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Tirupati

city (Municipal corporation) in Chitturu district, Andhra Pradesh, India

112km

13.6579.42

Bangalore

city in Karnataka, India

297km

12.9766277.60013

Madurai

city of Tamil Nadu in southern India

419km

9.9256578.11425
Sights (55)

Chennakesava Perumal Temple, Chennai

0m

13.0838888980.27

Periamet Mosque

87m

13.0846880.27018

Tamil Nadu

Indian state

661m

13.0980.27

Queenship of Mary Church Chintadripet

754m

13.077641480.2669997

St Andrew's Church, Chennai

Neoclassical church. Built in 1821. The St. Andrews Church has finely etched white Doric columns, black and white tiled marble roof, and a high, sky-blue dome of enviable beauty. On the inner surface of the dome, constellations of stars, as they can be viewed in Scotland, are painted realistically. The body of the church is a circle, with rectangular compartments to the east and west. The circular part 24.5 m in diameter, is crowned by a shallow masonry dome colored a deep blue. This is painted with golden starsand supported by 16 fluted pillars with Corinthian capitals

828m

13.079880.2637

Wesley Church, Egmore

1.6km

13.0794444480.25666667

Government Museum, Chennai

Pantheon Rd, Egmore. Established in 1857, the Government Museum of Chennai is one of the popular tourist destinations in the city. It is a multi-purpose State Government Museum in Egmore, which is in the heart of the city, spreading over an area of 16.25 acres (7 ha) of land. Six independent buildings in this Museum campus has 46 galleries. There is an Archaeology Section, Zoology Section, Botany Section, Geology Section, Numismatics Section, Bronze Gallery, Children’s museum, art gallery and various other interesting sections and galleries. It is considered to be one of the oldest museums of India, since its inception dates back to the Colonial rule. There is history behind the origin of this museum. In 1846 AD, the Madras Literary Society debated the proposal of establishing a museum in the then Madras. The proposal was approved by the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London. The Chennai Government Museum was given this sprawling complex which is maintained by the State Government. There are six independent buildings in the Museum campus, which compose of 46 galleries. The museum was inaugurated on December 5, 1896 by the Sir Arthur Eli bank Havelock, the then Governor. He named it after the former Governor, Lord Connenmara. The museum was designed by H. Irvin, the consulting architect of the Government of Madras. The Government Museum has a splendid hall, marvellous reading room and striking Teak wood shelf and stands divided into a number of sections. Parts of the museum are often closed. Phone: +91 44 28193238, 9:30AM-5PM except holidays. A free guide service is available at 11AM and 3PM.

2.0km

13.0706580.257289

The National Art Gallery (Chennai)

The building of National Arts Gallery was built in the year 1907. This magnificent red sandstone building was designed by Henry Irwin and built by T. Namberumal Chetty. The building represents a typical Indo-Saracenic structure and was initially famous as Victoria Memorial Hall. Built with sandstone and adorned with motifs, the building bears impressions of Mughal architecture. The structure as well as the gallery collections are key factors responsible for the much credited tourist place. The gallery exhibits medieval handicrafts, sculptures, metal ware and paintings belonging to various schools of art, all from the past. The gallery displays paintings belonging to different schools and eras. The gallery's collections are displayed in four different sections that are: Tanjore Painting Gallery, Decorative Art Gallery, Indian Traditional Art Gallery and Ravi Varma Painting Gallery. The Tanjore paintings on glass are wonderful. The miniature paintings from Rajput and Mughal eras are fascinating too. The handicrafts that are displayed in National Arts Gallery belong to the 11th and 12th century, Indian handicrafts, period.

2.2km

13.0694444480.25583333

Masjid-o-Anwari

2.3km

13.06286480.2734169

Kalikambal Temple

Dedicated to Kalikambal and Kamateswarar, this temple was built close to sea shore but was relocated in 1640 AD. The great Maratha ruler Shivaji came in the temple to worship on 3 October 1667.

