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Marina Beach |
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 Marina Beach is a primarily sandy beach along the Bay of Bengal, dotting the city of Chennai, India. With an uninterrupted stretch of 13 km, Marina Beach is said to be the second longest beach in the world. The entire stretch of the Marina Beach is famous for a number of beautiful statues and historical monuments, including various government institutions and historical buildings of the British Raj era.Located on the Marina Beach front is the Ice House, where Swami Vivekananda stayed during his visit in 1897, now known as Vivekananda House that houses art exhibits and memorabilia related to the life and mission of Swami Vivekananda. The roadside area of the beach is dotted with stone statues of legendary personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Thiruvalluvar and Kannagi. Memorials for M. G. Ramachandran and C. N. Annadurai, the former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, are also present on the beach, along with a recent addition of the statue of the actor Sivaji Ganesan. |
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Fort St. George |
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 Fort St George was established in 1639 along the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Chennai city. It is often said that this marked the birth of the city. This monument is a great reminder of the East India Company. The fort has relics of its founders and leaders. It’s a great military marvel.
Inside the Fort is the Fort museum which is decorated with cannons of Tipu Sultan. There are a lot of interesting artifacts showcased in the museum like coins, artifacts and so on. Today, Fort St George is famous for housing the legislative assembly and is known as the secretariat building. Various Government offices function inside this building, including the structure which used to be the residence of Robert Clive called the Clive House. The tallest flag pole in the country can be seen here, where the national flag flies proudly at a height of 150 feet. . The Pole is now made of metal was originally made entirely of teak wood. Apart from the museum, the southern division of the Archaeological Survey of India is located here. The place is famous for its exotic collection of books in the library. |
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Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple |
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 Parvati (Karpakambal) in the form of a peacock, Mayil is said to have worshipped Shiva (in a legend similar to that at Mayiladuturai), hence the name Mylapore. There are several literary works associated with this hoary shrine, which remains today, a seat of Tamil culture. The Poompaavai Patikam composed by Sambandar is associated with this temple & he is said to have brought back to life, Poompavai the daughter of a devotee of Shiva - Sivanesa Chettiar. This event is enacted on the 8th day of the annual festival in the month of Pankuni (Pisces). There is a large tank in front of the temple. The outer courtyard is adorned with the bronze images of the 63 'Nayanmars' (Saivite saints). Some scholars cast doubt as to the age of the present building as the architecture and the images in this temple point to a period of about 300 years ago. They believe that the original temple had been in the Santhome area near the sea as recent archaeological excavations in that area point to the presence of a temple during that period. The original temple was submerged under the sea and the current temple structure was a later construction. There are separate sannadhis for several deities such as Vinayaka, Annamalaiyar, Muruga, and Saneeswara. There are several other deities such as Durga, Dakshinamurti, Chandikeswara located within the main Sannadhis of Kapaleeswara and Karpagambal. |
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Covelong Beach |
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 The Covelong beach has a lot of historical importance attached to it. There has been a port constructed here by the Nawab of Carnatic. The French landed in Chennai through this route led by the French General Laboudonnais. There are beautiful historical monuments like churches, mosques, forts that can be found here.The beach also provides a lot of sporting activities like windsurfing, swimming and other water sports. The waters are clear and the sands clean. The Covelong beach is a favorite getaway for people along the Coromandel Coast. The place is blessed with a lot of scenic beauty, There are long and thick stretches of palm trees which provide a lot of shade and beauty to the surroundings. The Covelong village is a quiet village where in you could experience and tranquility of the place. The Covelong beach is especially important as it is the only beach around Chennai that is less crowded. |
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Thousand Lights Mosque |
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 Thousand Lights Mosque is a well-known worship place for the Muslims in the Chennai city of Tamil Nadu. It is situated at the Anna Salai Road in the city. The mosque is popular for a number of reasons, such as its name, its architecture and its historical and religious importance. In early 19th century, the place where the mosque presently stands used to be the assembly place of the Shiite Muslims, during the month of Muharram. Later, the assembly hall was built, following which the mosque was constructed. The mosque represents one of the popular medieval architectural style building. The structure is multi domed building with two exalting minarets. The minarets reach to height of 64 feet above the ground. The structure is painted with the sayings from the Muslim holy book, the Koran. A main hall is provided in the ground floor for offering prayers. There is a separate room for women. The two rooms on the second floor have been designed to represent the sanctuary. These rooms are called as Bargah. The place does not constitute a burial site. However, the wooden planks on the second floor are held to represent the harems (sanctuary) of Imam Hossein and Abolfazl-al-Abbas. The mosque is a famous pilgrimage place for the Shias of India, especially from South India. |
