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Be it for its humid heat or the mouthwatering south Indian delicacies; Chennai possesses a special piece of every Indians heart despite being a slightly less festooned city among Indias 4 biggest capitals. The charming artistry, lavish traditions and the enduring enthusiasm of the locals for their hometown make Chennai the soul of south.
A sunset saunter along the side of the coast followed by a visit to some traditional Idli joint located in a narrow bazaar could instantly add to the charm of Chennais natural setting. The city neighbors a number of popular tourist destinations like Tirupati, Mahabalipuram and Chittoor. Not just that, it also homes a number of magnificent temples within and is a humble abode of many Gods and Goddesses.
Given are the top 35 most attractive tourist destinations in and around Chennai.
The cathedral of Saint Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, comprises of the tomb of the holy saint. It is said that in 52 AD, Saint Thomas visited India and was martyred where the Church now stands; this sacred place being his real burial ground. Visit this place to catch a glimpse of the pious Relic of St. Thomas in the form of a small cross over the tomb.
The clean water and the sparkling golden sand make the Elliots Beach a more preferred location. The cleanliness and tranquility of the beach lures a number of tourists. Popularly known as Besant Nagar Beach or Bessie, this beach is lined with numerous restaurants offering various cuisines. Take your loved ones to this beach and enjoy your time playing beach games and making sand-castles.
If you are looking for water-sport activities like swimming, water surfing, mid-sea floating or wind surfing, then head on to the Covelong or the Kovalam Beach. The white sand that it offers is loved by the tourists for sunbathing and beach strolling. Covelong was an important port before the dawn of the eighteenth century, the Dutch also built a fort here during the colonial times. The ruins of the fort attract many tourists here.
If you are a photography enthusiast, then the Nettukuppam Beach should be your next photo-shoot location in Chennai. This beach is not as popular as the Marina or the Bessie, but it sure enchants the travelers by its cool atmosphere and crystal-clear seawater. The Nettukuppam Pier popular as the Broken Bridge, is a favored spot of the localities to spend some peaceful time away from the city.
Counted among the most attractive beaches in India, the Marina Beach should be on top of your travel list while visiting Chennai. Entitled to be the second longest beach in the world, it stretches across a length of 6.5 km. A record number of 30,000 to 50,000 people visit this beach on a daily basis. One can visit this beach during the mornings or evenings to capture the picturesque view of sunrise and sunset.
Proudly boasting to be one of the four National Depository Libraries, the Connemara Public Library houses a copy of all the books, periodicals, magazines, newspapers and journals published in India. Adding to the massive collection of thousands of books are some rare works like J. Ovington's A Voyage to Suratt in the years 1689, Charles Lockyer's An Account of the Trade in India and many more. If you are a book-bug, then this library is a paradise for you.
One of the oldest temples of Chennai, Sri Parthsarathy Temple is a sacred place of worship of Lord Krishna. Built during the 8th century under the Pallavas rule, this temple has idols of five avatars of Lord Vishnu, named Narasimha, Rama, Gajendra Varadaraja, Ranganatha and Krishna. Located at Triplicane, Chennai, this temple is a must-visit place to view the 5 different incarnations of Lord Vishnu under the same roof.
Located in Mylapore, Chennai, the Kapaleeshwar Temple dates back to the 8th century when the Pallavas ruled the area. It is a fine example of excellent craftsmanship and Dravidian architecture. The 120 feet tall gopuram, in the center of this temple premises, overlooks the entire city. Acting as a home to numerous shrines, this temple should be on your travel list when you visit Chennai.
In the small town of Velankanni in Nagapattinam district in Chennai is the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Heath. It is one of the countrys most visited pilgrimage place for Christians. The three legends attached to the founding of this Basilica are the apparition of Our Lady to a milk vendor, the curing of crippled boy by Our Lady and the rescuing of Portuguese sailors from a violent storm. Visit this holy shrine during the mass hours to lose yourself in the sanctity of the place.
Located on the Anna Salai Road and built by Nawab Umdat-ul-Umra in 1810, this mosque is enlisted among the biggest mosques in India. Going by some popular legends, the main hall inside the mosque would illuminate only after lightening one thousand oil lamps, thats how it got its name. It is a preferred pilgrimage site for the Shia Muslims and is popular among the tourists for its architectural marvel.
Known for its early British connections, the Fort St. George or the White Town was the first fortress set up by The East India Company in the year 1644. This majestic white-beauty is named after St. George, the patron saint of England whose birthday coincides with the completion day of this fort. The Fort Museum enclosed within the precincts of this fort is the main tourist spot here. Other attractions that make it so popular comprise of St. Marys Church, Wellesley House and the tallest Flag Staff of the country.
