If you are touring Chennai, you might wonder about the best places to visit with your friends and family. There are plenty of options available in Chennai, a city that offers a wide variety of sightseeing spots. These include traditional temples, historic beaches, heritage sites, modern resorts, pre-independence vintage buildings, museums, zoos, and gardens. You can enjoy all these places and relax yourself at the end of a day at the Best Resort in Chennai. Stay tuned for more information in this blog.
1. The Marina Beach
Marina Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline that, at 6 kilometers, is the second-longest beach in the world. Situated along the picturesque Bay of Bengal, this beach is the most popular in Chennai. On any given day, around 30,000 visitors flock to its shores, with weekend and holiday crowds swelling to at least 50,000, making it one of the country’s most bustling and vibrant beaches. Chennai visiting places must include the Marina beach as well.
With a history dating back to the 16th century, it’s a place steeped in heritage and was aptly named ‘Madras Marina’ by the Britishers. Embodying the spirit of Chennai, Marina Beach stands as an iconic symbol of the city and has rightfully earned a coveted spot on everyone’s bucket list.
2. Mahabalipuram Heritage Sites
Mahabalipuram, a charming seashore hamlet nestled along the Bay of Bengal, sits just 60 kilometres from the bustling city of Chennai. This idyllic town has rich historical significance, as it once served as the capital city of the powerful Pallavas. Steeped in history, Mahabalipuram is adorned with magnificent stone temples and archaeological monuments, proudly showcasing the cultural heritage of the Tamils.
From the awe-inspiring Five Rathas and the ancient Shore Temple to the enigmatic Tiger Cave and the fascinating Crocodile Park, Mahabalipuram is a trfceasure trove of mesmerising sightseeing spots. The town’s rich history and manifold attractions offer a truly unforgettable experience. To fully explore and appreciate the travel attractions in and around Mahabalipuram, it is recommended that you allow at least two days for your visit and remain at the top of the list of places to visit in Chennai.
3. BM Birla Planetarium
The Birla Planetarium is an excellent destination to take your family, especially kids, to immerse yourselves in the world of science. As soon as you step inside, you will find a Science Park and galleries waiting to be explored. The 3D science show is a must-see, offering an immersive experience where you can educate yourself about astronomical facts, events, and achievements.
One of the planetarium’s most fascinating attractions is the skeleton remains of a 160-year-old dinosaur, which the Geological Survey of India excavated in the Adilabad district of Telangana in 2000. This latest addition never fails to captivate and amuse its visitors, providing a unique and awe-inspiring experience for all who visit.
4. Kabaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore
One of the oldest Hindu temples, which marks the religious values of Tamils, is the Kapaleeswarar Temple, located in Mylapore, Chennai. This temple hosts the main deities, Lord Shiva and Goddess Karpagambal, and is one of the must visit places in Chennai for its archaeological importance. The age of the temple is over 300 years, as the Portuguese destroyed parts of the temple. It has the famous Temple Tank, a popular landmark in the area even before independence.
This temple and Mylapore are considered one of the best places in Chennai for the simple lifestyle of the people and the temple festivities that showcase the local flavor of music and culture. Mylapore also hosts many talented Carnatic musicians and singers and an excellent audience for the arts of dance and music.
5. Besant Nagar Edward Elliots Beach
Besant Nagar Beach is considered one of the cleanest beaches in the state of Tamil Nadu. The golden sands and the calm winds of the Bay of Bengal relax the people who spend their leisurely weekends here. With several food outlets and snack-sellers, you can find Edward Elliot’s Beach, another great place to be noticed in your Chennai visit.
6. Valluvar Kottam Monument
The Valluvar Kottam is located in Chennai, and is a historical monument dedicated to the well-known intellectual poet and saint Thiruvalluvar, who wrote the world-famous Thirukkural more than 2,000 years ago. A huge, life-size Valluvar statue has been installed in the chariot, decorated with the great Kalamkari drawings. The bottom part of the chariot features sculptures depicting all 133 chapters of the Thirukkural text. On weekdays, the monument receives an average of 700 visitors, while on weekends, it attracts around 1000 visitors.
