Top 20 Kanjivaram Silk Saree Shops: Where to Buy Authentic Handloom in 2026
By Handloom Expert Team | Last Updated: May 2026 | Reading Time: 12 min
Kanjivaram silk is not just a saree, it is a 400-year-old legacy woven in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. A genuine Kanjivaram uses 3-ply mulberry silk, pure zari with silver thread dipped in gold, and the unique korvai border-joining technique. With fakes flooding the market, buying from a trusted, Silk Mark certified shop matters.
We visited, verified, and ranked the 20 most authentic Kanjivaram silk saree shops across Kanchipuram and Chennai based on authenticity, weaving heritage, customer reviews, Silk Mark certification, and price transparency.
Table of Contents
- 1. Nalli Silks – T. Nagar, Chennai & Kanchipuram
- 2. Prakash Silks & Sarees – Gandhi Road, Kanchipuram
- 3. Pothys – Chromepet & T. Nagar
- 4. Kumaran Silks – T. Nagar, Chennai
- 5. RMKV Silks – T. Nagar & Kanchipuram
- 6. A.S. Babu Sah – Kanchipuram
- 7. Varamahalakshmi Silks – Kanchipuram & Bangalore
- 8. The Chennai Silks – Chennai
- 9. Sundari Silks – Chennai
- 10. Tulsi Silks – Mylapore, Chennai
- 11. Kanchipuram Varamahalakshmi Silks
- 12. Shreenivas Silks – T. Nagar
- 13. Kanakavalli – Adyar, Chennai
- 14. Palam Silks – T. Nagar
- 15. Deepam Silks – Kanchipuram
- 16. Sri Kumaran Stores – Kanchipuram
- 17. Pashudh – Arani Road, Kanchipuram
- 18. Kanchi Sri Varshini Silk House – Kanchipuram
- 19. Sarangi – Mylapore, Chennai
- 20. Kalanikethan – T. Nagar
1. Nalli Silks – The Gold Standard Since 1928
Silk Mark Certified • 95+ Years Heritage
Why Buy Here: Nalli is synonymous with Kanjivaram. Started by Nalli Chinnasamy Chetty, this is where Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation saree came from. Their T. Nagar store feels like a museum with over 10,000 designs. Pure mulberry silk, tested zari, government Silk Mark.
Price Range: ₹8,500 – ₹2,50,000 | Best For: Bridal, Heirloom
Address: 40, Sir Thyagaraya Road, T. Nagar, Chennai – 600017
Tip: Ask for the Korvai Kanjivaram collection – interlocked border, no joint.
2. Prakash Silks & Sarees – Weavers Direct in Kanchipuram
Factory Outlet • Weavers Cooperative • 4.6★
Why Buy Here: Located on Gandhi Road, the heart of Kanchipuram weaving cluster. Family-owned for 3 generations, they own looms. You can see weaving live. Heavy silk that can be hand-washed, bold temple motifs.
Price Range: ₹6,000 – ₹1,80,000 | Best For: Authentic loom-direct purchase
Address: 87 Gandhi Road, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502
3. Pothys – The Trendsetter
Samudrika Pattu Inventors
Why Buy Here: Pothys redefined Kanjivaram with Samudrika Pattu – lightweight yet rich. Huge bridal section, own dyeing unit, transparent billing with silk weight mentioned.
Price Range: ₹7,000 – ₹2,00,000 | Address: 10, Usman Road, T. Nagar, Chennai
4. Kumaran Silks – Chennai’s Traditional Favorite
Why Buy Here: Kumaran Silks is loved for classic Kanchipuram temple border designs. Excellent blouse stitching, return policy, and Silk Mark tag with Hologram.
Address: 12, Nageswara Rao Road, T. Nagar, Chennai
5. RMKV Silks – The Bridal Specialist
RMKV’s Lino Light & Wedding Collections use pure zari. Known for patent weaves – 50,000 colour combinations. Flagship in T. Nagar.
Address: 40, Usman Road, T. Nagar, Chennai – 600017
6. A.S. Babu Sah – Kanchipuram Heritage Weavers
Since 1880. Real weavers shop. No middleman. If you want a saree woven in front of you with your chosen motif (peacock, yali, rudraksha), this is the place. GI Tagged Kanchipuram Silk.
