Ashtalakshmi Temple, Besant Nagar

Ashtalakshmi Temple stands on Elliot's Beach Road in Besant Nagar, a southern coastal neighbourhood of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Built in 1974, the shrine is dedicated to the eight forms of the goddess Lakshmi, known as the Ashtalakshmi, who are worshipped across multiple levels of the building. It is a relatively modern temple, but its unusual design and seaside setting have made it a well-known landmark in the area.

The temple is arranged as a multi-storey structure in which devotees climb through the levels, visiting separate shrines for each form of Lakshmi, including Adi Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Veera Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi and Vidya Lakshmi. A central shrine to Vishnu and Lakshmi anchors the complex, and the walls and ceilings carry painted and sculpted figures. The pyramid-like tower rises above the palm trees and is visible from the beach, and the top levels give a glimpse of the sea and the surrounding neighbourhood. The sound of bells and chanting, the scent of flowers and incense, and the sea breeze give the temple a distinct atmosphere.

A visit generally takes 30 to 45 minutes. The temple is quietest on weekday mornings, when few worshippers are present and the climb through the levels is easy. Fridays, which are associated with Lakshmi worship, and festival days such as Diwali and Navaratri are much busier, with long queues and crowded stairways. The temple is next to Elliot's Beach, so many visitors combine the visit with a walk on the sand, particularly at sunrise or sunset.

Visitors should dress modestly, remove footwear at the stand outside, and follow instructions from temple staff. Photography is usually restricted inside the shrines, so it is best to ask before using a camera. Opening hours are not fixed in the item data, so checking locally is sensible. The temple is reached by app cab or auto from Adyar or Thiruvanmiyur, and MTC buses run along Besant Nagar Beach Road.