Tamil Nadu attractions

According to legend, St. Thomas, a disciple of Christ, lived out the remainder of his days in a rocky cave, known as Little Mount (Chinnamalai). Today, Little Mount is home to a Portuguese church dating back to 1551, as well as a small altar to St. Thomas and a palm print believed by some to be left by Thomas himself as he fled.

Nicknamed the “Golden City of 1,000 Temples,” Kanchipuram was the capital city of the Pallava Dynasty in Tamil Nadu and boasts numerous intricately carved shrines, most dedicated to Vishnu or Shiva. The city’s buildings also offer an excellent chance to admire examples of Dravidian architecture.

Built in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, the Ripon Building serves as the headquarters of the Corporation of Chennai, the oldest municipal body of the Commonwealth outside Great Britain. The highlight of the structure is the 8-foot (2.5-meter) clock, known as the Westminster Chiming Clock, on the building’s central tower.

Established in 1855 as the Madras Zoo and launched at its current location south of Chennai in 1985, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park is India’s first public zoo. Home to over 170 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects, the zoological park is also the largest in the country. It runs a rescue center that rehabilitates animals—including lions and tigers—freed from exploitation.

Auroville was birthed in the late 1960s by Mirra Alfassa, known to her followers as “The Mother,” as a global township in which people from across the world could live in harmony. Today, the UNESCO-recognized project has a population of over 2,000 people from dozens of countries, including many second- and third-generation Aurovillians.

Built for Armenian traders in India in 1712, the Armenian Church, also known as the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, is among the oldest churches in the country. Though it no longer functions as a house of worship, the church is still maintained as a historical attraction and is funded by the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Popular with families, VGP Universal Kingdom is India’s first and largest theme park, featuring a mix of water adventures, theme rides, and quirky attractions. Here you’ll find all sorts of slides, rafting adventures, and pools, along with shows, a beach area, and plenty of rides for toddlers and older visitors alike.

Occupying 10 acres (4 hectares) in a quiet wooded area outside Chennai, Cholamandal Artists’ Village is the largest self-supporting artists’ village in India. Home to two dozen painters and sculptors, the commune is an excellent place to feel the pulse of Chennai’s contemporary arts scene.

Valluvar Kottam was constructed in 1976 as a shrine in memory of poet Thiruvalluvar, author of Thirukkural, a collection of more than a thousand rhyming Tamil couplets that expound simplicity of life and set a moral code for his followers. Thiruvalluvar lived and wrote during the first century BC in what is now Chennai.

Dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni Church is a Roman Catholic church located on the coast south of Tamil Nadu, in the town of Velankanni. The structure as it stands today was consecrated in 1962 and granted the status of a minor basilica by Pope John XXIII.

Situated near Elliot's Beach, the colorful Ashtalakshmi Temple was constructed in the mid-1970s to honor the Hindu goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi. The multitiered structure features images of the goddess in her eight forms, with shrines spread over four floors accessible by steep and narrow staircases.

Situated on the southern outskirts of Chennai, peaceful Kovalam Beach (Covelong Beach) offers visitors a cleaner, quieter alternative to urban Marina Beach, with a host of water sports options to boot. The beach is named after the small fishing village where it’s found and occupies the former site of a Dutch fort by the same name.

One of six buildings comprising the Chennai Government Museum, the National Art Gallery is among the most prominent painting galleries in India. Housed in a restored red sandstone Indo-Saracenic building designed by a British architect, the museum exhibits paintings by traditional and modern artists, in addition to sculptures, handicrafts, and ancient manuscripts.

Locally known as "the Kirk" (Scottish for "the church"), St. Andrew's Church in Chennai was built in 1821 for Scottish Presbyterians in the British Army, and today most of its clergy are from India. It was modeled after St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London and features Palladian architecture, complete with pillars with Corinthian capitals.

Just south of Chennai, the heritage village of DakshinaChitra, was established to help preserve the folk art and cultural traditions of southern India. Artisans trained in traditional techniques work right on the property, making pots, baskets, woven silk pieces, puppets and stone carvings that visitors can purchase directly.

Believed to be the oldest church in Chennai, Luz Church (Shrine of Our Lady of Light) was built in 1516 by Franciscan missionaries from Portugal. The Gothic and baroque structure, besides being one of the oldest European monuments in India, is also a classic example of Portuguese colonial church architecture.

The George Town neighborhood of Chennai is centered around the 17th-century Fort St. George. Here you'll find many of the city's historic buildings, including the fort itself, which now houses the Chennai High Court. George Town also boasts colorful markets that tourists can visit independently or as part of a walking tour.

Flanked by the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Mannar, Dhanushkodi is a pencil-thin beach that stretches out into the sea. The popular viewpoint Arichal Munai sits at the very tip of the beach. You'll find admirers there, looking out at the ocean, particularly around sunset.

A must for art and history lovers, this sprawling palace complex in Tamil Nadu was first constructed by the Nayak dynasty in 1535. After being captured by Maratha rulers 150 years later, the palace’s new owners added their own unique contributions. The result is an eclectic mix of temples, towers, and halls, now home to several museums.