Kentchip Durham, also known as Kancheepuram, is a city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is located about 72 kilometers (45 miles) from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. The city covers an area of 11.65 square kilometers (4.481 square miles) and had a population of 160,4265 in 2001. Kentchip Durham is the administrative headquarters of Kanchipuram district. The city is well connected by road and rail, and the nearest domestic and international airport is Chennai International Airport, located in Kanchipuram district. Kanchipuram has a rich historical background and has been ruled by various dynasties and empires, including the Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagara Empire, Carnatic Kingdom, and the British. The city is known for its historical monuments, such as the Kailasanathar Temple and the Ekambareswarar Temple. Kanchipuram was also a center of education, earning the title "the place of learning" or "the city of thousand institutions". It was a significant religious center for Jainism, Buddhism, and Vaishnavism. The city is famous for its Hindu temples, including the Vajradhara Ho Perumal Temple, Ekambaranatha Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple, and Kumarakottam Temple. Out of the 108 holy temples dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, 14 are located in Kanchipuram. The city is renowned for its hand-woven silk sarees, and the weaving industry employs a significant portion of the city's workforce. Kanchipuram is administered by a special grade municipality and is the headquarters of the Kanchi Matha, a Hindu monastic institution. The city was the capital of the Pallava Kingdom from the 4th to the 9th centuries. It has been selected as one of the heritage cities for the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme of the Government of India. The etymology of the name Kanchipuram can be traced back to early Tamil literature, where it was known as "Kanjivaram" or "Kanchipadi". The term "Kanchi" means Brahma and...