Chennai Travel Guide
Elegantly placed in the shores of Coromandel Coast, Chennai boast of a rich heritage, which is elaborately intertwined with the culture, traditions and living style of the people through generations. Chennai is one of the prettiest metropolitan cities in India. This city perfectly mixes the elegance of past with the vibrancy of modernism. This contemporary city is often referred as the Gateway to the South India. Chennai was formerly called as Madras and to the rest of India, Madrasis represents the entire south Indians.
Chennai is an ancient city. It has a rich history of 350 years. Chennai has been able to preserve its ethnicity and charm through the ages. In between the long busy sandy beaches, parks, sculptures and historic landmarks, one can see a vivacious and lively city which is ever growing, sprouting, mounting and shifting in harmony with the modern trends. One of the oldest cities of India, Chennai is a melting point of culture and tradition.
When we think about Chennai, the first place that comes in to our mind is the Marina Beach whose long expansion of sandy beaches with its alluring charm enthralls the spectators for a long. The pious among the visitors can go for a short trip to Milapur where ancient shrines like Kapileswara temple, St. Thomas Basilica, St. Thomas Mount and a Portuguese church are located. One can start the sightseeing from Fort St George, where a museum awaits its visitors to unfurl the richness of the past. Then the Clive House stands proudly as a true testimonial to the British legacy. Another important place to be visited is the St Mary’s Church, which is considered as the oldest Anglican Church in Asia.
An intrinsic network of so many industrial, software and automobile sectors in the 200 square kilometers expansion of Chennai shows the progressiveness of an enduring society. Without losing its traditional vigor, this metro has been able to establish a good name as a new entrant in the field of software and sophisticated technological arena.
A genuine blend of diverse cultures, people with distinct features, varying viewpoints, beliefs, values and morality has shaped the culture of the famous city. There is combination of cultures and ideas that make the cosmopolitan nature of Chennai. With its charismatic monuments, temples, mosques and churches coupled with the deep sense of ethnicity and tradition this metropolis offers exciting activities to the visitor.
How to Reach Chennai
- Air – Chennai Airport is the nearest airport to the city. Domestic as well as International Flights fly from this third busiest airport of India. Taking a cab would be the best option to travel to the city, though there is also the option of taking a taxi.
- Rail – Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore are the two train stations of Chennai. There is also the option of the Tambaram Junction, but less frequented. Mumbai, Delhi Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kolkata , Hyderabad , Ahmedabad and major Indian cities, are connected via Chennai Central. Egmore connects the city to Tamil Nadu and neighboring states.
- Road – Chennai Mofussil bus terminus is one of the largest bus terminuses of the country. Both ac and non-ac buses to various destinations are available. There are five national highways that connect Chennai to the rest of India.
Distance of Chennai from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Bengaluru |
350 |
|
Coimbatore |
510 |
|
Hyderabad |
627 |
|
Kochi |
692 |
|
Mangalore |
706 |
Weather
Chennai Temperature
- Summer (Mar to May) – Temperatures are high and range between (22°C) to (40°C)
- Monsoon – (Jun to Sep) – With heavy rainfall happening at regular basis, this is not a good season for tourists
- Winter – (Oct to Feb) – Temperatures are mild and range between (19°C) to (32°C)
- Best Time to Visit – Dec to Feb is the best season for tourism
What to See In Chennai
The famous Marina Beach, the pride of Chennai, is second longest beach in the world and has a wide sandy foreshore. One can see statues of heroes from Tamil culture to Samadhi of great leaders like Anna and MGR here. Walk along the Marina in the evening to cool off and eat crispy sundal and murukku. An aquarium is also located on the Marina Beach. Watching sunset and sunrise from the beach is a fascinating experience. The tsunami on December 26, 2004, caused massive death and destruction along the beach. It has been difficult to recover, but the community is working hard to make the area attractive to tourists and vacationers once again.
The Government of Tamil Nadu manages the MGR Film City, established in 1994 in memory of MG Ramachandran, popular film actor and longtime Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Covering 70 acres at Taramani in Chennai, the MGR Film City was a popular tourist spot and the setting of several South Indian films. The film city has a film school, indoor and outdoor shooting locations, replicas of village and urban areas, temple, church, mosque, post office, police station, prison, courtroom, and landscaped gardens in Italian, Japanese and Mughal styles. The recently opened MGR Knowledge Park adds to the attraction.
Vivekananda House, also known as Ice House, is a shrine and target of pilgrimage for the admirers of Swami Vivekananda. It is in this house that Swami Vivekananda stayed for six weeks in 1900. Built way back in 1877 or much earlier, the two-story house is a masterpiece of Victorian architecture with its characteristic designs of sunburst and gabled roof. The bedroom where Vivekananda stayed, lived and slept is now a safe haven for meditation.
One can respectfully see the table at which he dined, placed downstairs near the fireplace. Devotees can stroll through the kitchen where he cooked his simple food, the parlor where he spoke and the garden where he frequently played with the children. These physical reminders of the life of Swami Vivekananda revive the great principles for which he stood all along his life.
Arignar Anna Zoological Park(AAZP)
Photo by Thiyagarajan Dayalan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Established in 1885, it holds the feat of being the first zoo open for public viewing. It is also one of the largest zoological parks in South East Asia. This zoo is home to as many as 1500 wildlife varieties out of which 88 are rare and endangered. In addition to being a zoo, it is also a rehabilitation centre for vulnerable wild species. There is a walk through aviary within the zoo. Some of the unique features of this zoo include its landscaping with Korean grass. Lion and elephant are common beasts found here. One can also find a butterfly house.
