Kanchipuram has temples from the Pallava, Chola, Vijaynagar and Nayaka periods, all the way from the 8th c to the 17th c. The town’s stock of residential buildings is quite impressive as well, with colonial and desi deco styled buildings, as well as ‘traditional’ pitched-roof houses.

Colonial and desi deco style houses from around Kanchipuram

Art deco detailing on the grills of a temple structure, at the Ekambareshwar temple

This one is probably from the 1960s-70s

The road leading up to the western gopuram of the Vardaraja temple is lined with a fascinating array of colonial-style (and more traditional) residences, many with large Vaishnavite caste-marks on the buildings themselves. It seems like some of these buildings are being used as shrines.

More modest (some not so modest) dwellings with more traditional elements.

Old and new

The town is dotted with mandapas and small temples and shrines

Shelter of a large temple chariot