What to see in Chennai, history and traditions, temples and churches to visit, a fascinating itinerary through history to discover ancient Madras.
Tourist information
In ancient times the city was known by the name of Madras, an appellation preserved for the historic central district, today it is the capital of Tamil Nadu, a federated state of southern India.
Chennai is the place where the British settlement has distant roots, this stands out above all in the monumental buildings as well as in the wide avenues and gardens, but history shows that the city has developed above all for the great resourcefulness of its citizens, who have always actively engaged in commerce over the centuries.
What see
Chennai is a lively city with a well-preserved traditional charm of Tamil culture, music, dance and many other art forms from southern India are widespread.
The great religious heritage is noted in the old churches, in the ancient temples and in the temple of Mamallapuram. Chennai has grown considerably over the past few decades, currently extending in all directions along the coast and river valley.
After the devastating tsunami of 2004, which hit Tamil Nadu and some beach settlements, many damaged areas have been largely repaired.
The Basilica of San Tommaso is an elegant cathedral, built as a burial place for St. Thomas the Apostle.
Built in the sixteenth century by the Portuguese, it became a basilica in 1896, its splendid stained glass window depicts the history of San Tommaso and the central hall has the 14 stations of the Via Crucis, depicting scenes from the last days of Christ's passion.
Dakshinachitra is a cultural center located about 28 km from Chennai, on the road to Mamallapuram, where the typical lifestyle of southern India is shown, recreating the architecture of the traditional house in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
The exhibits present, the workshops of local artisans and street performances provide illuminating information on the rich local artistic heritage.
Fort St George, a defensive construction whose name derives from the patron saint of England, was built in the mid-1600s.
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- Calcutta (India): what to see in the city of Mother Teresa
The fort was the first bulwark of British power and the oldest British construction in India, once home to the East India Company.
Spread over a large area, it now houses the state legislature and secretariat.
The Fort Museum contains assorted artifacts including those from the British Raj, including weapons, silverware, portraits and military uniforms.
George Town, a name derived from the future King George V, who visited India in 1905, was for a long time the historical and commercial center of the city.
Along the Broadway of Popham are the remarkable Armenian Church of 1772 and Wesleyan Church of 1820.
The Government Museum is housed in one of the most beautiful colonial buildings, which also houses the Connemara Public Library and the National Art Gallery.
The collections on display include Hindu sculptures, evidence of natural history and archeology sections.
Guindy National Park, located within the city of Chennai adjacent to Raj Bhavan, covers hundreds of hectares.
There are various animal species, including rare Indian antelopes, spotted deer, jackal, mongoose, kingfishers and lapwings.
The vegetation includes some centuries-old giant banyan trees.
A great place to stroll around the network of paths and natural lakes, away from the noise and urban chaos for a few hours.
The High Court Building, built in 1892, is one of the main landmarks of Chennai and represents the second largest judicial building in the world after the London Courts.
It is possible to organize a visit to the courtrooms and a general tour to admire the wonderful stained glass windows and sculptures.
The Kapaleeshwara temple, a brilliant example of Dravidian architecture dedicated to Shiva, has interesting sculptures, including 63 Saivaite saints that adorn the courtyard.
Little Mount Church is a small cave where St. Thomas is believed to have lived when he arrived in India, also known locally as Chinnamalai.
It was from here that he jumped out of a small hole to escape his assailants.
The cave was inserted in the Portuguese church built in 1551, containing the saint's relics, including an old stone cross, which is said to have been grabbed by St. Thomas on his deathbed.
At 18km there is Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world, not suitable for swimming because of the currents are too strong.
There are statues of local scholars and heroes, as well as the Anna Memorial, dedicated to the former head of the Annadurai government.
Not far away is the relaxing Elliot beach, which includes the Velankanni Church, a pilgrimage destination, and the Ashtalakshmi temple, with eight different forms of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
The Parthasarathy Temple, which dates back to the eighth century, when the Pallavas reigned, is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is the oldest building in the city, a great example of typical Indian temple architecture.
The Church of Sant'Andrea, completed in 1821 in a classic style, has an imposing blue dome decorated with gold stars and a facade reminiscent of that of the
St Martin in the Fields in London.
The Church of Santa Maria, housed inside the fortress, was built in 1680 with full masonry and very thick external walls.
Inside there are some examples of seventeenth century art, while its external tombstones are the oldest English tombs in India.
The Theosophical Society, founded in 1875, was established to encourage the comparative study of religion, philosophy and science by studying and reflecting on purity of life.
It contains sanctuaries of many faiths, a peaceful garden of memory and a centuries-old library including a splendid collection of rare oriental manuscripts, written on palm leaves and parchment.
Valluvar Kottam, inaugurated in 1976 in memory of the poet Santo Thiruvalluvar, is a huge auditorium with 4000 seats, containing all 1,330 verses of the poet's epic poem, the Thirukkural, inscribed on the surrounding granite pillars.
