Places of Interest
From the 13-kilometre stretch of Marina Beach to the Chola bronzes in the Government Museum, Chennai rewards the curious visitor.
Beaches
Marina Beach
The second longest urban beach in the world, stretching 13 kilometres along the Bay of Bengal.
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Elliot's Beach
A quieter, cleaner beach in Besant Nagar, popular with joggers, families, and couples.
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Covelong Beach
A pristine beach 40 km south of Chennai, popular for surfing, kayaking, and a quieter coastal experience.
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Government Museum, Egmore
India's second oldest museum, renowned for its Chola bronze collection and archaeological galleries.
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Birla Planetarium
One of the most modern planetariums in India, offering astronomy shows and interactive science exhibits.
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Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
A reptile zoo and research centre founded by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker, housing over 2,000 crocodiles and alligators.
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Guindy National Park
One of the smallest national parks in India, located within the city limits, a rare urban wildlife reserve.
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Semmozhi Poonga
A beautifully maintained botanical garden in the heart of Chennai, featuring themed sections and rare plant species.
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Anna Nagar Tower Park
A 240-acre urban park centred around the iconic Anna Nagar Tower, built for the 1968 World Tamil Conference.
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A well-loved family park on the Guindy National Park campus, popular with young families for its play areas, mini train ride, and green spaces.
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Fort St. George
The first English fortress in India (1644), now housing the Tamil Nadu Legislature and a museum.
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Valluvar Kottam
A monument dedicated to the Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, featuring a temple chariot replica in stone.
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Vivekanandar Illam (Ice House)
A heritage building where Swami Vivekananda stayed in 1897, originally built in 1842 as an ice storage facility.
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Madras High Court
The second largest judicial complex in the world, an Indo-Saracenic masterpiece designed by J.W. Brassington in 1892.
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Chettinad Court, Adyar
A sprawling heritage mansion built in Chettinad style, showcasing the opulence of Nattukotai Chettiar merchants.
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Ripon Building
The headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation, a grand neo-classical building completed in 1913.
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MGR Memorial
The memorial of M.G. Ramachandran, beloved Tamil actor and former Chief Minister, located on the Marina Beach promenade.
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Gandhi Mandapam
A memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi on the Adyar River bank in Guindy, built at the spot where a portion of his ashes was immersed.
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DakshinaChitra
A living museum of South Indian heritage showcasing traditional architecture, crafts, and performing arts.
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Kalakshetra Foundation
A world-renowned centre for traditional Indian arts, founded in 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale to preserve Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music.
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