Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu and South India's gateway on the Bay of Bengal, a hot, humid coastal city known for Dravidian temples, colonial-era buildings, the world-famous Marina Beach, Carnatic music and classical dance, and filter coffee and banana-leaf meals.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Chennai.
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1
Kapaleeshwarar Temple
A Dravidian temple dedicated to Shiva as Kapaleeswarar and Parvati as Karpagambal, rebuilt in its present form in the 16th century with a 37-metre gopuram of painted stucco figures and a large sacred tank. It is the spiritual centre of Mylapore.
Tip: Arrive at dawn or around 5:00PM to catch puja without midday heat · Wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees · Leave shoes at the stand outside and carry small change for fees · Avoid festival days in March-April unless the procession is the goal · Photography is usually restricted near the sanctum; ask before using a camera · Combine with a filter-coffee stop on the Mada streets
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2
Marina Beach
A roughly 13km urban shoreline along the Bay of Bengal, one of the longest city beaches in the world, lined with memorials to Tamil leaders, the Gandhi statue, fishermen boats and food stalls selling sundal (boiled chickpea snack) and fried fish.
Tip: Do not swim; strong currents and an undertow make the water dangerous · Go at sunrise for quiet and cooler weather, or after 5:00PM for the lively scene · Avoid Sunday evenings if crowds or traffic are a concern · Keep bags and phones secure in busy stretches · Eat from busy stalls with high turnover · Use app cabs or the nearby suburban stations rather than driving on Beach Road
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3
Fort St. George and Fort Museum
The first English fortress in India, begun in 1640 by the East India Company and the seed of modern Chennai. The museum in the former Exchange building displays Company-era coins, portraits, weapons and Robert Clive memorabilia; St. Mary's Church (1680) inside the walls is the oldest surviving Anglican church in India.
Tip: Check that your visit avoids Friday, when the museum is closed · Carry photo identification for security checks · Arrive at opening on a weekday for fewer school groups · Foreign nationals pay a higher fee than Indian nationals; keep cash handy · Restrictions apply to photography in some areas, so ask staff · Pair the visit with the Marina and George Town landmarks nearby
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4
San Thome Basilica
A neo-Gothic Catholic basilica built in 1893 over the reputed tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle, one of only three churches in the world said to stand over an apostle's burial place. A small museum holds Portuguese-era relics.
Tip: Dress modestly and keep voices low inside the church · Visit in the morning for quiet and good light through the stained glass · Check museum hours, which are shorter than the church's · A small donation is customary · Avoid Christmas week and the December festival if crowds are a concern · Ask before photographing near the tomb or during Mass
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5
Government Museum, Egmore
Founded in 1851 and among the oldest museums in India, with a celebrated bronze gallery of Chola-era Nataraja and Shiva figures, a collection of Amaravati sculptures, a natural-history hall and the National Art Gallery in a red Indo-Saracenic building.
Tip: Confirm opening hours by phone, as listings differ · Remember the museum closes on Fridays · Visit on a weekday morning to avoid school groups · Allow time for the bronze and National Art Gallery first · Buy a still-camera permit if photographing · Wear comfortable shoes, since galleries are spread across several buildings
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6
Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane
An 8th-century Pallava Vaishnava temple, rebuilt by later dynasties, dedicated to Krishna as charioteer (Parthasarathy) of Arjuna. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Vaishnavite tradition and has a distinctive gopuram on a busy bazaar street.
Tip: Go early in the morning for fewer queues · Dress modestly and leave footwear at the stand · Avoid Vaikunta Ekadasi in December-January unless attending the festival · Consider the special-darshan ticket on busy days · Do not photograph the sanctum · Combine with a walk to the Marina, about ten minutes away
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7
Valluvar Kottam
A memorial to the Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, built in 1976, with a 39-metre stone temple-car replica and 1,330 couplets of the Thirukkural carved on granite pillars in the auditorium.
Tip: Confirm opening hours locally, as sources differ · Visit in the morning or late afternoon for light and cooler weather · Photograph the chariot from the front lawn · Check the ticket window for the current fee · Bring a Tamil-English translation to follow the couplets · Pair with Semmozhi Poonga or the Egmore museum nearby
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8
DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum
A living-history museum of the cultural heritage of South India, with relocated traditional houses from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, craft demonstrations by artisans, a craft shop and weekend performances.
