Kanchipuram Silk Sarees in India

Kancheepuram, a small town in Tamil Nadu of southern India, is well known all over the world for its production of the famous silk saris, called as Kancheepuram silk. Kanchipuram district is situated on the north-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, adjacent to the Bay of Bengal and Chennai city, bounded in the west by Vellore and Thiruvannamalai district, in the north by Thiruvallur district and Chennai district, in the south by Villupuram district, in the east by Bay of Bengal. Kanchipuram was the historical capital of the Pallavas during the 7th and 9th centuries.

Kancheepuram is famous for hand-woven silk fabrics and saris. The rich Kanchipuram silk sarees date back nearly 400 years when they were woven in the temples. Kancheepuram is also known as silk city. Since there are numerous temples in this small town it has also got the name as temple city, and is one of the seven sacred cities of India.

Kancheepuram (Kanjivaram) silk is most superior among the silk saris, and it is the pride of a South Indian bride to present herself in the bright Kancheepuram silk fabrics at the time of her wedding. These world famous saris are a treasured part of every South Indian bride's trousseau.

Not only for the wedding, Kancheepuram silk sari is considered as a dignified attire among South Indian women, whether young or old, to wear for the various festivals and functions.

The unique feature of Kanjivaram silk saris is its special weaving technique - one that uses three single threads of silk yarn along with zari. This accounts for its durability and lustre.

The Kancheepuram silk sarees are woven from pure mulberry silk which makes the texture enviable, luster and durable. In a Kancheepuram silk sari, the border, body and the pallu are woven separately and then interlocked together. The ethnic beauty and value of a Kancheepuram silk sari is enriched by the gold in the motifs. These motifs are incorporated by dipping the silk threads into liquid gold and silver. These saris are hand woven using the highest quality silk and pure gold thread.

Today designer silk sarees with embroidery or even embellished with cystals are also available.

Kancheepuram saris are always considered the ceremonial wear at religious rituals and weddings.

The glamour of the Kancheevaram silk saree lies in its colour contrasts. Pyramidical temple borders, checks, stripes and floral "buttas". Some of the combination are orange and pink, peach and green,blue and maroon, blue and copper pink, coffee brown and violet, parrot green and red, dark green and red,maroon and violet, purple and pink, black traditional pure silk Kanchipuram saree with orange contrast border, grey and blue etc.

These sarees breathtakingly gorgeous in its intricate zari woven design.There are several designs in this elegant fabric such as temple, elephant, kings, queens, flowers, peacocks etc. Since these are hand woven saris spending many days in the making, they are costlier too. For many people in Kanchipuram, weaving this type of sari is their profession from generations.

Shoppers from all parts of India come to Kancheepuram to buy these silk sarees directly from the weavers and spend hours and days together in making their selection of various designs.

You can find Kancheepuram silk saris in various bright colors with contrast border and gold zari dots and patterns,