chennai mount road tourist places

Mount Road Dargah - Tamilnadu

Mount Road Dargah also known as Mount Road Mosque or Mount Road Shrine, is a famous Islamic religious site in Chennai. It is located on the Mount Road, also called as Anna Salai, one of the main and arterial roads of the city. It is dedicated to Dargah-e-Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi - a revered Sufi saint who lived in the 18th century. He is known for his spiritual teachings and efforts to promote peace and harmony among people of different faiths. The Dargah is a place of worship and pilgrimage for followers of the Sufi sect, a mystical branch of Islam. Mount Road Dargah is famous for its architectural beauty that showcases a blend of Islamic and Dravidian style. The main entrance has a wide arch decorated with intricate carvings and calligraphy whereas the complex has a large courtyard surrounded by prayer rooms and tombs that are considered a main attractions of the Mount Road Dargah. The dargah also houses the tombs of many other famous Sufi saints and spiritual leaders that are must see for persons who believe in their spiritual powers and seek help for various needs.

History of Mount Road Dargah

Saints who follow Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, came to India during ancient period, spreading their teachings and establishing dargahs as places of worship. According to the legend, Baba Fakhruddin Shah was a Sufi saint who came to Chennai from Persia (now Iran) in the 12th century. He is known for his faith, wisdom and magical powers. It is said that he chose the place on Mount Road to build his dargah because of its serene surrounding and spiritual energy in that particular spot.

Speciality of Mount Road Dargah

The speciality about Mount Road Dargah is the central tomb of Hazrat Shahul Hamid Qadiri - an important shrine in the dargah where devotees pray and seek blessings. The annual Urs festival commemorating the death anniversary of Hazrat Shahul Hamid Qadiri is very famous here, where people from all around the world visit here for worship. Mount Road Dargah is also famous for providing people with healing power since the 17th century till date.

Visiting time - Mount Road Dargah

6.00 AM to 11.00 PM

Dress code - Mount Road Dargah

wear clothes that cover the upper body entirely and your legs below knees.

Nearby sightseeing place - Mount Road Dargah

Marina beach, MGR memorial, Government museum, Arulmigu Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Temple, Bodyguard Muniswaran Temple.

How to reach Mount Road Dargah?

By air – Drive from Chennai airport to Mount Road Dargah cover about 5 km. By train – Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Central railway station is the nearest junction to reach Mount Road Dargah covering 4 km. By road – All road ways in Tamil Nadu are well- connected to reach Chennai through NH 5, NH 48, NH 45 and NH 66,

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Tamil nadu tour packages, tamil nadu temple tours, tamil nadu cultural tours, tamil nadu nature & wildlife tours, tamil nadu honeymoon tours.

Madras Inherited

Time Travel through  Mount Road

Mount Road is a Chennai icon! Madras and Mount Road are intertwined deeply in the hearts of all the city's residents and we want to celebrate its architecture, history, and people!   Mount Road has always been a definitive artery for Madras and today, Chennai. The heritage walk covers a part of the road with a unique and important history.

We look at what was once a village that lay along this road when it was little more than a connection between the Fort and St. Thomas Mount. We also look at the institution that gave identity to Madras City and hence made Mount Road iconic. From the LIC building to the State Bank of India, you'd be surprised at how many nationally important organizations took root from here. From stories of the Nawab of Arcot family to the Englishman who struck gold with a humble bookstore, a walk along Mount Road is filled with success stories and incredible legacies.

What Participants Say

The amount of information that was shared about various architecture styles and the brief explanations that were given about each and every site.

Walk was full of insights & it changed the perspective. It was organised and conducted professionally. Kudos!

That it wasn't too long/too short/tiring. The time was convenient as it wasn't too sunny/hot. Right duration, right amount of people and the narrative was short and crisp.

Walk Details

Focus: History, Architecture Research Duration: 2.5 months  (and, ongoing!)

Walk Duration: 2 hours Timings: 06:30 am – 08:30 am Starting Point: Agurchand Mansion Ending Point: Musee Musicals Includes:

Learning about colonial commercial establishments and institutions, and buildings belonging to the Nawab of Arcot’s time.

Understanding the history and architecture behind some of the iconic structures on this road

 If you're interested in a Time Travel through Mount Road  private heritage walk , click here . 

* Private walks are subject to the availability of the walk leader. Please confirm the walk date and time at least 7-15 days before the start date of the walk. We require adequate time to process permissions and logistics and confirm the selected walk route.

Delightful Journeys – Daring Adventures

By vijaykumar & suvarchala, madras artefacts: a fascinating time travel through mount road.

Whether you are born and brought up in Madras or have migrated to earn your living in Chennai, Anna Salai ( aka Mount Road ) should be no alien to you. But wait, how well do you know about its heritage?  Let’s travel back in time and dig a bit about some prominent landmark structures in the city! It’s a fascinating time travel, back in the times of British era, through the Mount Road.

WHEN COLONIAL BRITISH ERA SHAPED THE PRESENT-DAY MOUNT ROAD:

The prominence and popularity of this arterial road can be attributed to the British era when carts, predominantly, occupied the roads for the many benefits of the British East India Company. Dotted with several commercial establishments, Anna Salai is the second longest road in the city. Have you paused a bit to think what may be the longest road in the city? Take a guess! It’s none other than the Poonamalle High Road.

The British were so impressed with the Mughal architecture, that they borrowed the idea of decorative elements from the Indo-Islamic architecture popularly known as Indo-Saracenic style of architecture and implemented it on the several public and government buildings. Not just in Madras, but across the nation. A majority of these structures feature a dome and spire adorning the top tier! Let’s focus on the heritage sites along the stretch of Anna Salai.

AGURCHAND MANSIONS:

Let’s begin with an interesting trivia! Did you know that the city’s first 100-foot-high building exists in Anna Salai? Yes, you read that right! It’s a 100-foot building, quite inconsequential in today’s modern world! However, back then, the Agurchand Mansions was the city’s first tallest building. In its heydays, the Agurchand Mansions extended from where it stands today all way to the Express Estate towards the eastern side, what is now called the Club House Road. Did you manage to identify the building and its current location in the city? The property of Agurchand Mansions exists diagonally opposite to Spencer Plaza and along the lines of the LIC building. History has it that the property of Agurchand Mansions once belonged to the Begum of the Arcot family.

ADDISONS AND CO:

I am sure you would have gleamed and admired the row of classic dome shaped window structures adorning the building that was once a striking car showroom in the city. It is currently occupied by the Central Bank of India’s regional headquarters. This property belongs to the Addison’s, a company that pioneered bicycle imports and later moved over to motorbikes and cars. It was the year 1904, when Addison’s became the first company in the then Madras to formally represent a motor car manufacturer.

The company’s affinity towards automobiles led to the simultaneous representation of Triumph motorcycles as well. Addison’s enormous success and expanding business necessitated the inauguration of this glorious building.

HIGGINBOTHAMS:

There is no dearth of awesomeness when it comes to heritage sites on the famed Anna Salai. Here comes another trivia, among my favorites! Fairly easy one! What’s the country’s oldest bookstore called? I hope you have already answered that!

A British librarian, on being ejected out of the ship he was on, found employment with a bookstore run by a group of missionaries. After incurring major losses, the missionaries sold the bookstore at a low rate.  The year was 1844 when Higginbothams acquired the bookshop and holds its place among the bibliophiles in the city. The structure of the building has shades of resemblance to the ancient Indo-Saracenic architecture, and the rest is history!

BHARAT INSURANCE BUILDING:

The famed Indo-Saracenic style of architecture had its wings spread to several buildings during the colonial British era. The Bharat Insurance building adjacent to the LIC building is yet another classic heritage structure based on the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.

Built in 1897, it was a center of commercial activity.  However, lack of maintenance severely deteriorated its physical structure and eventually leading to a collapsible state. A series of petitions for a demolition drive and reconstruction of the heritage structure into a multi storied building was stayed by Madras High Court. In the year 2010, much to the delight of heritage lovers, the Madras High Court passed a landmark judgement of its heritage status, thereby putting an end to any type of demolition drive.

LIC BUILDING:

It’s time for another trivia! What’s the first skyscraper of Chennai? By now, you should have already answered it! The year 1959 gave the city its first skyscraper.

At 177 feet tall, the 14-story building housing the Life Insurance Corporation of India was the first skyscraper built in the city. The status of first skyscraper of Madras was held by LIC building for about 35 years, until the Hyatt Regency took over sometime in mid-90s. Nevertheless, the LIC building continues to awe passer-by!

BOOTHA PERUMAL ROAD:

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Anna Salai is a tiny and quiet agraharam like locality. Bootha Perumal Koil Street is a small locality behind the Poombuhar building on Anna Salai. After years of staying in the city, it was surprising to see narrow lanes with the walls lending an artistic gallery. The houses resembled the typical agraharam style. This place is sure to cater to your Insta ready photographs.

FRIENDSHIPS ARE PRECIOUS:

Meeting someone new that shares similar interests and being humble is a gift! I happen to meet a budding entrepreneur – Mohamed.  A calm personality that he is, and we got going in no time! 

EYE-CATCHING POSTCARDS DESCRIBING THE CITY OF CHENNAI:

The heritage sites mentioned in this article are only a handful of information and there are many others across the city. Do join again with me for another fascinating historical facts on heritage sites of namma Chennai!

Do checkout my special blog celebrating the 384th founding anniversary of our beautiful city Chennai!

Did you like this blog? Show your love by dropping your comments! Feel free to share this blog with friends. Hit any of those social media icons to share this blog!

And do subscribe to my travel blogs , so you don’t miss out on fascinating travel stories.

5 Comments on “Madras Artefacts: A Fascinating Time Travel through Mount Road”

Wow what a write-up! This is a perfect magazine material, in addition to interesting photographs of the sites. Lot to learn from you! And thank you for the mention, I feel honored 🙂

Thank you, Mohamed! I am equally happy! 🙂

Hey, I am so glad to read your thoughts because I really enjoyed reading this. The way you explain your travel experience is truly awesome.

Thank you very much! I’m glad you liked it! 🙂

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20 Things to Do in Chennai

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Chennai is a thriving city on the Coromandel Coast facing the Bay of Bengal, known for its own unique culture, food, architecture and people. Formerly known as Madras, the city is the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. With a rich history, beautiful colonial buildings, mysterious temples and lovely beaches, and there are plenty of amazing things to do in Chennai . 

Chennai’s attractions make it one of the places to visit in South India that should be high on your bucket list. This is especially true if you’re keen on history and love good food.

Best Time To Visit Chennai

1- walk along marina beach, 2- pay homage to thiruvalluvar at valluvar kottam, 3- experience the tradition of the sari , 4- feel the sanctity of the gods at kapaleeshwarar temple, 5- marvel at historical colonial architecture , 6- shop at spencer plaza, 7- explore arignar anna zoological park, 8- marvel at the architecture of dakshin chitra, 9- discover a hidden beach, 10- relish the taste of chennai food , 11- be mesmerised by the bharata natyam , 12- buy some indian gold jewellery, 13- feed your artistic soul at the government museum, 14- float around the muttukadu backwaters, 15- gaze in awe at the white ripon building, 16- say a prayer in a historic church , 17- marvel at the mahabalipuram stone carvings , 18- get some fresh air at semmozhi poonga, 19- visit the nawab’s palaces  , 20- visit the guindy snake park.

The climate in Chennai is hot from March to May, with peak summer temperatures hitting the thermometer between April and May, which means summer is attractive to beach lovers looking to work on their tan.

Chennai experiences monsoon showers during July and August, which can hamper plans for sightseeing.

The best season to travel around Chennai is when the weather is not so hot and when you’re not likely to experience a monsoon.

The ideal months would be from September to February.

20 Things To Do In Chennai

Interested in visiting Chennai? Here are the top things to do in Chennai for your bucket list.

The 6km-long promenade of sand facing the Bay of Bengal has a lot to offer, especially during the evening.

Learn about Tamil literature by hearing the story of Kannagi and Kovalan in the epic poem Silapathigaram as you gaze at the statue of Kannagi standing with her anklet in her arms in a gesture of seeking justice. 

It’s fascinating to learn more about those statues of these legendary personalities.

Pay homage to great leaders like Annadurai, who was the last Chief Minister of Madras from 1967 to 1969, and Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR.

Fort Saint George, at the north end of the beach, is an iconic building that was the foundation of the city of Madras.

Also known as the white town, it was built by the East India Company in 1644.

Part of the building hosts the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and the Secretariat today.

Watch the sunset from the top of the lighthouse, where you can see Fa bird’s eye view of the city and its beautiful coastline. 

The 35 m chariot depicting the works of Thiruvalluvar, a great poet and philosopher, stands at the Valluvar Kottam as a mark of respect to the only longest surviving classical language today, Tamil.

The words written on the granite walls speak of ethics and morality, stand the test of time even today due to its universal and secular nature and have been translated into various major languages of the world.

Ladies will enjoy draping a Kangeevaram Silk Saree and adorning their tresses with strands of jasmine.

Sport a pattu vaetti sattai if you are a man and wear some of the finest silk in the region.

There’s a range of silk and cotton available for all budgets at a silk saree showroom and once you see the fabrics on display, you’ll be enticed into shelling out a few dollars.

Nalli is a popular sari chain that has been selling saris since 1928. 

For those willing to invest in Kancheevarm silk, travel to Kancheepuram (75kms from central Madras) the birthplace of weaving. 

Originally built in the 7th Century CE by the Pallavas, an Indian dynasty that ruled southern India from 275 CE to 897 CE, the  Kapaleeshwarar Temple  was destroyed by the Portuguese.

It was reconstructed in the 16th Century at Mylapore. 

The temple is the house of Shiva and his wife Parvathi and has a Dravidian style architecture with bas reliefs that tell the stories of the gods. 

Home to the second-largest heritage building collection in India, Chennai has quite a lot to offer in terms of buildings from the British bygone era.

Most of these marvels stand to reflect the architectural splendour, even after almost 150 years.

Some of the elegant architectural buildings in Chennai worth mentioning are:

• Chennai Central Railway station at Park Town, built during 1873 in the Gothic Revival style
• Madras High Court at George Town, built in 1892 in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style and considered the world’s second-largest judicial complex housing the most number of courts in Asia
• General Post office in George Town, built in 1884 with its Victorian County-Colonial architecture.

Spencer Plaza Mall on Mount Road has an array of souvenirs to take home.

Buy Pashmina shawls from Kashmir, strands of amethyst or a Taj Mahal souvenir from one of the galleries.

There’s a variety of Indian traditional clothing and household items you can buy from a number of small shops.

Visiting Spencer Plaza is a Chennai cultural experience and a place where you can taste local food. 

While on Mount Road, make it a point to look for the oldest book shop in India, Higginbotham’s. 

Another historic building on Mount Road is the 1916 brick Cuddon (Gove) Building, which was built as a car showroom for Simpson and Co and is now a Mercedes-Benz showroom. 

When it was constructed in 1855, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park was known as the Madras Zoo.

Now known to locals as the Vandalur Zoo, it’s a zoological garden with 2500 species of flora, fauna and a range of reptiles, mammals and birds.

It’s one of the places in India to see tigers , leopards, Indian rhinos and bison.

Another place to see wildlife is Guindy National Park , which is one of the few national parks in India within a city and home to chitals (spotted deer), jackals, Indian civets, macaques, hyena and pangolins.

Dakshin Chitra is a heritage village developed to portray dwellings and life patterns of people of south India.

Craft bazaars, stone workshops and souvenir kiosks make it an ideal place to get a glimpse of life in Southern India.

The place has a range of houses built in different styles with displays of typical items used by the inhabitants as a showcase of their lifestyles.

Chennai has around 40 beaches within a radius of 50 km and if rubbing shoulders with tens of thousands of people on Marina Beach is not your cup of tea, there are plenty of tranquil beaches to discover. 

Also known as the Bessie or Besant Nagar Beach, Edward Elliot’s Beach is a calm beach without the crowds.

Feed the pigeons on the beach early in the morning after watching a scenic sunrise or trace the crab paths on the sand.

If you’re looking for blue water and tortoises, head to Neelankarai (Blue shore) Beach. 

Other beaches you might like are Copper, Juhu, Blue and ECR Beaches.

A visit to Chennai is not complete without tasting the local food and there are many authentic restaurants in the city. 

The food in Chennai can be rather spicey so be careful when ordering a hot curry.

Dishes to try are idli, a typical Chennai breakfast of rice and black gram flour served with sambar and chutney, deep-fried vadai, dosas and paniyaram dumplings. 

Please don’t be a faint-hearted and walk into a Pizza Hut or McDonald’s for sandwiches and fries but you might want to try the items on the menu that have a twist of Indian taste.

For an authentic experience, try eating in a langar or community kitchen.

For more amazing places to visit in India read:

• Places To Visit in Jaipur
• Places To Visit in Udaipur
• Places To Visit in Jodhpur
• Places To Visit in Kolkata
• 25 Things To Do In Mumbai
• Places To Visit in Delhi

The Bharata Natyam is the Indian equivalent of the opera, so do make a booking in advance to see a concert of Bharata Natyam or Carnatic vocal music.

The Kalakshetra Foundation is one of the top music and dance groups that run shows for the public.

You’ll love watching the ladies dance like a peacock on the floor, not just with her arms and feet, but impress with her eyes and the expressions on her face.

Carnatic Music (Karnāṭaka saṅgītam) is a soothing blend of ragam (melody), thalam (beat) and pallavi (theme) accompanying the nattiyam (dance) and the bhavam (expression). 

This combination of artistry will fill your evening with delight. 

Walk into the gold showrooms and look for a tiny Netri Chutti, a bridal forehead ornament, or small kammal earrings.

There’s a range of local jewellery to suit most budgets, from ordinary metal to gold-coated jewellery and pieces made from real gold.

If you’re looking for real India yellow gold, which is at least 22 carat, it’s best to buy from a bigger showroom. 

In India, gold jewellery is considered a form of investment and the purer the gold the more valuable it is. 

The Chennai Government Museum was established in 1851 and has numismatics and archaeological collections.

It houses rare paintings from Asia and Europe and is home to an impressive collection art of Tamil artist, Raja Ravi Varma, which is something you must see.

It’s the second oldest museum in India and has a large collection of Roman artifacts. 

The Connemara Public Library is part of the complex and an iconic structure.

Although it’s not as well-known as the Kerala backwaters , the backwaters at Muttukadu is very close to the city and is a paradise for boating and a range of water sports facilities including kayaking, canoeing and surfing.

The backwater area is 36 km from the Bay of Bengal and a nice spot to watch the sunset. 

It’s a popular place for locals to have a picnic and there’s a seafood restaurant on the bridge. 

If you’re keen on cruising, you might want to try cruising the Ganges or going on a Brahmaputra river cruise .

This eye-catching white structure is near the Central Railway Station is an eye-catching reminder of the British colonial era. 

Commissioned in 1913 and named after Lord Ripon, the British India Governor-General, the grand building was the headquarters of the Municipal Corporation of Madras.

Its neoclassical style architecture is a blend of the Ionic and Corinthian orders.

Don’t miss the Westminster Quarter chiming clock installed by Oakes and Co. in 1913.

The San Thome Church built during the 16th Century by the Portuguese was later rebuilt by the British.

The oldest Anglican Church is also called St Thomas Cathedral Basilica , has its original neo-gothic style and is one of three churches built over a tomb of an apostle of Jesus Christ.  

It is believed that the Basilica is the resting place of Saint Thomas. 

Another church to visit is Andrew’s Church in Egmore, which was built in 1821 and has beautiful Georgian architecture.

The 200-year-old Scottish Presbyterian church known for its unique style, stained glass art and a pipe organ built in New Yorkshire, England was installed in 1883.

St. Mary’s Church was found in 1678 and is the oldest Anglican church located at Fort St. George.

50 km from Chennai (about an hour and a half’s drive) lies a feast for archaeology lovers and one of the most famous landmarks in India .

Don’t miss out seeing these historical gems of Mamallapuram (or the Mahabalipuram ), which is a UNESCO World Heritage site of the 7th and 8th Century Pallava Kingdom.

The town is known for carved stone monuments.

Must-view places on the list include:

• Descent of the Ganges, also known as the Arjuna’s Penance, which is the largest rock relief in Asia.
• Pancha rathas (five Chariots of dharma raja, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Draupadi)
• Cave Temples (Krishna, Mahishasuramardini, Varaha, Tiger)
• Shore Temples
• Krishna’s butterball
• Sculpture museum containing 3000 artefacts.

If you love exploring temples, you might also like to visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves near Mumbai.

Semmozhi Poonga is a botanical park right in the city, with botanical plants and trees older than 100 years. 

Spending time in the garden is a good way to get outdoors and wander past fountains, vertical gardens, mural walks, ponds and cascades.

The park is closed on Tuesdays and is located at the junction of Cathedral Road and Anna Salai (Mount Road). 

Chennai was ruled by the Nawab of Arcot (also known as the Nawab of Carnatic) from 1690 to 1801, as a dependent region of the Nizam of Hyderabad.

There are a number of palaces you can visit to soak up the history and mystery of the ruling family. 

Although the most popular palaces in India are in Rajasthan, the grandeur of the palaces in Chennai also reflects the lifestyles of the Arcot Nawabs.

The Amir Mahal, constructed at Royapettah in 1798 by the East India Company became the official residence of the Nawab of Arcot’s family.

Amir Mahal is open to the public between 10 am and 6 pm.

The Kalas Mahal in Chepauk Palace complex was the home to the Nawabs from 1768 to 1855 and was restored recently. Also in the palace is the Humayun Mahal, which is being renovated as well. 

The Irula tribe near Chennai is an indigenous community in Tamil Nadu known for their knowledge of snakes.

Their ancient way of life stopped when the Wildlife Protection Act came into force.

If you are interested in snakes, go and see them at Guindy Snake Park (formerly called Madras Crocodile Bank Trust), where you’ll get to see crocodiles, turtles and lizards too.

The park is home to various pythons, cobras, an anaconda and other snake species. 

S. Shahid was born in Tamil Nadu and has lived in Chennai for 20 years. His love for art and history draws him back again and again to research and enjoy Chennai’s historic spots such as the Egmore Museum, Mahabalipuram and the Rippon building. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Annamalai University in Tamil Naidu and has worked as a programmer, analyst and engineer in Chennai and the UAE.

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Unlike some other cities in India, Chennai (previously known as Madras) doesn't have any world famous monuments or tourist attractions. It was a cluster of small villages until the British developed it as a trading port, naval base, and administration hub. Instead of quickly leaving a memorable first impression, Chennai is a city that requires time and effort to really get to know and appreciate it. Chennai is a city that requires you to explore below its surface and delve into its distinctive culture. These places to visit and things to do in Chennai will help you uncover what makes the city special. Try and be there in mid January for the annual Pongal festival as well.

Have time for a side trip? Here are 11 Places to Visit Near Chennai .

Explore Historic Mylapore

Chennai's historic Mylapore neighborhood is often referred to as the soul of the city. One of the oldest residential parts of the city, predominantly inhabited by Brahmins, it's full of culture. There you'll find Chennai's most impressive temple, the 17th-century Kapaleeshwarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Other top attractions include neo-Gothic style San Thome Cathedral, originally built by the Portuguese, and serene Ramakrishna Mutt Temple. Storytrails conducts an insightful walking tour of Mylapore. The annual Mylapore Festival is held in early January, just before Pongal.

Retrace Chennai's History

A legacy of the British East India Company, which completed construction in 1653, Fort Saint George was the nucleus of what became the city of Madras. The monument is one of Britain's first lasting footprints on India. It's now home to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and Secretariat. It also contains the grand St Mary's Church—one of the oldest surviving churches built by the British—and the Fort Museum. The museum has exhibits about the fort and Chennai's origin. There are displays of military memorabilia, relics, paintings, and artifacts from the colonial period as well. It's open daily, except Fridays, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The entrance fee is 5 rupees for Indians and 100 rupees for foreigners. Children under 15 years of age can enter for free.

Admire Madras High Court

Located just outside Fort Saint George, in George Town, massive Madras High Court is one of the largest judicial buildings in the world. Built in 1892, it has distinctive red Indo-Saracenic architecture, with magnificent painted ceilings and stained-glass doors. It's possible to wander through the court and even sit in on a session.

