Chennai

Chennai sparks images of ancient monuments, architecturally rich temples, pristine beaches and never-ending stretches of emerald spaces. This capital of Tamil Nadu lets you soak in diverse cultures, traditions and history of South India in the most beautiful way. Walk around its bazaars, mingle with deeply rooted locals and savour the tastiest food ever Chennai has everything for everyone.

Tourist Attractions

Temples Embark your Chennai journey with Chennai’s magnificent temples. The Parthasarthy Temple is one of Chennai’s oldest temples. Built in the 8th century by King Narasimhavarman I, this temple is dedicated to Krishna as the charioteer Parthasarathy. On the water’s edge of Mylapore sits the Kapaleeshwarar Temple; the first thing any onlooker will notice is the riot of busy colour that emanates from this bold religious structure. The Thousand Lights Mosque is Chennai’s main Shia mosque and a sacred place of pilgrimage for the Muslim people in India.

Monuments & Museums Built by the British in 1644, Fort St. George, is considered to be one of the first establishments of British presence in India. Now it is seen as an important historical monument of India. The Government Museum of Chennai has an intricate array of cultural history and arts. Widely considered by travelers as one of the best sights in Chennai, this museum exudes a detailed representation of Indian history.

Wildlife Chennai is home to one of the largest reptile zoos in the world, the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. You can interact with some of the creatures, embark on guided tours and participate in a range of activities for all ages. Guindy National Park is a valuable experience for all who appreciate and enjoy interacting with the animal kingdom. It is home to jackals, deer, snakes, tortoises, over 130 species of birds and more.

Beaches Besant Nagar and Marina Beach are the two main beaches in Chennai that offer up a truly exotic holiday experience. These two beaches on the Bay of Bengal are a great place to soak up the sun or relax in the shade of the Banyan trees.

Fairs and Festivals The Gateway to the South, Chennai, has a unique culture and tradition. Arubathumoovar Festival is one of the much famed festivals in Chennai. Thousands of devotees gather at Kapaleeswara Temple to worship the temple deity, God Shiva. Vaikuntha Ekadesi Festival is another famous local festival of Chennai. Thousands of prople celebrate it for twenty days at a stretch. Pongal, the harvest festival of South India, known as an Indian version of western 'thanksgiving' festival, is one of the major festivals celebrated in the Chennai city of India. The festival marks the end of the traditional farming season and represents reverence for the new beginning.

Music and dance are part and parcel of every festival in Indian. Naturally the fairs and festivals in Chennai too have inherited this practice. During the months of December and January, music concerts and dance performances happens at several halls that have been built in every nook of Chennai city on a regular basis. The famous 'dance festival of Mamallapuram, Kanthuri festival, Pongal and Chennai Music and Dance Festival' are some of them that are quite significant.

Best Time to Visit Chennai The city is in the middle of a tropical zone of India, which means that in the summer the temperature can soar to around 45 degree celsius during the day. March to June constitutes as summer in Chennai, but the cool breeze makes evening strolls on the beach very romantic and calming.

The winter season is the most comfortable time of year to visit (November to February) as the temperatures are cooler (20-25 degree celsius) and sightseeing or relaxing on a beach are equally as enjoyable. Just be warned though, it could rain a bit in the winter so make sure to check the weather before you start packing.

How to Reach Chennai By Air - Both domestic and international flights fly from Chennai International Airport. The international flights arrive at the Anna Terminal whereas the domestic flights at Kamaraj Terminal.

By Train - Chennai Central (code MAS) and Chennai Egmore (code MS) are the two main long distance train stations. There are daily trains from Chennai to Bengaluru, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Cochin, Hyderabad, Kolkata and most of the big cities of India.

By Road - One of Asia's largest bus stations is in Chennai, the CMBT. The city is very well connected to other parts of India by road. The five major national highways radiate toward Kolkata, Bengaluru, Tiruchy/Madurai, Tiruvallur and Pondicherry.