Address: 45, Gandhi Road, Kanchipuram
7. Varamahalakshmi Silks – Karnataka to Kanchi Queen
Started in Bangalore, now Kanchipuram hub for grand bridal Kanjivarams. Known for double warp and big borders.
Address: 8, Gandhi Road, Kanchipuram & Uttarahalli, Bangalore
8. The Chennai Silks
Massive collection from ₹5,000 onwards. Good for family wedding bulk buying. All sarees with Silk Mark card and zari certificate.
Address: 18, Venkatanarayana Road, T. Nagar, Chennai
9. Sundari Silks – Designer Kanjivaram Edit
Curated designer Kanjivarams for modern women. Lighter weight, pastel shades, contemporary pallus.
Address: 16, C.P. Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet, Chennai
10. Tulsi Silks – Mylapore Boutique Experience
Boutique store, personal attention. Tulsi is famous for revival weaves – old temple designs recreated from museum archives.
Address: 42, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai
11. Kanchipuram Varamahalakshmi Silks (KVMS)
Not to be confused with Varamahalakshmi – this is Kanchi’s own cooperative store selling at weaver price.
Address: Kamaraj Road, Kanchipuram
12. Shreenivas Silks – Since 1905
Over 120 years old. Authentic light-weight Kanchipurams and silk cotton. Moderate pricing.
Address: 153, Gopathy Narayana Road, T. Nagar, Chennai
13. Kanakavalli – For Connoisseurs
Design-led, museum-quality Kanjivarams. Every saree comes with a story card – weaver name, village, motif meaning.
Address: 17, Gandhi Mandapam Road, Adyar, Chennai
14. Palam Silks – Kanchi Weavers Hub
Own looms in Kanchipuram, retail in Chennai. Good for custom blouse colour and custom length pallu.
Address: 2, First Floor, North Usman Road, T. Nagar
15. Deepam Silks – Kanchipuram Market Leader
Huge stock, competitive price, famous for wedding muhurtham sarees with matching dhoti sets.
Address: 29, Gandhi Road, Kanchipuram
16. Sri Kumaran Stores – Kanchipuram Main Bazaar
Family-run, sells directly from 40+ attached weavers. Good for wholesale.
Address: 17, Gandhi Road, Kanchipuram
17. Pashudh – Designer Flagship
Run by K.V. Kumar, merging traditional weaving with modern aesthetics. Instagram famous.
Address: 487, Sathyamurthy Road, Kanchipuram
18. Kanchipuram Sri Varshini Silk House
Manufacturer price, WhatsApp ordering, worldwide shipping. Good for NRI buyers.
Address: Vaithiyar Street, Near Ekambaranathar Temple, Kanchipuram
19. Sarangi – Handloom Collective
Not just Kanjivaram – curated handloom from across India but Kanchi collection is authentic, sourced from weaver clusters.
Address: 7/15, C.P. Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet, Chennai
20. Kalanikethan – T. Nagar Institution
Affordable bridal range, excellent for budget weddings without compromising on Silk Mark.
Address: 28, Prakasam Road, T. Nagar, Chennai
How to Check Genuine Kanjivaram (Don’t Get Fooled)
- Silk Mark Hologram: Every genuine saree has Silk Mark of India tag with hologram number verifiable at silkmarkindia.org
- Burn Test: Pure silk smells like burnt hair and leaves crumbly ash. Polyester melts.
- Korvai Technique: Border and body interlocked – you cannot pull them apart. Fakes have stitched joint.
- Weight: Real Kanjivaram is heavy – 800g to 1.2kg for bridal.
- Zari Test: Pure zari – scratch it, silver shows. Tested zari turns reddish.
Final Word
For first-time buyers, start with Nalli, Prakash Silks, or Pothys – they give invoice with silk weight, zari type, and Silk Mark number. If you are in Kanchipuram, always go to Gandhi Road cluster (Shops 2, 6, 15, 16) where you can see looms. Chennai’s T. Nagar is best for variety in one street.