Landmarks in Chennai
- 01
Birla Planetarium
A modern planetarium with astronomical shows and exhibits, part of the Periyar Science and Technology Centre complex on the Marina waterfront.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Afternoon (2–5 pm) to avoid crowds; check show schedules as they may vary
- Tickets
- Ticketed separately for the planetarium shows and the science museum. Shows run at fixed times (typically every 1–2 hours); check the schedule at the gate or ask ahead. Photography inside the theatre is not allowed.
- 02
Madras High Court
A Victorian-era courthouse on the harbour, built in the 1890s, with a distinctive tower (locally called the Light House). It is a landmark of British-era architecture and remains an active court.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon for good light; avoid midday heat
- Tickets
- The courthouse is not open to tourists. You view it from the outside and the promenade.
- 03
Marina Beach
India's second-longest beach stretches 13 km along the Bay of Bengal, lined with casuarina trees and ancient monuments, and busiest at sunrise and sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours for a walk
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning (5–7 am) or late afternoon (4–6 pm), October to March
- Tickets
- No entry fee. The beach is public; swimming is at your own risk, and lifeguards are not always present.
- 04
Parry's Corner
A historic junction in the old city where Art Deco office buildings, dating from the 1930s-40s, frame a busy street intersection. A snapshot of Chennai's mercantile past and its eclectic architecture.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer and street traffic is lighter; avoid midday heat and congestion
- Tickets
- The buildings are office blocks; you do not go inside. They are viewed from the public street.
- 05
San Thome Cathedral Basilica
A grand Catholic basilica dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle, built over an ancient shrine on land where he is believed to have been martyred.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning (8–10 am) or late afternoon (4–6 pm); avoid service times (typically 6–7 am and 6–7 pm on weekdays)
- Tickets
- No entry fee. However, as an active place of worship, respect the services and crowds at the times they occur. Photography inside may be restricted during services.
Museums in Chennai
- 06
DakshinaChitra Museum
An open-air museum on the Covelong coastal highway, showcasing traditional architecture, crafts and living heritage from four South Indian states.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours, plus 1 hour travel from central Chennai
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning (9–12 pm), October to March; avoid midday heat
- Tickets
- Ticketed, with different Indian and foreign visitor rates. Parking is included. Photography is usually allowed in the courtyards; ask about restricted areas.
- 07
Government Museum
One of India's oldest museums, founded in 1851, with galleries of sculptures, bronzes, textiles and natural history in a 19th-century building in Egmore.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning (9–12 pm), when the galleries are quieter and the light is better
- Tickets
- Ticketed, with different Indian and foreign visitor rates. Composite monument tickets may not apply here. Photography may have restrictions in certain galleries; check at the entrance.
- 08
National Art Gallery
A neo-Mughal building adjacent to the Government Museum, housing paintings, sculptures and prints from the 19th and 20th centuries. A quiet collection focused on Indian art and artists.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or early afternoon; it tends to be quieter than the main museum
- Tickets
- Ticketed; check with the Government Museum for a combined ticket or the art gallery's separate fee. Timings may differ slightly from the main museum.
Day trips in Chennai
- 09
Kanchipuram
A sacred temple town about 60 km west of Chennai, known as the City of a Thousand Temples. Home to ancient Dravidian temples, pilgrims, and renowned silk weaving. A major seat of Hindu learning and pilgrimage.
- Time needed
- 5–7 hours including travel; 2.5–3 hours in town
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to March; early morning for temples and to avoid afternoon crowds and heat
- Tickets
- Most temples are free or charge nominal entry fees. Some do not allow photography in the sanctum. Ask at each entrance.
- 10
Mahabalipuram
A UNESCO-listed port town about 60 km south of Chennai, famous for its monolithic rock carvings and the Shore Temple, a 7th-century structure that once commanded the coast. One of India's most important examples of early Pallava architecture.
