Want to explore Chennai and its legendary
historical sites? Get in touch with Minibreaks!
Chennai,
the capital of Tamil Nadu, is an ancient city. The city has a rich and varied
history that dates back several centuries BC. In fact, Chennai has more than
1,400 years of recorded history. Chennai Fort was built in 1640 AD by the
British East India Company (EIC). It was also known as Black Town during this
time period because it was surrounded by water on three sides like an island.
There
is a plethora of well-preserved historical
sites all across the city. In Chennai, you can see the city's administrative
centres, such as the one at Fort St. George, located in towering structures
that date back to the British colonial era. There are also old market squares
and heritage shops like Higginbotham’s bookstore. Chennai is like a walking museum of India's
complex past, with historical artefacts and monuments around every corner.
On your
journey through Chennai's rich history, be sure to stop by some of the city's
numerous museums, the best of which is the Government Museum, which dates back
to the British era and features no less than 46 individual galleries. Many
prominent citizens of the city have memorials erected in their honour, including
Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, C.N. Annadurai, and others.
Here we discover some of the very famous Historical Monuments of Chennai
that you must visit if you are in Chennai. You must have a look at these iconic
Monuments which are worth visiting
places and definitely you are going to love these places.
1.
Government Museum
The Government Museum in
Chennai is one of the oldest museums
in India. It was established by the
government of Madras in the year 1851 and has a magnificent structure. The main
building of this museum is made of stone and it has a magnificent structure.
The Indo-Saracenic style architectural plan was used for this building. To its
north, there is another building that is dedicated to Gandhiji. There are a
total of 6 galleries that form a part of this museum. It also houses one of the
oldest art collections in India.
The Chennai Museum also houses
one of the oldest art collections in India. The museum has a collection of over
100,000 objects including over 4500 paintings, over 20,000 coins, and 2000
sculptures. It also houses one of the most ancient Buddhist sculptures in the
world. It has been declared a ‘World Heritage Site’ by UNESCO.

Location:
The museum is located on Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai- 600008
Timing: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm, every day except Friday
2. Valluvar
Kottam
Valluvar Kottam is one of the most famous monuments in Chennai. It is
located near the Thousand Lights Mosque and houses the 1305 verses inscribed on
granite in the Tamil language from 'Thirukkural' penned by saint Thiruvalluvar.
You'll find the Valluvar Kottam on the outskirts of Chennai, south of its
famous Marina Beach. It comprises a stupa, an auditorium, and a 39-meter high
temple chariot structure which is surrounded by landscaped gardens. The
structure itself is modeled after Cambodia's Bayon Temple, built during the
12th century by King Jayavarman VII.
Valluvar Kottam is known for
its architectural brilliance which is a harmonious blend of Dravidian and
Pallava styles of architecture. The monument was designed by Mr. V N Ashokan
(former chief engineer, Public Works Department) and built by Mr. C Narayana
Rao, who has constructed many other memorials such as MGR Memorial, Kamaraj
Memorial, Alagappa Chettiar Memorial, Periyar Thidal in Chennai and
Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary. It is
the perfect place to spend quality time with your loved ones and family. The
monument stands tall amidst lush green surroundings, providing a scenic view of
the city.