See Ancient Bronze Statues at the Government Museum

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Chennai's impressive Government Museum is the best in the city. Its expansive galleries are spread across three buildings, with the highlight being the Bronze Gallery. It has an outstanding collection of bronze statues from the 7th century onward. Most belong to the significant Chola period from the 9th to 11th centuries. There are also extensive archeological and anthropology galleries. The museum is situated in the British-built Pantheon Complex on Pantheon Road. It's open daily from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The complex includes the National Art Gallery, Contemporary Art Gallery and Children’s Museum. All can be accessed on the same entry ticket. The cost is 15 rupees for Indians and 250 rupees for foreigners. There's an additional camera fee of 500 rupees.

Meander Through the Markets and Bazaars

The congested lanes of George Town are occupied by some absorbing street stalls and markets. This area, which used to be known as Black Town during the colonial period, was settled by locals who came to serve and trade with the British in Fort Saint George. It was the first settlement of the city of Madras, which began its expansion from there in the 1640s. It's noisy, chaotic, and a photographer's delight! Explore the area on this Georgetown Bazaar Walk offered by Chennai Magic or Bazaar Trail Walk offered by Storytrails.

Get a Bird's Eye View from Chennai Lighthouse

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Chennai's landmark lighthouse stands alongside Marina Beach, overlooking the Bay of Bengal. It was built in 1976 and is the city's fourth lighthouse tower. The first lighthouse was established at Fort Saint George in 1796. It was superseded by two subsequent lighthouses set within the Madras High Court complex. Notably, the lighthouse is the only one in an Indian city, and one of the few in the world with an elevator. It's powered by a solar panel and houses the local meteorological department. Take the elevator up to the lookout point on the ninth floor for panoramic views across the beach and city. The lighthouse is located on Beach Road, and is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Mondays.

Spend Sunset at Marina Beach

For a real Indian beach experience, head to Marina Beach at sunset and soak up the carnival-like atmosphere, with amusement rides and snack stalls. The beach, which is the longest urban beach in India, starts from near Fort Saint George and runs south for 13 kilometers (8.1 miles). It's dotted with numerous statues and monuments, and is a popular hangout place for locals. Tens of thousands of people visit it every day. This number really swells on weekends. Do note that bathing and swimming aren't permitted as there are strong currents.

Discover Chennai's Multi-Cultural Communities

Mahesh Balasubramanian/Getty Images

Triplicane borders Marina Beach and is one of Chennai's oldest neighborhoods. It's an ideal place to discover more of the city's multi-cultural heritage. The neighborhood is centered around the 8th century Hindu Parthasarathy temple but has been influenced by the British and the Nawab of Arcot, who settled there. Nowadays, it's home to a menagerie of monastic orders, Brahmin agraharams , Hindu and Jain temples, mosques, traditional music venues, and small local cafes. Chennai Magic's heritage walk through Triplicane provides insight into the religious beliefs, food taboos, and cultural preferences of its various communities.

Learn About Swami Vivekananda

Dedicated to revered spiritual teacher Swami Vivekananda, Vivekananda House is maintained by Sri Ramakrishna Math and houses a permanent exhibition on his life and Indian culture. There's a meditation room on the second floor where the Swami stayed after his return from the west in February 1897. The distinctive Victorian-style building is more than 150 years old and was originally built to store ice. It was subsequently purchased by Biligiri Iyengar, an advocate of the Madras High Court, who named it Castle Kernan. Vivekananda House is located opposite Marina Beach in Triplicane. It's open from 10.00 a.m. until 12.30 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. until 7.15 p.m, daily except Mondays. Tickets cost 20 rupees for adults and 10 rupees for children.

Grab a Bargain at Chennai's Main Shopping District

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Join the hordes of bargain hunters looking for discounts on everything from saris to gold at Chennai's main shopping district, Thyagaraya Nagar (T. Nagar).  It's one of the most crowded places in India! On weekends during the festival season (from November until the end of January) the crowds can swell to an astonishing two million people! Ranganathan Street is where most of the action happens. Performance venues in the neighborhood (such as Krishna Gana Sabha, Vani Mahal and Bharath Kalachar) also host many famous classical musicians during the month-long Madras Music Season, from mid December to mid January each year.

Marvel Over Kasimedu Fishing Harbour and Market

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Early risers will find the fishy frenzy at Kasimedu Fishing Harbor to be a fascinating sight. The harbor comes alive as early as 2 a.m., when the first catch is brought in. However, the activity continues throughout the day, with more than 1,500 fishing boats operating there. As well as supplying local markets, the fish is exported to neighboring states such as Kerala and Karnataka. The fishing harbor complex also incorporates an auction hall for the fish and a ship building yard. It's located in Royapuram, one of the oldest parts of Chennai, north of the city center.

Wander Through One of Asia's Largest Vegetable Markets

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Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex is another fascinating local attraction for early risers. The massive market complex was inaugurated in 1996 and is spread over 295 acres west of the city center near Anna Nagar. It houses about 1,000 wholesale shops and 2,000 retail shops. Although the market operates around the clock, the best time to visit the wholesale vegetable section is from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m., when most of the produce sales take place. The wholesale flower section is most vibrant after noon, when the fresh supply of flowers has arrived.

Sample Chennai's Cuisine

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Foodies shouldn't miss exploring south Chennai's cultural Adyar neighborhood, named after the Adyar River that flows through it. Although it's one of the costliest areas of the city, it also has some iconic eateries that have withstood the test of time. One of them is Adyar Ananda Bhavan, which was established more than three decades ago and serves up authentic South Indian vegetarian cuisine and sweets. Chennai Magic conducts this food walk through Adyar , stopping at local provision and specialty shops to learn about the ingredients and spices that go into southern Indian foods. You'll get to try some yummy delicacies too! Alternatively, Storytrails offers this Food Trail through Sowcarpet , which is conveniently close to George Town in central Chennai.

Feast on Chennai's Biggest Thali

Image: The Hindu newspaper.

Ponnusamy Hotel on Jaganathan Road in Nungambakkam is famous for its humongous Bahubali Thali (platter) with 50 items! It's way too big for one person to eat alone, so make sure you bring your friends or family along. The thali costs 1,499 rupees, and has a mix of meat and vegetarian dishes. The restaurant is open daily from noon to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. It's a good idea to get there early or make a reservation.

Watch Artists at Work at India's Largest Artists' Commune

Cholamandal Artists’ Village was set up in 1966 in Injambakkam Village, on the southern outskirts of Chennai. What's really remarkable about it is that the artists are self-sustaining and have not received any financial assistance—they purchased their own land and built everything themselves including their houses, studios, gallery, theater, and workshops. The village is renowned for having pioneered the Madras Movement of Art, which brought modern art to south India. You'll get to see an extraordinary collection of paintings and sculptures there, along with the artists at work. The entry fee is 30 rupees per adult and 20 rupees per child, open from 9.30 a.m. until 6.30 p.m.

Experience South India's Arts and Culture

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Kalakshetra Foundation sprawls over 100 acres of verdant land on Kalakshetra Road in Thiruvanmiyur, near the sea in southern Chennai. This esteemed cultural academy is dedicated to the preservation and teaching of Indian art forms, and is a wonderful place to visit if you want to experience the arts of South India. It focuses on Bharatanatyam classical dance, Carnatic classical music, the visual arts, traditional crafts and textile design, history and philosophy. There's a craft center and museum on the premises. Kalakshetra is open for visitors from 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Self-guided tours (using a free map) cost 100 rupees for Indians and 200 rupees for foreigners. Guided tours , conducted by an eminent person well-versed in the field of Art and Culture, are also offered for groups of 1-10 people for a cost of 4000 rupees. Free evening performances are often held at the auditorium.

Attend a Classical Music and Dance Performance

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If you like Carnatic dance and music, the Madras Music Academy is one of the earliest established music academies in South India and is at the heart of the scene in Chennai. A year-round program of events, recitals, and concerts is held in its grand auditorium on TT Krishnamachari Road in Gopalapuram near Mylapore. Don't miss the annual Chennai Music Season from mid December to mid January, with a multitude of productions (free and ticketed) happening at various venues across the city.

Take a Cooking Lesson

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Impress guests at your next dinner party by learning how to made delicious south Indian food in a local home where the magic happens. The lady of the house will lead you through an interactive cooking session, explaining the use of spices and cooking techniques. Afterwards, you'll be able to enjoy the meal while chatting to the family about life in Chennai. The cooking classes offered by Chennai Magic and Storytrails are both great options.

Browse India's Oldest Bookstore

Higginbotham's

Higginbothams has been in business on Mount Road (Anna Salai) since 1844, when it was started by a British librarian stowaway. It quickly become the preferred bookstore of the Madras Presidency and grew to be the largest bookstore chain in India. All kinds of books and publications were sold there. The store continues to stock the latest releases and rare editions. It has a large section devoted to Indian and Tamil writes of all genres, an excellent English language section (including travel books), and a children's section with captivating books for all ages. The bookstore is open daily from 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Higginbothams also has a Writer's Cafe and bookstore on Peters Road in Gopalapuram, where you can sit and read. More recently, a branch of the cafe opened on 3rd Main Road in Adyar. The cafes employ acid-burn survivors and people from the Spastic Society of Tamil Nadu. Profits are used to help victims of domestic violence.

Have a "Kollywood" Moment at Broken Bridge

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Chennai's isolated bridge to nowhere juts out from the mouth of the Adyar River at the rear of the Theosophical Society forest in Adyar. It's opposite the Leela Palace hotel, and not far from trendy Besant Nagar and the Kalakshetra Foundation. This offbeat attraction is commonly known as the Broken Bridge, as it collapsed in 1977 and has continued to deteriorate. Prior to that, fishermen used it to cross the river. The bridge has featured in a number of Tamil "Kollywood" movies (so called because the Tamil movie industry is based in Kodambakkam in Chennai) including Vaali and Aayudha Ezhuthu . Sunrise over the bridge is particular striking. However, it's said to be haunted and unsafe there at night.

Join a Turtle Walk

Did you know that the coast of Chennai is a breeding ground for the endangered Olive Ridley turtle? During nesting season, from December to April each year, large numbers of turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The hatchlings are left to make their own way into the sea and many of them die. In order to increase their chances of survival, volunteers of the Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network (SSTCN) conduct walks to collect their eggs and take them to a hatchery. The walks happen on Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 11 p.m., from Neelangarai beach to Besant Nagar beach. Members of the public who are interested in conservation are welcome to join in. It's also possible to see hatchlings being released in the evenings during March and April.

Celebrate Madras Week

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What began, in 2004, as a one-day commemoration of the founding of the city of Madras has evolved into a week of fun festivities. Activities include food walks, heritage walks, nature walks, photo walks and exhibitions, book readings, film screenings, and public talks. Madras Day is on August 22 every year, and Madras Week takes place around this date.

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The ever-changing Mount Road of Chennai

The history of the colonial province of Madras is incomplete without the mention of the iconic Mount road. One of the earliest constructions undertaken by the British in Chennai, the 400 years old Mount road, known today as Anna Salai, continues to be a major attraction point for enthusiastic tourists as well as a centre of many commercial activities.

Mount Road in Chennai is famous for its landmarks. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

The construction of the Mount road began in the early 17th century at George Town, Chennai. The purpose of this road was to facilitate the travel of European employees between St Fort George and St Thomas Mount, where the Apostle St Thomas was crucified. The construction of the road gained momentum under George Macartney, the governor of Madras between 1781 and 1785. The construction of the Marmalong bridge, today known as Maraimalai Adigal Bridge, in 1724 further increased the prominence of Mount road. Over time, as nawabs and other elite groups began settling around the region, the road evolved into a luxury shopping hub attracting all kinds of traders to engage in commercial activities. The Spencer's Plaza built in 1863 by Charles Durant and J.W. Spencer, became the first shopping mall in India. Soon, Grand mansions and lush gardens began to mark the landscape around Mount road.

Mount Road itself is significant, but even more important are the landmarks along the road. Each of these landmarks seems to tell a unique story of the colonial period as well as the post-colonial period. The Rajaji hall for instance hosted the social gatherings of the British people.

People passing through the Mount road would clearly spot the statue of Sir Thomas Munroe, the governor of Madras who introduced the Ryotwari System of the land revenue system. His statue remains a strong reminder about his victories in the Anglo-Mysore wars of the 18th century.

Other important sites of the colonial times along Mount Road include the Cosmopolitan Club, The Gymkhana Club and so on which remain vital to the city even today.

Another important landmark is the Agurchand Mansion, a brick red facade that once belonged to the Nawab of Carnatic. According to sources, the property where the mansion stands once belonged to Azamunissa Begum, the wife of a nawab named Ghouse Khan. In the early 1900s, it was sold to Khaleeli Shirazee, one of the richest men in Madras of that time. Shirazee built a mansion on the property named Khaleeli Mansions, which became the city's tallest building. After independence and partition, the heir to the mansion went to Pakistan and the property was auctioned off to Agurchand. However, the mansion today has fallen prey to neglect, failing to keep up with the changing times of the city.

Mount Road Dargah is another popular attraction site for pilgrims. It is believed that Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Khadri, a healer, had come all the way from Baghdad to settle there in the 17th century.

Thousand Lights Mosque built in 1810, is another religious site on Mount Road, especially for the Shia followers. It is regarded as one of the biggest mosques in the country.

Interestingly, many Indian shops and buildings first marked their spots along Mount Road. In 1844 for instance, the oldest book store of the country, Higginbotham's, came into existence. In 1959, the first skyscraper in India, the LIC building was completed. In 1965, the concept of fine dining experience first came to the city with A.M Buhari the founder of the Buhari Hotel. The same year also saw the birth of the famous non-vegetarian dish, chicken 65, another legacy of the Buhari Hotel. The Gemini flyover constructed in 1969 is the first flyover of the city and the third in the whole country. Through the years, these constructions have enhanced the significance of the historical road constructed by the British.

Mount Road with its changing landscapes continues to tell countless stories of the ever-evolving city of Chennai from colonial till the present times.

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1. Marina Beach

4 km from city center 1 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Marina Beach is a natural urban beach along the Bay of Bengal. The beach is stretched out to a distance of 13 kilometres making it the longest natural urban beach in the country, second largest in the world and also the most crowded beach in India with almost 30,000 visitors a day. 

2. Government Museum, Chennai

1 km from city center 2 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Government Museum was established in 1851 and is the second oldest museum in the country after the Indian Museum in Kolkata. Situated in Egmore suburb of Chennai, it is built in the Indo-Sarcenic style and houses a rich collection of the works of Raja Ravi Varma.

3. MGR Film City

8 km from city center 3 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Having been established in the year 1994, a considerably new structure, the MGR Film city is managed by the Government of Tamil Nadu in loving memory of MG Ramachandran who was not only a crowd-pleasing tamil actor but also a longtime CM of Tamil Nadu.

4. Breezy Beach

9 km from city center 4 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Breezy Beach lays in the remote and serene neighbourhood of Valmiki Nagar in Chennai. Being smaller and less polluted, its a perfect getaway for anyone looking for a peaceful evening.

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Tamil nadu temple tour package, pondicherry-mahabalipuram tour with kanchipuram, 4 nights bangkok & pattaya full board package (ex chennai), ooty group package from chennai, ooty group tour package from chennai, 5. marundeeswarar temple.

8 km from city center 5 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The magnificent Marundeeswarar Temple, in Tiruvanmiyur, near Chennai has the temple deity Shiva in the form of Marundeeswar or Aushadeeswarar, the God of Medicines. A fine specimen of Dravidian architecture, this temple is a must visit for anyone visiting Chennai or nearby cities.

6. Arignar Anna Zoological Park

27 km from city center 6 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Arignar Anna Zoological Park aka Vandalur Zoo, is a zoological garden located in Vandalur is spread over an area of 602 hectares, including a rescue and rehabilitation centre. The zoo shelters about 3000 species of flora and fauna across twelve hundred acres including 46 endangered species, in its 160 enclosures.

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7. Valluvar Kottam

1 km from city center 7 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Valluvar Kottam is an auditorium, with a gigantic capacity to hold 4,000 people, built in remembrance of the poet-saint, Tiruvalluvar. Verses of the poet Tiruvalluvar are embellished on the pillars in and around the auditorium.

8. Ashtalakshmi Temple

8 km from city center 8 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The Chennai Ashtalakshmi temple is situated in Besant Nagar, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. That stretch of beach is known as the Elliot's beach. The temple was constructed on the express wishes of Sri Mahaa Periyavaal of Kanchi Mutt, Sri Chandrasekara Saraswati Swamigal. (br) The temple's architecture is unique, with the deities installed in four levels. 

9. Connemara Public Library

1 km from city center 9 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The Connemara Public Library at Chennai holds the prestigious status of being amongst one of the four deposit libraries in India which entitles them to a copy of every publication in India.

10. Kolli Hills

10 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

With an ominous name which means ‘Mountain of Death’, Kolli Hills or Kolli Malai are a mountain range located in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. It is relatively untouched by commercial tourism and therefore has retained most of its natural magnificence.

11. Elliot's Beach

7 km from city center 11 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

A beach showcasing beauty, calmness, serenity and everything that signifies nature at its best, the Elliot's beach cannot be forgotten by anyone who has visited it once.

12. VGP Golden Beach

16 km from city center 12 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Considered as one of the cleanest and beautiful beaches in Chennai, VGP Golden beach is one of the most sought after destinations in the area by family and friends.

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13. ISKCON (Hare Rama Hare Krishna) Temple

17 km from city center 13 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

ISKCON Temple Chennai is a temple devoted to Lord Krishna. It is located on the East Coast Road at southern Chennai. Built on 1.5 acres of land, ISKCON, Chennai is the biggest Radha Krishna temple in Tamil Nadu. It was officially inaugurated on 26 April 2012. The deities revered in the temple include those of Radha Krishna and lord's family, including Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga.

14. Vivekananda House

4 km from city center 14 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Vivekananda House also popularly known as The Ice House, is a shrine and pilgrimage centre for the admirers and followers of Swami Vivekananda. It is in this house that Swami Vivekananda stayed for six weeks in 1900.

15. Akkarai Beach

18 km from city center 15 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The sandy coastline begins from Ennore in the north extending south into Uthandi, leaving one to choose from more than just Marina and Elliot's beach.

16. Dakshinachitra Museum

2 km from city center 16 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Dakshinachitra Museum is one of the living-history museums in India which stores in itself great works of architecture, crafts, performing arts, and lifestyles that belong to South India.

17. Santhome Cathedral Basilica

4 km from city center 17 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Santhome Cathedral is a historical and ancient pilgrim centre, which was built during the 14th to the 15th century A D by the then reigning, Portuguese.

18. Madras War Cemetery

8 km from city center 18 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The Madras War Cemetery houses the last remains of around 855 martyrs who laid down their precious lives at the battlefronts in the devastating Second World War and also a Memorial stone for 1000 more who died fighting in the Great War before that.

19. Madras Crocodile Bank Trust

35 km from city center 19 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The Madras Crocodile Bank is not to be confused with a zoo. Yes, you can certainly take a look at the reptiles in captivity. But unlike a zoo, this has a much more in-depth operation through ex-situ and in-situ conservation. Right now, it is home to around 17 croc subspecies and some other reptiles like frogs, lizards, snakes and turtles as well.

20. MGM Dizzee World

26 km from city center 20 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

MGM Dizzee World is one of the largest and oldest amusement parks in India. It brought Jurong’s Bird Show from Singapore to India way back in 1999. There are extreme level thrill rides, but nice and enjoyable ones are there too. The park has something for every age group.

21. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

3 km from city center 21 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Shirdi Sai Baba temple in Chennai is among the most visited and respected places of worship In Tamil Nadu as well as India. Sai Baba is recognised as one of those spiritual reformers who does not have ties to any particular god of any religion but is a figure of worship himself. So there are no religious restrictions imposed upon those who visit the temple.

22. Nettukuppam

21 km from city center 22 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Nettukuppam is the northernmost tip of Chennai and has a beach which is yet not tarnished by encroaching crowds. It is a solitary retreat for those who seek to enjoy the raging sea up close but in a peaceful environment. The place is an ideal place to spend quiet time as it is still not on the radar of the maddening tourist crowd.

23. Prakasam Salai

6 km from city center 23 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Built in 1795,a milestone in the history of Chennai, located Opposite Parry's Corner, Prakasam Salai is an impressive stylish building in Indo-Saracenic style with eminence in red bricks.

24. Thousand Lights Mosque

1 km from city center 24 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The Thousand Lights Mosque of Royapettah, Chennai is among the most esteemed mosques of the city as well as the state of Tamil Nadu. Built in the early 19th century by the Wallajah family of the Carnatic rulers, it is till date a popular gathering place for the daily prayers and festive occasions like Muharram.

25. Fort St. George

5 km from city center 25 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The origin of the great white structure of Fort St. George is inextricable from the history of the city of Chennai itself. Popularly called the 'White Town', the sole purpose of establishing the massive fort compound was to build a British stronghold in the Coromandel Coast and the rest of south India.

26. Chennai Sangamam

5 km from city center 26 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The Chennai Sangamam, a large open Tamil festival, also coincides with the Pongal season. It is organized in various open locations like beaches, parks etc and showcase traditional folk events, martial arts and classical dance, to name a few. In addition the festival brings together the best that South Indian cuisine has to offer – from tasty panirayams to the traditional pongal.

27. Royapuram Fishing Harbour

9 km from city center 27 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Under the administration of Chennai Port Trust, Royapuram Fishing Harbour is one of the most popular fishing grounds in Chennai. Located in a region which is famous for seafood, this harbour surely has its name among the busiest fishing hubs of Tamil Nadu.

28. Santhome Church

4 km from city center 28 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

San Thome Church is among the only three in the world that house the tombs of one of Christ's original disciples. If you visit this church, you will be stepping into a historical tale that will take you back a couple of centuries. The museum inside displays souvenirs of the great saint and his legend.

29. Kapaleeswarar Temple

4 km from city center 29 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Kapaleeswarar Temple is a holy shrine of Shiva in Mylapore, Chennai. A visit to this temple will be an experience enriched with a glimpse into Tamil religious culture and the lovely architectural combination of the two styles – Dravidian and Vijaynagari, complete with towering Gopurams.

30. Mylapore

3 km from city center 30 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Mylapore is one of the oldest and culturally enriched neighbourhoods, located in the southern part of Chennai. It is very much traditionalist to its core and boasts many temples, churches and historical monuments.

31. Express Avenue

2 km from city center 31 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Express Avenue is a mall in Royapettah of Chennai owned, developed and promoted by Express Infrastructure. The premise includes commercial and hospitality sectors as well. E Hotel is the name of the 4-star boutique luxury-lodging, which caters to the guests all year long with its 44 room capacity. But the mall is the main attraction of the place.

32. Vadapalani Murugan Temple

4 km from city center 32 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Vadapalani Murugan Temple is one of the most popular temples dedicated to Lord Murugan. Located in Vadapalani, Chennai, the temple is known for helping devotees finding solutions to life's problems. It is also believed that worshipping Lord Murugan here is as pious as praying to him at the original Palani temple.

33. T Nagar

3 km from city center 33 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

T Nagar is one of the busiest neighbourhoods in Chennai, and also the most crowded one. It serves as a commercial and economic hub, as well as a residential area. It does not have many attractions, but you will come across a plethora of retail shops lined up on every main road and arterial streets.

34. Parthasarathy Temple

3 km from city center 34 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Parthasarathy Temple, located in Triplicane area of Chennai, is a structure more than 1000 years old, standing in the heart of the bustling city. Dedicated to different avatars of Lord Vishnu within the many shrines of the temple, it attracts thousands of Vaishanvite followers from all across the country.

35. Parasailing in Chennai

19 km from city center 35 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

If you think the city of Chennai is all about glitzy temples and serene beaches, look deeper cause the uber city is home to one of the most adventurous sports of all times - Parasailing. Unlike several other water sports, this one is not for the faint hearted. It allows you to sail above the water with a safely harnessed parachute tied to your back.

36. Scuba Diving in Chennai

6 km from city center 36 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Chennai could get quite hot in the summer and beating the heat would be the top priority in summers. Then why not dive into the Bay of Bengal somewhere off the coast of Chennai. Discovering a totally different world under the surface of the sea and cooling yourself at the same time is the best deal about Chennai.