2.4km

13.0945580.2891

Triplicane Big Mosque

This is a historical landmark. Constructed by Wallajah family in memory of Nawab Muhammad Ali Walajah, in 1795. It is an imposing structure of symmetry and form of architectural magnificence with an imposing facade. The Mosque stands in extensive grounds, which are being used as a forum for religious and cultural activities. The magnificent grey granite structure is built without steel and wood. This architectural marvel is one of the important mosques in Chennai. The Nawab’s descendants are still living in a mansion known as Amir Mahal. One distinctive feature of this mosque is that the chronogram engraved in stone and fixed on the inside of the western wall of the mosque is by a non-Muslim, Rajah Makkan Lal “Khirad”, a Persian and Arabic scholar of repute, who was the private secretary to the Nawab. It may be mentioned in this regard that, as far as is known, no other mosque in the world has a chronogram composed by a non-Muslim. The Mosque has two minarets at the front. Medieval architecture is clearly visible in the construction of this great mosque. The Eid Prayer timing remains the same, 10AM, since 1749 A.D. This historic mosque is under the management of H.H. Adjoining the Wallajah Mosque is the tomb of the great Islamic saint Maulana Abdul Ali Bahrul Uloom, a divine scholar of the days of the Nawab Wallajah. In this enclosure also are the tombs of the late Nawabs of the Carnatic, the Princess of Arcot and other eminent Muslim scholars and theologians. Wallajah Mosque can be reached either from Ellis Rd (backside) or the Triplicane High Rd.

2.6km

13.0680.27

Krishnaswami Temple, Muthialpet

2.7km

13.09895680.289377

Amir Mahal

building in India

3.0km

13.05655180.268533

SPI Cinemas

human settlement in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

3.2km

13.05635580.259151

Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane

Parthasarathy means 'charioteer of Arjuna'. At Tiruvallikkeni (Triplicane) as the Britishers called it, is considered be the oldest temple in the Chennai and origins date back to the 8th century AD, the reference of which has been made in the Vaishnavite works of the Alwar saints. The existence of the Tiruvallikkeni village in referred in the Pallava records and before. The temple derived its name from the pond in front of the temple. It was built by the Pallavas. The temple was renovated by later dynasties, the Chola and the Vijayanagar kingdom. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The name Parthasarathy has been derived from two Sanskrit words Partha and Sarathy. The former word refers to Arjuna and the later means Charioteer. Its architecture is a combination of several temple building styles. There are inscriptions of the Pallavas, Cholas and the Vijayanagar kingdom on the temple structure. The temple besides being dedicated to Parthasarathy is also revered for Venkatakrishnaswami and to Ranganathar. The temple, when it was built, housed five avataras of the deity Vishnu. The structure, as it stands today, houses the shrines of popular deities like Venkatakrishnan with Rukmani, Balaraman, Satyaki, Anirudha, Pradyumna, Rama, Lakshmana, Barata, Sita, Shatrugna, Varadaraja and Hanuman.

3.3km

13.0539580.27675

Hafiz Ahmad Khan Mosque

3.4km

13.05312880.27348

Thousand Lights Mosque

mosque in India

3.5km

13.05580.255

Marina Beach

beach in Chennai, India

3.6km

13.0541880.28368

Vivekanandar Illam

A colonial house where Swami Vivekananda stayed after his return from Chicago. It was also the location of the Ramakrishna Math for a decade before the Math was moved to its present location in Mylapore. The house now features a museum, painting gallery, photo gallery, book shop and video show on the life and teaching of Vivekananda. It is maintained by the Ramakrishna Math. Meditation and spirituality classes are arranged regularly at a nominal cost.

3.9km

13.0491666780.28027778

St. George's Cathedral, Chennai

Built in 1815. A neoclassical church. Showing elements of Georgian architecture. It has a towering 45-m spire and ionic columns. The highlight of this cathedral is the graveyard. Connected by a guardrail what was made up of war emblems of the capture of Srirangapatnam in 1799.

4.0km

13.051880.2525

Semmozhi Poonga

A botanical garden with a wide variety of Bonsai plants.

4.0km

13.0523880.25104

Valluvar Kottam

Valluvar Kottam marks the memorial of one of the renowned poet and saint of the region, Tiruvalluvar. The memorial is shaped like a temple chariot and is, in fact, the replica of the temple chariot in Thiruvarur. There is a 101-feet (30m) high temple chariot structure with a life-size image of the poet in it. This chariot is a replica of the temple car of Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. The monument stands as a massive auditorium and was open to public in 1976. Over 3,000 blocks of stone were used to create this memorial to Tamil culture. Valluvar Kottam has quite an extensive space. The auditorium at Valluvar Kottam is said to be the largest in Asia and can accommodate about 4,000 people. It is a revered place in the city as it is considered to bear the impressions of the Tamil culture. The auditorium is surrounded by granite pillars that have the inscriptions taken from the famous work of the poet. The epic Tiruvalluvar, written by the poet consists of 1,330 verses, all of which are inscribed on the granite pillar. The 133 chapters of his famous work Thirukkural have been depicted in bas-relief in the front hall corridors of the chariot. It stands as a modern memorial to the great poet who represents the glorious culture of the Tamils.

