The Rajasimhesvara temple, now known as the Kailasanathar Temple is the oldest surviving temple in the city of Kanchipuram. Constructed in the early 8th century AD by the renowned Pallava king Rajasimha, after whom it was originally named, the temple is celebrated for its architectural elegance and rich sculptures. It served as the main source of inspiration for the Chalukyan temple of Virupaksha at Pattadakkal and the celebrated Kailasa temple of Ellora. Unlike many other temples in the Tamil region, it has largely remained unaltered over time, preserving early sculptures, inscriptions in ancient scripts, and original architectural forms. Set against a typical South Indian scenery of green paddy fields and coconut groves, the Rajasimhesvara Temple is the loveliest of all the temples in the ancient city of Kanchi.