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Sightseeing Places

Chennai is the cultural capital of South India. This 383 years old city has the vibe of young hearts. British had a stronghold on Madras during the independence era and did many good to the city. They were the prime reason for the drastic development of Chennai city, which was once just a forest land.

The Kapaleeshwarar Temple

The temple has Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal being the most prominent. This ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is a typical example of Dravidian architecture. This temple has some beautiful sculptures, among which the bronze idols of 63 Saivaite Saints (Nayanmars) that adorn the outer courtyard is a rare spectrum. The Arupathimoovar festival is the most important procession this festival celebarated during the Tamil month of Panguni. It is named after the sixty-three Nayanamars who have attained salvation by their love & devotion to the all compassionate Lord Shiva.

Location: Kapaleeswarar Sannadhi Street, Vinayaka Nagar colony, Mylapore, Chennai-4
Timing: 7.30 am to 11.30 PM, 5pm to 9pm.
Phone: 044-24641670

Parthasarathy Swamy Temple

This Temple is one of the very few shrines in the country dedicated to Krishna as Parthasarathy, charioteer of Arjuna and to contains idols of three avatars of Vishnu: Narasimha, Rama, and Krishna. It is one of the most reputed temples for the followers of Vaishnavism.

Timing: 6.30 am to 1 pm & 3 pm to 8 pm.
Location: Triplicane, Chennai-5
Phone: 24640784

Govt Museum

Established in 1857, the notable collections include contemporary artifacts, sculptures, bronzes of various periods, sections for zoology, anthropology and geology will impress every visitor. National Art Gallery: It was built in 1907. A fine specimen for Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, this building is constructed in sandstone.
Children's Museum: The architecture of the Children's Museum conforms to that of a model museum building, with all the facilities contemplated in a modern museum

Location: 86 Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai-8
Timings: 9.30 am to 5 pm. Friday holiday. Adult Rs 15/-, Children Rs.10/
Phone: 044-28193238, 044-28193778

Fort Museum

The museum was formally opened in 1948. Museum has an outstanding collection of early coins, silverware, porcelain, uniforms, manuscripts, engravings and aquatints of early Chennai.

Timing: 9am to 5 pm and Friday Holiday. Fee Rs.15/-
Location: Fort St. George, Secretariat Kamarajar Salai, Chennai-600009
Phone: 25671127,25670845

Birla Planetarium

The Planetarium is considered in the modern world as an Indoor - Universe. It has provisions to execute diurnal, annual, latitudinal and precessional motions. Sky theatre make the programme lively and excited one. Built in memory of B.M. Birla, well known industrialist and visionary, is the most modern Planetarium in the country. Adjoining the planetarium is Periyar science and Technology Museum which will be of interest to students and science scholars.

Location: Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, Gandhi Mandapam Rd (Behind CLRI). The science and Technology centre is open daily except national holidays.
Programmes: 10.45 am, 1.45 pm and 3.45 pm. In English at Noon, Tamil 2.30pm Adult Rs 15/-, Children Rs.10/-
Phone: 044-24416751, 24402893

Vivekananda House

An imposing building on the Marina along the beach road, was constructed in1842 to store ice bars imported from the USA by the Tudor Ice Company and the business was on upto 1874. In 1897 Swami Vivekananda visited the city, after his much acclaimed Chicago speech, on his return journey to Calcutta.
Adult Rs.20/- Child Rs.10/-

Time:10 am to 12.30 pm & 3.00 pm to 7.30 pm.
Holiday: Monday and Govt holidays
Phone: 044-28446188, 28446186

Guindy Children's Park

The park is inhabited by more species of trees varieties of shrubs and more species of woodland mammals. The place also housed many species of rare birds and amphibians. The Deer Park (spread on 595 acres) situated adjacent to Raj Bhavan was originally a part of the Governor's Estate. This is the only National Park situated within a Metropolitan City. Botanically very rich with more than 30 trees species which include a number of centuries-old gigantic banyan trees. It is located at Sardar Vallabhai Patel Road, Adyar, Guindy.

Location: Guindy, Chennai- 600022
Timings: 8.30 am to 5.45 pm except Tuesday.
Phone: 044-22351471,944458319.

