Visiting the city of Chennai in India is a trip that we will always remember. We have mentioned previously that it was a trip that not only had a profound impact on us personally, but also changed the way that we have traveled since that visit. Although we only had a limited amount of time to spend in Chennai, we certainly made the most of the time that we had. We tried to see as much of the city as possible, but also made sure to take a couple of day trips to see the surrounding area. It can certainly be overwhelming to visit a city with as many people as live in Chennai and it takes a little getting used to as you visit the various sites.ย If you get a chance to visit Chennai, here are some of the places that we would recommend that you take time to see.
- Kapaleeshwarwar Temple – With all of the colorful details on the roofs, it is an amazing sight to see. Depending on the time that you go to the temple, you can certainly expect large crowds. The temple was one of the first places that we visited in Chennai and it only kept getting better.
- The Government Museum – Featuring exhibits that range from zoological, archeological, cultural, and historical, there is a lot to see in the second oldest museum in India. From the statues to the architecture of the museum buildings themselves, it should certainly be on your itinerary for Chennai.
- Saint Thomas Cathedral – One of only three churches in the world to be built over the tomb of a disciple, it is also the location of the cave where St. Thomas hid before eventually being speared to death.
- Mahabalipuram – The first of our day trips outside of Chennai, seeing the ancient temples of Mahabalipuram was probably the highlight of our time in India. There is much to see as you walk around the various temples, so expect to spend several hours at Mahabalipuram.
- DakshinaChitra – Meant to represent the culture and lifestyles of the entire Tamil Nadu region, where Chennai is located, this cultural center is certainly worth a visit. We stopped on our way down to Mahabalipuram and enjoyed walking throughout the different buildings within the complex.
- Tiger Cave – Also located near Mahabalipuram, visiting this temple cave with tigers carved at the entrance is certainly interesting, but it won’t take longer than about 30 minutes to take a guided tour around the area. Although probably not worth a trip on its own, it is certainly worth stopping to see while on your way to Mahabalipuram.
- Kanchipuram – Known for its production of silk, it is certainly worth a visit to learn about the production of silk and to purchase silk items at prices that are better than in Chennai. We also visited the Ekambareswarar Temple while we were in Kanchipuram, which was another beautiful temple with many interesting features.
Chennai is certainly a busy city with a lot of technology and manufacturing businesses with international ties located there. The people were very welcoming and we enjoyed seeing the sights within the city as well as the surrounding area. Another highlight to Chennai and the coastline are the beaches, although we didn’t spend time at the beach during our visit. We are hoping to make it back to India in the near future and are looking forward to seeing more of this truly interesting country.
interesting read! I visited Chennai last June/July and went to most of the places on your list. My favourite was Mahabalipuram, but my favourite town was Pondicherry, 3 hours south of Chennai ๐
We really loved Mahabalipuram.
You certainly made the most of your time there! I’ve never really liked the weather ๐ In case you’re ever in Tamil Nadu for longer, you should definitely see Madurai and Thanjavur. The temples there are stunning!
We will add those to our travel list ๐
It looks like a wonderful place to visit, some of the architecture in particular is incredible!
Wow that temple entrance carving is so intricate!
Until now, I had been thinking Kanchipuram is from Bangalore. I know Chennai as high-temperature place. Nice Photos.
The temperatures only get very hot during their summer. Otherwise they are not too bad.
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Chennai…..is really a great experience…Me as North Indian…felt it to bec an amazing place,,
When we go back to India, we want to explore the northern regions.
Glad to know, India is a place of diverse cultures and you will surely enjoying exploring North India…
Yes, it really is ๐
You belong to which country? Your blog is a vast pool of travel experiences and it’s great to see our paths crossing. Thanks for stopping by this blog and connecting with us.
I hv written on Chennai recently…my journey from Delhi to Chennai..
Love these photos! Thanks for sharing
Thank you ๐
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