Seventy six kilometers from Tamil Nadu thrives a town, abounding in natural beauty, and famous for many things you’ll not find en masse. Famous for its one thousand temples, idlis spiked with ginger, and silk sarees, the last one deriving their name from their place of origin, the town of Kanchipuram displays the energy of Southern India fused with classic European appeal.Also known as the ‘Silk City’, Kanchipuram, with its silk sarees, relate the story of the various empires that ruled on the region, through its various stages of development. Right from a flourishing Pallava dynasty, with their simple and elegant styles, to the Chola, Vijaynagar, and Chaulakya dynasties which reigned on the region, the sarees display influences from each realm. A must-have-must-wear for each newlywed bride, Kanchipuram sarees are a legacy from the 5,000 silk weaving families, who have been in the business for over 400 years, offering a wide collection of intricately crafted saris.
The history of handlooms also weaves together folklore and religious influences. It is believed that Lord Vishnu would always be seen wearing clothes in silk, and hence, several silk looms can be found around Vishnu temples. The rich hand-woven silk fabric was initially created to dress up all the deities that would reside in the city’s temples, and for the ruling class, which we can now own and wear.
Today, the legend of the luxurious Kanchipuram saree lives on, differentiated by its wide, contrasting borders, pure zari embroidery, and diverse cultural motifs of deer, horses, elephants, parrots, peacocks, swans and other birds in stylized construction.
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