Choose from 26 Fun Things to Do in Chennai
ShowingFilter 21-26 of 26 listings.
National Art Gallery
The National Art Gallery, one of six individual museums comprising the Chennai Government Museum, is one of the oldest art galleries in the country. The red sandstone Indo-Sarasenic building was designed by architect Henry Irwin and completed in 1906 as part of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The gallery was closed in 2002 when its deteriorating state threatened both visitor safety and the art, but after an extensive renovation in 2013, the gallery re-opened to the public.
The National Art Gallery is subdivided into four smaller galleries: the Tanjore Painting Gallery, Decorative Art Gallery, Indian Traditional Art Gallery and the Ravi Varma Painting Gallery. Besides paintings in various mediums, the gallery also showcases a small collection of sandalwood sculptures.
Practical Info
Be sure to leave extra time to visit the Bronze Gallery of the Chennai Government Museum, which houses one of the world's best collections of South Indian bronze sculptures from the Chola period.
Address: Panthian Road, Chennai, India
Hours: Open daily 9:30am-5pm
Admission: 250 rupees
From $ 8
San Thome Cathedral
Saint Thomas the Apostle, or ‘Doubting Thomas,’ as he was later called, came to India in 52 AD where he purportedly lived out the remainder of his days. The 16th century Sao Thome Cathedral, built by the Roman Catholic Portuguese and later rebuilt by the British, is said to house the bodily remains of St Thomas in a tomb below the white neo-Gothic structure.
A series of stained glass windows inside the basilica depict scenes from St Thomas’s life and carved wooden panels recount the last days of Jesus’s life from his last temptation to the crucifixion. As a working cathedral, visitors are welcome to stop in for mass (in both English and Tamil), though the church draws larger crowds for mass.
After visiting the main cathedral, view the tomb of St Thomas in the underground Tomb Chapel, accessible from outside the main church structure. Another structure on the grounds houses a small museum containing artifacts related to St Thomas and a theater showing a video about his life.
A series of stained glass windows inside the basilica depict scenes from St Thomas’s life and carved wooden panels recount the last days of Jesus’s life from his last temptation to the crucifixion. As a working cathedral, visitors are welcome to stop in for mass (in both English and Tamil), though the church draws larger crowds for mass.
After visiting the main cathedral, view the tomb of St Thomas in the underground Tomb Chapel, accessible from outside the main church structure. Another structure on the grounds houses a small museum containing artifacts related to St Thomas and a theater showing a video about his life.
Address: 38, San Thome High Road, Chennai 600 004, India
From $ 23
Thanjavur Royal Palace and Art Gallery
The Royal Palace of Thanjavur was built by the Nayak rulers after they took control of the city in 1535 but was added onto by the Maratha rulers during their rule from 1676 to 1855. The result is a sprawling complex in various states of upkeep. Several areas of the palace are open to visitors in three different ticketed areas.
Just past the ticket office lies the Royal Palace Museum, where ceremonial costumes, weaponry and a few sculptures are on display. The Maharaja Serfoji Memorial Hall commemorates the Maratha scholar-king of the same name, while the Mahratta Dharbar Hall was where the Maratha rulers gave audience — you can still see their portraits behind the dais.
Two of the highlights of the palace complex are the Sarawasti Mahal Library Museum and the Art Gallery. The former displays pieces from Serfoji II’s collection of books, manuscripts and naturalist paintings of Indian plants and animals, while the latter houses a magnificent collection of bronze (mostly Chola) and stone carvings.
Practical Info
The grounds of the royal palace suffer from lack of posted information, so consider visiting with the assistance of a guide who can fill you in on the history and significance of what you’re seeing.
Address: E. Main Rd., Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 613001, India
Hours: Open daily 9am-6pm
Admission: 150 rupees
From $ 21
George Town
The George Town neighborhood of Chennai is centered around the 17th-century Fort St. George. Here you'll find many of the city's historic buildings, including the fort itself, which now houses the Chennai High Court. George Town also boasts colorful markets that tourists can visit independently or as part of a walking tour.
