The Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Vishnu Kanchi
The Varadharaja Perumal Temple lies in the part of town known as Vishnu Kanchi or Little Kancheepuram, away from the goddess temple in the centre. The state temple administration (HR&CE) lists it as the Arulmigu Devarajaswamy Temple, and the site is also called Hastagiri. It is a Vishnu temple, which sets it apart from the Shiva temples of the town. A religious guide places it about 4 km from the bus station, an orientation figure and not a measured walking distance.
Kanchipuram, also written Kancheepuram or simply Kanchi, has several big temples, and this one fits well into a day with the Kamakshi Amman Temple and the Kailasanathar Temple. The Kanchipuram temples page shows how the group fits together and which hours apply.
A full day with Varadharaja Perumal
This full-day trip lists the Varadharaja Perumal temple with two other Kanchipuram temples and includes the temple entrance tickets.
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Kanchipuram temple tours
Guided days from Chennai and Mahabalipuram that include temples in Kanchipuram, plus a longer route through Tamil Nadu. Check each offer for entrance fees, guides and meals.
Darshan times from the temple administration
The temple administration gives darshan from 07:30 to 12:30 and from 15:30 to 20:00 on its page, which was read on 20 October 2026. Outside these two blocks you should not count on darshan, so the middle of the day is for lunch and rest. The page also warns that hours can differ during festivals and utsavams, which is the main reason to check on arrival.
Next to the darshan hours, the administration lists a paid kattana seva from 11:00 to 12:00 and from 15:30 to 17:00. The page gives no price and no general visitor entitlement for it, so do not plan around it. One sensible pattern is to arrive for the morning block, spend the first hour in the courtyards and keep the afternoon block for a slower round.
What to expect inside
The complex includes a hall described as the hundred pillar hall and a temple pond that belongs to the Athi Varadar tradition. Whether the hall or the pond can be entered on the day of your visit is for the staff to say, so treat them as parts of the building and not as a guaranteed route. Do not bathe in temple ponds.
Athi Varadar: the figure that appears every 40 years
Athi Varadar is a wooden figure of fig wood that is kept in the temple pond and brought out only rarely. According to the tourism portal of the Indian government, the event takes place once in forty years, and the last one was in 2019. That means you cannot plan a darshan of the figure for 2026, and a visit today will not include it. If a guide or website claims otherwise, ask at the temple.
The tradition still explains much of the temple's reputation, and the pond is the place where it is rooted. It is a good reason to read the history page before you go, because the cycle makes more sense with the background of the town.
Festivals at the Varadharaja Perumal Temple
For this temple one 2026 date is on record: the Kamakoti Peetham documents the darshan of the processional figure on the Garuda vahanam on 30 May 2026, called the third day of the Brahmotsavam. On festival days the standard hours may not apply. This date should not be used to count back to a start of the festival, because no full programme is on record.
If you want to be in town for a festival, plan your day around the crowds: come early, keep your bag light and expect slower movement in the courtyards. The best time to visit page collects the 2026 dates for several temples and explains the weather around them.
Practical advice for your visit
Take your shoes off before the entrance, wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees and speak quietly. A shoe counter does not exist everywhere, so bring a small bag. These are general orientations for Tamil Nadu temples, not a written dress code for this temple. Do not photograph the deity without permission and follow the signs. Ask at the entrance about charges, special darshan and access to inner areas instead of relying on hearsay.
Most visitors reach the temple on a guided day from Chennai or with a hired car. If you plan the trip yourself, the getting there page explains the routes from Chennai, and the day trip page compares the guided options.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple: frequently asked questions
What are the darshan times of the Varadharaja Perumal Temple?
The temple administration gives 07:30 to 12:30 and 15:30 to 20:00, as noted on 20 October 2026. Hours may differ during festivals.
Can I see Athi Varadar in 2026?
No. The Athi Varadar event takes place once in forty years and the last one was in 2019, so there is nothing to book for 2026.
Is the Varadharaja Perumal Temple the same as the Devarajaswamy Temple?
Yes. The temple administration lists it as the Arulmigu Devarajaswamy Temple, with Varadharaja Perumal as the deity.
When was the Garuda Sevai in 2026?
The Kamakoti Peetham documents the darshan of the processional figure on Garuda on 30 May 2026, the third day of the Brahmotsavam.
How far is the temple from the Kamakshi Amman Temple?
The two lie in different parts of town. A religious guide gives about 4 km from the bus station for this temple, so allow time for a rickshaw or car between the stops.