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Kamaraj Memorial House |
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 Built in the memory of Shri Kamaraj, the late chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Kamaraj Memorial House is now a permanent gallery that showcases photographs and personal effects of Kamaraj who rose out of poverty to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (elected to the post thrice). Kamaraj Memorial House was inaugurated on 15th July 1978, by the then Chief Minister M.G RamachandranOn the ground floor is the bedroom of this bachelor, whose austere living comes across so clearly in the plain furniture that occupies the room. Leaning over the railings, one can spot yellowed volumes of 'Lok Sabha Debates', '100 Modern Lives', 'Churchill' and 'Doctor Zhivago' amongst the books lined up in the well-stocked library. Obviously, having to discontinue his schooling did not stop him from becoming a well-read man. |
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Elliot's Beach |
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 Elliot's Beach is situated to the south of the Marina beach where you can spend hours by relaxing and bathing in the sun. You can even make sand palaces or simp ly stroll about on the beach. You will easily reach Elliot's Beach of Chennai by well maintained transport system. Nowadays, the Elliot's Beach has become a popular hangout for the young generation. Elliot's Beach is also a favorite haunt of foreigners where they can peacefully take their sun bath.In Elliot's Beach, you will see a line of eateries or restaurants, few yards from the sandy coast. |
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Valluvar Kottam |
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 The memorial to the poet-saint Tiruvalluvar is shaped like a temple chariot and is, in fact, the replica of the temple chariot in Thiruvarur. A life-size statue of the saint has been installed in the chariot which is 33m. tall.The 133 chapters of his famous work Thirukkural have been depicted in bas-relief in the front hall corridors of the chariot. The auditorium at Valluvar Kottam is said to be the largest in Asia and can accommodate about 4000 people. It stands as a modern memorial to the great poet who represents the glorious culture of the Tamils. Thirukkural, are inscribed on the granite pillars that surround the auditorium and it has got no pillars for support. There is a 101-feet 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 base of the chariot shows in bas-relief the 133 chapters of the Thirukkural. Over 3,000 blocks of stone were used to create this memorial to Tamil culture. |
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Armenian Church |
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 The Armenian Church, Chennai, constructed in 1772, is one of the oldest churches of the Indian subcontinent. It is famous for its belfry of six. The Church, also called the Armenian Church of Virgin Mary, is located on the Armenian Street, Chennai, South India.Armenian church is one of the oldest churches existing in India. The church was built in 1771. Armenians are believed to be establishing first trade links with India during the 16th century A.D. The Armenian merchants for the same purpose landed in the city, now famous as Chennai, and got settled there. The Armenian families soon began building houses and it is during the same era that a church was constructed that continues to occupy the ground till date (early years of the 21st century). The church is also famous as the Armenian Church of Virgin Mary. |
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MGR Film City |
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 The Government of Tamil Nadu manages the MGR Film City, established in 1994 in memory of MG Ramachandran, popular film actor and longtime Chief Minister of Tamilnadu. Covering 70 acres at Taramani in Chennai, the MGR Film City was a popular tourist spot and the setting of several South Indian films. The film city has a film school, indoor and outdoor shooting locations, replicas of village and urban areas, temple, church, mosque, post office, police station, prison, courtroom, and landscaped gardens in Italian, Japanese and Mughal styles. The recently opened MGR Knowledge Park adds to the attraction.It has many film studios and a film school. Enthusiasts can get into their act by making a special request to be allowed to take up a side role. It is just 10 km from Meenambakkam Airport and along the route to Mahabalipuram. The film city has a film school, indoor and outdoor shooting locations, replicas of village and urban areas, temple, church, mosque, post office, police station, prison, court room, and landscaped gardens in Italian, Japanese and Mughal styles. Research facilities for information technology and communications are being provided by the Indian Institute of Technology in these premises. The recently opened MGR Knowledge Park adds to the attraction. |
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High Court |