37. Camping in Chennai

9 km from city center 37 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Surrounded by a number of hills around it, Chennai neighbours to some amazing places that offer nearness to Nature. Every soul in any metro city craves for something new every now and then, and Chennai doesn’t lack in fulfilling this need for its people. There are a number of places to camp in Chennai for a twist out of the normal. One can never run out of places to get closer to something natural.

38. Paragliding In Chennai

11 km from city center 38 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

It is commonly misunderstood about Chennai that it is only about glitzy temples, serene beaches and conservative people, but that's not completely true, look deeper. The people here have the provision of getting in the sky and sailing smoothly over the hills like Eagles.

39. Surfing In Chennai

29 km from city center 39 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Getting in the water and riding the waves on a surfboard is not a thing that everyone can do. But some hours of practice can make that joy possible. There are a number of surfing schools that offer courses and help you tame the waves under your feet.

40. Paintball In Chennai

10 km from city center 40 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

If you are into playing combat games but all the games lack the touch of reality and the feeling of getting hit, then Paintball is for you. Chennai has a bunch of such Arenas to help you get in action. Get outdoors, get some Paintball Guns in your hand and challenge your friends to some real action. Keep your skills on the check and your friends in sight; you never know when you might get hit.

41. Rock climbing In Chennai

16 km from city center 41 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The fitness aspect for the people of Chennai has been taken up by Rock Climbing and Bouldering, rather than regular gyms. Climbing is the coolest way of being fit as well as getting a regular dose of adrenaline. But Rock Climbing doesn’t mean you put yourself under the raging sun all the time! You can opt for Indoor Climbing too and get into the daily chores after the session.

42. Jungle Safari In Chennai

3 km from city center 42 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The tropical climate of Chennai has blessed the land with ample amount of lush greenery and equally rich wildlife. Safari in Chennai’s wildlife parks award the visitors with some amazing experiences around our neighbours of nature. Interacting with the wild animals makes us realize the true nature of wilderness. There’s a lot to learn and understand from animals.

43. Boating in Chennai

6 km from city center 43 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Having the advantage of being a coastal city, Chennai also has a number of lakes and thus opening up the waters for water sports. Boating in Chennai was not so well flourished earlier, but recently the bay of Chennai has been witnessing a decent increase in the number of yachts and boats. Sailing has a charm that can fit any occasion, let that be a romantic boathouse date or a casual hangout with friends on a yacht, an exciting racing event of sails and rowboats or just a fun race of pedal boats between family and friends. Boating is for everyone.

44. Anjaneyar Temple Nanganallur

10 km from city center 44 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Viswaroopa Adhivyadhihara Sri Bhaktha Anjaneyaswami Temple is located around 10 kilometres away from the heart of the city, in a locality called Nanganallur. Commonly called the Anjaneya Temple in short, it gets its name from its principal deity, Lord Hanuman. The most important aspect of the temple is its 32 feet idol.

45. Fishing In Chennai

9 km from city center 45 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Fishing was a way of survival until it got challenging and adventurous. Fishing has become a common way of bonding with friends and family. The sport seems easy but takes a lot of dedication and patience to lure and catch the biggest of all the fishes. As the Aquatic Adventure has gained popularity many Sport Fishing Facilities have opened up and are busy providing the experiences.

46. Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers & Ashram

10 km from city center 46 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers is named after Swami Sivananda, one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the 20th century and founded by his disciple Swami Vishnudevananda. The Non-Profit organisation has centres in Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Madurai and Delhi and all over the world. The Organisation has dedicated programmes like the Sadhana Intensive, Kids Camp, Work/Study Programme, Prison Project and Teachers Training courses and also Yoga Vacations.

47. Thiruvanmiyur Beach

10 km from city center 47 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Located in the neighbourhood of Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai, Thiruvanmiyur Beach is one of the isolated and peaceful beaches of the city. Popular for beautiful sunrise and sunset views, the beach is mostly frequented by nature lovers, romantic couples or solitude seekers.

48. Neelankarai Beach

12 km from city center 48 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Neelankarai Beach is an untouched gorgeous beach located in the small locality of Neelankarai in South Chennai. The highlight of the beach are the innumerous turtles that can be found on the shores. People usually visit it to watch the turtles or to walk along the lengthy coastline touching the beautiful blue waters of the sea.

49. Santhome Beach

4 km from city center 49 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

The southern part of the Marina Beach is known as the Santhome Beach. With immaculate clean sands, azure blue waters and gorgeous sweeping views of the sea, Santhome Beach is a one among the most visited beaches of the sea. You can also find several eateries and sports activities at the beach.

50. Pebble Beach

17 km from city center 50 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Situated at a distance of 1 km from Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai, Pebble Beach is a comparatively smaller beach. Due to its location, it receives relatively lesser number of visitors. However, the beach offers extremely peaceful and serene and you can visit it to spend some time in solitude.

51. Palavakkam Beach

11 km from city center 51 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Located at the southern tip of Chennai in Palavakkam, Palavakkam Beach is a wonderful beach boasting of mesmerising sunrise and sunset views. The highlight of the beach is an age-old temple situated on the beach. The beach has vast expanse of shores, with stunning views of the horizon merging in the sea.

52. Kasimedu Beach

10 km from city center 52 out of 90 Places To Visit in Chennai

Kaismedu Beach is a comparatively lesser known beach of Chennai. It is not just a recreation spot but also an important fishing harbour. With vast expanse of the blue sea and brown sandy shores, you can also find several fishermen at work with their huge fishing nets and boats. Besides, the fisherfolks also sell their spoils at the shores; you can buy fresh fish here. Volleyball is another popular activity at the beach.

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Chennai: Exploring the heritage of St. Thomas Mount

Times of India TIMESOFINDIA.COM / TRAVEL TRENDS , CHENNAI / Created : Mar 18, 2024, 03:30 IST

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St. Thomas Mount, also known as Parangi Malai or Mount of the Apostle Thomas, is believed to be the site where St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, spent some of his time during his missionary journey to India i … Read more

St. Thomas Mount, also known as Parangi Malai or Mount of the Apostle Thomas, is believed to be the site where St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, spent some of his time during his missionary journey to India in the 1st century AD. This association with Christianity's early history in India makes it a revered pilgrimage site for Christians across the world. Read less

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St. Thomas Mount, also known as Parangi Malai or Mount of the Apostle Thomas, is believed to be the site where St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, spent some of his time during his...

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Top Things to Do Near Thousand Lights Station, Chennai (Madras), India

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Top 15 Tourist Places To Visit in Chennai

Tourist places to visit in chennai.

Chennai is the new name for the old city of Madras, the garden gate-way to South India. (The British named it after a fishing hamlet called Madraspatnam, supposedly offered to Francis Day, an East India Company trader, in 1639 by the Raja of Chandragiri, the last Vijayanagar ruler.) The fourth-largest city in India, Madras still has room to expand. From the time the British first established Fort St. George on a sliver of beach, the city has grown by absorbing the surrounding villages—thus the baffling array of neighborhood names like Nungam-bakkam, T. Nagar, Adyar, Mylapore, and George Town.

Each area has developed distinctly, often along caste lines, from the Chettiars (a South Indian caste of traders) of George Town to the civil servants and industrialists of Nungambakkam. Even today, municipal boundaries expand, multistory apartment and office buildings replace bungalows, and new residential areas spring up along the Shore Road to Mamallapuram. Growth has made traffic nearly unbearable here, with pollution and noise levels rising daily. Cars, buses, trucks, auto-rickshaws (or “autos,” as they’re popularly called), mopeds, bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians, and cows all compete for space in the streets; only yogic detachment keeps the frustration at a bearable level. (Traffic on the main avenues, like Anna Salai, is well regulated and moves along.) To ease congestion, the city is presently building a large number of over-passes, but the construction itself has reduced traffic to a crawl in some sections. Generally speaking, be prepared for detours and delays.

Chennai Tour

In the early 1990s, a government committee called Vision 2000 launched a program intended to reverse years of inadequate urban planning; yet side roads are still full of potholes and bordered by picked-over garbage, and many destitute people camp on city streets. The water supply is woefully inadequate, even nonexistent in some areas. Tanker trucks bringing water into the city add to the congestion and pollution. The phone system is still insufficient, and the demand for electric power increases with population growth and business expansion.

The rapid arrival of multinational corporations has changed the placid pace of life in Madras, which in the old days was alive at S AM and asleep by 9 PM. Still, nothing seems to have shaken the city’s spiritual essence. Expanding Madras is a fascinating place, its increasingly cosmopolitan face contrasting sharply with its resolutely religious soul.

Also Visit – https://www.swantour.com/south-india-tours/chennai-tirupati-tour-package.php

Just as Madras has been renamed Chennai, so have many of the street names changed, very often to honor contemporary politicians. Some of the new names are not in colloquial usage, but here’s a partial list, with the old name listed first (salai means street or road): Mount Road—Anna (“Elder Brother”) Salai; Chamier’s Road—Muthuramalinga Road; Mowbray’s Road—T. T. K. (Krishnamachari) Road; North Beach Road—Rajaji Salai; Nungambakkam High Road—Uttamar Gandhi Salai; Poonamallee High Road—Periyar E. V. R. High Road; South Beach Road—Kamarajar Road.

Find below Swan Tours list of Top 15 Tourist places to visit in Chennai:

Places to Visit in Northern Chennai

The best way to explore Madras is to follow the city’s expansion south from Fort St. George. Some distances are short, but if the temperature is 100°F and the humidity 80%, you won’t feel like walking; if oppressive heat threatens, hire a car. Start at St. Mary’s Church in Fort St. George. Move on to the Fort Museum; then walk by the Tamil Nadu State Legislature. Return to St. Mary’s Church, taking in the mixture of historic buildings and bureaucratic offices. Drive the 1/4 mi to the High Court via the road that tunnels through the fort’s massive walls; park and walk to Armenian Street. Alternately, take a taxi or auto-rickshaw to N. S. C. Bose Road and get out at the junction of Armenian Street for a stroll through George Town. Walk down Armenian Street to the beautiful Armenian Church, which was built in 1629 and is no longer used for worship. As you wander on, look up and you’ll see evidence of second-story residence—many merchants still live in George Town. On your way back to the High Court, pass the Flower Bazaar (N. S. C. Bose Rd.), a riot of color and fragrance, on your right. Just south of N. S. C. Bose Road and before Prakasam Road (formerly Popams Broadway), check out the Fruit Market, where bananas ripen in enormous warehouses. Complete your tour of George Town back at the High Court.

The ideal time to cover this route is Sunday morning, when the traffic and parking are most benign. The full tour should take S or 6 hours, including thorough tours of George .Town and Fort St. George (2 hours each) and half an hour in the High Court.

Tourist Places to Visit in Northern Chennai

#1. fort st. george.

Fort St George Chennai

The first British fort in India was founded by Francis Day on a thin strip of sand leased from the Raja of Chandragiri. Christened on St. George Day in 1640, Fort St. George, complete with walls 20 ft thick, has remained the symbol of the Raj, its history intertwined with that of the rest of British India. The Indian army and civil ser-vice, Colin Mackenzie’s land survey, and the British archaeological, botanical, and zoological surveys of India were all conceived on this site. Now the home of the Tamil Nadu State Legislature, it’s quietest on Sunday.

#2. Fort Museum

Fort Museum chennai

Once an exchange used by East India Company merchants, this building is now a museum of Indian history. Everything from old uniforms and coins to palanquins and padlocks is on display, including some wonderful old prints. Study the exhibits closely, as they’re not always well labeled.

#3. George Town

George Town

If you tend toward agoraphobia, George Town is not the place for you, as walking—the only way to explore this teeming warren of congested streets—is often hard going. Pedestrians weave in and around vendors, carts, and cows while others conduct business on the sidewalk or in the street. Before you venture into George Town, make sure you have a detailed map of this area so you can wander with confidence; many streets have similar names. For the full experience, come in the morning, when the bustle is at its peak.

Originally called Black Town, this 1 1/2-by-2-mi area was first settled by lower-caste artisans who provided textiles to the British traders. After Black Town was burned in the British–French wars, the new town was laid out in a perfect grid pattern, each section housing a different group or caste with its own place of worship. The street names echo George Town’s mercantile history, as each area bears the cultural characteristics of the group who migrated there in the course of doing business with (or for) the East India Company: Not only Indians but Portuguese, Scots, Armenians, and Jews settled here. Another prominent group is the Chettiars; you’ll notice that many of the street names end in “chetti.” Two competitive sub castes of the Chettiars, who speak different languages and observe different religious traditions, live in their own areas, divided only by Prakasam Road. The Chettiar factions long vied for mercantile power, first with the East India Company and then with the merchants of the Raj.

#4. High Courts

High Courts Chennai

This large judicial complex is a magnificent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, built of red sandstone with intricate ornamentation on the walls and minarets. (The tallest minaret was used as a lighthouse until the 1970s.) Inside is a labyrinth of corridors and courts, most of which you can visit; court number 13 has the finest decorations inside. Within the compound is a tomb in the shape of pyramid; one of its two inscriptions is to the only son of Elihu Yale, governor of Fort St. George from 1687 to 1691. The child died in infancy and was buried in the High Court compound.

#5. St. Mary’s Church

St. Mary’s Church

Consecrated in 1680, this church is the oldest masonry structure in Fort St. George. The punkahs and some flags are gone, and the steeple has been replaced, but otherwise the building with its three-arched aisles and bomb-proof roof has not changed. The marriage of governor Elihu Yale (of Yale University fame) was the first one performed here. Job Charnock, founder of Calcutta, had his three daughters baptized here before the family moved to Bengal, and St. Mary’s congregation included, at one time or another, Thomas Pitt, Warren Hastings (later the first governor general of British India), Lord Cornwallis, and Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington.

#6. Tamil Nadu State Legislature

Tamil Nadu State Legislature

This crowded, active seat of the state government occupies most of the area between St. Mary’s Church and the Fort Museum. The former house of Robert Clive (of the Battle of Plassey fame) is the “Pay Accounts” office. Other sections of the fort are under military control.

Central Chennai

What are the places to visit in Central Chennai – As Madras grew, the city moved south, expanding along the beach and inland to Egmore and Nungambakkam. The Chepauk district, home of Madras University and Chepauk Palace (now government offices), has some of India’s best Indo-Saracenic buildings—a combination of Hindu, Muslim, and Victorian Gothic styles that makes a fitting display for a city with roots in all three cultures. Farther south along the beach is the Triplicane neighborhood, with the Parthasarathi Temple. Inland, toward the center of Madras is Anna Salai, a major shopping and business district. North of Anna Salai is Egmore, bordered by the curves of the Cooum River and home to the National Museum and Art Gallery. Farther south across the Cooum is Nungambakkam, traditionally a posh residential area of garden homes. It’s now a mixture of expensive boutiques, hotels, and offices, but a few of the massive old houses with walled gardens remain. A new wave of small fast-food joints (as in hot dogs and pizza) and restaurants has hit Anna Salai, Egmore, and Nungambakkam.

It’s easiest to cover this ground by hiring a car and driver for the day, but you can also take auto-rickshaws from point to point. Early in the morning, drive south on Kamarajar Road from Fort St. George along the magnificent Marina Beach and passing the Indo-Saracenic buildings of the government and university on your right. Note the brick Ice House at Presidency College: Clipper ships from New England, which used ice as ballast, used to unload it here before it found its way into the nawabs’ drinks. Beyond the contemporary political structures and the public swimming pool on the ocean side is the marina promenade: Have your driver stop at its north end (just south of the pool), and take a stroll. Rejoin your driver back in the promenade parking lot and drive to the Parthasarathi Temple C). After this burst of South Indian temple architecture, St. George’s Cathedral O provides a striking contrast. The National Museum and Art Gallery completes your tour with a superb collection of South Indian bronzes.

The marina walk and the temple will each take an hour, the cathedral about 45 minutes, and the museum two to three hours, for a total of between five and six hours.

Tourist places to visit in Central Chennai

#7. marina beach.

Marina Beach

This beach is a favorite early morning promenade and exercise spot. At 6 AM you can see fishing boats casting off and fit folks jogging and performing calisthenics or yoga. In the evening, strollers mix with women haggling with fishermen. During holidays the beach turns into a carnival, complete with vendors and hand-driven carousels, and everyone turns out to mingle and enjoy themselves. The under-tow is strong here, so the beach is not used for swimming.

#8. National Museum and Art Gallery

National Museum and Art Gallery Chennai

This museum is known for its superb collection of Pallava and Chola (8th- to 11th-century) bronze sculptures. The best-known work is probably the Chola Nataraj—a detailed 2-ft statue of the dancing Shiva, surrounded by the cosmic fire, that appears to be in constant motion. Many of the less spectacular bronzes are still worth studying for their detail and facial expressions. Other artworks from all over South India, including ancient Buddhist statues and Jain sculptures, are well represented. The museum also has an arms gallery that’s strong on weapons of the Raj period.

#9. Parthasarathi Temple

Parthasarathi Temple

Built by the Pallavas in the 8th century and re-built by the Vijayanagar kings in the 11th century, this Vishnu temple is dedicated to Krishna, the sarathi (charioteer) of Partha (Arjuna), and is probably the oldest temple in Madras. Legend has it that on the eve of the great battle in the Pandava-Kaurava War, Krishna imparted to Arjuna the Bhagavad Gita. After passing under the colorful gopuram, you’ll enter the courtyard, which has several carved shrines. The four streets surrounding the temple have stalls selling flowers, small idols, and other puja articles; musical instruments; and jewelry.

#10. St. George’s Cathedral

St. George’s Cathedral

Set back from Cathedral Road in pleasant gar-dens, this white colonial church has a 130-ft spire. It was originally Anglican, but it became part of the Church of South India when the Diocese of Madras was constituted in 1835, and is now the Church headquarters. The interior is light and airy, with fascinating tablets and tombs.

Southern Chennai

In the process of expanding ever southward, Madras incorporated old areas like Mylapore (“Town of Peacocks”), which has a 13th-century temple, and in the 1930s developed some new areas like Thyagaraja Nagar (T. Nagar). More recently, Besant Nagar and Kalakshetra Colony were incorporated, both residential areas with broad, tree-lined streets and excellent shopping areas where it’s relatively easy to get around except at rush hour. (At one busy intersection in T. Nagar there’s an eatery called Hotel Traffic Jam.)

In the morning, hire a car and go to the cantonment, a military base and officers’ training academy, to see the Church of Our Lady of Expectation. Drive back east to visit Madras Snake Park), in Guindy Park, and then The Study). Follow R. K. Mutt Road north to the Kapalishvara Temple, then turn right and continue to the end of Kutcher Road to see the Basilica of San Thome Cathedral g, noting the Portuguese architecture in contrast to that of St. George’s Cathedral.

Allow five or six hours for this tour, as there’s a lot of driving involved.

Tourist Places to Visit in Southern Chennai

#11. basilica of san thome cathedral.

Basilica of San Thome Cathedral

It’s commonly held that Thomas the Apostle (“Doubting Thomas”) lived his last years in South India, walking daily from his cave at Little Mount to the beach at Mylapore to preach. Before being captured by the French, Dutch, and English, San Thome was a Portuguese enclave, its name dating from the cathedral’s inception in 1504. In the 1890s the cathedral was reconstructed as a neo-Gothic structure with a 180-ft basilica. St. Thomas is thought to be entombed inside.

#12. Church of Our Lady of Expectation

Church of Our Lady of Expectation

Drive to the cantonment, take the brick road to the top of St. Thomas’ Mount (or climb the roughly 130 granite steps from the base below), and prepare to be dazzled by a breath-taking 360-degree view that includes the entire city of Madras, with the Bay of Bengal beyond and a countryside full of green rice fields rolling away to the western horizon. After the deafening noise of city traffic and the crush of crowded streets, this peaceful and serene oasis offers a spiritual aerie nearly 300 ft above sea level. Legend has it that Thomas the Apostle was martyred while praying in front of a cross engraved in the church’s natural stone base.

#13. Kapalishvara Temple

Kapalishvara Temple

Dating from the 13th century, this crowded Shiva temple is one of the best examples of Dravidian architecture in India. During the Arupathumoovar festival (commemorating the 63 Saivite saints) in March, the temple streets are closed for 10 days to make room for processions of carts and idols around the complex. Kapalishvara Temple is not a rarefied pilgrimage site but a community gathering place for worship, very much a part of daily life.

Just inside the south entrance, under the gopuram, stands the shrine to Ganesh, a smooth black image that’s grown shiny from so many offerings. Worshipers break coconuts in front of and on Ganesh to ask his blessing for a new venture or just for a good day. Sometimes in the late afternoon, a priest talks to groups of widows in the courtyard or mandapam. Farther on around the temple, to the left, you may see a man prostrate himself before the Nandi (bull that is Shiva’s vehicle) that guards the entrance to the inner sanctum. Continue around the building until you come to a mandapam with statues of the nine planets. It’s auspicious to walk clockwise around these planets nine times, so joina the procession. Several of the shrines set into the courtyard wall are accessible to non-Hindus.

#14. Madras Snake Park

Madras Snake Park

At the edge of the Raj Bhavan (Government House), the snake park gives you a chance to see and photograph the common snakes of India (more than 40 species) as well as crocodiles, monitor lizards, chameleons, and tortoises.

#15. The Study

The Study Chennai

Shortly before his death in 1986, the thinker J. Krishnamurti directed that his home and gardens become a place of learning and contemplation, open to anyone who wished to study his teachings in quiet and tranquil surroundings. Called simply “The Study,” the center contains a complete library of Krishna murti’s writings in addition to others’ books on religion, philosophy, psychology, literature, and the arts.

For more tourist information on Top 15 Tourist Places to Visit in Chennai contact Swan Tours – One of the leading Travel agents in India operating since 1995.

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Tourist Places in Chennai

Marina beach, Mahabalipuram, Sri Parthasarathy Temple, Birla Planetarium, San Thome Church, Kapaleeshwar Temple, Thousand Lights Mosque, Fort St. George, Connemara Public Library , Guindy National park, ancient and divine temples of Gods and Goddesses and this metropolitan city never stops with a small list.  From old to contemporary and from nature to architecture, Chennai possesses an impressive variety of places to impress and entertain tourists.  With an old name of Madras in mind, one can explore multiple tourist places in Chennai where Eliot’s beach and Marina beach welcomes everyone to experience fresh air and soothing winds. Magnificent carved temples of Sri Parthasarathy and Kapaleeshwar temples that catch the eye because of colours and tip tallness from far, Fort of British rule, experience grandeur of Connemara library, Royapuram fishing harbour to have ultimacy of catching fishes and that’s still not all. Chennai is also offering exciting camping experience for a getaway where a good bonfire with some music and dance can turn on the routine life. Some surfing and trekking in the nearby zones of the camp will totally let anyone be in awe. So, don’t stop!! Get out of the cave and start exploring!

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Must Visit Places in Chennai

Marina beach.

India's largest beach is right around the corner when one is in Chennai. With an extent from Fort St. George to Besant Nagar, the beach is lined with up palm trees. A view when sky and water meet at both the ends is just visible right in front of the eyes when one stands at the shores.

Attractions : An old lighthouse stands on the southern end of Marina along with several other structures like an aquarium, a swimming pool and a park nearby. The sunrise here is a classy example of breathtaking beauty.

Activities: Entertaining activities are lined up when you are taking a stroll on the sands. The food stalls serve delicious seafood at optimum prices. At the same time, pony rides, beach games, and kite flying activities are also present to make your evening relaxing.

Location : Within the city of Chennai

Best time to visi t : November to March Check Out:  Best Weekend Getaways from Chennai to have amazing weekends Also Checkout & Book:  Bali Safari And Marine Park Tickets

Fort St. George

History of India with the British is a fact that can't be changed. And the live example standing in front is Fort St. George. During British rule, it was made as a centre point for official purposes but now encompasses St. George museum with paintings, coins, silverware, arms, porcelain, and documents.

Attraction: It has given space to historic monuments of St. Mary's church under its cloud. The Flagstaff at the Fort is one of the tallest structure in the country. 

