A day in Chennai

Chennai has many interesting things that you can combine into a full day or a half day private car tour. You can take a drive past Marina, the second longest beach in the world. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Chennai are located on the beach drive. You can visit historic Fort St. George, the first fortress of British power in India. St. Mary's Church, the oldest surviving British church in India, is an interesting place to visit. There are reminders in the Church of Clive, who was married there in 1753, and of Elihu Yale, the early Governor of Chennai who later founded Yale University. The Fort Museum has an interesting collection of objects from the tenure of the East India Company in Chennai.

At one end of the Marina is the San Thome Church, established in 1523 by the Portuguese in honour of St. Thomas, or Doubting Thomas who died in Madras. It was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in 1893, and is believed to house the remains of the Apostle.

You can also go to Georgetown to see the bazaars and traditional commercial areas. Hidden by the ocean of hoardings and the chaos of the overflowing streets, the fascinating past of Madras lives in its many buildings - public, institutional and private. The High Court building and the railway stations at Central and Egmore are excellent examples of a blend of cultures. The buildings are in the Indo-Saracenic and Gothic revival style of architecture. If architecture interests you, you should take some time to visit these buildings.

If you are interested in Hindu temple rituals or architecture, Chennai has some beautiful examples of Dravidian temples. The Kapaleeswarar Temple, the Parthasarathy Temple, and the Marundeeswarar Temple are among the most popular temples in the city. They have several daily rituals which you can witness, and also special temple festival days.

Another interesting place to visit is Kalakshetra. Founded in 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale, Kalakshetra’s mission is to "maintain the highest traditions of art and culture in their pristine purity and in conformity with traditions". At Kalakshetra, you can see the morning prayers at the dance school and watch Bharatanatyam (dance) lessons taught the traditional way. Take a tour of the museum, and see the Craft Education Center, where the centuries old tradition of Kalamkari (hand-painting) has been revived. Enjoy the beautiful green surroundings, and visit the craft store.

If you want to experience Chennai’s energy and street culture, you can walk with us through some of the city’s bustling bazaars. The markets sell everything under the sun - fruits, vegetables, flowers, sarees, gold, diamonds, handicrafts…the list is endless! It’s a great way to get acquainted with the people, the culture and the food.

How to book this tour: Write to us and let us know how much time you have for sightseeing, and what your interests are. We’ll put together a tour that is tailored to your needs.

Costs: The costs vary depending on the number of people and the duration. Please write to deepa@chennaimagic.com for prices.