Experience the best of Chennai
Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal, a city of temples, classical music, a very long beach and a colonial fort.
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Chennai, formerly Madras, grew from Fort St George, which the British East India Company built in 1644 on the Coromandel coast and which now houses the state government. The city is spread along the Bay of Bengal beside Marina Beach, one of the longest urban beaches in the world. San Thome Basilica stands near the shore, built over what is believed to be the tomb of St Thomas the Apostle.
In Mylapore, the towering gateway of the Kapaleeshwarar Temple is covered with painted figures from Hindu myth. The Government Museum in Egmore holds Chola bronzes and archaeological finds. Each December the Margazhi music season fills the city's halls with Carnatic concerts. To the south, Mahabalipuram has rock-cut temples of the Pallava era and a shore temple by the sea, and Kanchipuram, a temple town, is known for silk saris.
Breakfast means idli, steamed rice cakes, and dosa, crisp rice-and-lentil pancakes, served with sambar and coconut chutney, followed by filter coffee in a steel tumbler. Meals on a banana leaf and fiery Chettinad dishes are other highlights. Heat and humidity last most of the year, and the cooler months from November to February are the pleasantest.
- Free cancellation on 87% of experiences
- Day trips to The Taj Mahal
Top 10 attractions in Chennai
Go beyond Chennai
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Pondicherry · 136 kmArulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple
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Thanjavur · 280 kmGangaikonda Cholapuram
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Thanjavur · 280 kmBrihadisvara Temple
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Bangalore · 288 kmVidhana Soudha
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Bangalore · 288 kmKR Market (Krishnarajendra City Market)
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Jaffna · 379 kmNallur Kandaswamy Temple (Nallur Kovil)
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Jaffna · 379 kmNeduntheevu (Delft Island)
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Mysore · 401 kmMysore Palace
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Mysore · 401 kmDaria Daulat Bagh
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Madurai · 419 kmThirumalai Nayakar Mahal
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Madurai · 419 kmMeenakshi Amman Temple
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Hampi · 480 kmVijaya Vittala Temple
Questions about Chennai
- What is there to do in Chennai?
- We list 321 experiences in Chennai. The largest groups are day trips (74), city tours (26).
- What are the top attractions in Chennai?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Chennai are Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), Fort St. George, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Marina Beach.
- What is the most popular experience in Chennai?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company", rated 5.0 out of 5 from 484 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Chennai take?
- The typical experience in Chennai lasts about 7.5 hours; the middle half run between 4 hours and 24 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Chennai?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 87% of the 321 experiences we hold for Chennai. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
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