Kanchipuram, a district headquarter and a busy modern Indian city, has a history dating back to the 3rd century. From the 3rd to 17th centuries CE Kanchipuram was the seat of power for the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagara Empires, flourishing as a centre of commerce and learning. With each dynasty adding to its glorious architectural heritage through temples, Kanchipuram became an important place of pilgrimage as well. Even today, Kanchipuram is known as the city of a thousand temples, and continues to be one of the seven most important pilgrim centres of Hinduism. The city also has more than 45,000 expert weavers belonging to Devangas and the Pattu Saliyar community. These weaving communities were reputed for their weaving skills and are known to have migrated in masses from Andhra Pradesh to Kanchipuram in the 15th century, lending to Kanchipuram’s rise to eminence as a centre for trade. The temples of Kanchipuram are living centres for worship and pilgrimage, clocking in thousands of pilgrim visits every day throughout the year.