The Mylapore area in Chennai is a popular cultural hub of the city. Dotted with many attractions like Kapaleeshwar Temple, Universal temple, Jain Temple, Kamadhenu Cinema, Thiruvalluvar Koil etc., this place is abuzz with localites and tourists all year round. During your stay in Chennai, do visit The Mundakaneeyaman Temple and the Kapaleeshwar temple, which are popular for their intrinsic carving and architecture.
Constructed using finest red sandstone in the year 1892, the Madras High Court is a remarkable sight even in the present times. This Court has the second largest judicial complex in the world. Henry Irwin monitored the construction of this court and rendered it a unique Indo-Saracenic look with his architectural knowledge. The domes, corridors, stained glass doors and the ceilings are a delight to the eyes. Take a tour of this place to be captivated by its architectural excellence.
Popularly known as Vivekananda Illam, and historically known as the Ice House or Castle Kernan, this place is one of the major landmarks of the city. Tourists from different parts of the country visit the Vivekananda House, which exhibits the life teachings of Swami Vivekananda and the varied culture of India. Take a tour of this place to boost your motivation by viewing many short videos, 3D animated clips and holographic representation of his teachings.
With the capacity to accommodate around 1,400 fishing boats, the Royapuram Fishing Harbour is one of the major fishing harbours that help fishermen to catch a large variety of fishes. Enclosed with mountains in all directions, this place comes to life before dawn. Take a tour of this busy fish market to have a glimpse of the unending efforts put in by the fishermen to get us the perfect fishes.
Located on the coast of Bay of Bengal, Besant Nagar is a neighboring area to Chennai. Housing the headquarters of The Theosophical Society, this area is named after the popular lady theosophist Annie Besant. The Elliots Beach is also one of the major tourist attractions here. The roads in Besant Nagar are lined with banyan trees and offer a very peaceful environment. Visit this place to spend some quality time away from the citys crowd.
Started in 1885, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park was the first zoo opened for public viewing in India. A home to 1,500 different species of wild animals, it is also accredited to house more than 46 endangered species. A walk amidst a variety of mammals, birds and reptiles away from the continuous noises of the city will definitely be a delight for your senses.
Established in the year 2010, this botanical garden cum urban park is located at the Cathedral Road near Anna Salai Junction. This garden is planted with many rare plants and medicinal herbs. With around 500 different varieties of plants sown in this garden, it houses many exotic flowering and aromatic plants. The tranquility of the garden captivates every traveler. You can stroll through this garden between 6 am to 8 am for morning walks and for visitors the timings are 10 am to 8 pm on every day except Tuesdays.
Situated at a distance of 44 km away from the noises of the city life, the Crocodile Bank is a home for around 2200 crocodiles. Along with crocodile, it also serves as a natural habitat for many other reptiles like alligators, turtles and snakes. It is open between 8:30 in the morning to 5:30 in the evening for visitors from Tuesday to Sunday. A nominal entry fee of Rs.40 for adult and Rs.20 for children below 10 years needs to be paid to enter its premises. It also facilitates Night Safaris for tourists costing Rs.200 for adults and Rs.100 for children.
If you want to enjoy a thrilling day with your loved ones, then head to the MGM Dizzee World. It is located on the East Coast Road around 35 km from Chennai. This theme based park offers attractive delights to everyone. It has many rides like Roller Coaster, Ferris wheel, Dashing Cars, Spider Spin, the Funny Mountain, Super Trooper etc. To add to that, it also has water park, an amphitheater and a Mary world that are sure to lure everyone.
Founded by The Madras Craft Foundation in the year 1996, Dakshin Chitra has, since then become an excellent mirror of South Indian culture and tradition. A visit to this place will fill your mind with endless zeal and get you closer to the rich culture of various South-Indian states. It is full of life with folk performances happening at short distances. Colorful yet intricate handicraft and artworks hanging through the lanes add to the beauty of this place. With 18 authentic houses depicting the aura of various states, this place will surely transpose you to an altogether different time.
The artists who brought modernism into the South Indian art form reside in this Cholamandalam Artist Village. Founded by K.C.S. Paniker in the year 1966, this commune works on the principle of art-meets-craft, where they incorporate their artistic ideas into various hand made products and handicrafts. The Museum displays artistic excellence of the Madras Movement and a gallery adjoining it shows various artworks produced by the artists residing in the village. Visit this place to spend some quality time studying and appreciating the work of various artists.
A home to various animals and reptiles like Jackal, Spotted Deer, Blackbuck, Mongoose, Rhesus Monkey, Turtle, Snake etc., the Guindy National Park and Snake Park is a paradise for animal lovers. It protects the endangered dry evergreen and thorn forests from the rampage of humans. It is divided into Snake Park comprising of King Cobra, Python etc., and Childrens Park where all the other animals are housed.