- Time needed
- 4–6 hours including travel; 2–3 hours in town itself
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to March for comfortable weather; early morning or late afternoon to avoid midday heat
- Tickets
- The Shore Temple and other monuments are ticketed. Combined ticket available. Check current fees and timings before going; major sites are usually open 6 am to 6 pm.
- 11
Tirupati
A pilgrimage city in Andhra Pradesh, about 140 km from Chennai, home to one of the world's most-visited temples, Sri Venkateswara Temple. Devoted pilgrims come to walk the hill and offer prayers, and many shave their heads as an act of devotion.
- Time needed
- 7–9 hours including drive; plan a night stay for a less rushed experience
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- October to February for weather; mid-week mornings are less crowded than weekends and festivals
- Tickets
- Free entry, but queue passes are optional and can be paid for faster access. Different categories of passes exist: special, premium, etc. Budget for queue fees or expect waits of 2–4 hours. Prasad (blessed food) is given free.
Temples in Chennai
- 12
Kapaleeshwarar Temple
One of the oldest temples in Mylapore, dating to the 7th century, with a 120-foot gopuram and a sacred tank, central to Tamil Hindu tradition.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning (6–8 am) for a quieter visit; weekday mornings are less crowded than weekends or festival days
- Tickets
- There is no entry fee for darshan. Footwear is left outside in the designated areas. Photography restrictions apply in the inner sanctum; check the signage.
- 13
Parthenon Temple
A modern temple in Triplicane dedicated to Sri Venkateswara with clean courtyards and a peaceful atmosphere, attracting both daily worshippers and tourists.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning (6–8 am) or evening (5–7 pm), when worshippers arrive
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Darshan is free. Footwear is left at the entrance area. Donations are welcome but optional.
- 14
Sri Mariamman Temple
A 16th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Mariamman, the goddess of rain, in the heart of the old city bazaar. Known for its ornate gopuram and its ritual importance during festivals, especially Panguni Uthiram.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning for a quieter darshan, or during the Panguni Uthiram festival (March–April) for the full spiritual experience and crowds
- Tickets
- Free entry for darshan. Photography may be restricted near the sanctum; ask before you shoot.
Experiences in Chennai
- 15
Elliot's Beach
A quieter alternative to Marina Beach in the Besant Nagar neighbourhood, popular with locals for evening strolls and cooler waters.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon and early evening (4–7 pm), when families arrive and the light is warm
- Tickets
- No entry fee. The beach is open to the public.
- 16
Thiruvanmiyur Beach
A town beach about 15 km south of the city centre, lined with temples, shops and local life. Quieter than Marina Beach and used mostly by residents rather than tourists.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours for a dawn walk and some time at a café
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Sunrise and early morning, between October and March; the water is calmest and the light is best then
- Tickets
- No entry fee. The beach is public.
Forts in Chennai
- 17
Fort St. George
The first European fortification in India, built by the British East India Company in 1644, with museums, colonial buildings and the birthplace of Chennai as a city.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning (8–11 am), October to March; avoid midday heat
- Tickets
- The fort is free to enter. The Fort Museum is ticketed, with different rates for Indian and foreign visitors. St. Mary's Church is free but may close for services or private events.
Gardens and parks in Chennai
- 18
Guindy National Park
A 2.7-square-kilometre sanctuary in the city's centre, home to spotted deer, peacocks and over 150 bird species. It is one of the few urban parks in India still hosting wildlife in the middle of a metro.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning between October and March; early morning is best for spotting deer and birds
- Tickets
- Ticketed entry; check the official Madras Crocodile Bank or Tamil Nadu forest department site for current fees. The park often offers morning birding walks; ask at the gate.
Neighbourhoods in Chennai
- 19
Mylapore Neighbourhood
An old residential neighbourhood around Kapaleeshwarar Temple, layered with colonial buildings, temples, traditional houses and the texture of everyday Chennai.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours walking
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning (6–8 am) for pilgrims and quiet streets, or late afternoon (4–6 pm) when shops reopen
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Mylapore is a living neighbourhood; respect residents and active shrines.
