private cab . It was a private tour. Really this place is awesome and each and every temples were unique. Love the tour very much...

Kanchipuram virtual poetry on stone!! Kanchipuram - city of 1000 temples. Varadarajan temple, Ekambreshwar temple, Kailashnath temple and kanchipuram Silk saree weaving process. Varadarajan temple has wedding hall of 96 stone pillar and 4 wooden pillar which is installed during marraige ceremony. Each pillar had a poetry carved on stone. All pillars were breathtaking and I visited them again to have a visual re-treat again. Ekambreshwar - one mango tree old as 3500 years fossil is preserved and out of dna they created another mango tree, it seems it has 4 different branches giving 4 different mangoes with shapes size and taste. Due to nature of sand made Shiv Ling this is the only temple where abhishek doesn’t happen due to porous nature of the idol. Kailashnath is made with sandstone only temple started and the architecture is still a mystery. Silk weaving saree take 5-7 days with 5400 strands of thread to make a 6 yard or 9 yard saree. Complex manual machine of different template and weighing needles approx 4.2 gm makes the weaving process heavy it needs to be paddled and it takes an inch or so for 45 mins to 60 mins as per expertise and speed of artisans. Thank you Kannan Sir and Madhu Sir 🙏🏻. It was indeed memorable trip!

Understanding and visiting the magnifiscent temples of the Pallava dynasty We had a wonderful day with our guide Mr Kannan, who was very attentive to our needs and constantly made sure we were comfortable. I really enjoyed the visit to Kailasanathar temple and the exceptionally rich depictions of deities and scenes from mythology carved in sandstone. Mr. Kannan showed us the most interesting sculptures and provided the appropriate information. The visit to the Ekambareswarar temple gave us a better understanding of the Hindu rites, thanks to Mr Kannan. The visit to the silk factory allowed us to understand the manufacturing process and we could see a weaver in action as well as the saris and other stoles. We finished with a visit to the Basilica of St Thomas in Chennai, a magnificent building. We can only recommend this tour and the guide who is really knowledgeable.

Gentle introduction to the history and traditions of Hindu temples I appreciated to be introduced to the rites of Hinduism and its temples. Our guide Kannan was very knowledgeable and good at hinting gently at what we could and should do and what better not or not at all. For visitors not so aware of the Indian customs, this is very precious. He guided us safely to and through Kanchipuram, selected a good lunch place and a very reputable silk shop. At the end of the day, as the trip went a bit faster than planned, he added a visit of Saint Thomas Basilica in Chennai, showing that he was just as respectful and knowledgeable of the Christian traditions. I am happy to recommend this tour.

Mesmerising ancient temples After a fantastic tour of mahabalipuram I engaged Five Senses Tours for a day trip to Kanchipuram. This time also they didn't disappoint. It was a lovely tour of one of most beautiful temples I have ever seen. The sculptures at shiva temple in kailashnath were outstanding. Despite being more than a 1000 years old, the finesse was still visible. The rituals inside Ekambareswar temple were mesmerising. Our friendly guide satish went out of his way to get us involved and engaged. A priest explained a few of the rituals and it was incredible to hear the scientific and logical reasoning behind the practices. I would highly recommend this tour of Kanchipuram with Five Senses Tours.

Day trip to Kanchipuram We enjoyed the trip to see the temples and silk shop. The guide was knowledgeable and quite friendly. The driver was good. Lunch was outstanding.

A day trip to Kanchipuram We, a group of 5 girls visited Kanchipuram with 5 Senses. Our experience with 5 senses was excellent and very professional. We opted 5 senses based on the reviews and were little skeptical about the conduct. But the tour arranged by them was worth the money spent. Mr. Kannan, our tour guide is very knowledgeable and passionate about his job. He explained every site with detailed history as well as reasoning. During our road travel, he gave us good information about the places that we are planning to visit in Southern India in future. Every small thing like water, meal, biological breaks were taken care even without mention. When Mr. Kannan learned that we are heading to Pondicherry by ourselves, he took extra efforts to tell us history of Pondicherry as well as places to visit and how to reach there from hotel. This was totally out of his scope. But he exhibited the best hospitality. The vehicle used during tour was neat and clean. The driver was helpful and speaking good english. A tour is incomplete without beautiful photos. I would give an extra point to Mr. Kannan's photography skills for clicking the best pics of my group. I would surely recommend 5 Senses to people visiting here.