Timings: 9 am to 5 pm (except Friday)

Entry Fee : INR 100 for foreign tourists and INR 5 for Indian visitors (only the museum) Location:  Rajaji Rd, Near Legislature and Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600009 Distance:   25 km from Chennai Airport

Thousand Lights Mosque

Since the architecture has a special corner in the heart of Chennai, Thousand Lights Mosque stands tall in this list. The place has got its name because of a special feature i.e. a total of 1000 oil lamps light up the hall of the mosque. Imagine the beauty!!! Also, it is one of the biggest mosques in the country.

Attraction: These magnificent domes give a home to a large space used to offer prayer to God. Along with this, a separate hall is made for women also to pray in this calm and serene space.

Timing s: 5:30 am to 9 pm

Entry Fee : None Location:  Royapettah, Peters Rd, Peters Colony, Thousand Lights, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600086 Distance: 18 km from city centre Check Out:  Adventure Sports in Chennai for thrill-seekers Click Here to Book Now:  99 Wonderland Park Tickets

Elliot’s Beach

Though a less crowded beach than Marina, Eliot has its own catch. Now named at Besant Nagar Beach, it attracts people because of the serene beauty and clean brown sands.

Attractions : The Schmidt Memorial is a huge draw of Elliott Beach which was built in remembrance of a Dutch sailor, Karl Schmidt. This white built-up has given an extra tip to the beach for recognition.

Apart from that, on the southern side, the famed AshtaLakshmi Temple and Velankanni Church are present, popular among the residents of Chennai.

Distance : 10-15 km from Chennai

Location : South of Chennai

Best time to visi t : November to March Also Checkout & Book:  Tower Bridge Tickets  

Ashtalaxmi Temple

Lying on the gorgeous expanse of the Besant Beach, this is the only temple dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi on Tamil Nadu’s east coast. You can see the idols of Dashavatara, Ganesha, and Guruvayoorappan. The magnificence of the architecture lies in its ‘OM’ shaped design, making it one of the most enchanting places to visit in Chennai. Visit during festivals like Navaratri, Diwali, and Pongal to see the temple in its full splendour. Don’t miss to attend the evening puja, a beautifully serene experience accentuated by the enveloping cool sea breeze.  Location: Elliots Beach, 6/21 Paindi Amman Kovil, Besant Nagar, Chennai. Timings : Every day 6:30 am- 12:00 pm (1:00 pm on Fridays & Sundays), and 4:00 pm- 9:00 pm. Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.

Best of Goa

Vellankani Shrine

This grand monument stands off the Elliot's Beach and gives a totally different aura to the whole zone. The pristine white structure of the church having tall towers stands overlooking the Bay of Bengal and is visited by thousands of solace-seekers every day.

One can also attend the mass prayer conducted both in Tamil and English. Annai Vailankanni Shrine has a charm unparalleled amongst the surroundings.

Timings :  5 am to 9 pm

Entry Fee: None Location:  Velankanni, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu You Can Checkout Great Discounts On:  Ripley's Believe It Or Not Pattaya Tickets

Dakshina Chitra

Also known by the term ‘Living-history museum', the museum is built in order to explain the historical aspects of Tamil culture to the present generation. Built in an area of 10 acres, DakshinaChitra is a small village has been recreated using replicas of traditional South Indian houses dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries. The exhibition has a plethora of living beliefs of art, folk performing arts, craft, and architecture of India and in particular of South Indian traditions. From a typical Tamil house to basic utensils, a fisherman's life to various fabrics is all depicted in the museum. Regular events of classical dances and musical concerts also take place to attract the tourists.   Location:  SH 49, Muttukadu, Tamil Nadu Timings : 10 am to 6 pm (except Tuesday)

Entry Fee :  INR 100 for adults INR 30 for children between 5-12 and INR 250 for foreign visitors Also Checkout & Book:  Moulin Rouge Tickets

Guindy National Park and Snake Park

The city life has a special edition of a variety of species and is the only national park situated in the middle a city. Guindy has many birds, animals, and reptiles as its residents. The visitors can treat their eyes with the presence of blackbucks, spotted deer, jackals, tortoise etc.

Attractions: The snake park is home to cobras and pythons, while the birds found here include partridge, quail, flycatcher, and buzzards. This place is surely one of the best places to visit in Chennai that make anyone forget the regular city life.

Timings : 9 am to 5:30 pm

Entry Fee: INR 20 for adults, INR 5 for children Location:    Rangeguindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 60002 Distance:  12 km from Chennai Airport Check Out:  25 Popular Team Outing Places in Chennai

The exotic destination with a distinct culture in the neighbourhood of Chennai is Mylapore. Known for tree-lined avenues, Kapaleeswarar temple, and Ramakrishnan Math as famous attractions, the zone has a combination of thousands of temples, churches, and mosques on its land. San Thomas Basilica and Adi Kesava Perumal Temple have their prominence stand tall. Known as the oldest residential area this place is historically known as Vedapuri. Apart from the Architecture, the major cultural addition here is music sabha and the musicians. In the month of December, many sabhas are organized to revive the age-old culture of playing music in a group. Also, Mylapore food has its own smell and fragrance of its delicious cuisines. Location: Mylapore is located south of the British built city Chennai. Timings:  6:00 A.M to 1:00 P.M 4:00 P.M to 8:00 P.M Entry Fee:  No entry fee

Royapuram Fishing Harbour

This harbour attracts many people to spend some time in leisure while shopping in one of the biggest fish markets. This amazing harbour can accommodate about 575 fishing boats and one can view fishermen catching for their daily needs even bustling in the nights.

The place offers one of the best photographic locations while fishermen throw their nets, pile up the fishes and organize them in local markets. The best thing about this place are the people who shout at the top of their voice trying to be the best bidder. Location : The harbor is located at the north of the Chennai Port and is under the administrative control of the Chennai Port Trust. Entry Fee:  No entry fee Timings: Always Open

Best of Bangalore

San Thome Church

The sparkling vast white structure of San Thome stands on the tomb of St Thomas. This place is definitely an important one in religious terms but doesn’t fail to attract travellers from all over Chennai. This monument is one of the best places to visit in Chennai as it reminds us of the colonial past relations that Indians had.

Attractions: A nostalgia will arise within when this church is viewed from inside out. From stained glass panels of the windows, a sitting statue of St Thomas, museum, library, shops that sell candles and flowers are one of the classy additions in the monument. The highest tip embarked with Cross and the sloping red roof is totally catchy when viewed from outside.

Timings: 6 am to 8 pm

Location:  38, Santhome High Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004 Distance: 1 7.5  km from Chennai Airport Also, Read:  35 Best Resorts in ECR Chennai for Team Outing

Birla Planetarium

Want to be on the moon and stars at an affordable cost? Well, Chennai has Birla Planetarium, situated near Anna University waiting to generate the gist of Science amongst the young minds.

Attractions: The planetarium runs regular audio-visual programs on astronomy that amazes its visitors. Apart from this, it also exhibits programs on Solar System, Cycle of Stars, Sky and Seasons, Comets and Man on the Moon.

Also, Science Park, Traffic Park, and Science on Wheels are the special highlights of the Science Centre which are of special interest for young visitors and hence, it is one of the best things to do in Chennai.

Timings: 10 am to 5:45 pm

Entry Fee : INR 40 for adults, INR 25 for children Location:  Gandhi Mandapam Road in Kotturpuram, Chennai Distance:  12.3 km from Chennai Airport

Nettukuppam

An age-old rusty bridge with its head pointing in the sea is what Nettukuppam is all about. The feeling of self-placement in high waves could be felt at this bridge where one can sit with their legs hanging down. The bridge piers are not advised to explore in the morning due to high tides.

For the photography enthusiast, this is like a double treat where one can click some memorable pictures. This is one of the most famous beaches in Chennai which is visited by a huge number of people all around the year.

Distance : 24 km from Chennai

Location : Northernmost tip of Chennai Timings:  6 am to 11 pm Entry Fee:  No entry Fee

Kapaleeshwar Temple

The unique architectural style, in-depth detail of gopuram and temple head and the magnificent height of around 37 meters are what makes this temple best place to visit in Chennai. The Dravidian style of temple construction is most famous in cities of South India and Kapaleeshwar temple is a live example of the same. 

Attractions : The temple is home of deities Shiva and Karpagambal, holds a festival in the months of March and April while attracting thousands of devotees in its premises. Asl, a huge tank filled with water is another catchy place having a religious value as well as was used as a store of water in historical times.

Location : Within Chennai city

Timings: 5:30 am to 12 pm, 5-9 pm

Entry Fee : None

Distance: 17 km from Chennai Airport.

Madras War Memorial

One of the most famous places in Chennai, the war memorial is a tribute to the martyrs during the Second World War. It is a beautiful structure carved out of white marble with inscriptions detailing the names of people who gave up their lives.  Activities: Take a walk in this surreal place and its well-maintained gardens. See the Stone of Remembrance and Cross-of the Sacrifice. Visit on days like Army Day and Vijay Diwas to see special homages paid by the forces.  Distance: 5 kilometres from Chennai Airport.  Location: Inside Madras War Cemetery, Mount Poonamalle High Road, Poonthottam Colony, Nandambakkam, Chennai. Timings: Every day 8:00 am-6:00 pm Entry Fee : There is no entry fee.

Best of Ooty

Parthasarathy Temple

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his various avatars, this 100-year-old temple gets devotees from all over the country.  It is one of the special attractions in Chennai because it is one of the 108 Divya Desams existing in the country. The architecture is beautiful and has Dravidian influences.  Activities: See the beautiful idols of Rukmini, Balaram, Satyaki, Prathymnan, and Anirudhan along with those of Parthasarathy. See the 8 th -century Dantivarma Pallava inscriptions.  Distance: 20.4 kilometres from Chennai Airport.  Location: Narayana Krishnaraja Puram, Triplicane, Chennai. Timings : Every day 6:00 am- 12:30 pm, and 4:00 pm- 9:00 pm. Entry Fee: There is no entry fee. Also, Check:   10 Best Resorts and Places to Stay in Chennai

Valluvar Kottam

Chennai’s love for literature & culture is evident in this monument dedicated to the great Tamil saint, philosopher, and writer Tiruvalluvar. This monument, created by 3000 stone blocks, is in the shape of a chariot. The auditorium inside is considered to be the largest in Asia and is one of the most interesting places to visit in Chennai. Activities: See the 133 chapters of Tiruvalluvar’s work Thirukkural inscribed in the monument. See exhibitions on handicrafts held regularly. Don’t miss to see the plants planted by Mother Teresa in 1984.  Distance: 15.5 kilometres from Chennai Airport.  Location: 34, Valluvar Kottam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai.  Timings: Every day 8:30 am- 5:30 pm. Entry Fee: Adults INR 3.00, Children INR 2.00.

Connemara Public Library

Libraries are definitely storehouse of books but Connemara library has its unique style of placement of books and flanked broad arches which makes it stands apart from others. Constructed in the late The 19th century, Connemara library is a treasure house of centuries-old publications.

Attraction: With a collection of over 600,000 books, it is one of Asia’s largest libraries. Be it avid readers or scholars doing research work, one could easily get lost in this enchanting world of books as they immerse themselves in their favourite activity.

Timings : 9 AM to 7.30 PM

Entry Fee : None Location:  Museum Compound, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600008 Distance:  20 Km from Chennai Airport Recommended Read:  15 Best Places for Trekking near Chennai

Vadapalani Murugan Temple

This 125-year-old Hindu Temple is one of the most important worship places in Chennai. Dedicated to Lord Murugan, the architecture of the temple is traditional South Indian with lots of colours and carvings. The Murugan idol is shown to be wearing footwear, which is not a common sight.  Activities: Visit the samadhis of Annasamy Thambiran and Bagyalinga Thambiran inside the temple. See the legends of Skanda Purana at the Gopuram located at the entrance.   Distance: 12 kilometres from Chennai Airport.  Location: Palani Andavar Koil Street, Vadapalani, Chennai.  Timings: Every day 5:00 am- 12:30 pm, and 4:00 pm- 9:00 pm. Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.  Must Read:  20 Best Resorts in Chennai for Team Outing

Beaches to Visit in Chennai

Breezy beach.

Lying in the quiet suburbs of Valmiki Nagar, this charming beach provides the perfect seaside escape away from the other busier beaches. This is one of the cleanest beaches in Chennai and is great for a family day out.  Attractions: Enjoy the beautiful sunrise and sunset at the beach. Go for long walks amidst soothing sounds of the waters. Try street snacks like sundal and idlis from the restaurants & shacks on the beach. Shop at the nearby Thiruvanmiyur market. Distance: 10 kilometres from Chennai Airport.  Location: Valmiki Nagar, Chennai.  Best Time to visit:  Early morning to enjoy amazing sunrise and breakfast.

Best of Alleppey

Covelong Beach

Golden Beach

This pristine beach is famous for the vast expanses of golden sands framed by the striking blue waters. It is a private beach belonging to the VGP Universal Kingdom and one of the cleanest in Chennai. It is one of the best places in Chennai to keep the whole family engaged with its attractions.  Activities: Visit the VGP Amusement Park’s Universal Kingdom, Aqua Kingdom, and the Snow Kingdom for exciting rides & games. Visit the VGP 2000 Millennium Tower and Statue Man. There are facilities for surfing here.  Distance: 20 kilometres from Chennai Airport.  Location: East Coast Road, Injambakkam, Chennai.  Best Time to visit:  November to March

Akkarai Beach

An enthralling seafront in Chennai, Akkarai Beach is famous for its luxuriant greenery and serene expanses. The beach is less crowded therefore very clean and tranquil.  Activities: Take a long walk on the beach enveloped in the cool sea breeze and soothing sounds of the water. Children can spend time in the play area. Visit the beach house for a family getaway. Distance: 23 kilometres from Chennai Airport.  Location: Injambakkam, Chennai.  Timings: Accessible throughout the day.  Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.

Historical Tourist Places in Chennai

Prakasam salai.

One of the most iconic places to visit in Chennai is this magnificent structure which was built in 1795. It is an archaeologically important site and a major tourist attraction. This huge redbrick structure and its impressive Roman-style architecture can be seen from a distance  Location: 88 Prakasam Road, Mahdushkhan Garden, Manadi Police Colony, George Town, Chennai.  Timings : Monday-Friday: 10:00 am-5:00 pm, Saturdays till 2:00 pm, Sunday closed.  Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.

Ripon Building

Amongst the most famous tourist places in Chennai, Ripon building is a behemoth government building. The beauty of Ripon building, built-in 1913, lies in its stark white colour and Roman-style architecture. It is named after Lord Ripon, the Governor-General of British India.  Location: 53, Raja Muthiah Road, Kannappar Tidal, Periyamet, Chennai. Timings: Every day 10:00 am- 6:00 pm. Entry Fee: Restricted entry. 

Best of Pondicherry

Madras High Court

When in Chennai, one can't miss an opportunity to visit Madras High Court. Madras High court is one of the highest courts in India. The court exercise original jurisdiction over the whole city. While you are at the court, get amazed by the majestic architecture of the building.

The red built-up under the blue sky is very catchy. And decorated ceilings in the interior with the stained glasses are in itself a masterpiece here. The tallest tower in the center of the building gives a gist of Dravidian Architecture which was used in ancient temples of South India.

Distance :  2.9 km from Chennai

Timings:  10 AM- 5:45 PM

Location:  The court is located at N Fort Rd, Parrys, George Town, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Vivekanandar House

A place to get inspired and relish a totally the new knowledgeable experience will bring any individual to Vivekananda House where they can get a good tour of Swami Vivekananda's life. His utmost significant teachings can be received by visiting the gallery, meditation room, and Vivekananda Park. This historic place houses a permanent exhibition on Indian Culture and Swami Vivekananda’s life and will give a positive vibe when one is on its tour.

This place is one of the best places to visit in Chennai as Swami Vivekananda spent a few days at this place after his return from West. Location :  Vivekanandar House is located at Kamaraj Salai(Marina beach road), Neelam Basha Durgapuram, Near Triplicane, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Timings: 10:00 AM- 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM- 7:30 PM Entry Fee: Rs.10 per adult and Rs.5 per child

Located on the East Coast of Bay of Bengal and bounded by Thiruvanmiyur to the South lies this amazing place Besant.  On vacation or a day out, this option can be kept high on the list because of attractions like Elliot’s beach in the basket. For those, who love to visit religious places, this is a double treat as they can visit the Annai Velankanni Church and the Ashtalakshmi Temple along the shore which is very famous among the people of Chennai. Named after the famous personality Annie Besant this place is best known for its serene and tranquil setting which attracts visitors from all over the world. Location : Besant is located on the east coast of Bay of Bengal. Timings:  Always Open Entry Fee:  No entry fee

Sri Parthasarathy Temple

The temple is an old sculpture dedicated to Lord Krishna and is placed comfortably in the city of Chennai. Known for its historic presence, Sri Parthasarathy temple has its own charm with gopuram rising high and studded with carved sculptures in beautiful and bright colours topped with ‘amalkas’.

Attraction: The temple is easily noticeable from distance and hence attracts hundreds of devotees and tourists at the same time. Location:  Narayana Krishnaraja Puram, Triplicane, Chennai Timings : 4 am to 11:30 pm

Entry Fee :  None Distance: 20 km from Chennai Airport

Places to Visit in Chennai with Family & Kids

Arignar anna zoological park.

A little away from the city centre, Arignar The zoological park is home to more than 500 species of wild beings were some of which are endangered. An aviary, lion safari, deer safari, and an elephant safari form the most popular sections of the zoo. Apart from this, a separate section for nocturnal animals could be reached too. An aquarium, butterfly house, reptile house, amphibian house, crocodile enclosure are part of the premises which makes it one of the best places to visit in Chennai. Location:  GST Road, Vandalur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Timings : 9 am to 5 pm (except Tuesdays)

Entry Fee : INR 30 for adults and INR 10 for children between 5-12 years

Best of Kodaikanal

Semmozhi Poonga

Semmozhi Poonga Park is a botanical garden in the Chennai city covering an area of over 20 acres. With family and friends, this place can be visited to explore the exotic and rare flora and fauna. Not just this, medicinal herbs are also found here and we know, how much they matter to all of us.

Visitors can relax on the park grounds that are subdivided into the rock garden, butterfly garden, fern garden, sunken garden and many more themed gardens on its laps. The sights of natural beauty with ducks swimming in ponds, dancing lights, and well-maintained tree lines energize anyone with fresh air and breath of flowers.  Location:  Cathedral Rd, Ellaiamman Colony, Teynampet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Timings : 10 am to 8 pm (except Tuesday)

Entry Fee : INR 15 for Adults, INR 10 for Children(Below 10 yrs)

Express Avenue

One of the top shopping destinations in Chennai, Express Avenue features some of the best brands in apparel, footwear, electronics, automobiles, and departmental stores.   Explore the huge range of fine dining options like Elixir- the Lounge Bar, Kapila Dosa, Orange Wok, etc. Catch a movie at Escape and Pix 5D Cinema. Explore the Fun City gaming zone.  Location: 2, Club House Road, Near Clock Tower, Express Estate, Royapettah, Chennai. Timings: Weekdays: 10:30 am- 9:30 pm, Weekends: 10:00 am-10:00 pm. Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.

Marundeeshwar Temple

One of the most revered places in Chennai, this temple dates back to the times of the 11th century Chola kings. It is dedicated to Lord Marundeeshwar and his knowledge of medicinal properties of herbs. Locals have a belief that the prasadam here comprising of ash and milk can cure any disease. There is a shivalinga inside along with statutes of Lord Muruga & Vinayaka. Spend tranquil time amidst the beautiful architecture with Dravidian & Chola influences and the 36 intricately carved pillars. Visit during Shivratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Panguni Brahmmotsavam.  Location: 8, W Tank Street, Lalitha Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai.  Timings : Every day 5:30 am- 12:00 pm, and 4:00 pm- 8:30 pm. Entry Fee: There is no entry fee. 

VGP Universal Kingdom

This award-winning amusement and theme park is one of the first ones in Chennai. Some consider this massive 45-acre park with a private beach to be the largest amusement park in India. Loved by children and adults alike, the park is one of the most interesting places to visit in Chennai.  Get up and close with goats, ponies, and sheep at Petting Zoo. Interact with the Statue Man dressed in the traditional Chola empire dress. Try thrilling rides like Tornado, Viking, and Wave Swinger.  Location: East Coast Road, Chennai. Timings: Every 11:00 am- 7:30 pm. Entry Fee: Adults INR 600, Children INR 500.

Crocodile Bank

Started as a research station and conservation centre, the bank is first in Asia for crocodile breeding. The Crocodile Bank even houses alligators, gharials, muggers,  snakes, sea turtles and water birds in its premises.

In all, there are around 2500 creatures within the boundaries of the Bank and one can spot crocs as well as gharials basking themselves on the edge of the water body during the day. There is also a souvenir shop where one can purchase books and memorabilia related to these reptiles including the famous research and awards. Location:  Post Bag No 4, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu Timings : 8:30 am to 5:30 pm (except Monday)

Entry Fee : INR 35 for adults, INR10 for children below 10

Best of Kovalam

Chennai Sangamam

Immerse yourself in folk storytelling, theatre, dance, films, and reverberating sounds of traditional musical instruments at this week-long open festival. One of the most popular symbols of Tamil art & culture, the festival welcomes everybody to enjoy the performances.  Enjoy regional cuisines at the festival. Meet renowned artists, craftsmen, and even traditional botanists. See rare and ancient visual art forms, and performances.   Location : Open locations like beaches, parks, public promenades, etc.   Timings: Performances take place throughout the day.  Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.

MGM Dizzee World

Dizzee World is an amusement located in the city with a themed style to attract its visitors, from young to old. With several thrilling rides like spider spin, roller coaster, the funny mountain, the place also has an amphitheatre for performances. The water park in the premises has a wave pool apart from many other rides and slides and magnetizes hundreds every day. Location:  1/74, SH 49, Muttukadu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Timings : 9:30 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays, 10:30 am to 7:30 pm on weekends and holidays

Entry Fee : INR 799 for adults (with food), INR 577 for kids (food included), INR 550 for adults, INR 450 for kids.

Cholamandal Artist Village

This artists’ commune is a platform for the resident painters and sculptors to showcase their creations to the visiting guests. This place is actually famous for bringing modernity in the artistic creation. The well-decorated interiors are embarked with interesting art and craft with two galleries, an open-air theatre, a bookstore and a craft shop in the premises. For people interested in aesthetics, they can enjoy the work of artists in a serene ambience surrounded by optimum vegetation around the village. Location:   2/147A, Cholamandal Artists Village, Injambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu Timings : 9 am to 6:30 pm

Entry Fee : INR 20 for adults and INR 5 for children

Places to Visit near Chennai

• Mahabalipuram

Also known as Mamallapuram, it is one of the best places to visit near Chennai. Mahabalipuram is an ancient place known for rock-cut built-up architecture with extensive carvings that will just awestruck anyone. The iconic Shore Temple, among the oldest temples of South India, is carved out of a large block of granite. A short distance from this place of worship is ‘Descent of the Ganges’ or‘ Arjuna's Penance’. Among the world's biggest bas-reliefs, it depicts the story of the descent of the River Ganges from Heaven to Earth.

‘Pancha Rathas’ or the five chariots are again carved out of a single rock and are dedicated to the Pandavas along with one dedicated to their wife. Don’t forget to notice Krishna’s Butterball as this rock is hanging on a sloping floor and won’t fall even if anyone wants it to.

Attractions: Explore and observe the fine sculptures of the various monuments standing in Mahabalipuram. The drive from Chennai to Mahabalipuram along the seashore is quite an experience too. The beach at this tourist place near Chennai is also ideal for spending a day just lounging on the sand, relaxing and clicking perfect shots with friends and families.  A perfect getaway is right next to Chennai at this royal place. Location:  Sea Temple Mahabalipuram Timings:  6 am to 6 pm Entry Fee:  10 INR for Indian and 340 for foreigner Distance: 60 km from Chennai Suggested Read:  15 Best Beach Resorts in Chennai for your vacation.