Light House

At the present time, the Chennai light house is the 4th lighthouse. Before the conclusion of 18th century. Light house was reopened to visitors on 16th Nov 2013.

Location: Kamarajar Salai, Mylapore, Chennai-4
Timings: 10.00am to 1 pm and 3pm to 6pm. Monday weekly Holiday
Entry fee: Rs. 20/- Per adult, Rs. 10/- for children (below 12 years). Foreigners Rs. 50/- Camera fee is Rs.25/- for museum, an additional Rs.10/-
Phone: 044-24985598

Marina Beach

Marina Beach is 12km long and offers excellent opportunities for walks and has a very wide sandy foreshore. Its width is up to 300 mtrs (985 ft).

The Marina is the second longest urban beach in the world. It is an elegant promenade with flower beds along its lanes. Along the shore, there are many buildings built during the British colonial rule. The South Beach Road runs past the Madras University, the Senate House, the Chepauk Palace (Nawabs of Carnatica once held their court here). With a broad sand shore, it is the most popular gathering place for local people and tourist to relax in the evenings and weekends.

Ashtalakshmi Temple

The temple was constructed on the wishes of Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati swamigal of Kanchi Mutt. Ashtalakshmi, is a Hindu goddess of prosperity. It is dedicated to 8 manifestations of Goddess Mahalakshmi.

Location: Elliots Beach, Chennai-90
Timing: 6.30 am to 12.00 pm & 4.00 pm to 8.30 pm.
Phone: 24466777,24917777

St. Thomas Mount

St. Thomas Mount is the legendary place where Thomas had been martyred, shot by his assailants with a bow and arrow. Atop the 76 metre high mount where St.Thomas was martyred, is an old Church, which was built by the Portuguese around 1514. The Church has interesting relics-an old Stone Cross which the Apostle is said to have clutched in his hand while dying. It also has an oil painting of the Madonna which was St.Thomas and is said to be one of the seven that were painted by St.Luke.

Valluvar Kottam

It was built in memory of poet-saint Thiruvalluvar, who is believed to have lived 2000 years ago. The saint authored a didactic book called Thirukkural consisting of 1330 couplet under 133 heading.  Standing memorial to the immortal Tamil Saint philosopher Thiruvalluvar is shaped like a temple chariot in Tiruvarur. A life size statue of the saint has been installed in the 39 mtrs tall chariot. The auditorium can accommodate about 4000 spectators.

Location: Valluvar Kottam High road, Chennai-34
Entry Fee: Adult Rs.10/- Children Rs.10/-
Timing: 8.30am to 5.30 pm  No Holiday  
Phone: 28172177

Chennai Rail Museum

The Chennai Rail Museum is a railway museum. The museum opened on 16 April 2002 in the Furnishing Division of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) near Perambur. At the centre, the museum has many heritage exhibits, information about Rail Heritage, audio-visual show and photo gallery. More than 500 schools are visiting in a year as museum remains Rail heritage education and entertainer. Exclusive play items are available for small kids to enjoy while learning about Rail Heritage.  A food kiosk is available to meet the requirements of the visiting students and children during the day.

Star Attractions: Joy Train, Childrens Park, Running Model. Souvenir Shop display, Vintage Coach/Train Models, Photo/ Gallery.
Location: Regional Rail Museum is situated near ICF, Perambur, Chennai-38.
Timing: 10.00 am to 05.30 pm  
Holiday: National holidays and Monday
Entry Fee: Rs. 50/- Children Rs. 25/- per head.
Phone: 26201014,26146306/6594.

Mamallapuram

The only heritage site on a beach, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site belonging to the Pallava period dating back to 7th and 8th centuries. Plenty of beach resorts are available here. One time entry fee for all monuments: Indian Rs. 10/- foreign tourist US $ 5/-

Time: 06.30 am – 5.30 pm
Phone: 27442226

Crocodile Bank

Crocodile bank in ECR, is home to several species of Indian crocodiles and alligators from around the world which are bred in captivity. These reptiles are kept in their natural habitat in open pools and can be viewed from safe proximity.