4.5km

13.0544111180.24175

Apparswami Temple

4.7km

13.04027880.267473

Kachchaleswarar Temple

Shiva temple.

5.4km

13.03363480.270199

Mylapore

suburb of Chennai

5.4km

13.033680.2687

Kapaleeshwarar Temple

temple of Shivan (Kapaleeswarar) and a form of Shiva's consort Parvati called Karpagambal ("Goddess of the Wish-Yielding Tree"), located in Mylapore, Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu

5.5km

13.0333333380.26833333

St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai

In the whole world, there are only three churches built over the tomb of an Apostle of Jesus Christ- the Basilica of Saint Peter built over the tomb of St.Peter in Rome, Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela built over the tomb of St.James in Spain and Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas built over the tomb of St.Thomas. Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas is in Chennai, India. The present National Shrine of St.Thomas is built over the tomb of Saint Thomas the Apostle, who came to India in the year 52 AD. After preaching on the west coast, he came to Chennai (formerly Madras), and suffered martyrdom on a hill at the outskirts of the city, today known as "St. Thomas Mount." His body was buried on the spot over which the present Basilica stands. A valuable work of art kept in the Basilica is an ancient painting of Our Blessed Mother, in front of which the other great apostle of India, St. Francis Xavier, used to pray. There are two new structures today: the Tomb Chapel below the Basilica and 'Museum cum theatre'. The new underground chapel with a separate access outside the church structure, allows pilgrims to pray at the tomb and tourists to visit it, without disturbing the sacred functions in the church. The museum exhibits artifacts connected with St. Thomas and the Basilica, and the theatre is used for screening a short video on the life of the Apostle.

5.5km

13.0336111180.27777778

Pondy Bazaar

shopping hub in Tamil Nadu, India

5.8km

13.0404380.23997

Church of Our Lady of Light, Chennai

Built in 1516 by the Portuguese.

5.9km

13.0333333380.25

St. Lazarus' Church, Chennai

6.3km

13.02611280.274278

Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil, Chennai

6.3km

13.08580.21305556

Sri Balaji Temple, T. Nagar

6.4km

13.03578980.236561

Ranganathan Street

6.8km

13.037180.22931

Rajah Annamalaipuram Ayyappan Koil, Chennai

This is the first temple dedicated to lord Ayyappan in Chennai city. The temple also houses Lord Vinayakar and Lord Subramanian with his consorts Valli and Devayani constituted the Parivarams.

7.1km

13.0186111180.26805556

Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Saidapet

8.1km

13.03093880.218896

Kamakshi Amman Temple, Saidapet

8.8km

13.02100180.220251

Madhya Kailash

Very popular for locals. Ananda Vinayagar Lord Ganesha (the bestower of Happiness. Ananda, in Sanskrit, means Happiness) sits right in the centre of Parameshwar, Ambikai and Thirumal. The temple is very close to the IIT Madras and Adyar Cancer Institute.

8.8km

13.0063888980.24694444

Varasiddhi Vinayaka Temple

9.1km

13.00039780.266996

Guindy National Park

The park area stands close to 280 hectares. Guindy Park is probably the smallest national park in the country and the only park within the city suburbs of India. The park is inhabited by more than 20 species of trees, about 14 varieties of shrubs and more than 14 species of woodland mammals. The place also houses many species of rare birds and amphibians. The dry deciduous forests of Guindy are lined with tree species like Amona Squamosa, Atlanta Monophylla, Feronia Limonia and Azadirachta India. The popular park animals include species like Indian Antelope (Black Buck), Elephant, Spotted Deer, Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Hedgehog, Pangolin and Jackal. Some rare bird species found in the park include Black Winged Kite, Honey Buzzard, and Pariah Kite. The park is also home to many reptile and amphibian species.

9.8km

13.0025980.23079

Ashtalakshmi Temple, Chennai

The temple is dedicated to Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. Astha, in Sanskrit, is the number eight and eight forms of Lakshmi are worshipped in the Ashtalakshmi temple.

9.9km

12.992580.2706

Marundeeswarar Temple

A Shiva temple having a rich sthala purana or location history.

10km

12.9855555680.26138889

Kothandaramaswami Temple, Nandambakkam

11km

13.01730280.191254

Saint Patrick's church, Chennai

11km

13.00809980.195327

St. Thomas Mount

hillock located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

12km

13.0050555680.19330556

Makkah Masjid, Chennai

13km

13.058318780.1517654

ISKCON Temple Chennai

Injambakkam. Krishna temple built in 2012.