The Basics
This neighborhood has been growing ever since Fort St. George was constructed for the East India Company in 1640. Though it's not as popular with tourists as the Mylapore neighborhood, this area offers plenty of worthwhile sights, including colonial architecture, fascinating houses of worship, and winding market streets offering everything from textiles to surgical instruments. Join a walking tour to get the most out of this culturally rich district that's off the beaten path.
Things to Know Before You Go
- George Town is a must-visit for shopaholics and photographers, who will appreciate the colorful market streets.
- George Town is best explored on foot, so wear comfortable footwear and sunscreen.
- If you're shopping in the markets here, don't forget to bargain.
How to Get There
George Town is sandwiched between the Basin Bridge Railway Yard to the west and Chennai Beach to the East, and encompasses most of what's north of Chennai Fort and south of Old Jail Road. The area is linked to the rest of the city by public transit, and it's a few minutes' walk from Chennai Central. It's about a 15-minute drive or a half-hour on public transportation from Mylapore.
When to Get There
Travelers are best off exploring George Town on foot, and Sundays have less traffic than other days of the week. No matter what day you visit, avoid the worst heat by coming early in the morning or after dark, particularly if you happen to be in Chennai during the sweltering months of April and May. To enjoy the markets, avoid visiting during the monsoon season of June through September.
Parry's Corner
A short walk from Chennai Port, Parry's Corner is a hub of banking and trading and among the busiest parts of town. It was named after a Welsh trader, Thomas Parry, who moved to Chennai at the end of the 1780s and began to set up businesses across the city, soon earning prominence as one of the best-known merchants in Chennai. A memorial to Parry stands at St. George's Cathedral.
Address: Chennai, India
From $ 23
Velankanni Church
Velankanni Church, a Roman Catholic church located on the coast south of Chennai, is one of India’s most important Christian shrines and a beautiful landmark in Tamil Nadu. Nicknamed the “Lourdes of the East,” the Gothic-style basilica stands on the spot where, according to local legend, an apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared three times, once to a local shepherd asking for milk, another time to cure a local buttermilk vendor and a third while rescuing a group of Portuguese sailors from a storm.
While none of the supposed miracles has been approved by the Pope, the shrine still draws millions of visitors each year. The structure as it stands today was consecrated in 1962 and granted the status of a minor basilica by Pope John XXIII.
Practical Info
Velankanni Church is located in the town of Velankanni, 217 miles (350 kilometers) from the Tamil Nadu capital of Chennai.
Address: Velankanni, India
From $ 57
St Mary's Church
St Mary’s Church, the small Anglican church within the walls of Fort St George, is the oldest masonry building within the fort. Consecrated in 1680, the church is said to be the first Anglican church in Asia and the oldest remaining English church in India. Work began on the church in 1678 on Our Lady’s Day, giving it its current name.
Except for a new steeple, much of the bombproof structure remains in its original condition, including the roof and arcade aisles. The church’s 104 tombstones were relocated and used to lay pavement after the French besieged Chennai in 1758 and 1759 and used as gun platforms when Hyder Ali invaded the city in 1782. Since then they’ve been restored to their old positions around the church. Keep an eye out for the gravestone of Elizabeth Baker, the oldest British tombstone in the country.
Elihu Yale, founder of Yale University, was the first man to be officially married in the church, and three of the daughters of Job Charnock, the founder of Kolkata (Calcutta), were baptized here.
Except for a new steeple, much of the bombproof structure remains in its original condition, including the roof and arcade aisles. The church’s 104 tombstones were relocated and used to lay pavement after the French besieged Chennai in 1758 and 1759 and used as gun platforms when Hyder Ali invaded the city in 1782. Since then they’ve been restored to their old positions around the church. Keep an eye out for the gravestone of Elizabeth Baker, the oldest British tombstone in the country.
Elihu Yale, founder of Yale University, was the first man to be officially married in the church, and three of the daughters of Job Charnock, the founder of Kolkata (Calcutta), were baptized here.
Address: Chennai, India
Hours: Sat–Thurs: 10am - 5pm
From $ 30