Thirukkachi - Atthigiri
Thirukkachi - Atthigiri is a Hindu temple where the presiding deities are Perundevi Thayar and Varadharaja Perumal, located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. It is temple #43 in the traditional order of the 108 Divya Desams — the 108 Vishnu shrines praised in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham of the Alvar saints.
Kanchipuram's great Varadaraja Perumal temple, seat of the Vadakalai tradition, is famed for its exquisite hundred-pillared hall and the golden lizard panel pilgrims touch for blessings. Every forty years its reclining Athi Varadar idol is raised from the temple tank for public darshan, drawing millions.
About Thirukkachi - Atthigiri
Varadharaja Perumal Temple, also called Hastagiri, Attiyuran, Attigiri, Perarulalan Perumal temple, Kanchi koil, Thirukatchi, or Perumal koil is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in the city of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu believed to have been visited by the 12 poet saints, or the Alvars. It is located in a suburb of Kanchipuram known as the Vishnu Kanchi that is a home for many famous Vishnu temples. One of the greatest Hindu scholars of Vaishnava Vishishtadvaita philosophy, Ramanuja, is believed to have resided in this temple.
Legend
According to Hindu legend, Saraswati cursed the king of celestial deities, Indra, to become an elephant and roam around the place. He was relieved of the curse with the divine power of Vishnu, who appeared as the mount, Hastagiri. Hastagiri indicates a mount/hill in the form of elephant. Indra, the king of the devas, is believed to have installed the silver and golden lizards in the temple, who were the witness of the ordeal, after being released from the curse of the goddess Saraswati.
Vishnu emerged with brilliance of thousand Suns as Varadharajaswamy inside the athi tree, and stayed here permanently until he was submerged in nearby tank since the deity came from yagna done by Brahma (Historically speaking, his placement may have been due to fear of invasion by the Delhi Sultanate). As is the case with the association of South Indian temples with a sacred tree, a name of the temple, Attigiri, is derived from the atti tree (fig), considered sacred to Vaishnavas as well as other Hindus. There is the replacement stone deity found inside the temple, next to the Narasimha shrine.
History
The temple has around 350 inscriptions from various dynasties like Chola, Pandya, Kandavarayas, Cheras, Kakatiya, Sambuvaraya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara indicating various donations to the temple and also the political situation of Kanchipuram. Varadharaja Perumal Temple was renovated by the Cholas in 1053 and it was expanded during the reigns of the great Chola kings Kulottunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola. In the 14th century another wall and a gopura was built by the later Chola kings. When a Mughul invasion was expected in 1688, the main image of the deity was sent to Udayarpalayam, now part of Tiruchirappalli district.
The old inscriptions and records of the temple states that several leaders like Vyasatirtha and Satya-Vijaya Tirtha from the Dvaita school of Vedanta had evinced interest in this temple. An epigraph of the temple datable to 1511 CE records that the Dvaita saint and Kulaguru of Krishnadevaraya, Vyasatirtha presented a village and serpant vehicle to Varadharaja Temple and instituted a festival in honour of Vijayanagara king Krishnadevaraya. Another record dated 1726 CE mentions that another Dvaita saint and Peetadhipathi of Uttaradi Matha by the name Satyavijaya Tirtha was honoured in the temple with some privileges.
Architecture and layout
The temple is present in Chinna Kanchipuram, a locality in the Eastern side of Kanchipuram, a South Indian town in the state of Tamil Nadu. The temple covers an area of 9.5-hectare (23.5-acre), showcasing the architectural skills of ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis in temple architecture, and is famous for its holiness and ancient history. It is the biggest temple in Kanchi, with most perumals, largest area, and largest gopuram. The temple has three outer precincts (prakarams), namely, Alvar Prakaram, Madai Palli Prakaram and Thiru Malai Prakaram.
The main sanctum faces west and can be entered through a 40 metres (130 ft)-tall, 7-tiered rajagopuram (main gateway tower). The image of the presiding deity is designed in such a way that on the 15th day after Chitra Purnima, the rays of the Sun fall on the idol. The hill, called Hastagiri, is 360 metres (1,180 ft) long by 240 metres (790 ft). The eastern gopuram is taller than the western gopuram, which is contrasting to large temples where the rajagopuram is the tallest one. One of the most famous architectural pieces in the temple is the huge stone chain sculpted in a single stone.
Background adapted from Wikipedia, “Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Edited for length; verify details locally.
Plan your visit
How to reach
Thirukkachi - Atthigiri is roughly 66 km from Chennai, about 1.5 h by road. The nearest airport is Chennai (MAA), about 52 km away. Most visitors base themselves in Chennai, which has the rail links and hotels, and make this a day trip. Open directions in Google Maps →
Timings: like most Tamil Nadu temples, expect an early-morning opening around 6 am, a midday closure from roughly noon to 4 pm, and evening darshan until about 8–9 pm. Festival days change everything, so confirm locally.
Today at a glance
Chennai time (IST), from our own panchangam. Nalla Neram is the good window; avoid Rahu Kalam and Yamagandam for starting a journey or a ritual.
Festival days to plan around
- Navaratri — September–October
- Aadi Fridays and Aadi Pooram — July–August
- Thai Fridays — January–February
- Panguni Uthiram — March–April
Exact dates move with the lunar calendar every year; the festival calendar lists them to 2031, and the daily panchangam shows the tithi and nakshatra for any date.
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Quick facts
| Deity | Perundevi Thayar and Varadharaja Perumal |
| Town | Kanchipuram |
| District | Kanchipuram district |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Sacred lists | 108 Divya Desams |
| Divya Desam # | 43 |
Visiting
Most temples in Tamil Nadu open early morning and again in the evening, closing through the midday hours — plan darshan before noon or after 4pm and confirm timings locally, since festival days change everything. Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), leave footwear at the stands provided, and note that some sanctums admit Hindus only while towers and outer courtyards welcome everyone. Photography rules vary; ask before shooting inside.
Timing a visit? Check today’s panchangam for auspicious windows and festival days, and use our free itinerary builder to slot temples, food and rest into your day.
Temples near Kanchipuram
More Divya Desam temples
Frequently asked
How far is Thirukkachi - Atthigiri from Chennai?
About 66 km, or about 1.5 h by road. The nearest airport is Chennai (MAA), roughly 52 km from the temple.
What are the timings at Thirukkachi - Atthigiri?
Most Tamil Nadu temples open around 6 am, close from about noon to 4 pm, and reopen until 8–9 pm. Festival days follow a different schedule, so confirm locally before you travel.
What should I wear?
Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered. Footwear is left outside at the stands provided. Some inner sanctums admit Hindus only, while towers and outer courtyards welcome everyone.
When is the best time to visit Thirukkachi - Atthigiri?
The temple is busiest and most atmospheric on its festival days: Navaratri, Aadi Fridays and Aadi Pooram, Thai Fridays. For a quiet darshan, come on a weekday morning outside festival season. Check the daily panchangam for Rahu Kalam before setting out.