1. Fort St. George

A pivotal part of British rule, Fort St. George was built to commemorate the Patron Saint of England, St George. This historic structure became an administrative centre of the presidency in 1652. A representative of the East India Company, Andrew Cogan purchased a piece of land from the Nayak rulers to build the Fort with walls soaring to a height of 6 metres. Fort was attacked by the French and later by Sultan of Mysore, Hyder Ali, after which modifications were done in the year 1783.

It is home to a remarkable structure called Wellesley House named after the Indian Governor called Richard Wellesley. This celebrated fort built at a cost of £3000, accommodates St. Mary’s Church and an imposing Fort Museum. It today holds the administrative office of the Tamil Nadu Government and serves as its state legislature.

Fort Museum features an array of rare artefacts from the British Raj which includes coinage, weapons, and uniforms dating back to colonial period. It also exhibits letters from renowned people Robert Clive and Lord Cornwallis. A noteworthy feature is the 14.5 tall statue of Lord Cornwallis with the carvings at its pedestal narrating the fact that Tipu Sultan had to hand over his two sons as he could not pay his dues to the Britishers.

Must see \ Things to do:History buffs will adore the 150 feet high flagstaff and the Portraits of Madras Governors

2. Kapaleeshwar Temple

Full day packed Chennai local sightseeing tour takes you to the glorious Kapaleeswarar Temple situated in Mylapore. Dedicated to Lord Shiva who appears as Kapaleeswarar and Goddess Parvati as Karpagambal, this significant Hindu temple was built during the 7th century by the Pallavas.

The ancient temple was demolished by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Vijayanagara Kings in the 16th century. It is said that Goddess Parvati had become a peahen due to a curse and as such she did penance under the sacred Punnagai tree which is the Sthala Vruksham to regain her original form. Mylapore has been said to have derived from the word Mayil which means peacock in Tamil.

Pilgrims are greeted with striking gopurams at the east and the west entrance gates. Gopuram at the east entrance rises to a height of 40 meters. Kapaleeswarar is a combination of two words Kapalam which means head and eswarar denotes Lord Shiva.

Legends state that when Lord Brahma had gone to the Kailash he did not give respect to Lord Shiva who had then removed one of his heads. Seeking his forgiveness Lord Brahma started worshipping him in the form of a Shiva Lingam at this place in Mylapore.

Must see \ Things to do:Shiva Lingam appearing as Kapaleeswarar and image of Karpagambal

3. Saint Thomas Church

One of the most recognizable buildings of the city is the Saint Thomas Church located in Mylapore, Chennai. This religiously significant site is built over the tomb of St. Thomas. He is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ who is said to have accompanied him during his ministry in Galilee. He had come to India in A.D. 52 and martyred in A.D. 72.

This Roman Catholic Church is one of the three churches of the world built on the tomb of the apostles. It was initially built by the Portuguese explorers in the 16th century and reconstructed by the Britishers in 1893. This sacred place of worship stands as an example of Neo-Gothic style of architecture.

St. Thomas was one of the prominent disciples of Jesus who had come to Kerala in A.D. 52. He is often referred to as the Patron Saint of the India, for his contributions in spreading Christianity in India. His mortal remains were buried here on which sits the Basilica.

The cathedral’s dramatic towers, stone sundial and stained glass are the most impressive features of the church. Stained glass exhibits the image of St. Thomas and other apostles of Jesus.

A walkthrough the museum of the church introduces the visitors to the life of St. Thomas. It features the apostle’s fingerprint, the lance head that killed him, an earthenware pot with bloodstained mud and a rare piece of his precious bone.

Must see \ Things to do:Tomb of St. Thomas

4. Parthasarathy Temple

Head to one of the oldest temple of the city with our full day packed Chennai tour, the revered Parthasarathy Temple. A glorious temple that is one of the 108 Divya Desams enshrines Lord Krishna in the form of Parthasarathy, the Charioteer of Arjuna.

According to legends a King worshipped Lord Venkatachalapathy at Tirupati requesting him to appear as Parthasarathy. He was then directed to this place which was known as Thiruvallikeni or Triplicane. Pilgrims can worship Lord Krishna here as Narasimha, Varaha, Rama and Krishna. Glorious temple has two towers at the entrance one facing the east and the other facing the west.