Tip: Remember the museum is closed on Tuesdays · Arrive before midday to cover the grounds before the heat · Carry water, a hat and sunscreen for outdoor walking · Visit at weekends for performances, or weekdays for fewer crowds · Check the website for current ticket rates and timings · Combine with Mahabalipuram on a day trip along East Coast Road
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9
Guindy National Park and Snake Park
One of the few national parks inside an Indian city, protecting about 270 hectares of tropical dry evergreen forest with blackbuck, spotted deer and many birds. The adjoining Snake Park displays Indian reptiles including king cobras and crocodiles. Telephone 044-22351471 for the park office.
Tip: Go on a weekday morning for the best wildlife viewing · Remember the Snake Park and Children's Park close on Tuesdays · Wear walking shoes and carry water and insect repellent · Keep a safe distance from animals and do not feed them · Pay extra camera fees at the entrance if photographing · Call 044-22351471 to confirm hours
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10
Elliot's Beach (Besant Nagar)
A cleaner, quieter southern beach beside the Ashtalakshmi Temple and the Schmidt Memorial, popular with joggers, families and cafes along Besant Avenue. Swimming is discouraged due to currents.
Tip: Go at sunrise or sunset for the best light and temperatures · Do not swim because of strong currents · Visit on weekdays for a quieter beach · Keep belongings secure and avoid the sand late at night · Stop at nearby cafes on Besant Avenue for breakfast or coffee · Combine with the Ashtalakshmi Temple next door
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Temple
Kapaleeshwarar Temple
A Dravidian temple dedicated to Shiva as Kapaleeswarar and Parvati as Karpagambal, rebuilt in its present form in the 16th century with a 37-metre gopuram of painted stucco figures and a large sacred tank
Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane
An 8th-century Pallava Vaishnava temple, rebuilt by later dynasties, dedicated to Krishna as charioteer (Parthasarathy) of Arjuna
Ashtalakshmi Temple, Besant Nagar
A shrine built in 1974 in which eight forms of the goddess Lakshmi are worshipped across multiple levels
Beach
Marina Beach
A roughly 13km urban shoreline along the Bay of Bengal, one of the longest city beaches in the world, lined with memorials to Tamil leaders, the Gandhi statue, fishermen boats and food stalls selling sundal (boiled chickpea snack) and fried fish
Elliot's Beach (Besant Nagar)
A cleaner, quieter southern beach beside the Ashtalakshmi Temple and the Schmidt Memorial, popular with joggers, families and cafes along Besant Avenue
Historic_landmark
Fort St. George and Fort Museum
The first English fortress in India, begun in 1640 by the East India Company and the seed of modern Chennai
Madras High Court Building
An Indo-Saracenic red-brick building of 1892 with a lighthouse tower, said to be one of the largest judicial complexes in the world
Ripon Building
The white neo-Palladian seat of the Greater Chennai Corporation, completed in 1913 and named after Viceroy Lord Ripon
Church
San Thome Basilica
A neo-Gothic Catholic basilica built in 1893 over the reputed tomb of St
Armenian Church (Church of the Holy Virgin Mary)
Built in 1772 by the Armenian merchant community of Madras, the church has a six-bell tower and old Armenian tombstones in its courtyard
Museum
Government Museum, Egmore
Founded in 1851 and among the oldest museums in India, with a celebrated bronze gallery of Chola-era Nataraja and Shiva figures, a collection of Amaravati sculptures, a natural-history hall and the National Art Gallery in a red Indo-Saracenic building
DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum
A living-history museum of the cultural heritage of South India, with relocated traditional houses from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, craft demonstrations by artisans, a craft shop and weekend performances
Vivekananda House (Ice House)
A red-and-white 1842 building that stored ice shipped from New England; Swami Vivekananda stayed here for nine days in 1897
Chennai Rail Museum
Operated beside the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), this museum shows vintage steam and diesel locomotives, royal-era saloons, a miniature toy train ride and a model gallery of Indian railway history
Monument
Valluvar Kottam
A memorial to the Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, built in 1976, with a 39-metre stone temple-car replica and 1,330 couplets of the Thirukkural carved on granite pillars in the auditorium
Nature
Guindy National Park and Snake Park
One of the few national parks inside an Indian city, protecting about 270 hectares of tropical dry evergreen forest with blackbuck, spotted deer and many birds
Garden
Theosophical Society, Adyar
The international headquarters of the Theosophical Society since 1882, set in 100 hectares of woodland on the Adyar River
Semmozhi Poonga Botanical Garden
A 20-acre garden opened in 2010 on former Cathedral Road land, with themed gardens of rare plants, a medicinal garden, a mist-house and a children's play area, in the middle of the city
Library
Anna Centenary Library
A nine-storey glass-fronted public library opened in 2010 and one of the largest in Asia
Neighbourhood
Mylapore Tank and Four Mada Streets
The temple tank and four processional streets around Kapaleeshwarar Temple hold old agraharam houses, flower and brass shops, filter-coffee stalls and the December Margazhi kolam drawings
Landmark
Light House Viewpoint, Marina
The only Indian lighthouse with a lift to its viewing level, with a panoramic view of the Bay of Bengal and the city skyline
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Hindu temples in Chennai close from about noon to 4:00PM for the afternoon break. ASI-protected sites follow sunrise to sunset; Fort St. George museum and the Government Museum close on Fridays; DakshinaChitra closes on Tuesdays; the Rail Museum closes on Mondays.
