George Town
Named after the future King George V, on his visit to India in 1905, this has long been the historical and also commercial hub of the city. Along Popham's Broadway (named after British lawyer Stephen Popham who was determined to improve the sanitation in the late 18th century) are the beautiful Armenian Church (1772) and Wesleyan Church (1820).
Fort St George
Named after England's patron saint, and built in the mid 1600s, the fort was the first bastion of British power and the oldest British construction in India. It was once the headquarters of the East India Company. It covers a vast area and now houses the State Legislature and Secretariat. Fort Museum contains assorted relics including those from the British Raj, including weaponry, silverware, portraits and military uniforms.
George Town
Tel: (044) 2567 1127.
St Mary's Church
Housed within the fort, the church was built in 1680 using solid masonry and 1.2m (4ft) thick outer walls, and still retains some outstanding examples of 17th-century craftsmanship. As one of Asia's oldest English churches, its tombstones outside are India's oldest British tombs. This was the venue for the marriage of Robert Clive (Clive of India) and that of Governor Elinu Yale who founded Yale University in the USA.
Fort St George, George Town
Tel: (044) 2538 3097.
Government Museum and National Art Gallery
Originally built in the grounds of the 18th-century Pantheon, this is one of the finest colonial buildings in the subcontinent. In addition to the museum, it houses the Connemara Public Library and National Art Gallery. The museum contains fine Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, plus interesting natural history and archaeology sections.
Pantheon Road, Egmore
Tel: (044) 2819 3238.
Website: www.chennaimuseum.org
Basilica of San Thome
This elegant cathedral is thought to be the burial site of St Thomas the Apostle (Doubting Thomas) when he was killed just outside the city in AD78. Built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, and made into a basilica in 1896, its stunning stained glass window portrays the story of St Thomas, and the central hall has 14 wooden Stations of the Cross, depicting scenes from the last days of Christ.
San Thome High Road, Mylapore
Tel: (044) 2498 5455.
Website: www.santhomebasilica.com
Marina Beach and Elliot's Beach
At 18km (11 miles), Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world, is not for swimming as the currents are too strong. Stick to people watching in the evenings, a sunset walk or driving along the seafront for the views of the city's fine buildings. There are also statues of scholars and local heroes, and the Anna Memorial, dedicated to former Chief Minister CN Annadurai. Part of the beach settlement was destroyed when the 2004 tsunami hit Tamil Nadu. Further down Marina Beach, relaxing Elliot's Beach contains the Velankanni Church, which attracts many pilgrims, and the Ashtalakshmi temple with eight different forms of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
The Theosophical Society
Founded in 1875, the society was formed to encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science by studying and reflecting on the purity of life. It contains shrines of many faiths, a peaceful Garden of Remembrance, and an almost century-old library which includes a wonderful collection of rare Oriental manuscripts written on palm leaves and parchment. Sitting under the 400-year-old Banyan tree is a good place to contemplate the meaning of life.
Adyar Bridge Road
Tel: (044) 2491 2815 or 2473.
Website: www.ts-adyar.org
Valluvar Kottam
Opened in 1976 in memory of the poet-saint Thiruvalluvar, this massive auditorium seating 4,000 people has all 1,330 verses of the poet's epic, the Thirukkural, inscribed on the surrounding granite pillars. The 30m- (100ft-) high temple chariot structure has a life-size image of the poet, and the base of the chariot shows in chapters of the epic in bas-relief. It is considered a significant memorial to Tamil culture.
Valluvar Kottam High Road, Nungambakkam
Tel: (044) 2817 2177.
High Court Building
Built in 1892, this red Indo-Saracenic structure at Parry's corner is one of Chennai's main landmarks and believed to be the second largest judicial building in the world, after the Courts of London. Still a working court, with the Madras Law College in the same complex, the grounds are busy with lawyers, students, defendants and visitors. It is possible to arrange a visit to the courtrooms during session, and a tour, with the registrar; court 13 has wonderful stained glass and carvings.
Parry's Corner, George Town
Tel: (044) 2534 0905.
Kapaleeshwara Temple
This temple in Mylapore is a brilliant example of Dravidian temple architecture, with inscriptions dating back to AD1250. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it has beautiful sculptures including 63 Saivaite saints adorning the courtyard - the only place where non-Hindus will be allowed.
Off Kutchery Road, Mylapore
Tel: (044) 2464 1670.
Parthasarathy Temple
This temple dates back to the eighth century during the reign of the Pallavas. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, it is the oldest building in the city and a great example of ancient South Indian temple architecture. You may be lucky to catch an elephant taking part in the temple's daily rituals.
Triplicane
Little Mount Church
This is a tiny cave where St Thomas is believed to have lived when he came to India around AD58, and known locally as Chinnamalai. It was from here that he leapt out of a small hole to escape his assailants. The cave is entered via the Portuguese church built in 1551, which contains relics including an old stone cross which St Thomas is said to have clutched while dying.
Near Saidapet Bridge, Saidapet
Tel: (044) 2235 1863.
St Andrew's Church
Completed in 1821 in a classical style, this church has an impressive blue dome decorated with gold stars. There are excellent views from the top. Described in British days as ‘the noblest edifice in Hindustan', its facade resembles St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
Poonamalle High Road, Egmore
Tel: (044) 2561 2608.