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The Madras (Chennai) High Court building, red sandstone Indo-Saracen building is situated near the St George Fort at Parry's Corner. The building was constructed in 1892 and is considered to be the second largest judicial complex in the world. The central tower of the building is 165 ft high. The High Court of Chennai is one of the three courts set up in India during the reign of the Queen Victoria. These important buildings have deliberately been constructed in the Presidency Towns by the Letters Patent of the Queen. The honorable chief justice and the head of the Judiciary were all present at the time of the inauguration. High Court was established on June 26, 1892 under the guidance of the famed architect Henry Irwin, this red Indo-Saracenic structure at Parry's corner is Chennai's main landmark. It is believed to be one of the second largest judicial buildings in the world. This complex houses the High Court, the small Cause's Court and the City Civil Court. It is considered to be one of the three High Courts of india. It is time-honored at Presidency Towns by Letters Patent granted by Queen Victoria. The authority of Chennai High Court extends to Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Red sand stone construction, Ornamental decorations on the walls, stained glass windows and minarets add beauty to this building. The compound has a pyramid shape tomb, which belongs to the only son of Elihu Yale, who died in infancy. A fine example is Court No 13, which has stained glass, fretted wood work, carved furniture, silvered panels and a painted ceiling. Entry - Monday to Saturday from 10 to 5 with guided tour for Rs.10. It is situated at Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Road, just north of St.George fort. |
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Guindy National Park |
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 Guindy National Park has a rich history behind it. In the beginning, Guindy National Park was a sport reserve. In the year 1958, the British citizen named Gilbert Rodericks owned it, before its transfer to the forest department of Tamil Nadu. The park is an expansion of the ground that is adjacent to the Raj Bhavan, the executive dwelling of the Governor of Tamil Nadu, India. The Guindy National Park is located behind the Kamaraj Memorial, Gandhi Mandapam, and Rajaji Memorial on Sardar Patel road on the southern fringes of Chennai. It has an extension deep inside the estates of the governors, closing in attractive woods, scrub lands, bodies of water and streams. The premier Indian Institute of Technology enjoins in the southeastern borders of the Guindy National Park.It has rich biodiversities. More than thirty species of trees and plants are found here. Huge banyan trees, which are almost centuries old, are special attraction amongst the tourists. The Guindy National Park has also a parched evergreen scrubs and thorny forest grounds. There are more than three hundred and fifty species of plants consisting of climbers, shrubs, grasses and herbs. Near about twenty-four forms of trees, namely, the Sugar apple, Atlantia monophylla, Wood-apple, Neem etc are quite significant. |
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Guindy Snake Park |
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 The snake park in Chennai is an eye opener to many about many facts and misconceptions about reptiles. The Park authorities conduct lecture demonstrations in Tamil, Hindi and English for information and education of the visitors. One can also touch the snakes under expert supervision in these demonstrations. Venom extraction demonstrations are also presented.Some of the popular species of reptiles found here include King Cobra, Banded Krait, vipers,the reticulated python (Python Reticulatus) and alligators, the Indian rock python (Python Molorus).Apart form snakes, the park is also home to other reptiles like turtles, crocodiles and lizards. A museum with conserved specimens of reptiles and amphibians can be found here. |
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Kishkinta park |
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 Kishkinta is a theme water park and is an ideal destination for family and group entertainment. It includes the amusements, attractions, water games and rides. Kishkinta Park is a Theme Park set in 120 acres of specially landscaped hills and lakes. Thirty minutes south of Chennai City, the park is situated five kilometres west of Tambaram Bus stand and Suburban train station. The design philosophy behind this green clad leisure center is simple - new and wholesome family entertainment.
Kishkinta ia a household name and the favorite fun destination for kids from six to sixty. Kishkinta, a theme water park with exciting dry rides is an ideal destination for family and group entertainment. The amusements, attractions, water games and rides, make Kishkinta India's No. 1 Theme Park . Water Valcano : You cn see 5 lakh litres of water gushing out in 5 seconds with all the sound and visual effects of huge waves, earthquake , mist etc. You will just standby with a gaping mouth. WavePool : This is a new addition, I suppose . This has got waves but no sand and salt water. Fresh water with waves, enjoy yourselves have a rollicking day. Slides : This is a water slide about 180 ft long and has 6 tracks, starting at the top of a hill. You can just slide along with the water, young and old seem to like this very much. Many participate as families and slide together to just fall into the Pool in a thump. Rain Disco : There are 12 raining monkey statues which squirt water at you while you rock and twist( really I mean twist as there is water underneath your feet) with the music played at 10000 watts supplemented by Digital controller dual CD player. |
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