Chennai (Madras)

Chennai city is a vibrant cultural melting-pot located in Southern India. It’s known for its classical dance and music, and its energetic culture. Chennai is a leading center for Carnatic music, and it’s also a great place to shop, eat and experience the pulsating nightlife.
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Top attractions in Chennai (Madras)

Marina Beach
1. Marina Beach
4.3
(57151)
Beach
Outdoor Activities
Bustling urban beach featuring a long shoreline for basking & a variety of food stalls & shops.
Kapaleeshwarar Temple
2. Kapaleeshwarar Temple
4.8
(7149)
Hindu temple
Sights & Landmarks
Edward Elliot's Beach
3. Edward Elliot's Beach
4.4
(7432)
Beach
Outdoor Activities
Popular beach offering a sandy shoreline & swimming spots, plus the Karl Schmidt Memorial.
Santhome Cathedral Basilica
4. Santhome Cathedral Basilica
4.7
(14884)
Catholic cathedral
Sights & Landmarks
Cathedral basilica rebuilt in 1896 in neo-Gothic style, at the site of St. Thomas Apostle's tomb.
Ranganathan St
5. Ranganathan St
4.3
(237)
Notable street
Sights & Landmarks
Bustling commercial street offering colorful market wares, textiles, apparel & jewelry.
Express Avenue
6. Express Avenue
4.4
(102767)
Shopping mall
Shopping
Sizable complex featuring a range of retailers & restaurants, plus cinemas & a boutique hotel.
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Other notable attractions

Arulmigu Sri Parthasarathy Perumal Temple Tiruvallikeni
Hindu temple
Sights & Landmarks
Sacred 8th-century temple honouring the god Krishna, with ornately carved towers & columns.
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
Hindu temple
Sights & Landmarks
Temple tucked among the trees, dedicated to a 19th & 20th-century spiritual leader, plus a beach.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam
Hindu temple
Sights & Landmarks
Temple dedicated to Lord Balaji, with an elaborate entrance gate, garlanded statues & a fountain.
Mylapore
Neighborhoods
Mylapore is an affluent, traditional neighborhood with a number of sacred sites and cultural venues. These include Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar Temple, with its pyramid-shaped tower; the colonial-era Luz Church, with an ornate, frescoed interior; and the Gothic-style Santhome Cathedral, built on the burial site of Saint Thomas. Chennai Lighthouse on sandy Gandhi Beach features a viewing gallery that's open to the public.
Arignar Anna Zoological Park
Zoo
Outdoor Activities
Vast zoo with large, natural enclosures for Asian mammals & battery-operated cars (fee) for touring.
Budget Hotels in Chennai
Hotel
Sights & Landmarks
Bright hotel with laid-back rooms & suites, plus a relaxed restaurant & an exercise room.
Arulmigu Vadapalani Murugan Temple
Hindu temple
Sights & Landmarks
Renovated in 1920, this Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Muruga is a popular place to get married.
Edward Elliot's Beach
Beach
Outdoor Activities
Popular beach offering a sandy shoreline & swimming spots, plus the Karl Schmidt Memorial.
St. Thomas Mount National Shrine
Shrine
Sights & Landmarks
16th-century memorial shrine dedicated to a Catholic saint & approached by steps up a hillside.
ISKCON Chennai
Hindu temple
Sights & Landmarks
Hindu temple completed in 2012 & constructed on 5 levels, featuring a temple hall & an auditorium.

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Chennai (Madras)?

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Weather in Chennai (Madras)

Here's the historical average temperature in Chennai (Madras) over a full year based on data compiled by NASA: for more details by month, see the weather in Chennai (Madras) in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, or December
Monthly temperature highs and lows in Chennai (Madras)
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