Top Experiences To Do in Mahabalipuram

Kolli Hills

One of the most interesting pilgrimages and religious places in Chennai is Kolli Hills or the ‘Mountain of Death’. Standing tall at 4265 ft. this picturesque mountain range, located in the Eastern Ghats, offers the perfect weekend escape.  Attractions:  Amazing scenes alongside rode make it an amazing place for drives Activities: See the magnificent 1st-century Arapaleeswarar Lord Shiva Temple. Visit the Tampcol Medicinal Farm to see the beautiful expanses of planted medicinal herbs. See the Agaya Gangai Waterfalls, boat ride at Vasalurpatty Boat House and visit the centuries-old Siddhar Caves.  Distance: 335 kilometres from Chennai Airport.  Location: Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.  Best Time to Visit:  Throughout the year.

Best of Gokarna

Muttukadu is one of the tourist places near Chennai at the backwater of Bay of Bengal. This place offers a relaxing aura in nature with fun-filled activities for its visitors. The Boathouse in Muttukadu is where all the action is. Apart from this, the beach at Muttukadu draws a sizeable crowd during trips to this area. Get a glimpse of various species of birds at the backwaters during migratory season. Attractions : The Boathouse in Muttukadu is where all the action is. Apart from this, the beach at Muttukadu draws a sizeable crowd during trips to this area. Get a glimpse of various species of birds at the backwaters during migratory season. Activities : Rowing, water skiing, speed boat riding, windsurfing and paddle boating are exciting activities that can be availed at Muttukadu. Also, birdwatching is one of the passionate activity for the bird lovers here. Distance: 31 km Best time to visit:  November to March.

The coastal town of Sadras was once a Dutch fortress which was taken over by the British in later years. It is currently in ruins but a few structures within can still be viewed. Attractions:  The glorious Sadras Fort was constructed by the Dutch as a post for exporting goods. It has a vast compound which contains a large granary, stables, and structures used to mount elephants. Picturesque tombs, cannons and carved pieces of stones could be viewed here. A history buff would love to be a part of this place. Activities :  A picnic with family or friends could cheer anyone up after the fort tour. Distance :  71 km from Chennai Location:  Eastern coast, South of Mahabalipuram Best time to visit:  October to March

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Kanchipuram

This bird sanctuary is inundated with thousands of birds of varied species during the migratory season. The lake within the sanctuary is the all-important source of water for these creatures, around which they build their nests and thrive.

Attractions : Birds of diverse origins are what you can see at this place to visit near Chennai. While some birds like cormorants, egrets, moorhens, and terns are found at other places in India, others like snake bird, ibis, stork, heron, and spoonbill come all the way from Europe to make Vedanthangal their home for a few months.

Activities : Bird watching and capturing the experience with your cameras is the major activity to be carried on here.

Distance: 78 km

Location: Close to Palar River, south of Chennai

Best time to Visit: November to February.

This small town is known for the temple dedicated to Murugan that stands on top of a hillock here. One can reach the temple by climbing up the 365 steps that take you to it. A few religious festivals are celebrated here during which many devotees visit the temple.

Attractions: This pilgrimage center has a number of temples located here apart from the famous Murugan temple. Some of them are Shivan temple, Bajan Kovil, Vinayagar Kovil, and Eswaran temple.

Activities : A trek to the temple hill to boost your energy high.

Distance: 90 km

Location: West of Chennai

Best time to visit: October to March

Pulicat Lake & Bird Sanctuary

Formed at the backwaters of the Bay of Bengal, Pulicat is the second largest lagoon in India that has brackish water. And the bird sanctuary stands on a piece of land in the middle of this lake.

Attractions: The spectacular sight of thousands of pink Flamingos flocked together can be viewed only at this place. Besides, you can also spot pelicans, herons, kingfishers, storks and many more at the sanctuary. There are quite a few fishing villages on the lake’s edge which one can visit if interested.

Activities: Boating in the lake where one can see birds splashing in the water. Photography by the birdwatchers can be done here and is a treat to the eyes of professionals.

Distance: 98 km from Chennai

Location: Eastern coast, North of Chennai

Best of Mahabalipuram

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Chennai has a lot to keep you engaged throughout the day and even surprise you at times! The best aspect of Chennai is that you have varied experiences all in a day- be it taking a nature trail, seeing ancient temples, or beach-hopping. Here is a list of some of these places: Marina Beach VGP Golden Beach Dakshinachitra Elliot’s Beach Express Avenue.

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Chennai Top Attractions

Santhome Church is a standing testament to the belief of the Christian followers and is among the three wonders of this world that house the tombs of Christ’s original disciple. The other two are Santiago de Compostela in Spain and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. It was constructed in the memory of Saint Thomas who was an Apostle of Jesus Christ. Santhome Church is the greatest symbol of multi-culture and religious harmony as people from all religions visit this Church to seek solace and eternal peace.This church was built initially as a mausoleum, but it has now transversed into a Basilica owing to it’s gaining popularity and importance. Beneath the towering white embodiment of this basilica lies the body of Saint Thomas who came to India in 52 AD to preach about Christianity. He was successful in converting a large population of the locals residing in Tamil Nadu and Kerala with his wisdom and powerful preaching. He thereafter formed a community that is now known as Syrian Christians. This church also houses a museum that displays souvenirs of Saint Thomas and gives visitors an insight into the glorious past of this church during the historical times.

Located on the East Coast Road in the Sholinganallur locality of South-Chennai, ISKCON Temple is the spiritual and cultural hub of the city. This temple in Chennai is not only the biggest Radha Krishna temple in Tamilnadu but one of the biggest ISKCON temples in India. With the history of the ISKCON temple in Chennai dating back to the late 1970s, the construction of the temple began in the late 1990s and was completed in 2012 in many phases. The temple houses the deity of Lord Krishna, alongside Radharani and their friends Lalita, Lord Chaitanya, Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra inside three teak-wood alters which are one of a kind. These deities are sourced from Rajasthan and Orissa. Under the guidance of Sri Bhanu Swami, the beautiful architecture is inspired by the Kalinga and Pallava kingdoms’ architecture. At the entrance of the temple, one would see the wonderful design of various Hindu universes on the marble flooring. The various universes are circled a central pillar called Mount Meru. The design is implicated from the ancient Vedic Puranas where Mount Meru is described as the centre of all the universes. The temple is a blend of various cultures with modern scientific technology. To attract more and more people in the ISKCON movement, the authorities of the temples organize lectures and audio-visual programs about the Hindu philosophy. Spread over an area of 1.5 acres, the ISKCON temple or the Hare Rama Hare Krishna temple is built on five floors.

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39 Best Places to Visit in Chennai (2024), ✔Tourist Places List

Budget Hotels > Travel Blog > Destinations > Chennai > 39 Best Places to Visit in Chennai (2024), ✔Tourist Places List

Being one of the biggest economic and educational centres of South India, Chennai has become one of the top places for IT firms and many other businesses to flourish. We’re sure that you too must have visited this ever-hustling city at least once for official work or are going to in near future! Have ever thought of exploring Chennai and the beautiful monuments it has? Looking for famous Tourist Places in Chennai? Find the list of best places to visit in Chennai in 2024 with location, images, entry fee & best time to go info.

Best Tourist Places in Chennai:

1. marina beach.

Marina Beach

Tired of the sweltering heat of Chennai? Let Marina Beach be a sweet escape spot for you. Beaches in Chennai along the Bay of Bengal coast, happen to be the longest beaches in India and one of the longest in the world. Got enough time to pay a visit to this amazing place during the morning or evening? We suggest that you should not miss out on experiencing the enthralling view of the sun setting or rising from the beach. You may shop for trinkets such as imitation jewellery, and shell mementos from the stalls on the beach side. Among the best places to visit in Chennai with friends, it is perfect to build sand castles or play games like beach volleyball.

• Timings: All through the day
• Time Required: 3-4 hours
• How to reach: The nearest train station to Marina Beach is Chepauk. The nearest metro station to Marina Beach in Chennai is Government Estate.
• Tip: Due to sharp currents, swimming and bathing in the sea is strictly prohibited.
• Nearby Attractions: Vivekananda House, Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Temple, Santhome Church, Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple
• Places to stay: Hotels near Marina Beach

Explore recommended places to stay in Chennai at best price

2. Valluvar Kottam

Valluvar Kottam

Those of you who love literature must have heard or read about the famous Tamil poet and saint, Thiruvalluvar. For the uninformed, Thiruvalluvar is hailed as one of the greatest Tamil scholars. Valluvar Kottam is an intricately designed chariot built in his honour and is one of the most famous Chennai tourist places. The magnificence of Valluvar Kottam can be best experienced early in the morning or when the sun is just setting. Wondering how to reach here? It is located at the intersection of Kodambakkam High Road and Village Road; taxis and buses can be taken from around the city.

• Location: Nungambakkam Lake Area Main Road, Chennai
• Timings: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
• Time Required: 1-2 hours
• Entry Fee: ₹ 5 (children); ₹ 10 (adults)
• How to reach: Located less than 1 Km from Kodambakkam Railway Station. AG DMS Metro Station is the nearest metro station.
• Tip: Be respectful of the cultural site.
• Nearby Attractions: Birla Planetarium, Semmozhi Poonga Botanical Garden, Marina Beach, Vivekanandar Illam Museum
• Places to stay: Hotels near Valluvar Kottam Mounument

3. Thousand Lights Mosque

Thousand Lights Mosque

This multi-domed mosque, which is a revered place of worship for Local Muslims, literally lights up the Royapettah area of Chennai. It is believed that in olden times, about 1000 lights were required to light up the hall of this mosque which is why it has been named the Thousand Lights Mosque. As it goes without saying, this place looks absolutely spectacular all glowing: hence, is among the most popular places to visit in Chennai at night. With two minarets towering at a height of about 64 feet, this mosque exhibits the excellence of medieval architectural style.

• Location: Royapettah, Peters Road, Peters Colony, Chennai
• Time Required: 1 hour
• Timings: 5:30 am to 8:30 pm
• Entry Fee: NA
• How to reach: Chennai Central Railway Station is at a distance of 7 km.
• Tip: Tourists have to be modestly dressed, and footwear should be left outside the mosque.
• Nearby Attractions: Arignar Anna Statue, Birdman Of Chennai, MGR Memorial, Chennai Marina Lighthouse, Panagal Park, Natesan Park
• Places to stay: Hotels near Thousands Light Mosque

4. Elliot’s Beach

Elliot’s Beach

With Ashtalakshmi Kovil in its vicinity, Elliot’s Beach is a famous place to visit in Chennai with friends or family. This beautiful beach, which was named after Edward Elliot (the Chief Magistrate, and Superintendent of Madras during the British Era), is one of the cleanest seafronts in India. Sunbathe, relax and unwind, keeping the stress at bay at this extremely calm and scenic place. Featuring in the list of Chennai’s famous places for couples, this one is great for a moonlight walk.

• Time Required: 2 to 3 hours
• How to reach: The nearest train station to Elliot’s Beach in Chennai is Indira Nagar Mrts Station.
• Tip: Carry a camera, torch and light, and wear fully covered clothes and proper footwear.
• Nearby Attractions: Marina Beach, Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Government Museum Chennai, Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple

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5. Dakshinachitra

Dakshinachitra

Literally translating to “a picture of the south”, DakshinaChitra is a living history museum in Chennai. This museum has 18 houses put together to depict the culture, architecture, craft and lifestyle of all four South Indian states – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana and Karnataka – via more than 4000 artefacts. A quick trip to 4 states under the same roof? Yes, please! If you are looking for places to visit in Chennai with family, then this is the right pick as your children will learn a lot about South India here.

• Location: SH 49, Muttukadu, 25 km south of Chennai
• Timings: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Time Required: 2-3 hours
• Children 5-12 years: ₹ 20
• Students: ₹ 30
• Adults: ₹ 110 (₹ 130 during festivals and national holidays)
• How to reach: Chennai International Airport is at a distance of 17 km. There are buses and cabs available to reach the museum.
• Tip: The craft shop at the museum has a wide array of interesting souvenirs.
• Nearby Attractions: Kapaleeswarar Temple, Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Kishkinta Theme Park, Santhome Church, Mgm Dizzee World
• Places to stay: Hotels near Dakshinachitra Museum

6. Ashtalakshmi Temple

Ashtalakshmi Temple

Regarded as an abode of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Knowledge, Ashtalakshmi Temple is a few kilometres from Besant Beach. It is one of the most visited Chennai tourist places. Constructed to worship the eight avatars of Goddess Lakshmi, the divine ambience of this temple is bound to leave you feeling relaxed. The most interesting part of this place? The waves of the ocean echo in the temple complex, which further makes it all the more peaceful. Ideal place to give rest to those worries while spiritually enlightening yourself, isn’t it?

• Location: Elliots Beach, Besant Nagar, Chennai
• Timings: 6:30 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• How to reach: The nearest railway station is Indira Nagar, which is 10 or 15 minutes away by taxi or auto rickshaw.
• Tip: The temple is primarily an outdoor attraction, so wear sunscreen and a hat.
• Nearby Attractions: Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Besant Nagar Beach, Bhaktha Anjaneyar Temple, Chennai Railway Museum
• Places to stay: Hotels near Besant Nagar

7. Government Museum

Government Museum

Do you love artefacts? If you do, you will love the Government Museum of Chennai. This place is known for preserving some of the best ancient (10-13th century) and modern South Indian bronzes. What’s more, is that the Amaravathi Gallery houses marble sculptures depicting the life of Gautam Buddha dating back to the 2nd century. It is truly a gem of a place to visit in Chennai for kids and grownups alike!

• Location: Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai
• Timings: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm (closed on Fridays and national holidays)
• Students: ₹ 5
• Children below 12 years: ₹ 10
• Adults: ₹ 15
• How to reach: Chennai Egmore Railway Station is 2 km away from the Government Museum.
• Nearby Attractions: Connemara Public Library, Chetpet Ecopark, Valluvar Kottam, Anna Memorial, Dr MGR Memorial
• Tip: There are extra charges applicable for cameras.
• Places to stay: Hotels near Government Museum

8. Mylapore

Want to soak in the rich and colourful culture of Chennai? Head to Mylapore, which is regarded as the cultural hub of Chennai, boasting a history going back 1500 years! Whether it is beautiful temples you are looking to visit or delicious South Indian delicacies to binge on, Mylapore has it all! All this, combined with endless options for shopping , makes the neighbourhood one of the best entertainment places in Chennai.

• How to reach: Mundakanni Amman Kovil Smt station is the nearest railway station. Thousand Lights is the nearest metro station to Mylapore
• Tip: Visit in the morning to witness picturesque cultural rituals around temples.
• Nearby Attractions: San Thome Church, Mylapore, Ramakrishna Temple, Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Chennai Citi Center
• Places to stay: Hotels near Mylapore

9. Guindy National Park

Guindy National Park

Feeling a little adventurous? How about visiting a national park? Home to over 300 kinds of trees and plants, 150 bird species and 15 species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians, Guindy National Park is a forest situated on the grounds that were earlier part of Raj Bhawan and IIT-Madras. If you are visiting Chennai with your family, make sure you bring your kids here too. We assure you that they will love every bit of this place!

• Location: Rangeguindy, Chennai
• Timings: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
• Government and Aided School Children: ₹ 2
• Private School Children: ₹ 10
• How to reach: The nearest railway station is Kasturba Nagar MRTS station which is less than a kilometer away.
• Tip: Make sure to pack some food and snacks with you as there is only one eating joint inside the park.
• Nearby Attractions: St. Thomas Mount National Shrine, Marina Beach, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Shore Temple, Edward Elliot’s Beach, Mamallapuram Beach
• Places to stay: Hotels near Guindy National Park

10. Sri Parthasarathy Temple

Sri Parthasarathy Temple

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s incarnation, Lord Krishna, Parthasarathy Temple was built in the 8th century. The intricately carved pillars of this place and colourful gopurams will leave you spellbound making it among the most beautiful places to visit in Chennai. The main features of this temple are the two intricately carved pyramid-shaped rajagopuram or domes, one of which is located in the east direction while the other in the west direction.

• Location: Narayana Krishnaraja Puram, Triplicane, Chennai
• Timings: 5:30 am-12 pm and 4:00 pm-9:00 pm
• Time Required: 1 to 2 hours
• How to reach: Chennai Central and Tiruvallikeni MRTS station are the nearest railway stations.
• Tip: Do not litter or smoke at the temple premises.
• Nearby Attractions: Santhome Church, Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Chennai Citi Center, Kalikambal Temple, LightHouse.
• Places to stay: Hotels near Sri Parthasarathy Temple

                Suggested Read: Old Temples in Chennai

11. Kapaleeswarar Temple

Kapaleeswarar Temple

The holy shrine of Lord Shiva, Kapaleeswarar Temple was built by the mighty Pallavas which was demolished by the Portuguese explorers and rebuilt during the Vijayanagara Empire. Kapaleeswarar Temple is the best specimen of the Dravidian and Vijayanagara architecture making it look absolutely marvellous making it among the most famous places to visit in Chennai.

• Location: Vinayaka Nagar Colony, Mylapore, Chennai
• Timings: 5:00 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• How to reach: Chennai Central Railway Station is about 8 km from the temple. Government Estate Metro Station (2 km) is the nearest metro station.
• Tip: You must be dressed in clothes that cover your entire body.
• Nearby Attractions: Vivekananda House, Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Temple, Santhome Church, Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Chennai Citi Center, Kalikambal Temple, LightHouse

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12. Connemara Public Library

Connemara Public Library

Nerdy heads, Connemara Library is where you will find every textbook that you can ever think of. Don’t believe us? This is one of the four depository libraries of the country that house almost every literary work published in India. From periodicals to historical scriptures to modern-day books – this library has them all. For the convenience of readers, Connemara also has a reference room, video room and a periodic hall. Can you imagine how huge a library this is? You need to check it out yourself!

• Timings: 9:00 am to 7:30 pm (Monday-Saturday); 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (Sundays)
• How to reach: Nearest Metro Station to Connemara Public Library is Nehru Park at a walking distance of 13 minutes.
• Tip: You can borrow books from the library by paying a nominal amount as the membership fee.
• Nearby Attractions: Government Museum, National Art Gallery, Spencer Plaza, Higginbothams
• Places to stay: Hotels near Connemara Public Library

13. Royapuram Fishing Harbour

Royapuram Fishing Harbour

A fishing harbour might not sound too appealing, but watching the fishermen bring freshly caught fish makes for a sight to behold. Also, remember to click photos of the stunning dock and backwaters while here. Thinking about what fun activities you can indulge in here? Maybe learn how to catch a fish or simply distinguish between the different varieties of fish! Come here early morning to see the catch being unloaded and then being auctioned to restaurateurs from around the city.

• How to reach: Tondiarpet Railway Station is the nearest station.
• Tip: Watch large boats being built at the Fishing Boat Manufacturing Unit.
• Nearby Attractions: Semmozhi Poonga, Marina Beach, Fort St.George Museum, Edward Elliot’s Beach, The Madras Crocodile Bank

14. Semmozhi Poonga

Semmozhi Poonga

Nature lovers, Chennai has something for you as well! Semmozhi Poonga is a beautiful botanical garden, which attracts lots of tourists every day. With an artificial pond and lush greenery to boast, this place can be a quick escape from the usual hustle and bustle of the city. What’s more? The exotic species of plants that have been imported from all over the world make Semmozhi Poonga an added feather in its cap of many!

• Location: Ellaiamman Colony, Teynampet, Chennai
• Timings: 10:00 am to 7:30 pm
• Entry Fee: NA (Children up to 10 years); ₹ 15 (adults)
• How to reach: Chennai airport is located at a distance of about 14 km from Semmozhi Poonga.
• Tip: Do not carry any plastic bags inside the Park.
• Nearby Attractions: George’s Cathedral, The Anna Centenary Library, Thousand Lights Mosque, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam, Sathtyam Cinema

15. Marundeeswarar Temple

Marundeeswarar Temple

Know somebody facing health issues? Then, you might fancy paying a visit to Marundeeswarar Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of the God of Medicines. The legend has it that Lord Marundeeswarar taught Sage Agastya about magical medicines. Believed to have been built in the 11th century, the temple offers prasada of mil, ash and water that is said to cure health issues. With the finesse of Dravidian architecture, this is a must-visit place in Chennai.

• Location: Lalitha Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai
• How to reach: Murdeshwar Railway Station (2 Km) is the nearest railway station.
• Nearby Attractions: Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Ashtalakshmi Temple, Besant Nagar Beach, Bhaktha Anjaneyar Temple, Chennai Railway Museum, Chetpet Ecopark, Guindy National Park
• Places to stay: Hotels near Marundeeswarar Temple

16. MGR Film City

MGR Film City

South Indian movie buffs must visit MGR Film City. Spread across 70 acres, it will transport you to a dream world with its replicas of religious places, urban and village scenes, and landscaped gardens. You might catch sight of some famous Tamil actors too!

• Location: MGR Film City Road, Tharamani
• Timings: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Entry Fee: INR 25
• How to reach: Thiruvanmiyur Railway Station (800 m) is the nearest station.
• Tip: Carry essentials like sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
• Nearby Attractions: Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple, Jazz Cinemas LUXE, Government Museum Chennai, Mayajaal Multiplex

17. Breezy Beach

Peace and quiet, perfectly describe this not-so-famous, but clean beach that attracts nature lovers. Unlike most other places to visit in Chennai for couples, it sees fewer crowds but will surprise you with beautiful sunsets.

• Location: Valmiki Nagar
• Timings: All day
• How to reach: The nearest railway station is Chennai Egmore station (10 km).
• Nearby Attractions: Kanchipuram, Palani, Kolar, Hosur 
• Tip: Carry water and light refreshments as there are limited options available at the beach.

18. Arignar Anna Zoological Park 

Arignar Anna Zoological Park

Also known as Vandalur Zoo, this park is spread over 1260 acres and boasts 138 species. Wildlife enthusiasts will be thrilled at the sight of deer, lions, Indian civet cats, Himalayan brown bears and elephants. The park also has a reptile house.

• Location: Grand Southern Trunk Rd, Vandalur
• Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Tuesday closed)
• Adults – INR 50
• Children under 2 years – Free
• Children from 2 to 12 years – INR 20
• Cameras – INR 25
• Zoo round (Adults): INR 100
• Zoo round (Children): INR 50
• How to reach: The closest railway station to Arignar Anna Zoological Park is located in Vandalur (2.8 km).
• Tip: Smoking/Drinking is strictly prohibited inside the premises.
• Places to stay: Hotels near Arignar Anna Zoological Park

19. VGP Golden Beach 

VGP Golden Beach

Among the various places to visit in Chennai, this beach steals the show with its beauty and cleanliness. Enjoy swimming, going for walks or simply lazing around here. Adventurous souls can try surfing at this beach, which is a part of the exciting VGP Universal Kingdom.

• Location: 5, 159, SH 49, Injambakkam
• Timings: 11:00 am to 7:30 pm (Monday to Friday) and 10:30 am to 8:00 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
• Entry Fee: Adults – INR 600 and Children – INR 500 (for entry through VGP Universal Kingdom)
• How to reach: The nearest railway station is Chennai Central Station.
• Tip: Secure all your loose articles like wallets, cell phones and hats while riding the adventure rides.
• Nearby Attractions: Petting zoo, Panneer Fort, Roller coaster ride, Go-karting, Aqua Kingdom, Horror house
• Places to stay: Hotels near VGP Golden Beach

20. Vivekananda House

Vivekananda House

A trip to the Vivekananda House is a must if you admire the celebrated monk. In 1900, Swami Vivekananda stayed in this double-storey Victorian mansion for 6 weeks. Today, you can explore his bedroom, dining table, kitchen, and garden where he connected with nature.

• Location: Kamaraj Salai, Marina Beach Road, Triplicane
• Timings: 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm to 7:15 pm (Monday closed)
• Entry Fee: Adults – INR 20, Children (3-12 years) – INR 10 and Group ticket for school students: INR 5
• How to reach: Chennai International Airport is the nearest airport, located about 17 km away. The nearest railway station is Chennai Central.
• Tip: Visitors should maintain silence in the meditation room to respect the ambience and others meditating.
• Nearby Attractions: Fort St. George, Government Museum, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San Thome Basilica
• Places to stay: Hotels near Vivekananda House

21. Santhome Cathedral Basilica

Santhome Cathedral Basilica

Looking for famous places in Chennai that are architectural delights? This neo-gothic cathedral will intrigue you. Built by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century, it stands over Saint Thomas’ tomb, who was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles.

