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.
