Chennai: Ancient temples and contemporary culture

Long, beautiful beaches and ancient temples adorned with divine images of carved gods are the highlights among the best places to visit in Chennai. From old to contemporary and from nature to architecture, Chennai possesses an impressive variety of places to impress and entertain tourists. Being a coastal city, pretty and serene beaches are an important element in the tourist places. The city also houses churches and temples from ancient times that exhibit an extraordinary level of architecture. The old temples of Chennai are very popular among Hindus as these temples hold great religious significance. All in all, Chennai is an excellent option for those who prefer variety and quality.

Places to visit:

• Marina Beach: India’s largest beach happens to be Chennai’s Marina Beach. One of the best in the city for viewing a spectacular sun rise, this sandy delight is lined by palm trees on one side. An old light house stands on the southern end of the beach along with several other structures including an aquarium, a swimming pool and a park.
• Covelong Beach: Adventure filled water activities are one of the best things to do in Chennai, and Covelong Beach is thronged mostly by water sports enthusiasts for activities such as wind surfing and swimming.
• Kapaleeshwar Temple: Apart from being a religious spot, what draws crowds to this temple is its unique architecture. The detailed Gopuram of this structure is 37 meters high and is a fine example of the Dravidian style of temple construction. The temple, home to the deities Shiva and Karpagambal, even holds a festival in the months of March and April.
• Thousand Lights Mosque: This architectural magnificence is this mosque which holds a special place in the Shia community. A total of 1000 oil lamps light up the hall of the mosque, which is how it got its name.
• Connemara Public Library: Constructed in late 19th century, Connemara library is a treasure house of centuries-old publications. With a collection of over 600,000 books, it is one of Asia’s largest libraries.
• Nettukuppam: This broken bridge is situated at the northernmost tip of Chennai. For the photography enthusiast, this is like a double treat for where some memorable pictures can be clicked.
• Guindy National Park and Snake Park: The Park is the home of blackbucks, spotted deer, jackals, tortoise and the likes. The snake park is home to cobras and pythons, while the birds found here include partridge, quail, fly catcher and buzzards.
• Vellankani Shrine: The pristine white structure of the church stands overlooking the Bay of Bengal and is visited by thousands of solace-seekers each day.
• Mylapore: It is the central and the cultural hub of Chennai. Known as the oldest residential area this place is historically known as Vedapuri.
• Vivekanandar House: This is one of the major attractions in the city as it houses a permanent exhibition on culture and Swami Vivekananda’s life.
• Royapuram Fishing Harbor: The harbor is very famous among the people and people from all over the world comes to visit this harbor to enjoy the fish market and the witness the collection of fish done by the fisherman.
• Arignar Anna Zoological Park: The expansive grounds of the zoo are home to 1500 species of wild beings, some of which are even endangered. An aviary, a lion safari, a deer safari and an elephant safari form the popular sections of the zoo. There is a separate section for nocturnal animals, an aquarium and a butterfly house too.
• Semmozhi Poonga: Apart from the exotic and rare flora grown, there are also some medicinal herbs in the green houses of the park.
• Crocodile Bank: Started in an effort to preserve and protect this reptile species, the Crocodile Bank even houses alligators, snakes, sea turtles and water birds.
• Dakshina Chitra: The visitors get a peek into the lifestyle and customs of different communities of South India and also view artifacts made by the local artisans. Another treat is one can taste a vast array of the traditional South Indian cuisine.
• MGM Dizzee World: With several thrilling rides and an amphi-theatre for performances, guests to Dizzee World would surely enjoy a day spent here.
• Cholamandal Artist Village: For those interested in art and craft, this destination with a serene ambience will be an ideal outing.

Language:

Tamils form the majority of Chennai’s population. English is spoken largely by white-collar workers, often mixed into Tamil.

Music and performing arts:

Chennai is a major centre for music, art and culture in India. The city is known for its classical dance shows. The Madras Music Season, initiated by Madras Music Academy in 1927, is celebrated every year during the month of December. It features performances of traditional Carnatic music by many artists in and around the city.

The arts festival of the city is called the Chennai Sangamam. Pookolam, a form of art that uses colored flour to create patterns and designs, comes from Kerala, but can be seen in abundance at the time of Onam.

Chennai has a diverse theatre scene and is one of the important centers for Bharata Natyam, a classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu and is the oldest dance of India. It is the base for the Tamil film industry, known as Kollywood. Chennai hosts major film studios, including AVM Productions, the oldest surviving studio in India.

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit Chennai is between October to February. These months constitute the winter season in Chennai.

How to visit:

• By air: Chennai International Airport is very conveniently located only 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of the city center.
• By train: Regular trains to Chennai are available from important cities in India. The main railway stations include Perambur (PER), Chennai Egmore (MS) and Tambaram (TBM) and Avadi (AVD).
• By bus: One of the major bus stations in Chennai is the Madras Bus Station providing regular bus services. Chennai is linked with the important cities in India. Tickets for Chennai visit by bus can be booked directly from the station or online from the site.