It is a very picturesque botanical garden set up by the state horticultural department. It is a nature lover’s delight. Rare varieties of plants and medicinal herbs are found here. Within the vicinity of the garden, is a nice pond where floating ducks might be seen.
It is one of the cleanest beaches of Chennai. Located in the Valmiki Nagar of Chennai, it is known for its natural scenic beauty. The view of the sunset is ecstatic from here.
It is a wonderful garden measuring 100 hectares. The garden is located on the banks of River Adyar. One may find a temple, a monastery and a church here. At the center, is a Banyan tree encircled by many types of trees brought from many nations of the world. The mission is to acknowledge the universal oneness of religions. One can see many colorful flowers and happily flying birds here.
It is the second largest brackish water lagoon of the country after the Chhilka Lagoon of Orissa. It is known as a delightful site for bird watchers. The marshy land near the lake has a pink tinge. Due to this, many exotic birds come here from far-off countries eg. Flamingos. Hence, an annual fest called Flamingo festival is celebrated here.
It is a very old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Gopuram of the temple represents Dravidian architecture. Devotees worship Parvathy as Kapagambala in this temple. The term Kapagambala means the Goddess of wish yielding tree. Kapaleeshwar means the Lord of Kapagambala or Lord shiva.
Santhome Cathedral Basilica
Santhome Cathedral is a historical ancient pilgrim centre built during the period of the 14th to the 15th century A D by the Portuguese. The cathedral, near Chennai beach, got its name from St Thomas, the doubting discipline of Jesus Christ. A museum is located in the grounds nearby. Main attraction of the museum is a 16th century map of South Asia. Santhome Cathedral is one of the prominent attractions in Chennai. People with Christian faith visits this place and attend the Mass.
Marundeeswarar Temple, God of Medicines, in Tiruvanmiyur has the temple deity Shiva in the form of Marundeeswar or Aushadeeswarar. Mythology says that it was Agastya, great saint, who named the deity “Aushadeeswarar”. The Sun and the Moon, it is said, perform puja at this temple every evening.
Unlike other Siva temples, this temple does not have a shrine to the Navagrahas because the Sun and Moon are in prayer mode here. The main “lingam” is described as Swayambu. He is also called “Palvannanathan” because Kamadhenu, the divine cow, used to shower him with milk constantly. During the festival period the deity will be taken on procession in the middle of the day. The chariot, a high one, with the deity and the priests standing at least 6 or 7 feet above the crowd, and devotees use two long ropes pulls the deity around the temple.
Lots of devotees visit this holy temple and get the blessing of Lord Shiva. Those who visit this temple sincerely believe, as do the priests, that the mixture of sacred ash, milk and water offered at the temple and consumed thereafter can cure any ailment. A steady crowd is observed in this temple now a day.
National Art Gallery, also known as Victoria Memorial Hall) is located in the Pantheon complex, Egmore. It is a pink sandstone building that was built in Jaipuri-Jaina style. T. Namberumal Chetty built the gallery in 1907. The gallery contains various traditions of Indian painting including the Rajput and Moghul schools. It has 11th and 12th century Indian handicrafts, 17th century Deccan paintings, 16th to 18th century Mughal and Rajasthani paintings and 10th and 13th century bronzes.
Other Details
What to Do
- Go visit the Royal Enfield Factory which has been here since 1955. Second and fourth Saturdays of each month are the tour days to the factory.
- Opt for a picnic at the seaside.
- It is also one of the best architectural cities of India. Go explore its nooks and corners.
Where to Eat
- Hotel Saravana Bhavan — Street 21 Kenneth Lane. Chennai’s best known restaurant chain with 25 eateries in the city itself. This is a pure veg chain.
- Eco Cafe — Chamiers, 106 Chamiers Rd. Locality Mylapore. English breakfast, pasta, American Pancakes, waffles, salads, banana nut bread and cappuccino teamed with leafy wallpaper, discreetly placed tables makes this a continent away from Chennai.
- Copper Chimney — 74 Cathedral Rd Extras Gopalapuram. The North Indian Tandoori dishes will leave you drooling. Mouthwatering is the tandoori-baked fish too. The vg in here is also superb. Teamed with minimalist surroundings this is one of the restaurants you must visit while in Chennai.
What to Buy
Ceramics, linen, personal care products, clothes, books, handicrafts, jewelry—you name it Chennai has it. Just go on and shop till you drop. It can be amazing.
Get Around
- Car — If you are driving your own car, then it is best that you grab a map of the city and drive around town.
- Train — Local trains run throughout the city and have a very great connection among themselves.
- Bus — Both government and private run buses ply throughout the city and can be a great means to explore the city.
- Auto rickshaw — Auto-rickshaws travelling can be fun in Chennai, but one has to be sure that they are not getting rigged.
- Motorcycle — Rent a bike and move around the town in style. It’s your own personalized means of travelling. There are a lot of agencies willing to rent motorcycles.
Top Destinations - Tamil Nadu
– Chennai
– Kanyakumari
– Kodaikanal
– Madurai
– Ooty
– Rameswaram
Popular Tour Plans - Tamil Nadu
1-3 Days
1. Ooty (2N/3D)
2. Kodaikanal (2N/3D)
4-6 Days
1. Ooty-Kodaikanal-Munnar (6N/7D)
2. Bangalore-Mysore-Ooty (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Alleppey-Kovalam-Kanyakumari-Thiruvananthapuram (7N/8D)
2. Munnar-Alleppey-Periyar Sanctuary-Kovalam-Kanyakumari (10N/11D)
>10 Days
1. Chennai-Pondicherry-Kodaikanal-Madurai-Rameswaram-Kanyakumari (12N/13D)
2. Chennai-Pondicherry-Madurai-Rameswaram-Kanyakumari-Kovalam (12N/13D)