Top 10 places to visit in Chennai

[Hanif55]

My parents and I will be traveling to Chennai for the first time. The reason for our visit will be to visit the Kapaleeswarar Temple, after that we are free. I want to go to Chennai and see different places but can only keep it to a minimum number.

I have decided that if getting a list of the top 10 places to visit in Chennai was given, I would be able to cover the important places and make my trip better, rather than just going to any random place.

There is no definite date of travel, but I would like to get the list of the top 10 places to visit in Chennai as early as possible.

 

[Abinaya_14]

My parents and I will be traveling to Chennai for the first time. The reason for our visit will be to visit the Kapaleeswarar Temple, after that we are free. I want to go to Chennai and see different places but can only keep it to a minimum number.

I have decided that if getting a list of the top 10 places to visit in Chennai was given, I would be able to cover the important places and make my trip better, rather than just going to any random place.

There is no definite date of travel, but I would like to get the list of the top 10 places to visit in Chennai as early as possible.

Hello Hanif55,

They are so many places to visit in Chennai, I will pick top 6 for you.

Here is the list:
Marina Beach- 4 km From Chennai Central Railway Station
Govt. Museum / National Art Gallery- 4 km From Chennai Central Railway Station
Sri Parthasarathy Temple- 4.5 km From Chennai Central Railway Station
Guindy National Park- 13 km From Chennai Central Railway Station
V.G.P. Golden Beach- 31 km From Chennai Central Railway Station
Muttukadu & Dakshina Chitra- 31km From Chennai Central Railway Station

 

[briannagodess]

Hello there, welcome to the forum!

With its beaches, temples and rich culture, it's no wonder why Chennai is on the bucket list of many travellers. It takes a second look to appreciate the chaos that is of Chennai. Much like any other urban city, the city is bustling and has its fair share of buildings, shopping malls and residential areas. Take a closer look and you'll find places to explore that are sure to render you captivated and mesmerised by the charm of Chennai. Here are the top ten places any traveller must visit in the city of Chennai:

• Besant Nagar Beach - Also known as Elliot's Beach, the Besant Nagar Beach is relatively smaller as compared to Marina Beach. However, it's less crowded and cleaner as well. There are numerous eateries and restaurants around the beach so you can enjoy the local cuisine combined with the scenic views. It is about 15 kilometres away from the city centre of Chennai, located at the southernmost end of Marina Beach. At the far end of the beach, you can visit the Velankanni Church, yet another attraction which makes it a popular tourist spot in the city. There are no water sports facilities here nor any other activities that you can do. Thus, for relaxing and just lounging around, Besant Nagar Beach is the best choice for that.

• Marina Beach - This is the most famous and most crowded beach in the city. But for a first timer visiting Chennai, it's a must visit. There are many food shacks and stalls around the beach serving local cuisine. Marina Beach has a long coastline at about 6.5 kilometres, thereby making it one of the longest beaches in the world. Swimming isn't permitted in the beach but you can still walk along the shores and feel its water. Around the beach, there are also many monuments and statues that you can visit. Some of these monuments are dedicated to Annadurai, Robert Caldwell and Swami Vivekananda. It's also not unusual to see locals playing cricket around the shores. It's a great place to visit to view the waves, the locals and the culture of the region. It might be very busy during the weekends though so be prepared for the crowds.

• Vivekananda House - The Vivekanda House stands out in the city, with its pinky white facade which is very simple in design. Back when ice was imported in the country, Frederic Tudor built several ice houses in the country, which includes the Ice House in Madras. After the collapse of his ice business, the house was bought by Biligiri Iyengar, who renovated it and added some new parts to it. It was also renamed as Castle Kernan which was later changed to Vivekananda House, after Swami Vivekananda delivered several speeches from here. At present, the house showcases the different sections of the house that was used by Swami. There are also shows highlighting the life and principles of Swami.

• Anna Centenary Library - This is the biggest library in the region and houses over 500,000 collections of books. The library is huge, with nine floors built over eight acres of land. It also has various sections for children, for blind readers, for periodicals, for Tamil books and for English books. It also has an amphitheatre, conference hall and digital library. Books cannot be borrowed here though and you can only read within the library premises. But that's just a good excuse to visit the library everyday really. It even has a small cafeteria within its premises in case you get hungry while reading.

• Fort Saint George - Perhaps the best example of British architecture in the city is the Fort Saint George. Established in 1644, the fort is the first ever structure built by the British in the country. The fort became the primary trading station for the British and this is also where the resided for a long time. The fort houses two main structures, the Saint Mary's Church and the Museum. The Saint Mary's Church was built around the end of the 16th century and is considered as the oldest Anglican Church in the country. On the other hand, the Museum houses many relics belonging to the colonial era like coins, paintings and weaponries. At present, the fort also houses the administrative offices of the state.

• Regional Railway Museum - As soon as you enter the museum, you need to purchase a ticket at their counter which is designed like a railway counter. Entry fee is nominal at Rs. 10 and while you're there, also avail of the toy train ride for Rs. 10 as well. The museum has many exhibits featuring miniature trains, real train models (located outside in the gardens) and photographs. You can also tour the entire museum by riding the toy train. If you have children with you, they are surely going to enjoy a visit to this museum. But even kids at heart would have a fun time here.

• Egmore (Government) Museum - Built around the middle of the 18th century, the Egmore Museum showcases the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region. You can explore the six buildings here which has over 40 exhibits. It has different sections for archaeology, botany, zoology, numismatics, geology and art. The buildings themselves are quite a sight, with their red facade and intricate designs. Some of the items you can find on display here are paintings, armouries, sculptures and manuscripts. The collections of different skeletons and fossils of animals here are also worth seeing. Allot at least a day for this museum alone as there are plenty to see and explore here.

• Arignar Anna Zoological Park - This is located in Vandalur, right at the outskirts of Chennai. Initially, the zoo was in the main city but was transferred as the area was deemed inappropriate for the animals as it is bounded by pollution and noise. It is the largest of its kind in Asia and also the first zoo to be established in the country. The zoo has many species of animals from birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians and even fishes. A safari ride is much recommended to explore the zoo as a whole as it is quite huge. Don't forget to visit the Pre-historic Animal Section of the zoo where you get to see life-size displays of dinosaurs. Entry fee is nominal at Rs. 10 for children and Rs. 30 for adults. The park is closed during Tuesdays though so plan accordingly.

• Cholamandal Artists' Village - One of the newer attractions of the city, the Cholamandal Artists' Village showcases the artworks of renowned and unknown artists in Chennai. They built everything from scratch, bought the land, built their homes and studios here and finally, inaugurated the village. Entry fee here is very nominal at Rs. 20 for adults and you get to support the living of these artists. You can find one-of-a-kind paintings here and other creations like sculptures and sketches. It's a must visit especially for art lovers.

• San Thome Church - The San Thome Church is elegant, with its high towers and pure white facade. Its interiors are also well-designed with stained glass windows, hanging chandeliers and exquisite woodworks. The church also houses a relic, a bone fragment, of the martyred Saint Thomas. The church has gone under several renovations but it was originally built around the 15th century. There's a museum located within the church that houses other artefacts related to Saint Thomas and it also features a show about the life of the saint.

There you go, I hope this helps you!