Tours in Chennai India - There
are numerous places of tourist
interest and excursions in and
around Chennai, some of which
are mentioned below and well worth
a visit:
Mamallapuram:
Mamallapuram located at a distance
of 60 kms from Chennai is home
to some of the most awe inspiring
monuments of the Pallava regime
dating back to 7th and 8th centuries.
Mamallapuram also has a fabulous
beach which is much preferred
by visitors.
Theosophical
Society:
At Adyar there is the headquarters
of World Theosophical Socdiety
located on the banks of the shimmering
Adyar river. It is one of the
best places to study comparative
religion, philosophy and the science
of rational thought. It is situated
in the beautiful and sylvan surroundings
of the Adyar River. This august
institution was founded by Madame
Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott in
the U.S.A but later on in the
year 1882 was shifted to Adyar.
There are temples of various faiths
located inside the premises and
the blissful Garden of Remembrance
is simply marvelous. The Society
has well stocked library which
is all of 95 years old and has
a rich collection of Oriental
manuscripts inscribed on palm
leaves.
Kapaleeswarar
Temple:
The Kapaleeswarar Temple of Mylapore
is one of the finest specimen
of the Pallava school of temple
architecture and was built in
the 8th century. The temple's
'Gopuram' or tower is quintessentially
Dravidian in architectural style.
This magnificent temple is dedicated
to Lord Shiva and is replete with
many beautiful sculptures. One
of the prime attractions of the
temple is the exquisite bronze
statues of 63 Saivaite Saints
or popularly referred to as the
Nayanmars. The temple's courtyard
is conspicuous by the shrine of
Goddess Parvati and there is also
an old Punnai tree. Mylapore is
the hub of the One of Mylapore's
chief attraction is the festival
of Arubathumoovar which is celebrated
in honor of the 63 Nayanmars.
The festival held in the month
of March-April every year draws
countless devotees from far and
near.
Elliot's Beach:
The Elliot's Beach has a long
coastline and is located further
south of the Marina Beach. On
the periphery of the beach is
the magnificent Velankanni church
which resembles a lot with the
church at Nagapattinam.
This church
is a much sought after place of
Christian congregation. There
is the gorgeous Ashtalakshmi temple
too which is within close proximity
to the Elliot's Beach.
Kalakshetra Foundation:
The Kalakshetra Foundation is
located in Thiruvanmiyur. It was
founded way back in 1936 and ever
since its inception, the Foundation
has been pioneering the cause
of popularizing the world famous
Bharatnatyam dance form. Rukmani
Devi Arundale was the founder
of this august institution and
today this Foundation is a name
to reckon with not only in Sothern
India but Inida as a whole.
Birla Planetarium:
The Birla Planetarium is located
at Kotturpuram and nestles between
Adyar and Guindy. It is the most
hi-tech planetarium in India.
The Planetarium is fully computerized
and well equipped with state-of-the-art
projector that portrays the heavens
on a crescent shaped dome. The
Planetarium regularly conducts
shows and there are seminars and
workshops on astronomy which are
held from time to time at this
planetarium.
St. Thomas
Mount:
St.Thomas Mount is located at
an altitude of 76 meter above
sea level. It is the place where
St. Thomas attained martyrdom.
There is a church, which was built
by the Portuguese in 1514 and
has many fascinating relics. For
instance, the old stone cross
that the apostle is believed to
have grasped while dying is well
preserved here. The blood-like
marks on the cross has earned
it the sobriquet of the Bleeding
Cross. On top of the altar there
is an oil painting of the Madonna
which is believed to have been
brought by St. Thomas himself.
Ripon Building:
The majestic Ripon Building is
one of the finest specimen of
the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.
The edifice is named in honor
of Lord Ripon, the then Governor
General and the pioneer of "Self
governance" in India. The building
today houses the Chennai Corporation
which incidentally is India's
oldest city corporation.
The Govt. Museum, National Art
Gallery & Connemara Library: This
mega complex was built before
1789 by the British East India
Company and was a popular meeting
place of the British aristocracy.
The Government acquired it in
the year 1830 and thereafter extended
the complex further to accommodate
the Government Museum, the National
Art Gallery and the Connemara
Public Library, all of which are
places of great interest for the
visitors.
