Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Also known as Thiru Katchi or Athigiri Koil, this Kanchipuram temple is dedicated to Vishnu as Varadaraja Perumal, with his consort Perundevi Thayar. The Cholas and the Vijayanagar rulers enlarged and decorated it, and more than 350 inscriptions from several dynasties survive here. Its features include the eastern gopuram, a Kalyana Mandapam and a hall of 100 carved pillars.

The temple keeps the Athi Varadar, an image of Varadaraja carved from fig wood, which is kept submerged in the temple tank and raised for public worship only once in 40 years. The ten-day Vaikasi Brahmotsavam is its main festival; Navarathri in Purattasi and Vaikunda Ekadasi are also observed.