- Fort St.
George
The original fort was built by the British East India Company in 1653. The fort has under gone much alteration since then and currently houses the Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly.There is a fascinating collection of Raj memorabilia in the Fort Museum. The banquet hall upstairs was built in 1802 and has paintings of Fort St. George’s governors and officials of the British regime. Visitors can also see Robert Clive's House in the vicinity of the fort. It is now the pay accounts office which has Clive's corner open for the public.
San Thome Basilica
The cathedral spires that soar up the city’s skyline encapsulate
the history of Christian faith in Madras. St. Thomas the Apostle (doubting Thomas) came
here in 52 AD. He was martyred in 78 AD, just outside the city at a spot now referred to
as the St. Thomas Mount. Said to contain his remains, The San Thome Basilica, on the Main
Beach Road was named after the saint. Built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, the
Gothic styled architecture with its stained glass panes has pictorial representations of
Jesus Christ’s last days. A 3 feet high statue of Mother Mary is another major
attraction.
St. Mary's Church
The oldest Anglican church in Asia built in 1680 AD is the St. Mary’s Church that conjures up images of the British era. Names of bygone Englishmen are engraved on the pillars. Robert Clive was married in this church. Governors Elihu Yale of Yale University fame and Thomas Pitt are among the others associated with the church. The tombstones in the courtyard are in fact the oldest British monuments in the country.North of the fort, in the High Court Building compound, is the 1844 lighthouse, superseded in 1971 by the modern one on the Marina.
High Court Building
This red Indo-Saracenic building at Parry’s Corner is the main landmark in George Town. Built in 1892, it is said to be the largest judicial building in the world after the Courts of London.
Government Museum
Located on Pantheon Rd, between Egmore and Anna Salai, the
Government Museum is a grand repository of ancient historical treasures. The buildings
originally belonged to a group of eminent British citizens, known as the pantheon
Committee, in charge of improving the social life of the British in Madras. Rare
collections of Buddhist sculptures from Amaravati along with relics of the Pallava, Chola
and Pandya eras can be seen here.
The finest collection of bronzes of the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva - Nataraja, Durga,
Ganesha from the Chola empire are a pride of this museum. Within the complex lie an Art
Gallery, Department of Natural History, a Museum Theatre and the Connemara Public Library.
Kapaleeswarar Temple
An exquisite depiction of Dravidian architecture is Kapaleeswarar temple with
its massive and intricately carved gopuram towering into the sky. This 8th century Pallava
temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated in the traditional part of Madras at Mylapore.
Legend has it this the name Mylapore was derived from Mayur Puri. It is believed that
Parvati in the from of peacock worshipped Lord Shiva at this spot. As many as 63 Saivite
saints or nayanmars sculpted in bronze adorn the outer courtyard. The Nayanmars glorified
the Lord Shiva with enchanting hymns. In March - April during the Arubathimoovar festival
all the Nayanmars are taken in a procession around the temple.
Parthasarathy Temple
At Triplicane lies the Parthasarathy temple. Enshrined here is Lord Krishna an incarnation of Vishnu. The revered Vaishnavaite shrine originally conceived by the Pallavas in the 8th century, it has many visible contributions of the Cholas and later of the Vijayanagar rulers in the 16th century.
Kalakshetra
Classical dance Bharata Natyam and Carnatic music permeate the very fabric of
life in Madras. The Kalakshetra at Tiruvanmiyur, is a school of the Indian art epitomising
the revival of ancient culture, crafts and heritage.
Founded in 1936 by the renowned exponent of Bharata Natyam, Rukmini Devi Arundale, the
institution set in sylvan surroundings bears a resemblance to the ancient gurukulas.
Classes are held in rural settings in hut type rooms under the trees of the serene campus.
A section of the institute is famed for its sarees and textiles woven in traditional
patterns.
Public concerts have been a part and parcel of Tamil life since early days. Within
spacious temple portals, dances were performed to the lilting rhythm and music. Every year
from mid - December to mid - January a month-long Dance and Music festival is held in
Madras. Connoisseurs from all over the country who come to witness a repertoire of
performances are engrossed in the resounding of ankle bells, cymbals and musical
compositions, leaving them enthralled to return for more, every year.
Marina Beach
The sandy stretch of beach known as the Marina which extends for 13 km is the
pride of Madras, much sought after for the cool evening breeze.
On the sea front lie memorials dedicated to political leaders and freedom fighters. Noted
impressive Indo-Saracenic styled buildings like the Chepauk Place, once home of the
erstwhile Nawabs of Carnatic, the Madras University and the Presidency College add
considerable grandeur to the spot. The Aquarium, Light House and promenade of walks,
gardens and drives make the place one among the best attractions of the city.