Named after the future King George V, on his visit to India in 1905, this has long been the historical and also commercial hub of the city. Along Popham's Broadway (named after British lawyer Stephen Popham who was determined to improve the sanitation in the late 18th century) are the beautiful Armenian Church (1772) and Wesleyan Church (1820).
Fort St George
Named after England's patron saint, and built in the mid 1600s, the fort was the first bastion of British power and the oldest British construction in India. It was once the headquarters of the East India Company. It covers a vast area and now houses the State Legislature and Secretariat. Fort Museum contains assorted relics including those from the British Raj, including weaponry, silverware, portraits and military uniforms.
George Town
Tel: (044) 2567 1127.
St Mary's Church
Housed within the fort, the church was built in 1680 using solid masonry and 1.2m (4ft) thick outer walls, and still retains some outstanding examples of 17th-century craftsmanship. As one of Asia's oldest English churches, its tombstones outside are India's oldest British tombs. This was the venue for the marriage of Robert Clive (Clive of India) and that of Governor Elinu Yale who founded Yale University in the USA.
Fort St George, George Town
Tel: (044) 2538 3097.
Government Museum and National Art Gallery
Originally built in the grounds of the 18th-century Pantheon, this is one of the finest colonial buildings in the subcontinent. In addition to the museum, it houses the Connemara Public Library and National Art Gallery. The museum contains fine Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, plus interesting natural history and archaeology sections.
Pantheon Road, Egmore
Tel: (044) 2819 3238.
Website: www.chennaimuseum.org
Basilica of San Thome
This elegant cathedral is thought to be the burial site of St Thomas the Apostle (Doubting Thomas) when he was killed just outside the city in AD78. Built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, and made into a basilica in 1896, its stunning stained glass window portrays the story of St Thomas, and the central hall has 14 wooden Stations of the Cross, depicting scenes from the last days of Christ.
San Thome High Road, Mylapore
Tel: (044) 2498 5455.
Website: www.santhomebasilica.com
Marina Beach and Elliot's Beach
At 18km (11 miles), Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world, is not for swimming as the currents are too strong. Stick to people watching in the evenings, a sunset walk or driving along the seafront for the views of the city's fine buildings. There are also statues of scholars and local heroes, and the Anna Memorial, dedicated to former Chief Minister CN Annadurai. Part of the beach settlement was destroyed when the 2004 tsunami hit Tamil Nadu. Further down Marina Beach, relaxing Elliot's Beach contains the Velankanni Church, which attracts many pilgrims, and the Ashtalakshmi temple with eight different forms of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
The Theosophical Society
Founded in 1875, the society was formed to encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science by studying and reflecting on the purity of life. It contains shrines of many faiths, a peaceful Garden of Remembrance, and an almost century-old library which includes a wonderful collection of rare Oriental manuscripts written on palm leaves and parchment. Sitting under the 400-year-old Banyan tree is a good place to contemplate the meaning of life.
Adyar Bridge Road
Tel: (044) 2491 2815 or 2473.
Website: www.ts-adyar.org
Valluvar Kottam
Opened in 1976 in memory of the poet-saint Thiruvalluvar, this massive auditorium seating 4,000 people has all 1,330 verses of the poet's epic, the Thirukkural, inscribed on the surrounding granite pillars. The 30m- (100ft-) high temple chariot structure has a life-size image of the poet, and the base of the chariot shows in chapters of the epic in bas-relief. It is considered a significant memorial to Tamil culture.
Valluvar Kottam High Road, Nungambakkam
Tel: (044) 2817 2177.
High Court Building
Built in 1892, this red Indo-Saracenic structure at Parry's corner is one of Chennai's main landmarks and believed to be the second largest judicial building in the world, after the Courts of London. Still a working court, with the Madras Law College in the same complex, the grounds are busy with lawyers, students, defendants and visitors. It is possible to arrange a visit to the courtrooms during session, and a tour, with the registrar; court 13 has wonderful stained glass and carvings.
Parry's Corner, George Town
Tel: (044) 2534 0905.
Kapaleeshwara Temple
This temple in Mylapore is a brilliant example of Dravidian temple architecture, with inscriptions dating back to AD1250. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it has beautiful sculptures including 63 Saivaite saints adorning the courtyard - the only place where non-Hindus will be allowed.
Off Kutchery Road, Mylapore
Tel: (044) 2464 1670.
Parthasarathy Temple
This temple dates back to the eighth century during the reign of the Pallavas. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, it is the oldest building in the city and a great example of ancient South Indian temple architecture. You may be lucky to catch an elephant taking part in the temple's daily rituals.
Triplicane
Little Mount Church
This is a tiny cave where St Thomas is believed to have lived when he came to India around AD58, and known locally as Chinnamalai. It was from here that he leapt out of a small hole to escape his assailants. The cave is entered via the Portuguese church built in 1551, which contains relics including an old stone cross which St Thomas is said to have clutched while dying.
Near Saidapet Bridge, Saidapet
Tel: (044) 2235 1863.
St Andrew's Church
Completed in 1821 in a classical style, this church has an impressive blue dome decorated with gold stars. There are excellent views from the top. Described in British days as ‘the noblest edifice in Hindustan', its facade resembles St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
Poonamalle High Road, Egmore
Tel: (044) 2561 2608.
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Chennai Madras (Meenambakkam) International Airport