Kapaleeshwarar Temple

Had the pleasure of visiting on Diwali, we received an insightful tour around the temple grounds outlining Hindu customs, beliefs and temple practices. This is a prominent Shiva temple and is decorated in hand carved wooden statues which ate repainted every 5 years. You can't help to reflect on blessings of the temple and the focus on the themes of masculine and feminine harmonies (which is explained in more detail during the tour). Please note non hindus can only walk the grounds and cannot enter the shrine The temple is also an active kitchen for the homeless and lower castes. When you arrive there is a shoe storage stand by the main door for a price of 100rpi. Guides will be lingering near the shoe storage stand and around the temple grounds. Highly recommend bringing enough cash to donate to the temple, people attending the kitchen and the guide. Please agree a price with the guide first to avoid being overcharged but there is a cash machine near by if you're running low.

The circular framing in the image reveals the traditional mandapam architecture, a pillared hall where devotees gather for worship, festivals, and rituals. The Kapaleeshwarar Temple reflects classic Dravidian architecture and is a masterpiece of Tamil temple heritage, originally built during the 7th century by the Pallavas and later expanded by the Vijayanagara kings. The temple complex honors Lord Shiva as Kapaleeshwarar and Goddess Parvati as Karpagambal, embodying grace, fertility, and divine power. Steeped in devotional history, this temple is not only a place of worship—but a timeless cultural landmark that has preserved Chennai’s spiritual identity for over 1,300 years. the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, Chennai, one of the most revered temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in South India. The towering rajagopuram (eastern gateway tower) dominates the frame, adorned with hundreds of finely sculpted deities, sages, celestial beings, and mythological figures that narrate stories from ancient Shaivite tradition. Rising beside it is the Dwajasthambam (holy flag mast)covered in gold plating and aligned directly with the sanctum symbolizing a sacred axis that connects the physical temple to the divine cosmos.

It is one of the oldest and powerful Shiva temples, which is located in the middle of Chennai. One of the best landmarks of Hinduism in Chennai. Even though it is in mid of Chennai, inside the temple premises, you feel such a divine and spiritual attainment. Both Shiva and Ambal Sannithi give pleasant and divine feelings. You will feel more relaxed after getting dharshan from Shiva and Ambaal. Mostly in the evening, cultural programmes which reflect our traditional and together chanting of the Shiva Puranam give a higher elevation of our spiritual level.

Located in Mylapore, this ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and showcases stunning Dravidian architecture with its colorful tower. It’s believed to date back to the 7th century. The atmosphere of the main temple is very divine and peaceful, filled with the devotional chants, and the fragrance of incense, creating a truly spiritual experience for every visitor.

I happened to see this temple in my one day official trip to Chennai. The temple give ancient pur spiritual vibes and though there was a heavy floating of devotees, there's no rush or queues. It's culturally vibrant and spirituality glorious. The best part is that the inner sanctums of each divine form, Kapaleswaraswami, Ammavaru, Lord Ganesa and Subramanya swami were lit only with oil lamps which gave a totally different feeling as if we time travelled to lovely ancient period at its zenith. The streets near the temple were filled with clay dolls attracting buyers. Inspired by them I set up a Dasara Bommala Koluvu at home.

Visited Kapaleeswarar Temple recently, and it was truly a beautiful experience. The gopuram is stunning with its intricate carvings – you can spend quite some time just admiring the details. Inside, the temple has a very peaceful atmosphere despite being busy most of the time. the chants and lamps made it feel even more spiritual. The area around the temple is also lively with small shops and traditional food stalls, which adds to the charm. Parking can be a bit tricky, and the crowd is usually heavy, but that’s expected at such a famous temple. If you’re in Chennai, this is definitely a must-visit, both for the architecture and the divine experience.

"Visited and it was truly a serene experience! The architecture is stunning, and the atmosphere is so peaceful. The priests were welcoming, and the rituals were performed with devotion. I felt a deep sense of spirituality and connection. Highly recommend for those seeking solace and tranquility. A must-visit!"

This temple is a true example of South Indian architecture. Built around the 7th century, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Whenever I visit chennai i make sure to go to this temple the aura the architecture the sculpture and the serenity of this hindu temple attracts me so much. Like Gorakhpur temple of UP here also I saw lots of idols of sadhus . Photography of idols is prohibited. This time i visited the temple early morning around 5 am still I could see good number of devotees there. If visiting Chennai must go to kapaleshwar temple for darshan.