19km

12.9061111180.24166667

Bhaktavatsala Perumal temple, Thirunindravur

27km

13.112580.02611111

Arignar Anna Zoological Park

This zoological park is situated in the outskirts of the Chennai metropolitan (nearly 40km from the city center). Chennai has the distinction of having the first zoo in India, which was started in 1855. This park is said to be one of the biggest in South East Asia. The wildlife population is exhibited in a large open moated island enclosure with a simulated natural environment. More than 170 species of mammals, birds and reptiles are housed in this park. Lion safari vehicles, elephant rides, battery operated vehicles are some of the facilities available. The peak time is during Pongal and weekend holidays.

30km

12.8791780.08167

Covelong

fishing village in India

31km

12.792580.253

Vedagiriswarar temple

The main attraction here is the large temple atop the mountain which houses the deity of Vedagiriswarar, Lord Shiva.

56km

12.6066666780.0625

Kanthaswamy temple, Cheyyur

The temple was built in 11th century AD and is home to some unique, rich inscriptions of that century, giving an insight into the architectural characteristics of the style adopted by Chola Kings, who dominated those times. Veera Rajendra Chola and Kulothungan III built the Kandaswamy Temple. More two temples built here, at same time, are dedicated to Vanmikhanathar, i.e. Lord Siva, and to Perumal or Lord Vishnu. The Kandaswamy Temple is situated between the Shiva and Vishnu temples and Lord Kandaswamy or Shiva is the principal deity of the temple. The temple has number of shrines of other demigods like Lord Someswara, Goddess Meenakshi, Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Chandikeswara and Muthukumaraswamy, also called as Samharamurthy. The temple has an idol of Muruga, son of the Lord Shiva, standing on five different positions, called by distinct names like: Nrutta Skandar (dancing Muruga), Brahma Sastha (created from Brahma), Balaskandar (child Shanmuga), Sivagurunathar (as teacher to Siva) and Pulinthar (vedan hunter). This Kandaswamy temple of Chennai is the most distinctive one. Other than the deities of utmost belief and the tranquil environment, the temple has an image of Kazhukundran, who had made an artful creation of a temple car in 1521 CE, which is used during the Skanda Sashti festival.

83km

12.352580.03944444

Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park

116km

13.624979.3646

Venkateswara Temple, Dwaraka Tirumala

121km

13.6832579.34719444

Kapila Theertham

121km

13.6832579.34719444

Govindaraja Temple, Tirupati

121km

13.6832579.34719444
Nature

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Chennai

India
Someday we will visit Chennai or begin to dream about going there! However, for now its not on our radar. Let us know in the comments if you think that should change!

Chennai

Chennai, is the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. With a population of 8.6 million, Chennai's urbanized area is the most populous in southern India and the fourth most populous in India. It is situated on the east coast of peninsular India.

Stone age implements have been found near Pallavaram in Chennai. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Pallavaram was a megalithic cultural establishment, and pre-historic communities resided in the settlement.

Recent estimates of the economy of the entire Chennai Metropolitan Area range from $78.6 to $86 billion (PPP GDP), ranking it from fourth- to sixth-most productive metro area of India. Chennai has a broad industrial base in the automobile, computer, technology, hardware manufacturing and healthcare sectors. As of 2012, the city is India's second-largest exporter of information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) services. A major part of India's automobile industry is located in and around the city thus earning it the nickname "Detroit of India". It is known as the Cultural Capital of South India and is the third-most visited city in India by international tourists according to Euromonitor. The city also serves as the location of the Madras Stock Exchange, India's fourth stock exchange, one of four permanently recognised by SEBI, and India's third-largest by trading volume, ranked behind the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.

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Climate

Average temperatures

Jan

29.3°C21.2
Precipitation: 25.9 mm

Feb

30.9°C22.2
Precipitation: 3.4 mm

Mar

32.9°C24.2
Precipitation: 3.5 mm

Apr

34.5°C26.6
Precipitation: 14.4 mm

May

37.1°C28
Precipitation: 34.2 mm

Jun

37°C27.5
Precipitation: 55.8 mm

Jul

35.3°C26.4
Precipitation: 103.8 mm

Aug

34.7°C25.9
Precipitation: 126.8 mm

Sep

34.2°C25.6
Precipitation: 147.7 mm

Oct

32.1°C24.6
Precipitation: 315.6 mm

Nov

29.9°C23.1
Precipitation: 374.4 mm

Dec

28.9°C21.9
Precipitation: 177.4 mm