Kerala Backwaters Escape
Destination
Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the main gateway to South India. It started as a small British trading post in the 1600s and grew into one of India's largest cities, yet it has kept its old temples, classical music, and traditional food closer than most big cities in the country. For most international travelers, Chennai tourism is the first step into the temple towns of Tamil Nadu.
The city is a good place to ease into South India. In one or two days you can visit centuries-old Dravidian temples, walk through the first British fort in India, see a church built over the tomb of an apostle, and end the day on one of the longest city beaches in the world. Compared to Delhi or Mumbai, Chennai feels calmer and more traditional, and people are generally helpful toward visitors.
Most South India tour packages begin here because Chennai has the best flight connections in the region and sits within easy driving distance of Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram, and Pondicherry. Spending a night or two here gives you time to recover from the flight, get used to the heat and the food, and start your trip at a comfortable pace.
Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St. George, San Thome Basilica, Marina Beach, Government Museum
November – February.
Pleasant weather for sightseeing
2 Days
Add 1 day for Mahabalipuram or Kanchipuram
Tamil, English.
English widely spoken in hotels, shops, and by guides
Chennai is one of the best places in India for South Indian food. Start the day with idli, dosa, vada, and pongal, served with coconut chutney and sambar on a banana leaf. Don't miss filter coffee, strong, sweet, and served in a steel tumbler and bowl. For lunch, try a traditional South Indian thali (meals) with rice, rasam, and several vegetable dishes. Meat eaters should try Chettinad chicken and mutton biryani. Vegetarian travelers will find it one of the easiest cities in India to eat well.
T. Nagar is the city's busiest shopping area, known for silk sarees, gold jewelry, and street stalls. Pondy Bazaar nearby is good for clothes and small souvenirs. For better-quality handicrafts, bronze statues, and Kanchipuram silk at fixed prices, visit government emporiums such as Poompuhar. In George Town, the old trading quarter, narrow lanes are packed with spice sellers and wholesale markets, which are more interesting to walk through than to shop in.
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Chennai
The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is Chennai's best-known Hindu temple and the center of Mylapore, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. It's dedicated to Lord Shiva, and its tall gopuram (gateway tower) is covered from top to bottom in brightly painted figures of gods, goddesses, and mythological scenes. Inside, you'll see daily rituals, burning oil lamps, priests chanting, and local families offering flowers and coconuts. Early morning and evening are the best times to visit, when worship is most active. Visitors of all faiths can enter the outer courtyards, though the inner sanctum may be closed to non-Hindus. After the temple, walk through the streets around the temple tank, lined with flower sellers, brass shops, and small cafés serving fresh South Indian breakfast.
Just a short drive from Marina Beach, the Parthasarathy Temple is one of the oldest temples in Chennai, with origins going back to the 8th century. It's dedicated to Lord Krishna in his role as charioteer to Arjuna from the Mahabharata. The temple is quieter than Kapaleeshwarar and is a good place to see traditional Vaishnava worship. The surrounding Triplicane area is full of old houses, small mansions, and busy lanes that show everyday life in old Chennai.
Built by the British East India Company in 1644, Fort St. George was the first major English fortress in India and the starting point of modern Chennai. The Fort Museum inside displays old weapons, coins, uniforms, letters, and portraits from the colonial era, along with a tall flagpole said to be one of the oldest in the country. St. Mary's Church, also inside the fort, is the oldest Anglican church in India. Parts of the fort still house Tamil Nadu government offices, so some areas are off-limits. The museum is closed on Fridays.
The San Thome Basilica is built over the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle, who is believed to have brought Christianity to India in the first century. The present white neo-Gothic church was completed in 1893 and is one of only a few churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle. Visitors can see the main church, the tomb chapel below it, and a small museum with old artifacts. Dress modestly, and keep noise low as services are held through the day.
Stretching for about 13 km (8 miles) along the Bay of Bengal, Marina Beach is one of the longest urban beaches in the world. Come in the late afternoon or evening, when families gather on the sand, kids ride ponies, kites fly overhead, and food stalls sell roasted corn, sundal (spiced chickpeas), and fried snacks. The beach road behind it is lined with grand colonial buildings, including the University of Madras and Chepauk Palace. Swimming is not safe because of strong currents, but a sunset walk is a classic part of Chennai sightseeing.
The Government Museum in Egmore is one of the oldest museums in India and a must for anyone interested in Indian art. Its bronze gallery holds one of the finest collections of Chola bronzes in the world, including the famous Nataraja (dancing Shiva). The campus also includes the red-brick National Art Gallery building and galleries on archaeology, coins, and natural history. Plan at least two hours here. The museum is closed on Fridays.
Located on the East Coast Road on the way to Mahabalipuram, DakshinaChitra is an open-air museum with real traditional houses brought from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh and rebuilt on site. You can watch potters, weavers, and other craftspeople at work, see folk performances, and shop for handmade crafts. It's a great stop for families and anyone who wants to understand village life across South India in one visit. It's closed on Tuesdays.
The Theosophical Society headquarters sits on large, peaceful grounds along the Adyar River. It's best known for its huge banyan tree, one of the largest in India, and for its gardens, which are home to many birds. It's a quiet break from city traffic and a nice place for a slow morning walk.
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Getting there
Chennai is South India's main air, rail, and road hub.
Chennai International Airport, with direct flights from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and all major Indian cities
Chennai Central and Egmore stations, with fast trains to Bangalore, Mysore, Madurai, and Coimbatore
East Coast Road to Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry, and highways to Bangalore and Madurai
Tours that include Chennai
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Kerala Backwaters Escape
Kerala Backwaters Escape
Kerala Backwaters Escape
Kerala Backwaters Escape
Kerala Backwaters Escape
Kerala Backwaters Escape
Kerala Backwaters Escape
Kerala Backwaters Escape
Kerala Backwaters Escape
Kerala Backwaters EscapeN.S. Rathore & Mrs. Omlata Rathore · Managing Director
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