Relatively clean, more traditional, ever growing, wider roads, moving traffic and one of the big cities of India. Many tourists from across the world visit Chennai for spirituality, culture and health care. Madarasapattinam (In Tamil - "மதராசபட்டினம்") is the old name and now it is called Chennai.
There are plenty of places to see in and around Chennai. This blog will help you list all such important places and tips to plan. With beautiful photos of these places, I am sure you will love to plan your trip soon with your family. I also have listed few important fairs, festivals and events in Chennai.
This blog also covers major Weekend breaks from Chennai. More than 65+ places covered "In and around Chennai".
Few important things to consider
Please don't plan your visit around summer i.e. Feb till June, it will be very hot. Other months are fine. Start early in the morning to visit the temples around. At places like Kapaleeswarar temple or Paarthasarathy temple you may not find a parking lot late in morning. But you might get few if you are there before 7AM morning, so plan accordingly. You can choose cabs i.e. Ola, Uber, etc to roam around local Chennai and for shopping and places, if you are not sure about parking spaces.
For divine/spiritual books, Indian Music CDs, Arts and Idols, Handicrafts you can try Giri Trading at Mylapore which is right opposite to Kapaleeswarar Temple.
How to plan, Tips
If you are spiritual and like temples, then you have plenty. I have only listed few important temples and not all here. And if you don't like temples, then you have Shopping places, Beaches, Resorts, Zoo etc. I would recommend minimum of 4 to 5 full days to visit everything listed in this blog.
I have grouped the places in each direction to plan better. For temple visits, plan to start early morning till 12.30 noon. Take a break in noon somewhere and start again by 4PM in evening. I always reach the farthest place in the list first, in the direction and start visiting from backwards. You may not have plenty of food options when you are in outskirts of Chennai visiting the temples, so carry your own food.
For the places inside Chennai, I have not given distance as it depends on from where you start. For places around Chennai, I have given the distances.
If you have a binoculars, carry it always with you to see the beautiful sculptures on top of each of the Temple Tower. They are so beautiful and well painted.
Note: For each of the place listed below, the Google Map link is provided, just click it to open the maps.
Food and Tamil Cuisine
Don't forget to try the local traditional food i.e. Idiyappam, Idly-Sambar-Chutney combination, Dosa, Uthappam, Sweet and Kara Pongal, Vadai, Puttu, Vazhai Ilai Meals for Lunch (Plantain leaves lunch), Rasam, Payasam, Kuzhi-Paniyaram, Millet varieties ...etc. At the end try Filter Coffee. Poovan, Karpuravalli Banana are tasty and they are local produce. Don't get stuck with one option, use Google to search for all best options and reviews to decide. When you visit Kapaleeswarar temple, try this Bharathi Mess which is on left side when you stand facing the main east tower.
There are plenty of options ranging from Economic to Luxury hotels. As I always suggest, review sites will help finalizing the one for you and also choose a good place to move around. In case you have a car, look for parking space within the hotel premises.
I have listed below, almost all of the important places to visit in and around Chennai. Read below further for how to plan and tips. You will see the Google Map links for each of the place listed below. Also grouped them according to direction to plan them easily. All these places are generally categorized into the following:
1. Historical Monuments, 2. Temples, 3. Beaches, 4. Shopping, Museums and Art Galleries, 5. Important events - Music festivals, 6. Recreational options and Beach resorts, 7. Family Getaways, 8. Bird photography
Below are the major grouping of all the places:
A. Places towards ECR / OMR and Pondicherry Road [12 places]
B. Places towards Andhra Pradesh from Chennai [5 places]
C. Places towards Vilupuram or Trichy Road from Chennai [7 places]
D. Places towards Sriperumbudur road from Chennai [5 places]
E. Places Inside Chennai [15 places]
F. Beaches of Chennai [5 beaches]
G. Important Places Around Chennai [10+ places]
H. Places for Recreation and Beach Resorts [5+ places]
I. Important Events at Chennai [3 main events]
J. Bird Photography [Multiple]
A. Places towards ECR / OMR / Pondicherry Road
[Temple/Historical]Tiruporur Arulmigu Kandaswamy Temple Believed to be a 10th Century temple and rebuilt at 17th century by Chidambara swamigal who is a Tamil poet. The main deity is 7 feet tall, The image of Murugan is believed to have been discovered under a palm leaf. There is a palm leaf maintained in the temple, which is believed to have been the original palm leaf. Arunagiri Nathar who is a 16th century saint mentioned about this temple in "Thirupugazh".
[Temple/Historical]Thirukazhukundram Vedagiriswarar Hill Temple and Thiripurasundari Amman Temple on foothills The temple on foot hills resembles Thiruvannamalai Temple and the one on hill is an ancient temple. Saints - Appar, Sundarar, Thirugnana Sambandar and Manicka Vasagar mentioned about this temple in Thevaram and Thiruvasagam. Two eagles visit here to feed on the food offered by temple priests. Close to 600+ steps and there is a Rock cut cave temple as well when you climb down. There is big tank, where a conch will appear naturally once in 12 years.
[Temple/Historical] Thiruvanmiyur Marundeeswarar Temple 9th century temple, It is said that Saint Valmiki who wrote Ramayana worshiped Lord Shiva here. Saint Thiru Navukarasar and Arunagirinathar mentioned about this temple.
