Chennai, the culturally affluent capital of Tamil Nadu, is deeply immersed in cultural history, traditions, and artistic endeavours. It boasts natural attractions such as beaches alongside architectural marvels influenced by British colonial architecture. With an abundance of destinations to explore in Chennai, tourists have numerous choices and opportunities to leisurely discover the city. The towering spires of grand temples instil a sense of spirituality and devotion. The locals actively participate in various cultural activities, leading a distinctive way of life. Let's explore some of the finest tourist spots in Chennai that are definitely worth adding to your bucket list.
Being the second-largest urban beach worldwide, a visit to this beautiful beach is an essential part of your trip to the city. Witness the captivating sunrises and sunsets, which will mesmerize you with their vibrant colours reflecting off the glistening water. When the city's intense temperatures become overwhelming, take a trip to the beach and relish the gentle breeze caressing your face, offering a refreshing respite.
Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, is a town in Chengalpattu district in the southeastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, best known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of 7th- and 8th-century Hindu Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram. It is one of the famous tourist sites in India. The ancient name of the place is Thirukadalmallai. It is a part of Chennai Metropolitan Area. It is a satellite town of Chennai.
One of the oldest museums in the Indian subcontinent, the Government Museum, Chennai was founded in 1851. Later on, the building was shifted to its current site. Spread in the area of 16 acres, the museum has six independent buildings and forty-six galleries. With a huge collection, belonging to different eras and time-frames, this vintage building has a rich collection of numismatic, archaeological, and anthropological displays.
Arignar Anna Zoological Park (abbreviated AAZP), also known as the Vandalur Zoo, is a zoological garden located in Vandalur, to southwest of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, about 31 kilometres (19 mi) from the Chennai Central and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Chennai Airport. Established in 1855, it is the first public zoo in India. It is affiliated with the Central Zoo Authority of India. Spread over an area of 602 hectares (1,490 acres), including a 92.45-hectare (228.4-acre) rescue and rehabilitation centre, the park is the largest zoological park in India. The zoo houses 2,553 species of flora and fauna across 1,265 acres (512 ha). As of 2012 the park houses around 1,500 wild species, including 46 endangered species, in its 160 enclosures. As of 2010, there were about 47 species of mammals, 63 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles, 5 species of amphibians, 28 species of fishes, and 10 species of insects in the park.
Located around 15 km from the city of Pondicherry, Auroville is located in Tamil Nadu and was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, a disciple of Aurobindo and fondly known as the 'Mother' of Sri Aurobindo Society. This place is the epitome of tranquillity and proves as the perfect escape for the ones in search of peace. The best way to experience Auroville ashram is to actually just sit in one of the cafes, and talk to some of the residents here about their experience of living in the city.
The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the
god Shiva located in Mylapore, Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple was built around the
7th century CE and is an example of Dravidian architecture.
The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kapaleeshwarar and Karpagambal being the most prominent. The
temple complex houses many halls. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 10
p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The Arubathimoovar festival celebrated during the Tamil
month
of Panguni as part of the brahmotsava is the most prominent festival in the temple.
An exceptional significance lies in the fact that the temple
houses Lord Vishnu in the form of Parthasarathy. The word Partha in Sanskrit means Arjuna and the word
Sarathy means Charioteer. Lord Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna in Kurukshetra war of Mahabharata.
Temple is located in the region called Alikeni which means pond of lily as it is said that the
region had several Lily ponds and was once a Tulsi Forest. Legends state that the King named Sumati went to
Tirupathi seeking the appearance of Lord Vishnu as Parthasarathy who then directed him to this sacred
temple.
San Thome Church, officially known as St Thomas Cathedral Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Thomas, is a minor basilica of the Catholic Church in India, at the Santhome neighbourhood of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. The present structure dates back to 1523 AD, when it was rebuilt by the Portuguese over what they believed was the tomb of Thomas the Apostle.[3] In 1896, it was renovated in the Madras province according to neo-Gothic designs, as was favoured by British architects in the late 19th century.
Triplicane Big Mosque (also called Wallajah Mosque) is a mosque located in Triplicane High Road, Triplicane in Chennai, the capital of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Mughal architectural style, the mosque was built in 1795 by the family of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, the Nawab of Arcot during 1765. It has a large prayer hall, a tank and a large ground in front. The entire structure is constructed with granite without the use of iron or wood.
Tirupati is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Tirupati district. The city is home to the important Hindu shrine of Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple and other historic temples. It is located at a distance of 150 km from Chennai, 250 km from Bangalore, 406 km from Amaravati. It is one of the eight Svayam vyakta kshetras (Self-Manifested Temples) dedicated to Vishnu. Tirupati is a municipal corporation and the headquarters of Tirupati (urban) mandal, Tirupati (rural) mandal, and the Tirupati revenue division.
