Tourist Spots in Chennai

Tourist Places in Chennai

Madras, or Chennai as it is now called, is known as the Gateway of Southern India. Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu has a very vibrant history. Therefore it is not surprising that the city is dotted with tour attractions. The city offers an amalgam of traditional and modern attractions. All of them are distinct in themselves.

Here we list a few:

Best times to visit: Between November and February

Fort St.George
Fort St. George was among the first few bastions built by the East India Company to protect its interests in India. This fortification also marks the beginning of Madras (Chennai) as a modern city.

Little Mount Shrine / St. Thomas Mount
If you like visiting places of both historical and religious interest, the Little Mount Shrine is perfect. It is said that St. Thomas lived and preached from this place. The apostle is believed to have been killed by his assassin on this hill.

Valluvar Kottam
A memorial to the immortal Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar, this landmark is located at Nungambakkam. The shrine is a replica of the chariot temple of Thiruvarur.

Kalakshetra
Meaning the 'Centre of Arts', the Kalakshetra was established to train people in the traditional dance form, Bharatanataym. It follows the traditional Gurukul system of education, where students from across the globe study art amidst the fresh air, large trees and the chirping of birds.

Lalit Kala Akademi
Among other things, the place has a very descent collection of Paintings and Artifacts produced by the local artists. Equal importance has also been given to the collection of literature, especially the vernacular ones.

Sri Guru Nanak Sat Sangh Sabha
Guru Nanak Sat Sangh Sabha helps to establish social, cultural and spiritual contact among Sikhs in Chennai.

Big Mosque
The Wallajah Mosque referred to as the "Big Mosque" was built by the Wallajah family in 1795 in memory of the Nawab. The present Prince of Arcot is closely associated with this shrine even today.

Kapaleeswarar Temple
One of the largest and oldest temples in Chennai, the Kapaleeswarar temple has inscriptions from the 13th century A.D. and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The architectural style of the temple is one of the best examples of Dravidian architecture. Parthasarathi TempleThis 8th century temple was built by the Pallavas and is dedicated to Lord Krishna and houses images of the five avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu. It also has a small shrine dedicated to Vishnu's consort Vedavalli Ammai. The temple was renovated in the 16th century by the Vijayanagar kings.

The Theosophical Society
Chennai is head quarters to the Theosophical society in India.The Adyar Banyan tree spanning 40,000 sq. ft serves as the place where discourses are given. This place houses shrines of almost all faiths and a 95-year old library with a rare collection of books and manuscripts, many of which are written on palm leaves and parchments.

National Art Gallery and Government Museum
The museum houses a fine collection of items in various sections of geology, archaeology, numismatics, anthropology, botany and zoology artworks.The place boasts off some of the most fascinating array of Mughal, Rajasthani and Deccan .. Birla PlanetariumEquipped with fully computerised projectors to depict the world beyond earth, the Birla Planetarium is one of the most modern planetariums in the country.

Marina Beach
The beach covered with the silver sands is said to be the longest beach in India and one of the longest in Asia, which extends to a length of 13 Km, from Fort St. George all the way to Mahabalipuram.

VGP Golden Beach
VGP Golden Beach Resort Located on the World's second longest beach, it attracts over two million visitors every year. This unique resort is designed like a mini township and offers cottages of different designs, which reflect the culture of traditional India but provide worldly luxuries.

Guindy National Park
Guindy National Park is an ideal picnic spot for a day spending with your family. This National Park encompasses a snake park and a children's park as well. Guindy Park boasts of over 24 varieties of trees.The main faunal attraction of this park is the occurrence of rare Indian Antelope popularly known as the "Black Buck", found nowhere in the world except India.The collection of reptiles and Indian snakes is quite amazing.

Mamallapuram
A site of many ancient sculptural marvels, Mamallapuram was the port city of the Pallavas. The Pallavas had mastered the art of construction without using bricks or mortar, carving out exquisite sculptures from rocks. The best example of their art here are the five monolith chariots, the pride of Mamallapuram. The various panels on the walls depict scenes from Hindu mythology and fables from the Panchtantra. Located 61 kms from Chennai, it is now known as Mahabalipuram.

Crocodile Bank
Close to Mahabalipuram is the Crocodile breeding and research centre run by Romulus Whittaker. This farm breeds several species from India and Africa in captivity to augment the crocodile population. These crocodiles are kept in captivity and can be viewed from a safe distance.

Muttukadu
This place is an ideal picnic spot with facilities for boating and wind surfing. It is 6 kms from Chennai.

Thirukkalukundram
The Shiva temple here is located on top of a hill, 160m high. Try and make it to this place around lunch time. Every afternoon, two white kites come to the temple and are fed by the priest. It is believed that these kites are saints who stop at the temple on their journey to Varanasi from Rameshwaram. Below the hill temple is the larger Shiva temple with a tank which is said to have healing powers. Every 12 years, a conch is found in the tank. A large collection of such conches is kept in the temple.

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
This sanctuary is one of the largest sanctuaries for birds in India. Varied species of birds can be spotted here. The best season to visit this marshy, 30-hectare park is between November and February. Kancheepuram The golden city of temples is one of the seven most famous holy cities of Hindu mythology. The weavers of Kancheepuram have been famous from ancient times for some of the best woven silk sarees in the world. It has also been the centre of culture and learning down the ages.