Photographs, courtesy of various Indian newspapers and magazines. Quality compromised. 

This is the Queen's third visit to India. The first one was in 1961, a casual visit to Britain's former colony, and the second in 1983, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Kanchipuram had briefly been in the agenda for one of her earlier visits. But, the visit never materialized. 

Her Majesty's third visit to India in commemoration of India and Pakistan's 50th year of Independence from the British Empire included a series of trips to religious spots, including the Golden Temple in Amritsar and Kanchipuram. 

The Ekambaranathar Temple is the only location that found its place in the Queen's short itinerary in Tamilnadu, which included : 

Cultural Programs performed by Kalakshethra, Chennai. 

Shooting of Actor Kamalahasan's Marudhanayakam - ironically, a movie that glorifies a chieftain who fought against the early British empire. 

Ekambaranathar Temple in Kanchipuram, especially to see the 3500 year old sacred mango tree, the temple's rich sculptures, and the weaving of Silk sarees. 

The Rajiv Gandhi memorial in Sriperumbuthur, at the spot where the Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991, 40 kilometres from Kanchipuram. 

The visit to Kanchipuram was confined to the premises of the Ekambaranathar Temple for various reasons.  Most important of all the attractions was the Sacred Mango tree of the temple. The four branches of the tree bear mangoes of four different types. The four branches, apparently signify the Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharvana Vedas. 

Since the Queen would stay inside the temple, the rest of Kanchipuram's attractions were brought inside the temple, as well. The Silk Weavers set up a handloom inside the temple, and demonstrated the weaving of the world famous Kanchipuram silk sarees, one of the world's finest arts.The silk exhibits were set up by Co-op Tex - Tamilnadu government's handloom corporation, the Central Silk Board, Srinivasa silks, and Sri Swami silks. 

Ganapathi Stapathi, one of the few contemporary experts on ancient Temple architecture and sculpture had an exhibit of his sculptures. 

Finally, as almost all ladies who visit Kanchipuram usually do, Her Majesty, too left the city with a couple of silk sarees. The silk sarees were presented to her by Swami silks and Srinivasa silks.