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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.

Location: At the intersection of the Kodambakkam High road and the Village road in Nungambakkam

Timing: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm, Everyday 

3.    Alamparai Fort

This small fort is situated near the Alamparai village, about 9 kilometres from Koyambedu town in Chennai. It was built by Durai Nayak-udu during the late 18th century. The fort is named after a neighbouring village called Alamparai, which translates roughly to "place of the tiger." Today, this area is near the Kalpakkam nuclear power plant. The history of Alamparai Fort began in 1761 when Nayakudu moved from his capital city to build his own castle and palace at Alamparai. Over time he added more buildings until it became one of the largest palaces ever constructed by any ruler in Tamil Nadu during that period.

The fort has a rectangular layout with walls that are nearly 3 meters thick and rise to a height of 30 meters. The entrance gate is flanked by two massive square towers on either side with an octagonal tower at each end.  There are two ponds inside the complex which were built during 1777-79 CE to store water for irrigation purposes during summer seasons when there was a scarcity of water supply to nearby villages due to lack of rainfall due to drought conditions prevailing in those days.

Location: Edaikazhinadu, Tamil Nadu

Timing: Anytime

4.      Fort St. George

Fort St George, in Chennai, is the first English fort in India, built by the East India Company under the direction of Francis Day in 1640. Fort St. George is now preserved as the campus of Tamil Nadu's Legislative Assembly and Secretariat. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Chennai’s best-known landmarks. The fort was built in the shape of a pentagon, with five bastions (towers) surrounding it and a moat on three sides. The inside of this historic structure has been renovated several times over the years to suit its new occupants--from army barracks to government offices. Today you can visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site and see what life might have been like for British soldiers stationed here 250 years ago.

Fort St. George is a popular tourist attraction in Chennai and is used as a place of worship on Sundays and public holidays. It has been used for many cultural events, political events, and educational events over the years. If you're planning a visit then don't miss out on all this amazing site has to offer - take a walk through its winding streets or relax under some shady trees while enjoying a picnic lunch with friends!

Location: Rajaji Rd, near Legislature and Secretariat

Timing: 9 am to 5 pm on all days except Fridays.

5.    Kapaleeshwarar Temple

The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is one of the oldest and most famous temples in Chennai, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped here as ‘Karpagambal’ (Goddess of the Wish-Yielding Tree). The original complex was built by the Pallavas in the 7th century, but most of what we see today are later constructions by Cholas, Nayaks, and Vijayanagar kings. The temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where Shiva is believed to have appeared on Earth in various forms. The architecture of this temple is very different from other temples in India, with its 1260 pillars built without any nails. This makes it one of the most impressive structures in India.

From historical accounts of Hinduism and Tamil culture, it is thought that Kapaleeswarar Temple was built by Pandyas during the rule of Mahendra Varma Pallava I (600-630 CE) who established Madurai as his capital city. Kapaleeswarar temple is believed to be older than 1000 years old.

In modern times, the temple has become an important centre for religious tourism because of its historical significance and architectural beauty. This temple has been declared a heritage building by ASI (Archaeological Survey India).

Location: Mylapore, Kapaleeshwarar temple is situated in North Matam St near the Mylapore Tank.

Timings: You can visit this place during day times. 

6.    San Thome Cathedral

The city of Chennai has a lot of old churches, cathedrals, and museums that attract the city’s tourists in large numbers. San Thome Cathedral is one such church that is well known among the rest of the churches in Chennai. It is also known as St Thomas Basilica and it is one of the oldest churches in India. The church was first built by Portuguese explorers and later rebuilt by the British with stones that are decorated with domes. The cathedral has been given a status of a basilica (a prestigious title) by Pope John Paul II in 1989.

The cathedral was designed based on Roman Catholic architecture and features Gothic arches, spires, stained glass windows, and Italian marble floors along with other decorations that make it look very attractive for tourists who visit this place during their vacations to India or Europe. There are also paintings of saints, angels, and other religious figures. The church has a wooden pulpit that is decorated with gold and silver. A mausoleum of the first bishop is located on the right side of the church.

Location: 38, Santhome High Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004

Timings: 6 am to 9 pm daily

7.    Anna Memorial

Anna Memorial is a memorial to the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. G. Ramachandran. It was constructed at the site of MGR's birthplace at Thiruvottiyur, Chennai, and designed by architect Shanmugham. The Anna Memorial was built between 1984 and 1987 as per his life-size statue in bronze which is placed on top of an elevated platform measuring 30 feet (9 m) long, 18 feet (5.5 m) wide, and 38 feet (11 m) high.

It is one of the best renowned historical landmarks in Chennai owing to the legacy of Annadurai as well as the magnificent landscaping of the monument. There are parks and aquariums inside the property and a famous arch built like an elephant tusk at the doorway. The park has been beautifully landscaped, with greenery all around and a tall fountain at its centre. Just behind this fountain is the Samadhi itself, which was built by K Kamaraj in 1976. It has an archway with two stairways leading up to it on either side, both covered with intricate carvings depicting scenes from Mahatma Gandhi's life.

The LIC Building (which used to be called Madras House) stands opposite the memorial site; it was constructed by architects Robert Fellowes Chisholm & Wilson between 1929-1931 as an office building for the British insurance company London Insurance Corporation Limited (LIC). Today it houses various government offices including High Court Judges' Chambers, Tamil Nadu Secretariat, etc., but visitors can still take a peek inside if they wish.

Location: D6, Santhome High Rd, Navalar Nagar, Chepauk

Timing: 6 am to 10 pm

8.    Vivekananda House

Originally built by Fredric Tudor in 1842, the Vivekananda House was once known as the Ice House and Castle Kernan. The building was rechristened when Swami Vivekananda stayed there during his 1897 visit to Chennai.

Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai was established here in the years following, from 1897 to 1906. This historic site is now home to a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to Indian culture, Swami Vivekananda's life and teachings, and presented in cutting-edge mediums such as Virtual and Augmented Reality, cutting-edge 3D/4D effects, and cutting-edge Son et Lumiere features. Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai is responsible for the upkeep of Vivekananda House at the present time; each year, it attracts tens of thousands of tourists from India and outside seeking spiritual guidance.

The two-story home is a masterwork of Victorian style, with a sunburst and saddleback roof. Vivekananda stayed for six weeks in this chamber, and now it serves as a sanctuary for meditators and anyone seeking personal growth. The dining table he used may be seen when you visit, it's located downstairs in a cosy nook beside the fireplace. Followers may take a tour of the house, seeing the rooms where he chatted, cooked, and played with his children. These tangible artefacts celebrating Swami Vivekananda's life provide new energy to the timeless ideals he championed.

Location: Marina Beach Road, Neelam Basha Dargapuram

Timing: 10 am to 12:30 pm and 3-7 pm. The house remains closed on Mondays

Conclusion

Chennai is one of India's most illustrious and historic cities, concealing nearly 400 years of culture and history. Originally known as Madras, Chennai was one of the three presidency towns during the East India Company rule. Undoubtedly, Chennai is rich in history and heritage, but many of its historic monuments are neglected. If you want to get a glimpse of the city’s past, then visiting these places is a must for weekend getaways. Some of the best historical places to visit in Chennai are covered in this blog.