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Travellers can experience diverse things to do in Chennai (formerly Madras) because of its rich cultural heritage and vibrant history. This city is a treasure trove of beautiful temples, beaches and museums. A plethora of places to visit in Chennai awaits you if you plan a visit. From the history lover to the nature lover to the one who just wants a spiritual time, Chennai will surely leave you with a memorable experience.
Top 10 Places To Visit In Chennai For A Memorable Experience
Some of the most common places to visit in Chennai mainly include:
1. Marina Beach
Photo: SlowPhoton / Wikipedia / Image For Representation Only
Chennai is not famous for many things but is renowned for Marina Beach, a 13 km stretch of beach along the Bay of Bengal. It is the best for morning walks and family outings. Visitors eat local snacks and watch the sunset, and highlights include the lighthouse and Victory War Memorial. It is the beach’s vivid life that makes it attractive to tourists. During the summer season, more than 20,000 people come every day to visit this beach. This should be included in their place on the Chennai list.
Best Time To Visit: November to February
Top Tourist Attractions: Lighthouse, Victory War Memorial
Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central (3 km)
2. Kapaleeshwarar Temple
Photo: Aleksandr Zykov / Wikimedia Commons
Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Chennai is an imposing Dravidian temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The gopurams and intricate carvings are in the colours, too. It is a centuries-old temple, attracting pilgrims and tourists alike. Being there during the evening aarti is a must, during which you can experience a bit of that spiritual and cultural experience. This was built around the 7th century CE, as people have yet to learn the exact period. This temple is based on South Indian architecture. This is the reason it is a popular place for Chennai trips.
Best Time To Visit: All year round
Top Tourist Attractions: Colourful Gopurams, Evening Aarti
Nearest Airport: Chennai International Airport (16 km)
3. Fort St. George
Photo: L.vivian.richard / Wikipedia
Fort St. George is the first British fort in India. St. Mary’s Church, the oldest Anglican church in India, and a museum housing colonial artefacts are housed in the fort. It is a fascinating stop for history lovers when in Chennai. This was founded in 1839, and previously, it was called the White Town because of its area and location. This currently holds the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and other official buildings. Due to its historical significance, it comes number one on Chennai’s tourist places list.
Best Time To Visit: November to February
Top Tourist Attractions: St. Mary’s Church, Fort Museum
Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central (3.5 km)
4. Santhome Cathedral Basilica
Photo: Joe Ravi / Wikimedia Commons
Among only a handful of churches built over the tomb of an apostle, this Gothic-style basilica, built over the tomb of St. Thomas, is one of only three in the world. The auspicious ambience of the place and the place’s historical importance attract both tourists and pilgrims to the site. This church is one of the oldest in the world, founded in 1523. This is mainly based on the Gothic and Gothic revival architecture. This has always been on the list of the first Chennai tourist places.
Best Time To Visit: November to February
Top Tourist Attractions: Tomb of St. Thomas, Museum
Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central (5 km)
5. Elliot’s Beach
Photo: Ankit Bhattacharjee / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
There is a quiet alternative to Marina Beach, Elliot’s Beach. For a calm day, it’s perfect, as its clean sands and relaxed atmosphere allow for a nice day. Karl Schmidt Memorial and Velankanni Church are both nearby. This is a famous beach for winding away from the city’s hustle. This beach is located near Ashtalakshmi Temple, which was built in 1976. This beach is also one of the cleanest and safest beaches in Chennai. That’s why it is a trendy tourist place in Chennai.
Best Time To Visit: November to March
Top Tourist Attractions: Karl Schmidt Memorial, Velankanni Church
Nearest Airport: Chennai International Airport (12 km)
6. Government Museum
Photo: L.vivian.richard / Wikimedia Commons
The Government Museum, Egmore, is a repository of culture. Visitors are attracted to its rich art, archaeology and natural history collection. Especially noteworthy is the Bronze Gallery, which is divided into two virtually identical sections, one permanently displaying exquisite bronze sculptures from antiquity and the other for temporary exhibition purposes. This was built in 1851 and is the second-oldest museum in the world. It comes under the Ministry of Culture and is not controlled by the Chennai government.
Best Time To Visit: All year round
Top Tourist Attractions: Bronze Gallery, Amaravathi Gallery
Nearest Railway Station: Egmore Railway Station (1 km)
7. Valluvar Kottam
Photo: Ambareesh Sridhar Photography / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
The Valluvar Kottam is dedicated to Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar and is a tribute to Tamil literature and culture. The architecture in the form of an enormous chariot-shaped structure is an architectural marvel. An iconic symbol of Chennai’s tie to its literary and cultural roots. The height of this landmark is 39 metres. The unique thing about this structure is that it stands without any support, meaning it has no pillars. Due to this fantastic engineering, it is a famous tourist place in Chennai.
Best Time To Visit: November to March
Top Tourist Attractions: Stone Chariot, Auditorium
Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central (5 km)
8. Guindy National Park
Guindy National Park is a green oasis in the middle of Chennai. There are blackbucks, spotted deer, and many more of the park’s rich biodiversity, and visitors can also visit the Visitors Centre. It’s a perfect nature-loving place for a more peaceful retreat. Guindy National Park is a Chennai tourist place where people come from every part of the world, even where they already have a lot of wildlife present. Even though it is one of the smallest national parks in the world, it’s spread just over 2.70 km-sq.
Best Time To Visit: October to March
Top Tourist Attractions: Children’s Park, Snake Park
Nearest Airport: Chennai International Airport (8 km)
9. Birla Planetarium
Birla Planetarium is a place that provides an exciting world with a mixture of astronomy and space. This attraction’s interactive exhibits, sky shows, and digital theatre are perfect for families and science lovers, ensuring an educational but fun trip. This planetarium is so giant that it can accommodate 500 exhibits. This also has a 360-degree sky theatre, which was built in 2009. This has been renovated many times to preserve its overall architecture. That’s why it is one of the popular place for Chennai trip.
Best Time To Visit: All year round
Top Experiences: Sky Shows, Digital Theatre
Nearest Railway Station: Guindy Railway Station (5 km)
10. DakshinaChitra Museum
Photo: Shamfat / Wikipedia Commons
Last on our Chennai tourist places list is DakshinaChitra Museum. It is a living museum of art, architecture, and traditions in South India — Dakshina Chitra. It’s a cultural gem and place to visit near Chennai; visitors can glimpse life-size replicas of traditional homes and see craft demonstrations. DakshinaChitra Museum is one of the tourist attractions in Chennai, and it is visited a lot, even by foreigners. The Madras Craft Foundation manages this museum. The architect behind this marvellous building was Benny Kuriakose. Due to its rich history and tradition, it has become one of the best places to visit in Chennai among history lovers.
Best Time To Visit: November to March
Top Tourist Attractions:Nearest Airport: Chennai International Airport (21 km)
Chennai was built around a progression of creeks, which gives perspective to pristine lakes and lovely foliage. The top tourist spots in Chennai are things to look at. Come find out whether you’d be charmed by the city’s temples, beaches, or very colourful cultural landmarks. The places to visit in Chennai are as attractive as they are on the internet. Plan your trip with TripXL and discover the best of Chennai!
Cover Photo: Anees Ahmed / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