Kanchipuram day visit We were group of 5 girls and we are glad that we chose 5 sense tours. Our tour companion Mr. Kannan was excellent in terms of knowledge, time management, patience. In addition to being helpful he was extra careful about safety/hygiene. He took us thro temples/weaving factory and then dropped us safely at our next destination Pondicherry. During our entire day trip apart from sightseeing he also introduced us to the local culture, faiths, legends, ancient stories. Upon knowing that we will be roaming in pondicherry next day on our own, he also suggested must visit places, restaurants which was very pleasing experience as it was value added services. Best wishes to 5S for all their future endeavours.Sharayu Kulkarni, Navi Mumbai, India

Day trip to Kanchipuram We drove the ways out to Kanchipuram and went into one of the tallest temples in the town. Vijay, our guide, knew so much about the temple and the area. He shared the stories behind the carvings and other important parts of the temple. He was able to lead us through some of the blessings with the priests. We were able to see 2 different methods of the silk weaving. One of the local shop owners explained the process to us and we were able to visit his shop to see the finished products!

Excellent Trip I am an experienced traveller and have used many tour guides. We were very Impressed with the tour company and our guide Vijay. Vijay was very informed and made sure we had as much knowledge and interaction with the sites as possible. I would have no hesitation recommending 5 Senses and this trip to the Kanchipuram Temple. It was a great experience.

Wonderful experience! Our day trip to Kanchipuram was fantastic, very beautiful sights and Vijay was most knowledgeable and informative on their history and culture, and especially interesting to learn of their history relative to other places such as Angkor Wat. Silk weaving was enjoyable and high quality, and the final stops of the day back in Chennai were also very beautiful. We were lucky enough to catch a parade at Kapaleeshwarar temple which was a real highlight. Highly recommended!

Fantastic day out We had a fantastic day tour with Vijay visiting Kanchipuram and Chennai. We visited several temples and a church (St Thomas’). Some were quieter and others bustling with activity and colour, including seeing a procession in the evening which was magical. Vijay was our guide and Krishna our driver, they were both great. Vijay is an excellent guide, sharing with us the history and associated stories in a way that was very easy to understand and retain. We also visited the silk weavers in Kanchipuram, and saw many beautiful textiles and had a delicious Southern Indian lunch. Both Vijay and Narayan (who assisted us in planning the day) were great to work with and I can highly recommend a 5 Senses tour. Thanks for a very memorable day out.

breathtaking tour The sites of Kanchipuram are breathtaking and the guide dived right in with us into the great indian culture! Thank you so much for this mindblowing and authentic experience!

day excusion Very good informed and friendly guide and very good organisation of lots of sights. Guide spoke very fluent and very good english.

Impressive temple and hand-loom made silk The trip to Kanchipuram was very interesting and well organized. The guide was able to tell you almost everything about the huge ancient temple. The temple itself was very impressive. Inside the temple there is a mango tree which is cloned from a 3,500 yrs old peace of wood found inside the temple. Interestig fact for a scientist like me. The hand-loom was very impressive as well. Thousands and thousands of unique beautiful and colorful silks at a good price available. Take your time to look through the selection.

Temples and silk It was our second tour with Kanaan and we had one again a great time.I loved visiting the temples and getting a lot of information about religion, temples and deities. I really enjoyed our tasty lunch, Indian style. We also had the opportunity to buy saris at a discounted rate in a great shop, where people took their time to show us a lot of materials. We even got to see how saris are made there, which was really impressive considering it is all hand-made!All in all highly recommendable!

Day Trip to silk city This was already our second tour with 5Senses and Kannan and again we loved it. Kannan knows so much, We had a great day. Thank you!

Great time at Kanchipuram It was the perfect day trip with lots of interessting facts about the culture of india and the silk houses. The Guide was very nice and informed. My highlight was a typical lunch, where I enjoyed the food by eating with my hands for the first time.

Superb trip to beautiful places. Our Guide was Narayanan who explained a lot of details about the temples and the manufacturing of silk sarees. He also recommended an original place to eat. For an european eating with your hands can be hard, but it was fun and tasty. The A/C van helped with the weather.Would recommend this tour, we had a great time.

Awesome Motorcycle Ride and Great Cultural Overview My tour guide Vijay was awesome. The motorcycle ride to and from Kanchipuram was wonderful. Got to experience a bit of the Chennai traffic, but was also able to let the bike open up on the highways. He was supportive and patient to follow on the motorcycle.The sites were great to go check out. I learned a lot about the Hindu Culture and also appreciate the art and expertise that goes into the traditional saree silk weaving. The overall day did not feel rushed and I was able to enjoy each site for what it was. The tour was as described and I highly recommend this group.

A day to remember I had just the most wonderful day. Vijay was extremely informative We started with a visit to 2 Hindu temples. Learned so much Beautiful. Then we headed to the silk weavers. Awesome explanation and seeing them in action Last stop organic farm. Rice paddies all around us. The restaurants we stopped for breakfast and lunch veg Indian. Loved both I would strongly recommend this tour. Only downside. It ended too soon. I would not hesitate to take another tour with Vijay. Oh and our driver was the BEST Returned right back we started at the front door of my hotel