7. ECR DakshinaChitra Museum
Dakshina Chitra means ‘the picture of the south’ and it truly brings South India’s cultural traditions under one roof. You can learn a lot here at the same time. Dakshina Chitra is oriented around the cultures of all four states of South India. You can enjoy the wonderful traditions and artisans performing arts, crafts, music and architecture on the vast, spread 10-acre land. The natural ambiance of the building and its environment carries visitors away into another world. Dakshin Chitra is pretty good for both childrens and adults, as you can try your hand at a lot of fun activities like glass blowing, pottery and traditional games. You can visit here as this is one among the top 10 must-visit places in Chennai with family and enjoy your vacation.
8. Fort St. George
George Fort, also called ‘White Town’, is a fortress in Chennai. Founded in 1639, it was the first English fort in India and it was built in 1640 and is famous as the first establishment made by Britishers in India. It was a trading post initially but soon converted into a partition that divided the city into two parts. One portion had the Europeans to live and the other for the Indian dock workers. It now houses the legislative assembly of the Tamil Nadu state and a garrison of troops for the Andamans. You can keep it in your list of places to explore in Chennai, as it holds historic importance and is one of Chennai’s iconic architecture.
9. Theme Parks
Chennai offers numerous theme parks for visitors to enjoy, such as MGM Dizzee World, Dash N Splash, VGP Universal Kingdom, VGP Snow Kingdom, Monkey Monk, Queensland, Wild Tribe Ranch, Adventure Zone, Kidoos Fun Park, Kishkinta Theme Park, and Marine Kingdom. These theme parks are great destinations for a day trip and offer plenty of fun activities and games for kids and friends. When planning an outing in Chennai, be sure to include at least two of these theme parks, as each one has its own unique attractions and is a popular choice for school trips.
10. Connemara Public Library
The Connemara Library houses numerous rare books and a vast collection of centuries-old publications, including some of the greatest collections in the country. As the largest public library in South India, it is named after the former Governor of Madras, Lord Connemara, and currently houses over 900,000 books, newspapers, journals, magazines, and periodicals.
11. Semmozhi Poonga
Semmozhi Poonga, the first botanical park in Chennai, was opened in 2010. The park is home to over 500 species of plants, including rare varieties of herbs and medicinal plants. It is divided into 8 zones, each with its own theme. Because of its beauty and natural charm, the park is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. The Horticulture Department nurtures over 1.2million plants, including seasonal and perennial flowering plants like Petunias, Roses, Tulips, Balsams, Sunflowers, Champas, NithyaKalyani, and Marigold. These plants are displayed during the park’s ten-day-long event. Your places to visit in Chennai must include Semmozhi Poonga too.
12. Theosophical Society
The Theosophical Society was established with the primary goal of conducting a comparative analysis of different religions, philosophies, and sciences. Additionally, it focused on unveiling the unyielding human spirit, promoting the Universal Brotherhood, and reforming Hinduism. Although its operating hours are unconventional and it remains closed on Sundays, paying a visit is definitely worth while. Taking a stroll through the diverse religious shrines and taking in the impressive banyan tree at the heart of the site is a great way to spend sometime.
13. Marundeeswarar Temple
The Marundeeswarar temple is another oldest temples of the city, and is located in Thiruvanmiyur. The Marundeeswarar temple is believed to be a place of worship to cure people from diseases. His consort, Sati is depicted as goddess Anjanakshi. The presiding deity is also associated with the 7th-century Tamil Saiva Nayanar, Sundarar. Marundeeswarar Temple remains one of the best places to visit in Chennai.
14. Malls in Chennai
There are a lot of shopping malls in the city hosting many international brands and Indian stores as well. Some of them include Phoenix Market City, Vijaya Mall. Grand Square and the Marina Mall. you can find plenty of food courts to satisfy your taste buds after an exhaustive day of shopping.
15. T Nagar – Ranganathan Street Shopping
Don’t forget to visit Ranganathan Street in T Nagar, one of the busiest shopping streets in Chennai, during your tour. This street is known for its affordability and wide range of goods, from jewellery shops and restaurants to temples and silk saree stores. It’s a popular destination for festive shopping, attracting visitors from outside Chennai as well. Your list of best places to visit in Chennai would be incomplete if you miss this street shopping in T Nagar, Chennai.
Chennai, a city of contrasts, offers a diverse range of experiences for every traveler. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, delight in the delicious cuisine, and explore the hidden places that Chennai has to offer. For those seeking a relaxing retreat, consider a stay at Nyantra Resort to unwind amidst lush greenery and modern comforts. Whether you’re a history buff, a beach lover, or a foodie, Chennai promises an unforgettable journey.