Location: Post Bag No 4, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104
Timing: 8.30 am – 5.30 pm Monday Holiday
Entry fee: Adult- Rs. 35/- children- Rs. 10/-
Phone: 27472447

Pulicat Lake

Pulikat played its role as seaport in one of the few natural harbours on the Coromandel Coast of South India. It extends from the extreme southeastern portion of Andra Pradesh into adjacent portion of Tamil Nadu state making it India's second largest brackish water lagoon. It offers beautiful sights of fascinating birds as it serves as a breeding ground for rare birds. It has about 16 island villages and 30 adjoining the lake.

Location: Tiruvallur district that is 60kms from Chennai city.

Kalakshetra

The Kalakshetra foundation is an arts and cultural academy that promotes the preservation of traditional values in Indian art and crafts, especially in the field of Bharatanatyam dance and Gandharvaveda music. It was found in 1936 by Rukmani Devi Arundale.

Location: Kalakshetra Rd, Radhakrishnan Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai-600041
Timing: 8.30 AM to 11.30 AM
Entry fee: Rs.100/- Foreign Tourists: Rs.500/-

Thousand Lights Mosque

The Mosque that spans across five acres includes a Hall which is always illuminated with one thousand lamps, giving the location its name. It developed into a mosque and a prominent place of worship over time. The Mosque's two tall minarets and five inward curving domes are indications of Western Asian influences.

Location: Royapettah, Peter's Rd, Peters Colony, Thousand Lights, Chennai-600086

Anna Centenary Library

The Asia's second- largest library houses over 12lakh volumes on its 9 levels, in both Tamil and English. The library is segmented for children's books, English books, Tamil books, newspapers, periodicals, also comprises an audio visual section, rare books, a photo library, a food court, and book retailers segmentary. 

Location: Gandhi Mandapam Rd, Kotturpuram, Chennai-600085
Timing: 9.00 AM to 8.00 PM
Phone: 044-2220 9999

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

It is one India's most massive and oldest bird sanctuaries that has been fiercely protected by the local population for well over 250 years. The park was deemed a sanctuary in 1936, and Madras Forest Act officially listed Vedanthangal as a reserve forest in 1962.

Location: Vedathangal, Madurantakam,  603314
Timings: 6.00 AM to 6.00 PM
Entry fee: Adult Rs.5/-, Children Rs.2/-
Phone: 044-22351471

Places in Kanchipuram

Kamakshi Temple

It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in the country. It is also believed to be the Nabhisthan or the center of the earth or at least the eastern hemisphere.

Vaikunta Perumal Temple

It is one of the nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and one of the 108 Divya Desams or Vishnu temples.

Ekambareswarar Temple

Pancha Bhoota Stalam" [five Shiva temples each representing five elements of life], The Temple is one of the most sacred Shiva temples. It represents the element Earth.

Kailasanathar Temple

The Temple is a Shiva Kanchi, which is one among the three Kanchis in Kancheepuram, the other two being the Vishnu Kanchi and the Jain Kanchi.

Varadharaja Perumal Temple

The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is of immense religious importance.

Kanchipuram Weaving Centre

This is one of the biggest production centres of pure silk handlooms. The artisans are intolerant towards the entry of power looms and the introduction of any new techniques of productions.

Places in Mahabalipuram

Shore Temple

This shore Temple is one of the oldest South Indian temples constructed in the Dravidian style and depicts the royal taste of the Pallava dynasty.

Arjuna's Penance

This is a magnificent structure carved out in rocks that depicts the mythological characters and their stories.

Five Rathas

The Temple of Five Chariots was built in the second half of the 7th century, each carved from a huge boulder.

Butter Ball

It's an gaunt rock inclined on the slope but facinating enough that it doesn't slide or roll down.

Muttukadu Boat House

You can enjoy rowing, windsurfing, water skiing, Aqua scooters, and explore all other watersports here.

Mahabalipuram Lighthouse

One of the most treasured possessions of India, the Mahabalipuram lighthouse is proof of our rich cultural heritage. The 26m lighthouse is visible from a radius of 54km and is one of the most visited foreign tourist destinations in India.

Shell Museum

The Seashell Museum. Baubled with over 40,000 species of shells, this must-visit museum. This known for housing various rare and unique.

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