Located on the Mandappam Road in Chennai, the Birla Planetarium is the perfect destination for all the lovers of space and universal science. The hemispherical dome takes you on a virtual tour of the heavenly sky where you get to have a closer look at the various Stars, the Moon and the Solar System along with Eclipses and other celestial bodies. The various shows are conducted in different languages. One can buy a package ticket of Rs.45 for adults and Rs.25 for children below 12 years of age to get entry into all the blocks of the Planetarium.
The Muttukadu Boathouse is located 36 km from Chennai, on the East Coast Road. Tourists from various parts of the country visit this place to enjoy boating on the backwaters of Chennai. It is a perfect place to spend a day with your family and friends and enjoy the scenic beauty of the lake. You can opt for row boating, speed boating, power boating and shared boating.
Located around 60km south of Chennai, in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu is a small town named Mahabalipuram. The history of Mamallapuram, former name of Mahabalipuram, dates back to the times of Periplus in the 1st century CE. The Pallavas in the 7th century transformed it into its present majestic form. With numerous rock-sculpted and monolithic monuments like caves, rathas, temples this small town entices all its travelers. The Bagirathas Penance, Thirukadalmallai, Pancha Rathas and Varah Cave Temples will definitely captivate you once you visit them.
The main attraction in the Sadras district is the Dutch Fort, which was built during the seventeenth century. Even though in a dilapidated condition, this magnificent fort does not lose its charm. The fortress town of Sadras is situated at a distance of 70 km from Chennai in the Kanchipuram district on the Coromandal Coast. The temple of Lord Vishnu in this fort also attracts many tourists because of its religious sentiments attached to it.
The lush green stretches of theVedanthangal Bird Sanctuary fused with the sweet symphony of chirping birds will definitely lure everyone. Flocked by around 40,000 birds during the migratory season, this place is a paradise for all the bird lovers. It is situated around 75 km from Chennai in the Kanchipuram district and provides solace to all those wanting to spend some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Tiruttani is a small town located around 78 km from Chennai and is famous for its Thiruthani Murugan Temple. Travelers who are en route to Tirupati Temple should stop by this town and offer their reverence to Lord Murugan. The Shivan Temple, Nagalamma Temple, Ganesha Temple are also must-visit spiritual places in this town. To treat your taste buds, it is also lined with many restaurants serving mouthwatering South Indian delicacies.
Enlisted as the second largest brackish-water deposit, the Pulicat Lake is a home for many water birds. Situated away from the crowd of the city, this Bird sanctuary is flocked by a large number of migratory birds like Pelican, Kingfishers, Flamingoes, Storks, Curlews and many more. Spread across an enormous area of 481 sq. km., this lake plus bird sanctuary is an amazing place for all those who love watching birds. Others can enjoy the serenity of the lake and get lost in the symphony of the cooing of birds.
This perennial waterfall is located amidst the green valley of the Nagari Hills in Chittoor district, which is 98 km away from Chennai. Crowded with tourists during the weekends and holidays, the Kailasakona Waterfalls is a perfect place for you to spend quality time with your loved ones and click some amazing pictures. The Temple of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva also attracts many religious tourists here.
The city of Tirupati houses the holy Thirumala Venkateswara Temple, which attracts thousands of devotees all year round. It is located around 150 km away from Chennai in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Being one of the most sacred place of Hindu pilgrimage, this city houses many other temples like Padmavathi Temple, Kapileswara temple, Kodandarama Temple and many more. One should definitely make a religious trip to this place and get showered with blessings of various Gods and Goddesses.
A perfect place for you day-outings, The Gingee Fort is a popular tourist attraction for many travelers. Standing majestically atop three hillocks namely Krishnagiri, Rajagiri and Chandrayandurg, this fortress was said to be impregnable by the great Maratha king Shivaji. The perfect destination for you to explore the royal quarters, granaries, stables and other things to travel back in time. Dont forget to take your camera along to shoot some amazing pictures.
Animals like mongoose, hedgehog, spotted deer, foxes etc. can be easily seen roaming around in their natural habitats when you take a walk through the Amrithi Zoological Park. This zoological Park has gained much popularity among the tourists because of its picturesque waterfalls. Covering around 25 hectares of land in the Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu, this park is installed with many rides like swings, slides etc., for children and it also has a meditating hall which lets you concentrate in peace.
The famous Talakona Waterfalls is located in Sri Venkateswara National Park, which is around 192 km from Chennai, in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The captivating beauty of this waterfall lures tourists from different parts o the country. Going by the local beliefs, the water of Talakona Waterfalls is said to be infused with herbs that have magical healing powers. To reach this mesmerizing waterfall, youll have to undertake a 2 km long trek through the dense forest.
Chennai is a perfect getaway destination to enjoy a blend of culture, history and nature at the same time. Having read that, its time you put on your traveling shoes and explore these amazing places.