The Government Museum has one
of the finest collection of South
Indian bronzes in India. The bronze
icons of Nataraja, Rama, Sita,
Lakshmana and Hanuman vie for
ones attention. The museum is
conspicuous by its geology and
anthropology segments. The manner
in which the Amaravathi Gallery
portrays the life and times of
Lord Buddha is truly amazing.
Majority of the sculptures were
excavated from the Buddhist ruins
of Amaravathi. The museum also
showcases exquisite handicrafts
from the 11th and 12th centuries.
The National Art Gallery on the
other hand exhibits a plethora
of exquisite paintings that is
inclusive of 16th and 18th century
ones from the Mughal period and
17th century Deccan art.
Valluvar Kottam:
Valluvar Kottam is a fabulous
memorial in honor of the everlasting
memory of Tamil saint and philosopher
Thiruvalluvar. The memorial is
designed in the shape of a temple
chariot and similar to the temple
chariot of Thiruvarur. There is
an awesome life-size statue of
the great saint which has been
set up in the 39 meter high chariot.
His legendary work "Thirukkural"
has been artistically depicted
in bas-relief at the frontage
and passageways of the chariot.
The colossal auditorium at Valluvarkottam
is one of the largest in Asia
and has a capacity to accommodate
4000 guests at a time. Recently,
the complex was further dolled
up in the form paintings portraying
themes from Thirukkural.
Guindy National Park:
The Guindy National Park is all
of 595 acres and is ideally located
within close proximity to Raj
Bhavan. In the days of yore, the
park used to be an integral part
of the Governor's Estate. This
Park has the unique distinction
of being the only Park or sanctuary
that is positioned within a metropolitan
city. This park is a one of its
kind park or sanctuary in India
that has vegetation, which is
truly reflective of the jungles
of southern arid zone. The Guindy
National Park is scattered with
more than 30 trees species inclusive
of numerous centuries-old gargantuan
banyan trees. This park is very
well managed with a network of
roads, walking paths, nature trails,
lakes and ponds all of which makes
viewing wildlife at this park
a truly memorable experience.
The principal attraction of this
park is the rare fauns like the
Indian Antelope generally referred
to as the Black Buck which has
been declared as an endangered
species. Apart from Black Bucks
one is also likely to come across
Spotted Deer, Bonnet Monkey, Small
Indian Civet Cat, White Buck,
Jungle Cat, Common Mongoose, Jackal
and the Common Palm Civet Cat.
The park is also home to a wide
variety of avian species like
the Blue Jay, King Fisher, Crow
Pheasant, Golden Backed Woodpecker,
Redwattle Lapwing, Yellow Wattled
Lapwing, Shrikes, Blue Faced Malkoha,
Drongos, Doves, Munias, Parakeets,
Tailor birds, Grey Partridge,
Robins, Quails, Robins, Stone
Curlew and the Bird of Paradise
Flycatcher to name just a few
of the avian species that can
be found here.
Arignar
Anna Zoological Park:
This picturesque zoo located in
Vandalur, 30 km south of Chennai.
The Arignar Anna Zoological Park
is conspicuous by its island like
location where animals live and
breed in a replicated natural
setting. The principal attractions
are the Nocturnal Animal House,
The Safari Park, the Pre-historic
Animal Park, the walkable Aviary,
education and interpretation zone,
Prey-Predator bays and an Aquarium.
The park is committed to promoting
Eco-Tourism and visitors are taken
for a ride on Battery operated
vehicles. Elephant Rides too can
be arranged.
Temples
Around Chennai:
Chennai and its suburbs are replete
with temples small and big in
size. The most admired temples
are the temple of Devi Karumariamman
Temple at Thirverkadu. The Marundheeswarar
Temple at Thiruvanmiyur, Kamatchi
Amman Temple at Mangadu, Sri Jaganath
Temple at Kanathur and the Jain
Temple at Vepery.
Apart from this there are numerous
temples at Kundrthur, Chrompet
and Thiruporur. There are magnificent
Vishnu temples located in Thirumazhisai,
Tiruninravur and Thiruneermalai.
The Masilamaneeswarar Temple at
Thirumullaivayal, Nithya Kalayana
Perumal Temple at Thiruvidanthai;
and the Thiruvudaiamman Temple
at Melur too are worth visiting.
Also on the list of temples to
be visited are the ones located
at Nanganallur. Thiurvottiyur
and Sri Sai Baba Temple at Vettuvankeni
all of which draws tourists every
day of the year.