A significant mandapam or hall called the Thiruvaimozhi Prabanda Mandapam depicts several figures from the pre Pallava period. Other notable mandapams are the Dwajarohanam Mandapam, 36 pillared mandapam, Kalyana Mandapam and the four pillared mandapam.

Must see \ Things to do:Outer most mandapam with beautiful images of Lord Vishnu featuring him in his different avatars

5. Government Museum

Step back into history as our one day Chennai local sightseeing tour takes you to the prominent Government Museum located near Egmore. This second oldest museum of the country is a must visit for history and art aficionados. Spanning over an area of 16.25 acres, it is also popular as Madras Museum. Ramble through the museum halls and admire the incredible archaeological and numismatic collections. Archaeological gallery displays a wide range of South Indian sculptures. Specific sections of this building are dedicated to Hindu, Buddhist and Jain sculptures.

Take a trip back to the time when you visit the inspiring Museum Theatre built by the British in the 19th century. A main hall was built that could accommodate 600 people for holding theatrical performances. Admire the walls and the pillars intricately decorated with floral motifs. Walk though the Bronze gallery and learn about the bronze made articles from the Pallava era till the modern time. Bronze sculptures gained momentum during the Chola period.

See marvellous works of art as you stroll through the National Art Gallery built in Indo-Saracenic style. It features Thanjavur paintings and Indian miniature art work. Move through the Contemporary art gallery which showcases the rock and cave art. It also displays prehistoric British paintings. Another interesting building within the campus of the renowned museum is the Children’s Museum with displays of dolls, technology and science galleries. It has been divided into three subsections that include the civilization gallery, kid’s corner and the transportation gallery.

Must see \ Things to do:Bronze idol of Ardhanarishvara, a form of Lord Shiva and Parvati dating back to the 11th century

6. Vivekananda House and Museum

The Vivekananda House and Museum in Chennai commemorates the legacy of Swami Vivekananda and celebrates his life. It is also known as Ice House or Castle Kernan and was once the residence of Swami Vivekananda during his visit to Chennai in 1897.

The historic house, also called Vivekanandar Illam, was renovated and converted into a museum with the aim of preserving the memories and teachings of Swami Vivekananda. It features various exhibits that showcase Swami Vivekananda’s life, including rare photographs, personal belongings, and literature on his philosophy. You can sit and reflect on his teachings in the meditation room.

Apart from the museum, the Vivekananda House also serves as a center for various cultural and spiritual activities. It hosts regular lectures, seminars, and workshops on topics related to spirituality and self-improvement.

7. Ashtalakshmi Temple, Chennai

Located in the scenic area of Besant Nagar, the Ashtalakshmi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. The temple was built in 1976 by Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, a renowned Hindu saint of Kanchi Mutt. The temple complex consists of eight shrines, each dedicated to one of the eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi. The main shrine is dedicated to Sri Ashtalakshmi Amman, the presiding deity of the temple. It also houses other deities such as Lord Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati, and Lord Hanuman. The temple is known for its stunning architecture and intricate sculptures depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.

During festivals like Navratri and Diwali, the Ashtalakshmi Temple is adorned with colorful decorations and attracts a large number of devotees. It also hosts various religious ceremonies and cultural events throughout the year.

8. Marina Beach

Make a final stop at Marina Beach, one of the favourite hotspot of our one day Chennai tour guests. Stretching from St. George till Besant Nagar, it draws a huge crowd. Tourists often visit the place to soak up the riveting sight of the sunset which offers an invigorating experience. Take in the beauty of the ocean as you walk along the coastal line or relax at the amazing beach. Travellers often visit the beach to enjoy the picturesque sunsets and deep blue waters.

Visitors can enjoy the visit to the aquarium and the statues of the Triumph of Labour, Gandhiji, Avvaiyar, Thiruvalluvar, Kambar, Kamarajar, Subramania Bharati and Sivaji Ganesan.

Must see \ Things to do:Memorials built of the renowned leaders Arignar Anna, Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran and J Jayalalitha