• Location: 38, Santhome High Rd, Dummingkuppam, Mylapore
• Timings: 6:00 am to 9:00 pm
• How to reach: The nearest train station to Santhome is Thirumayilai MRTS Station.
• Tip: Switch off your phone inside the prayer halls.
• Nearby Attractions: Marina Beach, Chennai Marina Lighthouse, Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar Thirukovil
• Places to stay: Hotels near Santhome

22. Madras War Cemetery

Madras War Cemetery

Pay your respects at the tranquil Madras War Cemetery, which houses a memorial stone in honour of the 1000 people who sacrificed their lives in the Great War and the remains of almost 855 martyrs from the Second World War. It is one of the most unique places to visit in Chennai.

• Location: Mount Poonamalle High Road, Nandambakkam
• Timings: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm (till 6:00 pm on Monday)
• How to reach: The nearest railway station is Chennai Central Railway Station. The nearest metro station to Madras War Cemetery is Alandur.

23. Fort St. George 

Fort St. George

One of the major tourist attractions in Chennai, this fort was once a British stronghold and their first garrison settlement in the country. You can explore the Clive House, the first British official residence, and attend mass at St. Mary’s Church. The museum houses more than 3600 artefacts of British rule including letters, weapons, coins, ceremonial dresses, silverware, and medals making it among the best places to visit in Chennai. The grand fort is now protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

• St. George Museum: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Closed on Friday)
• St. Mary’s Church: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday – Saturday) (Regular masses held on Sundays)
• Time Required: 2-3 hour
• Entry Fee: For St. George Museum – INR 15 (Indians), INR 200 (Foreigners) and Free for kids up to 15 years
• How to reach: High Court metro station is the nearest metro station.
• Tip: It’s advisable to hire a guide to fully understand the historical significance of the fort.
• Nearby Attractions: MGR Memorial, Dr. J Jayalalitha Memorial, Victory War Memorial, Labour Statue

24. Vadapalani Murugan Temple

Vadapalani Murugan Temple

Dedicated to Lord Murugan, this intricately carved temple helps devotees with everyday problems related to jobs, academics and marriage. Legend has it that the founder Annaswamy Naikar had a dream about building this temple for society’s benefit.

• Location: Palani Andavar Koil St, Vadapalani
• Timings: 5:00 am – 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• How to reach: Nearest Railway Station is Kodambakkam Railway Station. Vadapalani is the nearest metro station to the temple.
• Nearby Attractions: Panagal Park, Detroit Of Asia, Natesan Park, Little Mount Shrine, Kannadasan Statue
• Places to stay: Hotels near Vadapalani

25. Annai Velankanni Shrine

Annai Velankanni Shrine

Seeking spiritual peace in Chennai? This gothic-style shrine must feature on your list. Apart from exploring a small adjoining museum for religious artefacts, you can attend special masses and concerts too. It is one of the best places in Chennai to visit for a spiritual experience.

• Location: Annai Velankanni Road, Odaimanagar, Besant Nagar
• Timings: 5:00 am to 9:00 pm
• How to reach: The nearest railway station is Nagore (15 km).
• Tip: The best time to visit the shrine is between November to February.
• Nearby Attractions: Velankanni Beach, Velankanni Church Museum, Nagapattinam, Sikkal

26. B.M. Birla Planetarium

B.M. Birla Planetarium

Does the night sky amaze you? Then this large planetarium with its virtual tours and cosmic shows will impress you undoubtedly. There are 8 galleries, including those devoted to Energy, Physical Science, Life Science and International Dolls.

• Location: Gandhi Mandapam Rd, Duraisamy Nagar, Kotturpuram
• Timings: 10:00 am to 5: 45 pm
• Time Required: 2 hours
• Entry Fee: Science Centre: Adults (INR 30), Kids below 12 years (INR 15)
• Shows: Adults (INR 20), Kids below 12 years (INR 10)
• How to reach: The nearest railway stations are Kotturpuram MRTS and Kasturba Nagar MRTS.
• Tip: For children visiting the Planetarium, there are toy cars operated by automatic electronic signal systems.

27. Ripon Building 

Ripon Building

Boasting neoclassical architecture, this majestic building is all-white. As the seat of the Greater Chennai Corporation, it is among the famous places in Chennai. The Westminster Quarter chiming clock is a notable aspect of this property.

• Location: 53, Raja Muthiah Rd, Kannappar Thidal, Periyamet
• Timings: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (Saturday and Sunday closed)
• Entry Fee: Restricted entry
• How to reach: Chennai Railway Station is less than a km away from the building.
• Tip: You need permission from the authorities to visit the building.
• Nearby Attractions: St. Andrew’s Church (The Kirk), Fort St. George, St. Mary’s Church
• Places to stay: Hotels near Ripon Building

28. Akkarai Beach

Akkarai Beach

If you want to unwind in peace and far from the madding crowd, head to this sandy beach. It stretches from Ennore to Uthandi and is ideal for lazy strolls and admiring the verdant greenery making it among the best places to visit in Madras.

• Location: Injambakkam
• How to reach: The nearest railway station to Akkarai Beach is Chennai Central.
• Places to stay: Hotels near Akkarai Beach

29. Prakasam Salai

Prakasam Salai

The list of architecturally impressive tourist places in Chennai is incomplete without this Indo-Saracenic building rendered with red bricks. Named after T. Prakasam, the freedom fighter, it was known as Popham’s Broadway earlier and built-in 1795.

• Location: 88, Prakasam Road, Mahfushkhan Garden, Manadi Police Colony, George Town
• How to reach: It is just 1.5 Km away from Chennai Railway Station.
• Nearby Attractions: Mahabalipuram, Sri Parthasarathy Temple, Birla Planetarium, San Thome Church, Kapaleeshwar Temple

30. The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust

Apart from being a reptile zoo, this place undertakes herpetology research and aims to protect the endangered saltwater crocodile, gharial and marsh crocodile. Go for an adventurous night safari or watch the crocodiles get fed.

• Location: Post Bag No 4, Mahabalipuram
• Timings: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (Monday closed)
• Entry Fee: INR 60 (adults), INR 30 (kids below 10), and approx. INR 200 (Night Safari)
• How to reach: The nearest railway station is Chennai Central Railway Station which is approximately 42 km from the Crocodile Bank.
• Tip: Do not feed the animals on your own.

31. Cholamandalam Artists’ Village

Cholamandalam Artists’ Village

Since its inception in 1966, this village has grown to become the largest community for artists in India. Famed for the Madras Movement of Art, this village lets you admire the works of notable artists, and visit the craft shop, sculpture garden and art book store.

• Timings: 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
• Entry Fee: INR 20 (adults) and INR 5 (kids)
• How to reach: Velachery Railway Station and Perungudi Railway Station are the nearby railway stations to Cholamandal Artists Village.
• Tip: Tourists can buy handmade art or books from the bookstore.

32. National Art Gallery

National Art Gallery

Also known as Day Dreamer Artworks, this gallery is one of the oldest in India and among the top places to visit in Chennai. Housed within the Government Museum Complex, it was built in 1906 with red stones. This Indo-Sarsenic building boasts sandalwood sculptures and ethnic paintings.

• Location: Egmore, Pantheon Road
• Timings: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm (Friday closed)
• Entry Fee: INR 15 (adults) and INR 10 (kids)
• Tip: Avoid visiting the museum during the weekends since the rush is generally high.
• Nearby Attractions: Perumukkal, Alambadi, Keezhvalai, Vellarikombai, Iduhatti
• Places to stay: Hotels in Egmore

33. Wallajah Mosque

Wallajah Mosque

Inspired by the Mughal style of architecture, Wallajah Mosque or Triplicane Big Mosque is made of granite entirely. Built by the family of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah in 1795, is a beautiful mosque is considered the oldest and largest in Chennai. The mosque also serves as a good example of the peaceful coexistence of Muslims and Hindus as most of its administrative staff are Hindus.

• Location: Triplicane High Rd, SVM Nagar, Ellis Puram, Padupakkam, Triplicane
• Timings: 5:00 am to 8:00 pm
• How to reach: Located at a distance of 4 km from Chennai Central Railway Station.
• Nearby Attractions: Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Marina Beach, Fort St. George
• Places to stay: Hotels in Triplicane

34. Chennai Rail Museum

Chennai Rail Museum

Definitely among the best tourist attractions in Chennai, this museum is a 6.25-acre affair, featuring numerous heritage and technical exhibits. Admire steam engines from the British era and vintage coaches, and enjoy a ride on the toy train. It is one of the most fun places to visit in Chennai for kids.

• Location: New Avadi Rd, next to ICF Furnishing Division, Lakshmipuram, Villivakkam
• Time Required: 2 hour
• How to reach: The nearest metro station to Chennai Rail Museum in Perambur Purasavakam is Shenoy Nagar.
• Tip: The museum remains closed on Monday.

35. Victoria Public Hall

Victoria Public Hall

Constructed to commemorate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee and opened in 1890, this regal building will take your breath away with its exquisite British architecture. During the late 19th and early 20th century, it acted as a public assembly hall and theatre.

• Location: 11/33, Evr Salai, Park Town Park Town, Kannappar Thidal, Poongavanapuram
• Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Entry fee: INR 15 (adults) and INR 10 (children)
• How to reach: The nearest railway station is Chennai Central.
• Nearby Attractions: Valluvar Kottam, Connemara Public Library, Santhome Cathedral Basilica, Alamparai Fort

36. Jagannath Temple, Kannathur

A beautiful Hindu temple, Jagannath Temple is located in Kannathur and is developed as an ode to the divine trinity Subhadra, Baladeva and Jagannath. The temple has been designed in Kalinga architecture similar to that of Jagannath Temple, Puri. The celebration of the annual Rathyatra makes it one of the most famous Chennai tourist places.

• Location: Reddy Kuppam Road, Kannathur, off New Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai
• Timings: 6:30 am–12:30 pm, 3:30–7:30 pm
• Time Required: 1-2 hour
• Entry fee: N/A
• How to reach: Located at a distance of 29 km from Chennai Railway Station.
• Tip: Try to attend the Rath Yatra festival.
• Nearby Attractions: Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum, MGM Dizzee World, VGP Universal Kingdom, ECR beach

37. MA Chidambaram Stadium

Also famously known as the Chepauk Stadium, MA Chidambaram Stadium was established in 1916 in Chennai. Having witnessed some of the most exciting moments in the history of cricket, MA Chidambaram Stadium is definitely one of the most iconic places to visit in Chennai.

• Location: 1, Wallahjah Rd, Chepauk, Triplicane, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600002
• How to reach: The nearest railway station to MA Chidambaram Stadium is Chennai Central Railway Station.
• Tip: Attend an IPL match to experience the energy of the fans in the stadium.
• Nearby Attractions: Pichavaram Mangrove Forest, Marina Beach, Thillai Nataraja Temple Chidambaram
• Places to stay: Hotels near MA Chidambaram Stadium

38. Express Avenue Mall

Express Avenue Mall in Chennai is a hub of fashion, entertainment, and food to delight your senses making it one of the most fun places to visit in Chennai. You can spend your day shopping from high-end brands to local boutiques, where you can find the perfect ensemble for any occasion. Afterwards, treat yourself to a culinary adventure at the food court, watch a movie, and have a fun day at the gaming zone.

• Location: 17, Pattullos Rd, Express Estate, Thousand Lights, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600002.
• Timings: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
• How to reach: The nearest metro station to Express Avenue Mall is Thousand Lights.
• Places to stay: Hotels near Express Avenue Mall

39. T Nagar

One of the busiest neighbourhoods in Chennai is Thyagaraya Nagar or T. Nagar. It is named after the Justice Party leader, Sir P. Theagaraya Chetty. T. Nagar was constructed by the Madras Presidency government of the Raja of Panagal between 1923 and 1925. From apparel, electric products, toys, and jewellery to utensils shops, one can find everything here at great prices. One of the best places to visit in Madras for shopping is T. Nagar.

• Timings: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
• How to reach: Chennai Central railway station is 8 km away from T. Nagar.
• Tip: Buy authentic Kanchipuram and Salem Silk sarees at these markets.
• Nearby Attractions: Pothys Hyper, Arulmigu Sri Muppathamman Temple, Shree Ragavendra Mutt, Arulmigu Sakthi Vinayagar Temple, Natesan Park
• Places to stay: Hotels near T Nagar

Frequently Asked Questions About Chennai:

Q: What are the best places to shop in Chennai?

A: Pondy Bazaar and T. Nagar are the most popular places to visit in Chennai for shopping. Other popular shopping places in Chennai include Sowcarpet, Ritchie Street, Burma Bazaar, Cotton Street, Panagal Park and Parry’s Corner.

Q: When is the best time to visit Chennai?

A: Chennai remains hot and humid almost throughout the year; hence, the ideal time to plan a trip to Chennai is in the months of November through February when the weather is pleasant.

Q: Suggest some good places to visit in Chennai at night.

A: You can explore many Chennai tourist places at night, you can go to Marina Beach or Besant Nagar Beach for a night stroll. But if partying is more your thing, explore clubs and bars in Chennai like Pasha, Gatsby 2000, 10 Downing Street, Blend, The Leather Bar and Bay 146. Burma Bazar is also open till late night and is a must-visit for street food lovers.

Q: Are there any good places near Chennai for a one-day trip?

A: Mahabalipuram is one of the best places to visit near Chennai for a one-day trip. Other options for Chennai tourist places include Kanchipuram, Tirupati, Vellore, Pondicherry and Tiruvannamalai.

Q: Which street foods are available in Chennai?

A: Top street foods in Chennai include bhajji, murukku sandwich, idli, sundal, chaat, puttu, uthappam, dosa, idiyappam, thukpa, athouk, atho and kothu parotta.

Q: Which temples in Chennai are a must-visit?

A: Kapaleeswarar Temple, Parthasarathy Temple, Thyagaraja Temple, Ashtalakshmi Temple and Vadapalani Andavar Temple are the most popular Hindu shrines in Chennai that are worth exploring. These temples are also among the best places to visit in Chennai in 1 day.

Q: I am in Chennai for a day. Where all can I go?

A: You can cover top tourist attractions in Chennai like Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral Basilica, Parthasarathy Temple, Kapaleeswarar Temple and MGR Film City. Also, don’t miss T. Nagar for shopping and savouring the street food of Chennai.

Q: How to travel from the airport to hotels in Chennai?

A: The cheapest way to travel to the city from Chennai International Airport is a suburban train. The air gateway is also well-connected to different parts of the city via metro, prepaid taxis and app-based taxis. There are many hotels near the famous places to visit in Chennai.

Q: Is there more than one railway station in Chennai?

A: Yes. Chennai has two major railway stations namely Chennai Central and Egmore. Chennai Central services daily trains from important cities across India like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad while Egmore connects the city to other places across Tamil Nadu and a few other major cities.

Q: How is the bus service to Chennai from other cities?

A: Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) is one of the largest bus stations in Asia. It services state-owned corporations operating buses between Chennai and other cities in South India. Omni Bus Terminus services many private buses to and from Chennai. Both stations are connected to the airport and railway stations by bus.

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• Places to Visit in Chennai

37 Top Tourist Places to Visit in Chennai

• Chennai Overview
• Top 37 Places to Visit in Chennai
• 6 Best Chennai Tour Packages
• Top Resorts in Chennai
• Best Time to Visit Chennai
• How to Reach Chennai
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Marina Beach

#1 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 4 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (located at Kamarajar Road, near local Chepauk Railway Station), the famous Marina beach is the second longest beach in the World and runs to a length of 13 Km. This is one of the top tourist places to visit in Chennai city and also one of the popular attraction not to miss in a Chennai tour packages . Situated on the beach, the Anna Park, named after the founder of D.M.K Anna durai and the tomb of M.G. Ramachandran who was a film star (both were former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu) and the Statue of Labour is a splendid sculpture depicting the efforts of a team of labourers who are at hard manual labour. The beach can be ideally visited in the early mornings or in the late evenings when the area becomes a virtual ground with food stalls and other entertainments.

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Govt. Museum

#2 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 4 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, Governement Museum is a museum situated on Pantheon Road in Chennai. This is one of the oldest museums in India, and among the top tourist places to visit in Chennai city. Established in 1857, Government Museum is the second oldest museum in the country after the Indian Museum in Kolkata. The museum is located in what is known as the Pantheon complex, or 'public assembly rooms.' Situated in the Egmore suburb of Chennai, it is built in the Indo-Saracenic style. It is the third-largest museum in the world, and with 0.6 million visitors in 2018. It is particularly rich in archaeological and numismatic collections. It has the richest collections of bronze idols, 500 of them dating to 1000 BC, in Asia. The museum has the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside Europe. Among them, the colossal Museum Theatre is one of the most impressive. .....

Sri Parthasarathy Temple

#3 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 4.5 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, Sri Parthasarathy Temple is a Hindu temple located in the Triplicane locality of Chennai. It is one of the popular temples in Tamilnadu , and among the must-visit places during your Chennai Trip . Sri Parthasarathy Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It was originally built by the Pallavas king Narasimhavarman I in the 6th century CE and was renovated by the Vijayanagara kings around the 15th century. It is one of the oldest temples as well as the famous places to visit in Chennai . The temple was built in the typical Dravidian architecture style, complete with gopurams and mandapas with intricate carvings and stucco figures. The temple has icons of five forms of Vishnu: Yoga Narasimha, Rama, Gajendra Varadaraja, Ranganatha, and Krishna .....

Kapiliswarar Temple

#4 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 6.5 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (located in Mylapore), the Kapaleeswarar Temple dedicated to Shiva is built in 8th Century by Pallavas. But the current structure is rebuilt by the Vijayanagara rulers in 16th century. The 37 meters tall and grand gopuram is made in the characteristic Dravidian style of architecture. This is one of the top tourist places to visit in Chennai city. This temple has some beautiful sculptures, among which the bronze idols of 63 Saivaite Saints or the Nayanmars. The Arubathumoovar festival dedicated to the 63 Nayanmars held in March-April every year is a special attraction. Timings: 5 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 9.30 PM.

San Thome Cathedral Basilica

#5 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 7 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (located at the Southern end of Marina Beach, in Mylapore), San Thome Cathedral Basilica is one of Chennai's historic landmarks. This Cathedral was originally built in 1504. It was rebuilt in 1890 with a 180 ft basilica. This is one of the top tourist places to visit in Chennai city. The church gets its name from St.Thomas, the apostle of Jesus who is believed to have come to India sometime during 52 A.D. It is believed he was killed on St. Thomas Mount just outside the city in 78 AD and his remains interred in Santhome beach where a church was later built. Several years later, another church was built further inland and his mortal remains were transferred here. Timings: 5 AM to 9 PM

Valluvar Kottam

#6 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 7 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (located in Vaikuntapuram, less than 1 Kms from local Kodambakkam Railway Station), Valluvar Kottam is a monument built to pay homage to Tamil Poet Saint Thiruvalluvar. Inaugurated in 1976, the memorial is the form of 101-feet high temple chariot and is the replica of the temple chariot in Thiruvarur. A 33m tall life-size statue of the saint has been installed in the chariot. Another amazing attribute of the auditorium is that it is not supported by a single pillar and stands without any support. The 133 chapters of his famous work Thirukkural have been depicted in bas-relief in the front hall corridors of the chariot. All the 1330 verses of the poet's epic are depicted on the granite pillars, which surround the auditorium. The auditorium at Valluvar Kottam is said to be the largest in Asia and can accommodate about 4000 people. Timings: 8.30 AM - 5.30 PM Entry Fee: Rs. 10 for Adults & Rs. 5 for Childre .....

Birla Planetarium

#7 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 10 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (located at Kotturpuram near Guindy, less than 1 km from local Kotturpuram Railway Station) the Birla Planetarium is the most modern planetarium in India. It houses a fully computerised projector that depicts the heavens on a hemispherical dome. The Planetarium presents audiovisual programmes on various themes in astronomy. Adjoining the planetarium is the Periyar Sceince and Technology Museum, which is of interest to students and other science enthusiasts. Timing : 10 AM to 5 PM, Closed on National Holidays only English Programme Timings: 10.45 AM, 1.45pm and 3.45 pm. Tamil Programme Timings: 12.30 AM and 2.30 PM. Entry Fee: Rs. 45 for Adults & Rs. 25 for Children (which includes Science Centre, Planetarium, 3D Science Movie & Science Park)

Vadapalani Murugan Temple

#8 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 10 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, the Vadapalani Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Vadapalani area of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Also known as Vadapalani Andavar Temple, it is among the most popular temples in Chennai and also one of the famous places to visit in Chennai . Vadapalani Andavar Temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan. Built around 125 years ago, this temple is one of the most frequented temples of Chennai. According to the legend, Annaswami Nayakar, an ardent devotee of Lord Murugan was the founder of the temple. During his worship, he experienced divine power entering his body and inspiring him to speak surprising things later found to be true. His utterance went by the name of arulvakku and relieved people in several ways, like curing diseases, getting jobs and marriages, etc. The presiding deity idol in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple resembles the original .....

National Art Gallery

#9 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 3 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, the National Art Gallery is situated inside the Government Museum Complex on Pantheon Road in Egmore, Chennai. This is one of the oldest art galleries in India and also one of the must visit Chennai Tourist Places. The National Art Gallery was built of sandstone in the year 1907 by T. Namberumal Chetty. Earlier known as Victoria Memorial Hall, the National Art Gallery was built during the celebration of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in Indo-Saracenic style, designed by architect Henry Irwin. It has been identified as a Heritage site by the CMDA. The National Art Gallery consists of four different sections, which include Tanjore Painting Gallery, Decorative Art Gallery, Indian Traditional Art Gallery and Raja Ravi Varma Painting Gallery. The miniature paintings from the Mughal era, handicrafts from 11th and 12th centuries and Rajput paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries are also on display. Portraits of various .....

Elliot's Beach

#10 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 13 Kms from Chennai (located in Besant Nagar), The Elliot's Beach is a well known destination for people who seek relief from the crowded metropolitan life of the Chennai . The Adyar River drains into the sea here. Popularly known as 'Bessie' among locals, this is an extremely calm and tranquil place. The Beach has become a popular hangout for the young generation. Elliot's Beach is also a favorite haunt of foreigners where they can peacefully take their sun bath. The Ashtalakshmi Temple near the beach is around 20 years old and has modern style architecture. Velanganni Church is a pilgrim place for the Christians. Elliot's Beach has good connectivity and transportation options from Chennai.

V.G.P. Golden Beach

#11 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 21 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station and 40 Kms from Mahabalipuram (situated on East Coast Road between Chennai and Mahabalipuram ), VGP Golden Beach is the only resort in Chennai city limits. This is one of the popular tourist places to visit near Chennai . This Beach cum Amusement Park is developed by The Tourism and Entertainment Corridor of Tamil Nadu, and offers wide range of entertainment options like Gokarting, Dashing Cars, Water Chute, Giant Wheel, Break-dance, Dragons belly, Super trooper and many more. Kids can enjoy the special sight seeing of Jurassic Park and Aquarium. There is an Art Centre which sells handicrafts and articles made out of sea shells. The sea facing Swimming pool is an extra attraction. The beach is clean and ideal for sun-bathing. The Resort has a Multi-cuisine .....

MGR Memorial

#12 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 3 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, MGR Memorial is a memorial structure situated within the picturesque surroundings of the Marina Beach in Chennai. It is one of the popular places of sightseeing in Chennai. The memorial was built in the memory of M.G. Ramachandran, India's first actor cum chief minister and that too for three consecutive terms until his death. Considered as one of the greatest political leaders and actors of the state, his followers idolize him as Puratchi Thalaivar (Revolutionary leader). He was honoured with Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India after his death. Spread over 8.25 acres, the memorial is located adjacent to the Anna Memorial and has the highest number of visitors along the seafront. The memorial was built in 1988 and was inaugurated by Janaki Ramachandran, wife of M. G. Ramachandran, in May 1990. The memorial was remodeled and the whole complex was laid with marbles and opened in 1992 by J. Jayalalitha .....

