A Closer Look at the Old Temples of Chennai

Dating back to the 7th-century CE, Kapaleeswarar Temple is situated in the Mylapore region of Chennai. It is an excellent example of an amalgamation of Dravidian and Vijayanagari architecture and is a prominent landmark in town. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Originally built by the Pandavas, Kapaleeswarar Temple was later rebuilt during the 16th-century by the Vijayanagar kings.

Kapaleeswarar Temple hosts one of the most renowned festivals every year - Brahmotsavam, in the Tamil month of Panguni. It is a nine-day long festival, which starts with Dwajarohanam - a flag hoisting ceremony, followed by Therotsavam - a chariot procession of the deities, and concluded with Thirukalyanam - the marriage ceremony between Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal.

One of the old temples in Chennai, Parthasarathy Temple was built in the 6th century. The temple is situated in the heart of the city and is dedicated to different avatars of Lord Vishnu. Classified as one of the 108 holy shrines, Parthasarathy Temple attracts thousands of Vaishnavite followers and visitors every year. This temple consists of five different avatars of Lord Vishnu - Rama, Narsimha, Krishna, Gajendra Varadaraja and Ranganatha. Parthasarathy Temple houses several additional shrines too, which are encircled by a stunning 8th-century Dravidian architecture.
 

Located in Thiruvanmiyur along the shores of the Bay of Bengal, Marundeeswarar Temple is among the most magnificent temples in Chennai. It was built during the 7th and 8th centuries by the Nayanars, also known as Saivite Saints. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, where the lord is worshipped as Marundeeswarar or Aushadeeswarar, the god of medicines. It is a renowned place of worship, especially for visitors who are facing health issues. The ‘prasadam’ served at the temple is a mixture of sacred ash, milk and water, and is believed to have healing powers. Many tourists visit this temple to witness the miraculous power it is believed to possess.
 

Thanjavur, both a commercial and residential hub in Chennai, houses the splendid Bangaru Kamakshi Amman Temple. Bangaru translates to ‘gold’ which refers to the golden body of the deity - Goddess Kamakshi. When the idol was moved from Kanchipuram to Thanjavur to hide it from thieves, the face of the deity was smeared with a black substance known as ‘punugu’. To this day, the tradition continues and has become an important part of the temple’s legacy. Every year, thousands of devotees of Goddess Kamakshi visit Bangaru Kamakshi Amman Temple - one of the Chennai best temples.

On your next visit to this beautiful city, stay at our 4-star hotel in Chennai - Raj Park. Offering upscale accommodations, resplendent dining facilities and premium services, we aim at providing the best there is! For our guests’ convenience, we are located in close vicinity to a majority of tourist attractions in town, including some of the most renowned temples in Chennai.