[Temple]Ashta Lakshmi Temple - Built during 1976, dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and her eight primary forms i.e. Santhanalakshmi, Vijayalakshmi, Vidyalakshmi, Gajalakshmi, Dhanalakshmi, Aadilakshmi, Dhaanya lakshmi and Dharyalakshmi
Majestic Temple Tower of Tiripura Sundari Amman Temple, Thirukazhukundram
Beautiful view of Thirukazhukundram Temple and the Hill
Entrance view of Thirukazhukundram Temple and Hill on the background
Do you see the Kaathigai Deepam in front of you and the view of Tiripura Sundari Amman Temple below?
View of Temple Tank and the Thirukazhukundram Hill Temple
Looking similar to Thiruvannamalai Temple Towers
Do you see the small road with the tress on both sides? I am sure to try my luck for a Bird photography there !!
Conch Theertha at Thirukazhukundram Temple, Conch appear every 12 years, Last appeared on September 1st 2011, next shall be on September 1st 2023?
Rock cut cave temple for Lord Shiva by Mahendra Varman, during 610 A.D
Information board about the Rock Cut Cave Temple
View of the Rock Cut Cave Temple and the Steps leading down the Hill
Thiruporur Kandaswamy temple Tank
Do you see all those Nayanmars who worshiped this temple and mentioned in their work?
View of the Temple Tower - Kandaswamy Temple, Thiruporur
Aerial View of Sea shore temple Mahabalipuram Chennai
Nakula Sahadeva Ratha Mahabalipuram
Ranganatha Rock cut cave Mahablipuram
Vamana Rock cut cave Mahabalipuram
Krishna's Butterball Mahabalipuram
Arjuna's Penance Mahabalipuram
Seashore Temple Mahabalipuram
Without proper tools this would not be possible?
Sculptors on the way OMR Road Near Mahabalipuram
Sculptors on the way OMR Road Near Mahabalipuram
Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple Tower Mahabalipuram
Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple Tower Mahabalipuram
View of Muttukadu Boat House
Typical Chettinad House at Dakshina Chitra
Typical Chettinad House at Dakshina Chitra
Places towards Andhra Pradesh from Chennai
[Temple/Historical] Thiruthani Murugan Temple[92 Kms from Chennai]. One of the six temples (Arupadai Veedu) for Lord Murugan. This temple has been mentioned in the Sangam period work Tirumurugaatruppadai composed by Nakkeerar.
[Temple/Historical] Kalahasthi Kalahastheeswarar Temple[115 Kms from Chennai]. One of the most famous 5th century temple for Lord Shiva. Here is where the hunter, devotee Kannappa offered his eyes to Lord Shiva. The main gopuram or tower is 120 feet high. Also this is one of the temple for "Pancha-Bhootha sthalam" for Air. Nakeerar, Appar, Sundarar, Thirugnana Sambandar, Manickavasagar mentioned about this temple.
[Temple/Historical] Tirupathi Venkateshwara Swamy Temple[135 Kms from Chennai]. One of the World Famous and Richest temple for its wealth. Upto 1 Lakh devotees visit in a day, 30 to 40 million devotees visit in a year. One of the 108 Divya Desams.
[Temple/Historical] Sholinghur Lakshmi Narasimha Temple[108 Kms from Chennai] One of the 108 Divya Desams, situated on a small hill with 1400+ steps, dedicated to Lord Narasimha. Very famous in the region.
View of Thiruthani Murugan Temple
Thiruthani Murugan Temple Tower
Kalahasti Kalahastheeswarar Temple View
View of the Kalahasti Kalahastheeswarar Temple Tower
Another view of Kalahasthi Temple
Temple of Kannappa who gave his eyes to Lord Shiva
[Temple/Historical] Kundrathur - Thiru Uraga Perumal Temple ("Ooraga" or Uraga) [32 Kms from Chennai] Replica of Lord Venkatachalapathy of Tirupathi Tirumala.
[Temple/Historical] Kundrathur - Thiru Kandhazheeswarar Temple[32 Kms from Chennai] Built around 1214 AD, just few meters away from Lord Murugan Temple and Uraga Perumal Temple.
[Temple/Historical] Kundrathur - Murugan Temple[32 Kms from Chennai] Arunagiri Nathar mentioned about this temple in Thirupugazh. This is the only temple in Tamil Nadu where main deity is facing North
[Temple/Historical] Thiruneermalai Kshetram Temple[28 Kms from Chennai] One of the 108 Divya Desams, It has four different shrines 1. Kidandhan - reclining "Ranganatha", 2. Nadandhan - walking "Ulagalanda Perumal", 3. Irundhan - sitting "Lord Narasimha" and 4. Nindran - standing "Neer Vanna perumal"
[Temple/Historical]Thirunindravur Ennai Petra Thayar Sametha Bhathavatsala Perumal Temple. [34 Kms from Chennai] 8th century temple, got a mention in Divya Prabandham. One of the 108 Divya Sthalams. Main deity is 10 feet high. Behind this temple, there is a Yeri Katha Ramar Temple (Yeri means Lake and Katha means protected) which is almost 8 feet high
[Temple/Historical] Thiruvalangadu Vadaranyeswarar Temple[70 Kms from Chennai] More than 1000 to 2000 year old temple, during a dance, Lord picked up the ear ring that was dropped on the floor, with his toe of left leg and fixed it back in ear. This is one of the Pancha Sabhai - Rathina Sabhai.
[Temple/Historical] Adikesava Perumal temple, Sriperumpudur[52 Kms from Chennai] Birthplace of Ramanuja, built during 1572. Mysore Maharaja has endowed a gold plated hall in front of Ramanuja