#13 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 12 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (next to Guindy National Park), The Snake Park is a popular spot with most visitors to the city. Established in 1972, the park has been home to a wide range of snakes, from the deadly King Cobra to pythons, vipers and other reptiles. The Snake Park has become a breeding point of endangered pythons in the country. A museum of preserved specimens of reptiles and amphibian's is an added attraction. Adjacent to the Snake Park, there is a Children's Park with a collection of birds and animals. This area also houses a play park for the kids. The elephant and pony rides are popular with the children visiting this park. Timings missing 8.30 AM - 5.30 PM, Closed on Tuesday. Adult: Rs 5/-, Child: Rs 1/- Still Camera: Rs 5/-, Digital camera: 20/-, Video Camera: Rs 100/-

Cholamandal Artist's Village

#14 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 20 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (near Injambakkam, on Mahabalipuram Road), The Cholamandal Artists Village established in 1964 is an institution of fine arts and crafts. Established by students of the Madras School of Arts and Crafts, it has come to be recognized as a significant school of arts and crafts. It is a heaven for art lovers and artists. Artists live as a community and pooled together their skills and resources. Developed in an area of 8 acres, it has a permanent art gallery to hold exhibitions. Sculptures made of granite, wood, copper and bronze are created within the Artists Village. Items are kept for exhibition and sale with in Artists Village.

Muttukadu & Dakshina Chitra

#15 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 31 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station and 27 Kms from Mahabalipuram (on East Coast Road between Chennai and Mahabalipuram ), Muttukadu is a backwater destination and excellent picnic spot. Muttukadu offers wide range of water sports options like Boating, wind surfing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, etc. The windsurfing regatta held every February attracts worldwide watersports lovers. TTDC ( Tamilnadu tourism Development Corporation) has introduced boathouses in Muttukadu. Training programs are available in windsurfing and other water sports activities. Dakshina Chitra, located at a distance of 2 Kms from Muthukadu is a famous heritage centre. The architectural and cultural heritages of the South Indian states are showcased here. The architectural features of each state, the typical homes of each region of South India are built here. Timings: 10 .....

Arignar Anna Zoological Park

#16 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 38 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, Arignar Anna Zoological Park is a zoo park located at Vandalur in Chennai city of Tamil Nadu. Also known as Vandalur Zoo, it is one of the finest zoos in India, and among the best places to visit as part of Chennai Tour . Established in 1855, Arignar Anna Zoological Park is the first public zoo in India, and is said to be one of the biggest in South East Asia. It is shifted to the current location of Vandalur reserved forests in the year 1979 and officially opened to the public in 1985. It is affiliated with the Central Zoo Authority of India. It is one of the popular Chennai tourist places . Spread over an area of 602 hectares (1,490 acres), the zoo houses 2,553 species of flora and fauna. As of 2012 the park houses around 1,500 wild species, including 46 endangered species, in its 160 .....

Rippon Building

#17 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 0.5 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (located on the West of the Central Railway Station), the Rippon Building is one of the most elegant buildings in Chennai. Built in 1913, it is being used as Municipal Corporation office since then. It is a part of a large municipal complex, which includes parks and gardens, the Nehru Stadium, Victoria Public Hall and Moore Market. Named after the Governor General of India, Lord Rippon, this building is one of the best examples of British architecture in India and has still preserved its vintage look. The building also has been a witness to a number of historical events. It covers an area of 9628 square meters which was built at an approximate cost of around 8 lakhs. The high ceilings of the Rippon Building are supported by Teak wood joints and the floors are decorated by marble flooring.

Fort St.George

#18 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

Located at a distance of 1 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (near local Fort Railway Station), Fort St. George was built in the year 1640 by the British East India Company, under the supervision of Francis Day and Andrew Cogon. The Fort has a 20 feet thick wall. The flag staff at this fort is the tallest in India with a height of 150 ft. Fort St. George houses St. Mary's Church & The Fort Museum. St. Mary's Church - St. Mary's Church, within the Fort St. George, was established in 1680, and it is one of the oldest churches in India. The tombstones that are found within the premises of the Fort St. George, are among the oldest tombstones of British origin in India. The Fort Museum - The Fort Museum located within Fort St.George is a large repository of arms and armaments of British era. The museum exhibits a wide range of artifacts like, Weapons, Canons, Shields, Uniforms, Manuscripts, Paintings, Letters, coins, medals, etc. Timings 10 AM - 5 PM, Friday .....

Wallajah Mosque

#19 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 4 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (located near Babu Jagjivanram Road in Triplicane - around 1 Km from local Triplicane Railway Station), The Big Mosque, also called as Wallajah Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques in entire south India. Constructed in 1795, it was built by the family of the Nawab Wallajah in his memory. The architecture embodies the fusion of Indian, Islamic, and Iranian influences. The Big Mosque is built completely out of gray granite and has been successful in outliving the ravages of time. Neither wood nor steel has been used in any part of this mosque. The mosque is provided with two lofty minarets at the front. The architecture is quite typical of the medieval period. The use of iron or other such materials which are susceptible to the elements have been completely avoided while constructing this mosque. This is one of the important Muslim sites of pilgrimage in the south.

Thousand Lights Mosque

#20 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 7 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (located in Anna Salai Road), Thousand Lights Mosque is a well-known worship place for the Muslims of Chennai. Built by the Nawab of Arcot in the 1880's, the mosque is famous for its architecture, historical and religious importance. In early 19th century, the place where the mosque presently stands used to be the assembly place of Muslims during the month of Muharram. Later, the assembly hall was built, following which the mosque was constructed. Built in an area of 3 acres, the land was donated by Nawab Wallajah. The average height of the minarets is around 64 feet above the ground. There is a main hall at the ground floor to offer prayers for men & women separately.

Little Mount & St.Thomas Mount

#21 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 12 & 15 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station, Little Mount and St.Thomas Mount are famous sacred places for Christians in South India. According to legend, St. Thomas was one of the first Christians to reach India in 52 AD and to preach Christianity. He has spent the last years of his life in a cave on Little Mount. Legend states that Thomas was assassinated by a shot of an arrow in 72 AD on adjacent Mount, which later acquired the name St. Thomas Mount. Little Mount has an ancient church built by the Portuguese in 1551. At the entrance is a portrait of St. Thomas and Portuguese inscription. A shrine dedicated to 'Our Lady of Expectation' was built in 1523 by the Portuguese on St. Thomas Mount where St. Thomas was martyred in 72 AD. The stone cross embedded into the wall of the alter is said to be the 'bleeding cross' that miraculously bled between 1558 and 1704. This place was visited by Pope John Paul II during his visit to India in 1986.

Tada Falls / Ubbalamadugu Falls, Near Srikalahasti

#22 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 29 km from Tada, 45 km from Srikalahasti , 85 km from Tirupati, 92 km from Chennai, 130 km from Nellore and 156 km from Chittoor, Tada falls or Ubbalamadugu Falls is situated in Varadaiahpalem mandal of Chittoor district. It is situated on the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and is an ideal place for trekking near Chennai for a day trip. The falls are located in a dense forest called Siddulaiah Kona. The falls are located within the Kambakam hills and are a popular destination for trekking, climbing and picnicking. The terrain that surrounds the falls includes rocky hill formations and lush forests interspersed with a number of streams. To reach the falls visitors have go through the Varadaiahpalem village, about 12 km from Tada falls. There is only 7 km rugged path and the remaining distance has to be trekked through. SUVs or vehicles with high ground clearance are best suited to reach the trekking ..... Distance (From Chennai): 92 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): Full Day .....

Guindy National Park

#23 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 13 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, Guindy National Park is a protected area located on Sardar Patel Road in Chennai. It is the 8th smallest national park in India , and among the very few national parks situated inside a city. Set up in 1976, the park spread over an area of 2.70 sq. km and is maintained by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Before the park came into existence, this space was considered as an extended part of the Guindy Lodge which is presently referred to as the Raj Bhavan, the Governor of Tamil Nadu's official home. It is one of the popular Chennai places to visit . There are over 14 species of mammals including blackbuck, chital or spotted deer, jackal, small Indian civet, common palm civet, bonnet macaque, hyena, pangolin, hedgehog, common mongoose, and three-striped palm squirrel. The park also has a .....

Kailasakona Waterfalls, Near Tirupati

#24 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 13 km from Puttur, 25 km from Nagari, 46 km from Tirupati, 92 km from Chennai, 76 from Chittoor, 86 km from Kanipakam , 85 km from kanchipuram and 110 km from Vellore, Kailasakona Waterfalls are a natural perennial waterfall in the valley of Nagari hills in Chittoor District. The water originates from the split in a mass rock. The height of the waterfalls is about 30 meters and it cascades down into a small pond below the rock. The water here is crystal clear having considerable mineral values & medicinal powers and can heal ailments. The tourists are not allowed to go uphill to the top of the falls. There is a small temple of Lord Shiva and Parvati near the waterfall. According to the legend, Lord Kailasanatheswara Swamy came down to earth to attend the marriage of Lord Venkateswara Swami with Goddess Padmavathi at Narayanavanam which is 9 km from Kailasakona falls. Lord Kailasanatheswara was impressed with the ..... Distance (From Chennai): 92 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): 4-6 Hours .....

Kalakshetra

#25 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 13 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station (in Thiruvanmiyur), Kalakshetra is a cultural academy that focuses on preserving traditional Indian dance. Founded by Rukmini Devi Arundale in 1936, Kalakshetra now became an institution dedicated to classical dance, music, traditional textile designs and weaving. With a 100-acre campus in Thiruvanmiyur in South of Chennai, Kalakshetra has students from around the world who are trained in the ancient gurukul system. Over the years, Kalakshetra has also focused on promoting ancient cultural traditions of India. The theater within the Kalakshetra is built according to the Natya Shastra. The institute conducts research into works of several renowned Sanskrit scholars to stage dance productions, not only for an Indian audience but also for major world theaters.

Madras Light House / Marina Lighthouse

#26 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 6 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, the Madras Light House, popularly known as Marina Lighthouse, is a lighthouse facing the Bay of Bengal in Chennai. It is a famous landmark on the Marina Beach and also one of the popular tourist attractions in Chennai. Chennai Marina Lighthouse was built by the East Coast Constructions and Industries in 1976 replacing the old lighthouse in the northern direction and was opened in January 1977. The lighthouse marks the end of the promenade on the northern half of the Marina Beach. It was closed for visitors after the assassination of the former Prime Minister of India, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 but it was opened for visitors from 14th November 2013. The present lighthouse is a triangular cylindrical concrete one with lantern and double gallery and is 11 stories high. The tower is attached to a three-story circular harbour-control building. The height of the lighthouse tower is 45.72 m and height of the light source is .....

Thiruttani, Near Kanchipuram

#27 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 13 km from Arakkonam, 44 km from Kanchipuram, 86 km from Chennai and 65 km from Tirupati, Thiruthani is a holy town located in Tiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu and is famous for the Murugan Temple. This temple is one among the six Padai Veedus (Battle Grounds) of Lord Murugan, other five are Palani, Swamimalai, Tirupparangunram, Pazhamudircholai and Thiruchendur. This place represents the site where Subramanya stayed after destroying the demon Surapadman. Tiruttani is also said to be the place where the Lord Subramanya married Valli - one of his two consorts. This temple has been mentioned in the Sangam period work Tirumurugaatruppadai composed by Nakkeerar. According to legend, Devayani, daughter of Indra married Lord Murugan and was presented Indra's elephant Airavatam as part of his dowry offering. Upon Airavatam's departure Indra found his wealth waning. Lord Subramanya is said to have offered to return the white elephant, however Indra refused to accept a ..... Distance (From Chennai): 86 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): 4-6 Hours .....

Covelong Beach, Near Mahabalipuram

#28 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 23 Kms from Mahabalipuram and 35 Kms from Chennai (on Chennai - Mahabalipuram Road) Covelong/ Kovalam is a famous beach resort and one of the popular tourist places to visit near Chennai . It was originally just a small fishing village, but now also expanded to become one of the most famous beach resorts in South India. You can still explore the old sea port that used to exist there. Numerous quality beach resorts can be found at Kovalam. The beaches at that location are absolutely exquisite, and are greatly enjoyed by all that visit there. It is also to these beaches that the well-known Olive Ridley Turtles travel to every year to hatch their eggs. Swimmimg and wind surfing are popular activities at this beach. Distance (From Chennai): 35 Kms Trip Duration (From Muttukadu - Including Travel): 1-2 Hours .....

Mahabalipuram

#29 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 57 km from Chennai, 65 km from Kanchipuram, 96 km from Pondicherry, 420 km from Madurai, and 290 km from Trichy, Mahabalipuram (also called Mamallapuram) is situated in Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the major heritage sites in Tamilnadu , and one of the best places to experience Tamilnadu Tourism . Mahabalipuram is known for its historical monuments, sculptures, scenic beauty, culture, and tradition. Built-in 7th century CE, shore temples are the prominent attractions that can be visited as part of Mahabalipuram tour packages . These temples built largely during the reigns of Narasimha Varman and his successor Rajasimha Varman, showcase the movement from rock-cut architecture to structural buildings. The mandapas and the rathas shaped as temple chariots are made from the granite rock face, while ..... Distance (From Chennai): 58 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): Full Day .....

Kanchipuram

#30 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 68 km from Vellore, 65 km from Mahabalipuram, 75 km from Chennai, 108 km from Tirupati & 127 km from Pondicherry, Kanchipuram or Kanchi is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district. It is one of the most popular weekend getaways from Chennai and among the major places to visit in Tamilnadu . Kanchipuram is one of the most famous places of pilgrimage in Tamilnadu . Kanchipuram has a rich history and it's one of the oldest cities in India. The temples of Kanchipuram are known for their grandeur and great architecture. The architecture of Kanchi monuments was trendsetting with great sculpture work and unique style and became a benchmark for South Indian architecture. This is another popular attraction to visit as part of Chennai tour packages . The ..... Distance (From Chennai): 70 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): Full Day .....

Nagalapuram, Near Tirupati

#31 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 16 km from Nagalapuram town, 44 km from Puttur, 87 km from Chennai, 78 km from Tirupati, 107 km from Chittoor, 130 km from Vellore, 120 km from Kanipakam & 288 km from Bangalore, Nagalapuram is a small historical town located in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh. Nagalapuram is famous for two things, one is Sri Vedanarayana Swamy Temple and the other one is Nagalapuram falls trekking (also known as Saddhi Koodu Madugu). This is one of the popular sites for trekking near Chennai and also among ideal weekend getaways around Chennai for a two day trip. Sri Vedanarayana temple is grand shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is said to have been built by Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagar Empire in remembrance of his mother Nagala Devi, after whom the town is named. The temple reflects the Vijayanagara architectural and the main deity idol is facing west. The ..... Distance (From Chennai): 87 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): Full Day .....

Pulicat Lake & Sanctuary, Near Srikalahasti

#32 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 9 from Sullurpet, 50 km from Srikalahasti , 105 km from Nellore & 88 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lake in India, after Orissa's Chilka Lake. It lies at the border of Thiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu and Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh states. The island of Sriharikota (home for famous ISRO) separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal. This is one of the popular tourist places to visit near Chennai and an ideal weekend getaway near Chennai. The sanctuary is home to wide range of migratory birds that migrate in large numbers in winter. It is one of the best places for bird watching in the vicinity of Chennai city and at the same time experience the memorable boat riding in Pulicat Lake. The entrance to the ..... Distance (From Chennai Central Railway Station): 88 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai Central Railway Station - Including Travel): 6 Hours .....

Arunachala Temple - Tiruvannamalai, Near Kanchipuram

#33 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 83 km from Vellore, 120 km from Kanchipuram, 195 km from Chennai, and 204 km from Bangalore, the Arunachaleswara Temple is a sacred Hindu shrine situated at Thiruvannamalai near Kanchi in Tamilnadu. It is one of the greatest Shaiva places of pilgrimage in South India and among the most popular temples to visit near Bangalore & Chennai. Also known as Annamalaiyar Temple, Arunachala Temple is a breathtaking temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple was constructed by Vijayanagara kings between 16th and the 17th centuries. It is significant to the Hindu sect of Saivism as it is one of the pancha bhoota sthalams, which are dedicated to the manifestation of five natural elements. Legend has it that the Lord has manifested himself as an element of fire or Agni in this temple. The temple is believed to be the eighth-largest Hindu temple in the world, ..... Distance (From Chennai): 200 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): Full Day .....

#34 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 71 km from Chittoor, 413 km from Vijayawada, 556 km from Hyderabad, 763 km from Vizag, 134 km from Chennai and 259 km from Bangalore, Tirupati is a pilgrimage city in the extreme southeast of Andhra Pradesh in Chittoor district. It is often referred as a synonym to Tirumala (called as Tirumala Tirupati), which is a sacred temple town famous for Sri Venkateswara Temple also known as Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple. Tirupati along with Chandragiri is an ideal Chennai getaways for a two day trip and also one of the top Andhra Pradesh tourist places . Tirupati is one of the most ancient and sacred pilgrimage sites in India. Tirumala, the home of Lord Venkateswara is at a distance of 22 km from Tirupati. However, Tirupati is the town and transport hub to Tirumala at the bottom ..... Distance (From Chennai): 150 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): 1-2 Days .....

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Near Mahabalipuram

#35 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 53 km from Mahabalipuram, and 89 km from Chennai, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a protected sanctuary situated at Vedanthangal near Mahabalipuram. It is one of the oldest water bird sanctuaries in India , and among the popular weekend getaways from Chennai . Vedanthangal literally means 'the hamlet of a hunter' in the local Tamil language. It was so named as being a famous hunting grounds for the local landlords during the 18th century. Realizing this ornithological importance of the region, the British government declared it as a bird sanctuary in the year 1798, making it the oldest of its kind in the country. And, among the most popular places to visit near Mahabalipuram . Covering a total area of 30 hectares, the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a popular migratory home ..... Distance (From Chennai): 89 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): 4-6 Hours .....

Sripuram, Near Vellore

#36 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 10 km from Vellore, 70 km from Kanchipuram, 120 km from Tirupati, 146 km from Chennai, and 212 km from Bangalore, Sripuram Golden Temple is a sacred Hindu temple situated in Tirumalaikodi at Southern Vellore, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the popular pilgrimage sites near Bangalore , and among the must visit places during Vellore trip . Sripuram Golden Temple is dedicated to the goddess Mahalakshmi. Constructed in the year 2007, The temple is built in 100 acres area of land and constructed by Vellore-based Sri Narayani Peetham, headed by spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Amma. The Vimana and Ardha Mandapa have been coated with gold both in the interior and exterior. Sripuram is the biggest structure made out of gold as one and a half tonnes of gold has been used for the construction of the temple with a cost of 600 crores. This is one of the prominent Vellore places to visit . The ..... Distance (From Chennai): 146 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): Half Day to Full Day .....

#37 of 37 Places to Visit in Chennai

At a distance of 70 km from Kanchipuram, 106 km from Tirupati, 142 km from Chennai, and 214 km from Bangalore, Vellore is a city and the administrative headquarters of Vellore district in Tamil Nadu. Situated on the banks of the Palar River, Vellore is one of the oldest cities of South India, and among the popular Tamilnadu tourist places . Vellore is popularly known as the Fort City of Tamil Nadu. Now a very calm and understated place, it was once a battleground and has seen many wars. The name Vellore also means a City of Spears. Vellore along with Sripuram is one of the popular weekend getaways from Chennai , and among the top attractions, you must include in South India Trip . Vellore has an enriching legacy reflecting the early Dravidian culture. It has been ruled by the Pallavas, Cholas, Vijayanagara Empire, Rashtrakutas, ..... Distance (From Chennai): 142 Kms Trip Duration (From Chennai - Including Travel): Full Day .....

Most Asked Questions on Chennai

Chennai is highly humid area and Winter from October to February is the best time to visit Chennai . December is also the busiest season and hotels are usually very expensive in this season. This is also the time for exploring the beautiful beaches and several historical places of Chennai

Chennai usually requires complete 2 days to visit the most important attractions. However, there are several wonderful places to visit around Chennai like Mahabalipuram which usually take additional one day. Chennai can be mixed with near by wonderful destinations like Pondicherry, Kanchipuram, Chidambaram and Vellore by adding few additional days to your trip.

Budget of Chennai trip depends on the trip duration and category of hotel you choose for your stay along with the kind of vehicle you prefer. Chennai tour packages offered by Trawell.in start from as low as INR 5000 per person for a 2D/1N trip and from INR 7500 per person for 3D/2N vacation.

Ensure to cover most important places to visit in Chennai like Marina Beach, Sri Parthasarathy Temple, Govt. Museum, Valluvar Kottam, Kapiliswarar Temple, Birla Planetarium and Elliot's Beach. If you have time, you can visit near by places like Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram with additional day for each place.

Buying souvenirs is a great way to bring back some of the cherished moments you had during the trip to Chennai. The beautifully-woven silk saris of Kanchipuram, Gold Jewellery, stone carvings from Mahabalipuram, Tajore Painting, bronze, brass castings and traditional jewellery from Kumbakonam and leaf handicrafts from Tirunelveli are the must by things in Chennai. T Nagar, Pondy Bazar, Sowcar Pet and Anna Nagar the popular shopping places to buy these souvenirs.

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A Non-Profit Trekking & Traveling Blog by Amar Shekhar

Explore 50+ Places in Chennai | ECR Gateways | Family | Kids | Things to Do

Also known as East-Coast Road, ECR in Chennai starts from Adyar and covers a long distance along the Bay of Bengal but the main attractions along this highway lie in the vicinity of Chennai. On the weekends, you can go on for cycling or biking and cover a lot of places with yourself or with family. In this blog, I am going to list more than 50 ECR gateways which lie along the east coast road from Chennai to Mahabalipuram.

Page Contents

St. Thomas basilica church, Santhome, Chennai

The church of St. Thomas is one of the only three churches built over the tomb of an apostle (one of the original 12 disciples chosen by Jesus Christ to preach his gospel). The other twos are Saint Peterâs Basilica over the tomb of st. Peter Rome and Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela built over the tomb of st. James in Spain.

• regular visiting hours are from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm.
• On weekdays: 5:30 am & 10:30 am: Rosary, Benediction, Holy mass
• Sundays: 6:15 am to noon: Holy mass begins in different languages
• Special days: 3rd of everything month is dedicated to St. Thomas. Adoration, Rosary, Novena, and Holy mass are organized at timings same as above.
• 2nd Saturday of every month is dedicated to Lady of Mylapore.

What to see there?

• The grand architectural and artistic beauty of the church
• The naive of the basilica
• Paintings of the Jesus depicting different events in his life
• Shrine of St. Thomas at the tomb chapel underground
• Wedding hall
• Neo-Gothic architecture

Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore Chennai

Rama Krishna Math, Chennai also called as “R K Math” is first of its kind in South India. This math induces spirituality in oneself by offering service to mankind in different forms. R K Math, full name Ramakrishna Mutt is situated near Mylapore railway station. This spiritual place is dedicated to Vivekananda and spiritual studies. It is a peaceful place. One of the recommended places for peace and spirituality.

How to reach there?

• Nearest Bus stand is Sanskrit College, Mylapore & Luz corner bus-stand.  Click here to find the bus route in Chennai
• Nearest Train stations: Thirumayilai (also called Mylapore) & MundaKanni Amman Kovil. These stations are located on Velachery-Chennai beach local train route.  Click here to find the local train routes.
• Visiting timings: (No Entry fee) 05:00-11:45 & 15:00-21:00

 St. Thomas Mount hillock & Church, Chennai

St. Thomas Mount is a small church located on a small hillock in Chennai near Chennai international airport and behind OTA (Officers Training Academy).

How to Reach there?

• There is a road which drives up to the top of the hill and using Auto or by car, one can reach the top easily.
• By Train: Nearest Railway station: St. Thomas Mount & Guindy (2 Kms) Auto can be hired from these stations (Fair around Rs. 40) for either till the church at the hill-top (Chances are lesser) or to the foothill of the hillock from where the stairs lead to the church.The walkway is easier to walk and only take 5-10 minutes to reach the top. Most of the Auto-Guys would drop you here. Click here to find the train connectivity and timings
• On Foot: If you love, It takes just 10 mins to walk to the foothill from St. Thomas Mount.
• By Bus: Nearest Bus stops are Mount bus stop, Kathipaara, Jyothi theatre & Butt road bus stops. From all these bus stops, foot-hill is at the walking distance. Click here to find the connectivity of the local bus
• Everyday: 06:30, 12:00 & 18:00- all in Tamil
• Sunday: 07:00 & 18:00 (in Tamil), 12:00 (in English)

Places to see from the top:

St. Thomas Mount Church, Small Belltower, Cross-pillar, Old Banyan tree & view of Chennai city and the airport.