- Fees
- Most temples, Marina Beach and the beaches are free. Fort St. George museum costs ₹15 (approx $0.16 USD) for Indian nationals and ₹200 (approx $2.08 USD) for foreign nationals; the Government Museum charges ₹15 (approx $0.16 USD) and ₹250 (approx $2.60 USD); DakshinaChitra ₹100 (approx $1.04 USD) on weekdays and ₹250 (approx $2.60 USD) for foreign nationals. Foreign-national ticket prices at ASI sites such as the Mahabalipuram Shore Temple are about ₹600 (approx $6.25 USD). Children under 15 enter ASI sites free. All fees are approximate and conversions use 1 USD = ₹96.
- Best Times
- November to February is the comfortable season, with daytime highs near 29C. March to June is hot and humid, often above 38C. The northeast monsoon from October to December brings heavy rain and occasional cyclones; carry a rain jacket and plan indoor sights for wet afternoons.
- Booking
- ASI tickets for protected monuments can be bought online at asi.payumoney.com. Chennai Rail Museum packages are booked at irctctourism.com. Use the Chennai Metro (chennaimetrorail.org), the CMRL app, Chennai One app, and Ola, Uber or Rapido for transport. Auto-rickshaws should be asked to use the meter.
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Start temple visits early; most close from roughly noon to 4:00PM and reopen for the evening puja.
Carry cash in small notes for shoe stands, camera tickets and small temple donations.
Wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees at temples, and slip-on shoes that are easy to remove.
Book ASI monument tickets online where possible, and carry passport ID for the foreign-national rate.
Check the closing day before going: Fridays for the Government Museum and Fort museum, Mondays for the Rail Museum, Tuesdays for DakshinaChitra.
Use Ola, Uber or Rapido to avoid fare disputes, or ask the driver to run the meter.
Avoid walking outdoors between noon and 3:00PM from April to June; the heat index is dangerous.
Telephone before visiting lesser-known sites such as Vivekananda House (+91-44-28446188) or the Government Museum (+91-44-28193238), as listed hours vary.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are needed to see Chennai's main attractions?
Two days cover the essentials: one day for Fort St. George, George Town, Egmore and the Marina, and one for Mylapore, San Thome, Adyar and Besant Nagar. A third day allows DakshinaChitra or a day trip to Mahabalipuram.
Are Chennai temples open to non-Hindus?
Kapaleeshwarar and Parthasarathy temples generally admit visitors of all faiths to the outer halls and courtyards. Inner sanctums and some temples display boards restricting entry beyond the flagstaff to Hindus, so follow posted signs.
Is Marina Beach safe for swimming?
No. Strong currents and an undertow make swimming unsafe and local authorities discourage it. Walking and watching the sea is the norm.
Which sights are closed on which days?
The Government Museum and Fort St. George museum close on Fridays, DakshinaChitra on Tuesdays, the Chennai Rail Museum on Mondays and the Snake Park on Tuesdays.
What is the best time to visit Chennai?
November to February offers the coolest and driest weather. The northeast monsoon from October to December can bring heavy rain.