Guide details
Best time to visit
November to February
How to get there
Across the city, best by metro and auto
Highlights
Marina Beach, Mylapore’s temples, Fort St. George and a day trip to Mahabalipuram
Good for
Everyone, from culture lovers to beachgoers
Price range
Mostly free
Chennai rewards the curious. It is a city of long sandy beaches, thousand-year-old temples, filter coffee and a music tradition that fills its halls every December. If you have a few days here, or you are lucky enough to call it home, here is how to make the most of it.
Start at the sea
No visit is complete without a morning at Marina Beach, one of the longest urban beaches in the world. Come early, before the heat, when joggers and fishermen share the sand and the sundal sellers are just setting up. Further south, Elliot’s Beach in Besant Nagar is quieter and ringed with cafes, a favourite spot for locals to watch the sun go down.
Step into the temples
Mylapore is the soul of old Chennai, and the Kapaleeshwarar Temple at its centre is a riot of colour and carving. Wander the streets around it in the early evening and you will catch flower sellers, tiffin shops and the occasional temple procession. San Thome Basilica, built over the tomb of an apostle, sits nearby and is worth a quiet moment.
A little history
Fort St. George, the first English fortress in India, still houses government offices and a small museum that tells the story of the city’s colonial past. The Government Museum in Egmore, with its famous bronze gallery, is one of the finest in the country and easy to lose an afternoon in.
Take a day trip
When you are ready to escape the city, the shore temples of Mahabalipuram are a short drive down the coast. This UNESCO site of rock-cut wonders makes for a perfect day out, especially if you stop for fresh seafood on the way back along the East Coast Road.
Chennai does not shout for your attention the way some cities do. Give it a little time and it opens up, one temple, one beach and one strong filter coffee at a time.