Kailasanathar Temple

Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram is the oldest surviving temple in Tamil Nadu, built by Pallava king Rajasimha around 700 CE — a masterpiece of early Dravidian architecture that directly influenced all subsequent South Indian temple design. Its outer wall of 58 small shrines, intricate sandstone carvings of Shiva, and well-preserved paintings are extraordinary. An ASI-protected UNESCO tentative site and a top Kanchipuram heritage attraction for architecture and history enthusiasts.