Elliot’s Beach
The road down south from Marina leads to the alluring Elliot’s beach. The
shore is an enjoyable stretch for fun and leisure and is frequented during the sweltering
summer months. The Astalakshmi temple and Velankani Church are revered spots of faith on
the shores.
Ice House
South of the aquarium is the Ice House. This relic of the Raj era was used to store enormous blocks of ice cut from the Great Lakes in the northern USA and shipped to India for refrigeration purposes.
Guindy National Park
For a day out with wildlife, the Deer Sanctuary at Guindy provides some excitement with rare species of the Indian antelope (black buck), along with spotted deer, mongoose, civet cats, jackals and a variety of monkeys.
Snake Park
Close by a the home of reptiles, the famous Snake Park. A deadly collection of cobras, kraits, pythons and many more allow visitors to have a close view of these venomous wonders.
Anna Zoological Park
At Vandalur, 30 km from Madras lies the Anna Zoological Park. Spread over 1,265 acres, this park houses an appreciable variety of colourful birds, animal life and reptiles.
Film Studios
Madras’ big film studios, such as Vijaya or AVM, are in the western suburb of Kodamabakkam. It’s also possible to pick up work as a film extra; the going rate of pay is about Rs 250 for a day. The Maharaja Restaurant, on Triplicane High rd, is one place where extras are occasionally recruited.
Theosophical Society
Lying on the banks of the Adyar river is the international headquarters of the Theosophical Society. Will known for its Indological Research Centre, the Society is now set in picturesque environs. Founded by Col. Olcott and Madame Blavatsky in New York, USA in the year 1877 its headquarters was shifted to Adyar, Madras in 1882. The famous library here is a priceless storehouse of rare manuscripts and books of all faiths.
Valluvar Kottam
Valluvar Kottam, shaped like a temple chariot is a memorial to the Tamil Saint Tiruvalluvar. The immense stone structure at Nungambakkam built in 1976 has a life-like statue of the saint. The front hall corridors of the chariot portray the 133 chapters of his famous work Thirukkural, in bas-relief. The auditorium attached to this complex is one of the largest in Asia.
It is one of the oldest towns in South India. This is the abode of goddess
Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Sundereswarar (Shiva). Legend has it, that when a Pandya
king founded the town of Madurai some thousands of years ago, Lord Shiva was present. And
the nectar falling off his hair gave the town its name of Madurai or city of nectar.
Nayak kings of Madurai, who, together with the Vijayanagar
rulers, added to it and renovated it on a large scale.The temple has a marvellous hall of
a thousand elaborately carved pillars. A set of musical pillars, each carved out of a
single block of granite into 22 slender rods, emit musical notes when tapped. Most of the
walls and pillars of the temple are exquisitely decorated with carvings of the
manifestations of Shiva or the Meenakshi Sundareswarar legend. 
Precariously perched atop a massive outcrop of rock that rises abruptly out of
the flat surrounding plain is the famous Rock Fort at Tiruchirapalli. Set in the middle of
the town on the bank of the river Cauvery, is visible for miles around and it. 
The climb is worth the superb view from the top of the Rock Fort. The town to
Tiruchirapalli and its large Teppakulam tank nestle at its base. To the North along the
river Cauvery one can see the majestic towers of the temple at Srirangam emerging out of
the green groves of waving palms.
intricately carved wooden chariot with
the deity seated in it. The main shrine is unusual and built in the shape of the ellipse
and has four ‘shikaras’ or spires. The temple is decorated with some outstanding
sculpture.
Nearly a thousand years ago around the 11th century, Thanjavur was the capital
of a powerful dynasty, the imperial Cholas whose empire extended beyond South India and
Sri Lanka to the kingdoms of South-East Asia. The Chola kings used their wealth to
encourage the arts and built innumerable temples and shrines to ornament their land.
This temple is unique in more ways than one. Inscribed on its walls, there is a
complete record of how the temple was built, gifts donated by the royal family, detailed
arrangements for its maintenance, even to the amount granted to specific shepherds to
enable them to provide clarified butter for the temple lamps.
Built by Emperor Mahendravarman, Mamallapuram was a port for the Pallavas.
However it was during the reign of Narasimhavarman I, that the town emerged as a prominent
point for trade. Infact, the world "Mammalla" which means great wrestler was the
title given to Narasimhavarman I. The Pallavas who ruled from Kanchipuram commissioned a
guild of sculptors to work on granite and create an astonishing variety of excavated
temples, monoliths and bas reliefs. Mamallapuram earlier known as Mahabalipuram saw the
glorious exchange of trade on its shores.