About Kamakshi Amman Temple
One of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas — where Sati's spine is said to have fallen — and the principal Sri Vidya centre of South India, situated in the temple-city of Kanchipuram 75 km from Chennai. The 6th-century Pallava-era sanctum is famous for the Bilahasa pradakshina that Adi Shankaracharya performed when he installed the Sri Chakra here.
History
Kamakshi (literally 'one whose eyes awaken desire / love') is the supreme form of the Devi at Kanchipuram, worshipped here in a seated padmasana posture — uniquely, as no other major Devi shrine in the city has its own goddess (a tradition tied to the Kamakshi mythology of subsuming all local Devis). The current sanctum dates from the early Pallava period (6th–7th century CE) with later Chola and Vijayanagara additions, including the 60-pillar gold-plated mandapa. Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century is said to have calmed the goddess's fierce form by installing a Sri Chakra in front of the idol — the chakra is consecrated daily and is the central focus of the morning puja. The Sankara Matha adjoining the temple is one of the four cardinal mathas Shankara established (along with Sringeri, Dwarka and Puri). Kamakshi is the second peetha in the Ashtadasa Shakti Peetha Stotram — 'Kamakshi Kanchikapure'.
Best Time to Visit
October to March
Entry fees in your currency
- Special darshan / quick queue₹150$…
- Kumkumarchana₹250$…
- Sahasranama Archana₹500$…
Live INR rates, refreshed hourly. Confirm at the gate counter — entry fees may have changed since this page was updated.
Entry Fee · Tickets
How much does it cost to visit Kamakshi Amman Temple?
Free general darshan. Special pujas paid separately.
- Special darshan / quick queueSkip the general line on weekends and festival days₹150
- KumkumarchanaSankalpa with 108-name archana, conducted by appointment₹250
- Sahasranama Archana1,008-name archana — 30-minute personal ritual₹500
- Open 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Friday is the goddess's day — special evening processions
- Modest dress required; men remove shirts in the inner mandapa for darshan, traditional dress for women
Plan your visit
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Travel Tips
- Combine Kanchipuram's big three: Kamakshi (Shakti), Ekambareswarar (Shiva, the Prithvi-linga of the Pancha Bhuta) and Varadaraja Perumal (Vishnu) — together a complete trinity yatra in one day
- Kanchipuram is also India's silk-weaving capital — the lanes around the temple sell directly from looms; bargain hard
- From Chennai: 75 km / 2-hour drive; from Tirupati: 110 km / 2.5 hours
- Avoid Friday afternoons — the Kumkumarchana ritual draws a 1–2 hour queue
- Cameras and phones are not permitted in the inner sanctum; lockers near the entrance
Temples & Heritage Sites
- Ekambareswarar Temple — Shiva as Prithvi-linga, 1.5 km
- Varadaraja Perumal Temple — Vishnu / Hastagiri, 4 km
- Kailasanathar Temple — 8th-century Pallava sandstone shrine, 2 km
- Sankara Matha — Adi Shankara's Kanchi peetham, adjacent
How to Reach Kamakshi Amman Temple
Kamakshi Amman Temple is located in Tamil Nadu, India at coordinates 12.8417°N, 79.7037°E. You can reach Kamakshi Amman Temple by air (nearest airport in Tamil Nadu), train, or road. Use YatraJunction's free fare calculator to compare live train, bus and flight prices, and to build an AI-powered itinerary tailored to your budget and travel dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best time to visit Kamakshi Amman Temple?
- The best time to visit Kamakshi Amman Temple is October to March.
- What are the top travel tips for Kamakshi Amman Temple?
- Combine Kanchipuram's big three: Kamakshi (Shakti), Ekambareswarar (Shiva, the Prithvi-linga of the Pancha Bhuta) and Varadaraja Perumal (Vishnu) — together a complete trinity yatra in one day. Kanchipuram is also India's silk-weaving capital — the lanes around the temple sell directly from looms; bargain hard. From Chennai: 75 km / 2-hour drive; from Tirupati: 110 km / 2.5 hours. Avoid Friday afternoons — the Kumkumarchana ritual draws a 1–2 hour queue. Cameras and phones are not permitted in the inner sanctum; lockers near the entrance.
