Top Places to visit in Chennai
About Chennai
Chennai was earlier known as Madras. It is the capital city of Tamil Nadu and is situated on the Coromandel Coast. The city is famous for its rich history, culture, temples, museums and monuments. The city was once a part of the Vijayanagara kingdom. It has also been ruled by Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas.
The temperature of Chennai ranges from 17 °C in winter to 37 °C in summer. The majority of the people in Chennai speak Tamil and English. If you are planning to visit Chennai by air then Chennai Airport is the nearest airport here. Chennai Central is well connected by trains to major cities of India including New Delhi and Mumbai. You can get a bus from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Kochi to Chennai.
Places to visit in Chennai
Marina Beach: Marina Beach is one of the longest beaches in India. This is a natural sandy beach stretched over 12 km. You can visit the Marina beach for the sunrise and sunset. You can go to visit the aquarium and icehouse at this beach.
Thousand Lights Mosque: This multi-domed mosque is located in the area of Anna Salai. It was built in 1810 and is thought that 1000 lights were used to light up the hall of this mosque. So, this mosque is named Thousand Lights Mosque. This mosque represents the medieval architectural style. It has a two minarets tower which is 64 ft in height.
Valluvar Kottam: Valluvar Kottam is a monument dedicated to Valluvar who was a Tamil poet. It is an intricately designed chariot constructed in 1976.
Elliot’s Beach: Elliot’s Beach is named after Edward Elliot, the chief magistrate during British rule. This beach is also known as Besant Nagar Beach. This beautiful beach has Ashtalakshmi Kovil in its vicinity which was built in 1976. The Ashtalakshmi temple represents modern architecture.
Dakshinachitra: Dakshinachitra is a heritage museum in Chennai. This museum has 18 galleries that showcase the culture, art, lifestyles, crafts, architecture and performing arts of South India.
Ashtalakshmi Temple: This temple is dedicated to Goddess Laxmi. It is a few km from Besant Beach. It was built in 1976 and represents modern architecture.
Government Museum: It was started in 1851 and is the second-oldest museum in India. It was built in Indo-Saracenic style. It has 10th – 13th-century old bronze idols and modern South Indian bronzes. It has 6 buildings and 46 galleries. Amaravathi Gallery has marble sculptures that showcase the life of the Gautam Buddha.
Guindy National Park: Guindy National Park was initially a game reserve. Today, it is home to more than 300 kinds of trees and plants, 130 bird species and 15 species of mammals. Guindy National Park is home to 400 blackbucks and 2000 spotted deer.
Kapaleeshwarar Temple: This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was constructed by the Pallavas, featuring a blend of Dravidian and Vijayanagara architectural styles.
MGR Film City: If you love South Indian movies, MGR Film City is a must-visit for you. MGR Film City has replicas of religious places, urban and village scenes, and landscaped gardens. It was built in 1994 and is named after the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, MG Ramachandran.
About Chennai Airport
Chennai Airport is an International airport located approximately 22 km from the city. It was earlier known as Madras Airport. You can get a bus or taxi from the city to Chennai Airport. The Chennai Airport’s IATA code is MAA. Air India, Air Asia, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara and Alliance Air operate from this airport to major cities of India including New Delhi, Kolkata, Goa, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Cochin and Mumbai. It currently has 4 terminals with a handling capacity of 22 million passengers every year. Various facilities at Chennai Airport include currency exchange, ATMs, free trolleys, wheelchairs, parking, a lost and found counter, an information desk, etc. The complete address of Chennai airport is – Great Southern Trunk Rd, Meenambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600027.
