Colorful Kapaleeswarar towers seen beyond the dry tank, with steps and palm trees.

Kapaleeswarar Temple

The entrance tower covered in sculptures announces the temple of Shiva and Karpagambal in Mylapore; the tank and nearby streets complete the visit.

  • Religion and Art
  • Suggested time:1 to 1.5 hours
  • Area:Mylapore

About Kapaleeswarar Temple

It is hard to pick one figure on the Kapaleeswarar tower: the colorful sculptures demand another look every time you think you are done. Dedicated to Shiva and the goddess Karpagambal, the temple anchors a walk through Mylapore, with its tank and the activity around it.

Start with the exterior and follow the rhythm of the worshippers in the permitted areas. Not every enclosure is open to everyone, and photography calls for attention to the rules. Leave time for the nearby streets; the neighborhood carries on beyond the gate, even if the heat suggests a break.

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Image credit

  • From the other side of the tank, the Kapaleeswarar towers organize the Mylapore landscape.Photo: G V Balasubramanian · CC BY-SA 2.0 · original

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