Adyar estuary and water-front

Adyar Estuary is unique in itself. Finding such a natural habitat where a river barely meets the sea and creates a natural green world which is rare to find, even imagine, in a metropolitan city.

Adyar Estuary is formed by river Adyar and the bay of Bengal which leads to the formation of creek and mangroves around the meeting point. These mangroves are habitat to migratory birds; absence of pollution (industrial area) and the presence of religious and educational institutions, gardens and ecological park have essentially helped the area in preserving its beauty.

Broken Bridge at Adyar estuary is one of the favorite places of the photographers in Chennai to shoot the modernity with historic nature, the mud land, the green space and high rising buildings in the background. The peculiarity of this place is it offers sunrise as well as sunset view too.

Nearest Stop: Besant Nagar Bus stop (2Kms) local streets connect this place to Adyar bus depot (3.5 Kms)

Places to see around:

South side of the river (BesNagaragar side): Broken Bridge, Adyar river mangroves, small islands in the river, Bird-watching, Theosophical society, Northside (Across the river): Adyar creek and ecological garden

Dakshinchitra

A traditional and unique heritage village which is keeping the traditional lifestyles of south India alive and depicting them at a single place along the ECR spreading over acres. DakshinaChitra museum is a cross-cultural museum which represents art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts from South India states of Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The main purpose of DakshinChitra museum is to promote and preserve cultural aspects of these south Indian states with rich culture and bring them in the public’s eyes.

What can you do there?

• Take a tour of the past through traditional homes and explore the bygone cultures.
• Go through the exhibitions of the rich culture of south India.
• Make an authentic purchase of Indian crafts, jewelry, artworks etc.
• Play some traditional games of the past.
• Take a look at the live demonstration of the craftsmanship of the artists.
• Dakshinchitra Visiting Hours: 10 am to 6 pm
• Weekly Holiday: Tuesday (open on all national holidays except on Diwali Day)

Dakshinchitra Entrance fee (Indians):

• Indian Adult: Rs.100/-
• Indian Child: Rs.20/- (5-12yrs)
• Indian Student: Rs.30/- (13-18yrs)
• Teachers: Rs.50 ( or at the discretion of the management)
• School Students package: Rs.100/-

Dakshinchitra Entrance Tariff (Foreigners):

• Adults: Rs.200/-
• Students: Rs.70/-

Astha Laxmi Temple

The Astha Laxmi temple is dedicated to the Goddess Laxmi and her eight forms built over three floors. The beach view from the temple is also good. People often complain that the temple is not maintained properly. There is also a parking fee of around 20 rupees collected near the parking area. This is a nice place to spend weekends with your family.

Cholamandalam Artist’s village

The Cholamandal Artists’ Village, Chennai is situated on the  East-coast road  near Injambakkam.  Situated at a distance of 9 Km from Adyar and spread over around 10 acres of land, Cholamandalam artist’s village is India’s largest self-supporting artists’ village and one of the most successful in Asia.

This is a place where everyone can enjoy. If aesthetic and artistic things attract you then this place is a perfect destination for you. This is a place where you need not think twice before going there. It can be fun going there with family, with children, with co-workers or even with someone who appreciates artistic sense and aspire to be some kind of artist someday.

Art galleries, Open air theatre, dance performances, sculptures, museums, handicrafts, sand and clay art, photography and there is a thousand amazing stuff which can make you awe-struck. But if you want to enjoy more, you should plan your schedule in advance and according to your choice, you should go there.

• Cholamandalam village Timings:  9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
• Cholamandalam village Entry Fee: Rs 20 for adults and Rs 5 for kids

VGP Universal Kingdom:

The VGP entrance is not only bright, but also quite big and welcoming, so there is no way you could have drove down ECR and missed it. VGP was established at a time when there were no amusement parks in India, and it has since grown to be a mainstay of Chennai. You can stay at the resort VGP Golden Beach, which is right next door, while enjoying the park. They have a tonne of attractions, including the Snow Kingdom, the Balloon Racer, the Dashing Car, the Ferris Wheel, and entertaining water rides.

VGP Universal kingdom ticket rates

Rides type:.

• float slide
• typhoon tunnel
• family raft
• tiny tot express
• rock and roll and many many more

Tickets cost INR 450 for children to enter the Universal Kingdom and Aqua Kingdom, INR 550 for adults, and INR 795 for everyone else (for children – Snow Kingdom, Universal Kingdom & Aqua Kingdom). Here is the link for more details. Near Injamambakkam, VGP universal kingdom is the perfect family day outing place and one of the most recommended if you are looking for a weekend gateway

Isckon Temple, Chennai

Built over 1.5 acres, ISCKON temple is the largest temple in Tamilnadu dedicated to Radha and Krishna. The temple is open from 7:30 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 8:00 pm . However, the last A arati  (worship), called the A ayana arati , is at 9:00 pm , which lasts about 15 minutes. More details about the temple can be found here: Iskcon temple, Chennai

MGM Dizzier world

Dizzie World is another amusement park along the same stretch, and like any good amusement park, it offers rides for people of all ages. Cup Saucer, Dizzie Express, Rocket Tower, and Shoe House are available for children. For adults, there are rides like Tomb Raider, Revolution, and Kamikaze Ranger, among many more. The amphitheatre will also provide hours of entertainment! Here is the link to the MGM Dizzier World

Just like VGP universal kingdom, MGM Dizzier world also has a lot of rides and attractions along with restaurants and shops for the tourists. They also organize corporate event,

Muttukadu Boat House

Muttukadu Lake is the backwater between MGM & Kovalam beach and on the way to Mahabalipuram we can access it from the  East Coast Road . Muttukadu Lake is located around 30 KM from Chennai. You can enjoy rowing, windsurfing, water skiing, Aqua scooters, and explore all other watersports here. This boathouse was inaugurated in 1984 since then this place has been a lucky weekend getaway for locals as well as outsiders. If you plan to visit Muttukadu backwater and take a boat trip in the Lake of Muttukadu, then do plan your trip between October and February.

• 36 Kms from Chennai on East coast road aka ECR towards Mahabalipuram
• Open from 9 am to 5 pm & run by TTDC

A variety of boating choices:

• Row boating for Rs 130 for 30 minutes
• Speed boating for Rs. 450 for 10 minutes
• Powerboat for 8 members for Rs. 350
• Shared 30 minutes ride cost Rs. 50

Covelong or Kovalam Beach

Covelong Beach, also known as Kovalam beach, is near a fishing village called Covelong which is located 40 km from Chennai. Covelong Beach offers water sports like Surfing, Parasailing, Boating, and Fishing. You can also rent a motor boat to enjoy this beautiful beach. Visitors usually try to visit this place from November to February to avoid the summer heat.

What to do there?

• Walk along the clean shallow beach for miles and miles, turtle walk.
• Photograph the crescent-shaped beach filled with fishing boats and fishing nets
• Take a ride into the turquoise sea by negotiating with the fisherman, you can also go for a group outing, it is called sea-diving in that area. Fishermen provide the life-jackets and take the people a few km off the shore for around half an hour- Its a lifetime experience.
• Walk into the local fish market
• Try fish-fry on the open clean beach
• Do other activities like wind-surfing, turtle walk, midsea-diving etc.

Thiruvidandai

Thiruvidandai is a village located about 4 Km from Covelong on East Coast Road. The village derives its name from the Nithyakalyana Perumal temple and its history is centered on the temple.  Temple is open from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  There are some interesting legends about this temple and this place could also be one of the unexplored locations for photography around Chennai .

Stay at beach house resort in Nemmeli

There are a lot of beach houses starting Kovalam beach until Mahabalipuram. There are even many AirBnBs and B&Bs. Surf around different hotel websites and find a place to enjoy a nice sea-facing evening.

Madras Crocodile bank trust

It is a trust for herpetology and environment conservation. It has won several awards in the recent past and getting recognized as a non-profit organization in recent years with volunteers pouring in from the metropolitan city of Chennai and with the help of local experts. It is a bank with a variety of crocodiles, turtles, and snakes. If you love wildlife and aquatic life, you would surely love this place too.

• Timings: 08.30 AM – 05.30 PM (All day except closed on Monday)
• Fee: Adult- Rs 35 and child (below 10 years) : Rs 10
• Camcorder: Rs. 100 and still camera: Rs. 20
• Night safari : (Saturday and Sunday only, 07.00 pm-08.30 pm, ticket counter closes at 08.00 pm)
• Adult: Rs 60 and children(Below 10 years): Rs. 20

Mahabalipuram- A UNESCO world heritage site

Mahabalipuram is a small city located on the coromandel coast of the Bay of Bengal. Mahabalipuram is famous for the temples such as Panch Rathas Temples and Shore Temple. You will be amazed to know that Mahabalipuram has 40 ancient monuments and Hindu temples. The other names of Mahabalipuram are Mamallapuram, Mahamallapuram, Mallapuram and Mavalipuram.

• The shore temple
• Arjuna’s Penance
• Varaha Mandapa or cave
• The butterball
• The five Rathas
• Cool beaches and cottages
• Century-old Lighthouse
• Rock carvings and sculptures
• Classical Indian dance festival (During Dec-Jan)

Also, read here about another UNESCO world heritage site called Mahabodhi temple

Sadras Dutch Fort

Sadras Dutch fort is located on the East Coast Road near Kathankadai, Kalpakkam, almost 70 Km south of Chennai and around half an hour drive from Mahabalipuram temples .

• Vishnu temple
• Ruins of the fort
• Nice walk to the beach
• Tombs and other monuments

The Pondicherry: In the city

What to see?

• Stay in Bamboo cottages
• Sunrise in the morning
• Gandhi Beach or rock beach
• Auroville village
• And, explore restaurants on hired bikes

Pondicherry: Around the city

• Sri Manakula Vinayagar temple
• Chunnambar backwaters
• Sacred heart church
• botanical garden and the zoo
• Local fish market
• Shri Aurobindo Ashram

Prathyangira Devi temple, Pondicherry

Source: http://temple-of-secrets.blogspot.in/

Pratyangira Devi Temple in Pondicherry is located near Auroville. The place is known as Moratandi. There is also a tollgate there. This temple is famous for 72 feet idol of Goddess Pratyangira Devi. Sharabeshwar temple with a big idol of God Sharabeshwar is located on the left side of the temple.

Explore Dutch Heritage in Kalapakkam

Though Kalapakkam is still not so popular among tourists, you can still enjoy a lot of things on the weekends if you are just passing by. From Mahabalupuram, Kalapakkam is around 15 Km further down south. There are local buses and tempo which run between these two places. If you are driving a car, you can also cover Kalapakkam. It is just 20-25 minutes from Mahabaliupram. Here are the places to visit in Kalapakkam and all of these places are nearby:

• Sadras Dutch fort
• Meyyur Kuppam beach
• Kalpakkam beach and Kalpakkam rock beach
• Kadalur dam (Here you can enjoy taking a bath in the dam and bit of swimming too)

Mudaliarkuppam boat house on Odiyur lake:

This is a recent project started by the Tamilnadu Tourism by calling it with the name of Raindrop boating House. This is a water sports facility located along the scenic East-coast road, 35 Kms south of  Mahabalipuram on the way to Pondicherry.

The size of Odiyur lake is much larger than Muttukadu boating backwaters. And to top of it, Odiyur lake is more serene and believed to be the major source of fresh water to the near by cities. Moreover, the lake houses many kinds of birds and there is not much crowd here.

Alamparai fort:

Once living its life full-fledged during Mughal empire, Alamparai fort was influenced by the French culture whose main centre have been Pondicherry, almost 50 Kms from there. it was gifted by the Mughal Nawab to the French Government. However later, a war between the British and the French was the reason of the destruction of the fort.

It s believed that the fort also had a dockyard inside the bay of Bengal for the trading facility. Now a days, the ruins of the fort can still be seen in the near by water-fronts. The fort is still surrounded by the high walls and watch-tower. This place is gaining popularity in tourism lately.

Remnants of the fort, high fort walls, brick steps, mausoleum, watch tower, Nature around, view of the bay of Bengal etc.

Beaches in Chennai

Nettukuppam beach.

Situated at the almost northern-most tip of Chennai, Nettukuppam enjoys the solitary symphony with the clean sea water and cool breezes. Mostly deserted and not being visited much by the people except the locals, If you are a photography buff, this place is for you. The beach offers a vantage point from where one can enjoy the contemporary and former history of the city. It does not only offer the historical perspective but also, one can see the geographical differences over the period.

Nettukuppam Pier or the broken bridge is the famous spot for the locals to sit there enjoy the spray of the water waves that hit the piers of the bridge. The absence of fast-food vendors and much visitors except on weekends make the beach spotless and the water is also cleaner compared to other beaches of Chennai .

It offers a good view of Ennore Thermal power station, Ennore creek and other natural sights including modern city buildings and the subsiding away from the city. It is not advisable to go there to see the sunrise because tides are usually very high.

Nearest railway station: Ennore (3 Kms), local trains to Ennore are available from Chennai beach and Chennai Central stations.

Tiruvottiyur Beach

Again not so much popular among the visitors except famous Tiruvottiyur temple visitors, this beach is still visited by many people even on weekends. It lies 7-8 Kms south of the Nettukuppam pier along the Bay of Bengal. Though it is a clean beach being one of the most under-developed areas of Chennai, the surrounding of this beach does not offer good supplementary view other than the vast lonely sea.

Nearest railway station: Tiruvottiyur/Wimco NagarEnnore (2 Kms), local trains to Ennore are available from Chennai beach and Chennai Central stations.

Royapuram Fishing Harbour/ Chennai fishing harbor:

Housing more than 500 fishing boats and hundreds of them coming and going out in the sea every hour during a busy day Chennai fishing harbor is one of the busiest fish markets in Chennai, famous for fresh and different varieties of favorite fishes. In 2004, the harbor suffered a great loss by the Tsunami but reconstruction and great enthusiasm of local fishermen who come from the nearby village of Chepauk could let the harbor loose its name and fame.

One a busy day, the harbor gives a feel of an armada of small fleets exchanging sea-space and hundreds of Indian tricolor kissing the humid air of the Bay of Bengal. The environment there is always chirpy and full of horns and fisherman’s murmurs but its still a different world to experience.

Nearest railway station: Tondiarpet (2 Kms), local trains to Tondiarpet are available from Chennai beach and Chennai Central stations.

Marina Beach:

This beach, running 13 km along the shore of a city, is the second largest urban beach in the world.

Marina beach is one of the busiest beaches crowded with vendors, locals, and visitors. Especially on weekends, the beach is crowded with thousands of people from all walks of life. However, in the recent news, Marina beach has earned defamation of being dirty and smelly due to a lot of vendors and pollution. Apart from the beach, the Govt. has tried the beautification of the long beach by installing some decorative landmarks along the beach which are worth taking a look.

Most of these landmarks are statues of the leaders and a few landmark structures. These statues include our national father Mahatma Gandhi and of prominent Tamil leaders of the past. Besides, these artificial structures, former historical landmarks could also be seen around like lighthouse on the Marina beach, Marina swimming pool, Napier bridge, and memorials around.

Nearest railway station: Chepauk (500 meters), local trains to Chepauk are available from Chennai beach and Chennai Central stations (Chennai Park stations).

MGR Memorial, Anna Memorial, Statues along the beach road running parallel to the beach, Swimming pool, Napier bridge over Kuvam river (1 Km) etc.

Gandhi Beach:

It can be said that Marina beach is so long that people call this beach, nowadays, by different names in different areas. It can be said that Gandhi beach, a part of its mother Marina beach, is an extension of Marina to the south towards lighthouse area, where Marina beach is called by the name of Gandhi beach because of a statue of Gandhi over there. This beach houses the famous lighthouse of the Marina beach from where one can get the full view of the city and the sea.

Nearest railway station: Light House (500 meters), local trains to Light House are available from Chennai beach and Chennai Central stations (Chennai Park stations).

Light House, Marina walk, Gandhi statue, Chennai Citi Centre mall (1 Km) to the west etc.

Elliot beach/ Besant nagar beach:

It can also be said that Adyar estuary is the north extension of the Elliot beach. Elliot beach is sometimes also referred to as one of the cleanest beaches of the Chennai . As mentioned, this part of Chennai is not so polluted and mostly inhabited by the richer part of the society. All these factors attracts more lovers to this beach including the presence of good restaurants along the beach.

This beach also hosts some of the festivals like Pongal, food festivals, new year fireworks or some concerts.

Nearest Stop: Besant Nagar Bus stop (2 Kms) local buses connect this place to Adyar bus depot (3.5 Kms)

Annai Velankanni Church, Restaurants along the beach road, Shopping area along the beach

New Beach, Kottivakkam

As its name suggests, the new beach is comparatively newer to the people. In my opinion, this beach is even cleaner than Elliot beach. Much of the Vendors park their stall near by road which keeps the beach clean.

 The road long the beach is sometimes used by the Police to test the ride of new riders for driving license and trend of people jogging and taking an evening walk in the peaceful surrounding is also seen. Just like Elliot beach, residences around this beach is inhabited by the richer part of the society so the near by area also remains clean.

Nearest Stop: Kottivakkam Bus stop (500 meters). Beach is to the east of the stand.

Olive beach

Maintained by Vivanta- Taj group, this beach is a private beach adjacent north to the Covelong beach towards Muttukadu.

Serenity beach (Kottakuppam, Pondicherry):

As the name suggests, Serenity beach is one of the most untouched beaches in Pondicherry because it’s in the peripheral of the city. Surrounded by the palm trees and minimal habitation, this beach is perfect to take a break from the city life.

A unique location along the Bay of Bengal in the heart of the city where there is solitude and serenity.

Auroville beach, Pondicherry

Auroville beach is famous for Bamboo cottages, foreigner tourists, and Auroville village. This beach is situated at the northern-most point of the Pondicherry city.

One would first encounter this beach which is situated at the northern tip of the city. This beach is perfect for the sea- bath and from mid-night till the morning, the shore is washed by a lot of shells.

• Auroville Beach is one of the most famous beaches of Pondicherry. Auto-rickshaw can be taken from anywhere to reach this beach.
• One of the best locations for watching the sunrise

Bamboo cottages, morning walk on the beach when the beach is full of shells, fisherman nets and boats leaving for fishing early morning, Auroville (A famous township near by)

Promenade Beach or Gandhi Beach, Pondicherry

It is one of the most popular and frequently visited by the local people and the tourists. It stretches over 1500 meters. On the southern end lies the statue of the most popular French Governor of the region, Monsieur Dupleix. Beyond the statue of the governor is the new pier that stretches along 284 meters.

The port also stands near the coast. A 4.25 meters tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi stands on the Promenade facing the Gandhi Maidan which lies in the middle of the boulevard. The statue is surrounded by eight tall monolithic structures. An evening stroll along the shoreline of the Promenade Beach is a common phenomenon among the residents of the region. And in the evening during the high tides, people enjoy sitting at the rocks for the water spraying out of the sea when waves hit the rocks.

Promenade Beach, locally called Gandhi beach is in the heart of the city and not far from the main bus stand.

Museum, park, local market, Le cafe at the beach, statues, Pondicherry harbour etc.

Plage Paradiso Beach ( Chunnamber River), Pondicherry

This beach is famous for golden sand-beaches with deep blue waters creating a magnificent sight for the visitors. After a long sunbath, you can also rest in the cool shades of the palm trees. Walking on the soft sand and the waves washing out the sands under your feet is an experience to be enjoyed.

This beach forms an island away from the main land separated by the backwater which is used for water- sports recreation and for fishing by the local fisherman.

Can be reached by taking a boat from Chunnamber boat house. You could also be interested in knowing trips and treks around Chennai

Did you like it? Please Rate it below:

50 replies to “explore 50+ places in chennai | ecr gateways | family | kids | things to do”.

Very well-written blog! Thank you for such detailed information. Really enjoyed reading it

Hey, I am so glad to read your thoughts because I really enjoyed reading this. The way you explain your travel experience is truly awesome.

Quality content is the key to attract readers. And you provide just that. Good work.

Hi, We are planing to visit Chennai in November and will be visiting mahaballipuram and pondicherry as well. As we will be arriving to chennai at 1.00 am at night, we were thinking if we can directry transfer to aa beach cottage or homestay near ECR and start our trip with a beautiful sunrise on the beach and than visit dkshinchitra and mahaballipuram on the way to chennai.

Please suggest me some budget beach cottages with basic amenities as we are hardly going to spend time there and near by the beach and dakshin chitra. as we might not have anyu transportation in the morning.

Thanks in Advance, Riddhi Joshi

There are a lot of budget beach cottages located on the Auroville beach. You can go there and find a lot of them.

Wonderful post..

Such an exhilarating post!. Chock-full of information about places to visit. You have written the post in most enlightenment way.

useful information

usefull information

It is very nice, It will be great if you can tell best timing to visit places and it will be great help if you can tell how we can cover max places in min. time

Great info.Love to explore all places.

Wow I have been so many places and it’s so nice just I lov it

Thanks for sharing, Very informative blog about Chennai and its surrounding tourist spots. Chennai is wonderful city in the case of tourism. You can have a more places to visit in Chennai. So many beaches that will welcomes you always, Many temples, Historical places, Theme parks, Shopping malls, Beach resorts, and many variety of foods and restaurants. You can enjoy your tour in Chennai with moderate cost and you can get a good time to spend.Travel is the main thing we have to consider before planning a tour or a trip. For your travel needs in Chennai the best one is to book a cab, because you will escape from the Hot and humid weather. Or you can hire a driver for your car so that you will not have any worries about the traffic. You can get so many service providers in Cab services, but there are very few are best in that. As a regular cab user in Chennai, i would recommend Ezi Drive for their excellent service. You can book a cab or rent a driver or car hire Chennai to make your trip more pleasent.

Very informative blog about Chennai and surrounding tourist places.

You forgot to add the old mahabalipuram beach. Its one of the finest beach in Chennai which is to be noted for having a visit.

So I have paginated this whole article and if you go to the next page in the article, you can read about the Mahabalipuram beach as well

excellent information. please add prathyangara devi temple also in the site seeing.

Very informative One can easily plan their trips by using this. Great page

Yes sanjay. you can share with about this to your friends also

Great page… Loved reading it… Definitely gonna Check out all these places

I am sure, yous hould viisti the places

Thanks rahul

Excellent informative. Vazhga valamudan

Thanks a lot 🙂

Thanks very much for your time

It’s awesome! Very informative

Thank you very much ma’am…..

Excellent information – anything in around chennai may be by 150 KM stretch?

I think this link ight help you then:

https://trekkerpedia.com/2015/01/10-best-trekking-places-road-trips-around-chennai-weekend-gateway/

Very very useful information. Thank you. Keep producing more like these about other places.

Thanks meera. I think I will always love to write about these kind of places. So that more and more people could see the beautiful world. 🙂

Sir i want to know which are the nearest toursits places below 100 kms distance from velangini church

Thankavur, Thiruchirapalli, rameshearam etc…..

More details here: http://www.ttdconline.com/

Please could we know the address

Which address?

uselesssssssssssssssss

Sir, Kindly provide me what more infomration you want from this blog.. I would love update that

I visited the places y’day , It was a good information. But Dakshinichitra heritage centre shown in Map is totally wrong , . It is on the ECR road after ISKON temple.

I have updated the map. Really thank you very much for noticing the mis-information. I appreciate your effort. 🙂

this is really very nice information i like this website usful to every one

thank you very much sir….

to “Anonymous”

What here mentioned is true information, which many people are aware. Not making sense to warn “Actions by IP law.” without a proper justification what do you mean to it. after all, do you really think is there some “Law” to take “Action” just because a person say his personal opinion ? This is a Democratic country, didn’t make sense?

It was really nice to hear very rational thing, not something driven by religion and believes, in India after so long time. Welcome to true democracy!!!

Nice post…. Very helpful in planning on weekend car trips…..

thanks a lot 🙂

Think before you speak anything about ISKON still more hindu believers are still living in this very country and unwanted comments are subject to Actions by IP law.

Stop kidding

It’s really informative 🙂

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