Chennai Tourist PlacesAmir MahalAnna Nagar TowerAnna Zoological ParkBirla PlanetariumConnemara Public LibraryCrocodile BankDakshinaChitraFort St. GeorgeFort MuseumGovernment Museum ComplexGuindy National ParkHorticultural GardensKishkinthaMarina BeachM G M Dizzy worldMuttukadu Boat HouseRippon BuildingSnake ParkTheosophical Society ValluvarKottamAmir Mahal This palace called " Amir Mahal" belongs to the Royal family of Arcot. Situated on an area of approx. 14 acres, Amir Mahal was built in 1789 and came into possession of the Arcot Royal Family in 1870. Located in Triplicane entry is allowed with permission only. Timings: 10:00 - 18:00, No Holiday. Ph: 28485861
TopAnna Nagar Tower This is the highest and biggest park tower in chennai, located at Anna Nagar Park. It has cyclic stairs. Full view of the city can be seen from Top of the Tower. Timings: 09:00 - 18:00, No Holiday. Ph: 26412646
TopAnna Zoological Park The sprawling 1,265 acre Anna Zoological Park is the biggest in South Asia. It contains a superb collection of tropical mammals, birds and reptiles amongst others. Timings: week days 11 am to 7 pm. Sunday and Holidays 10 am to 8 pm.
TopBirla Planetarium Built in memory of B.M. Birla, the well known industrialist and visionary, the Planetarium is considered to be the most modern in the country. This modern planetarium is housed in a hemispherical theatre. It is located at Kottur near Anna University. Timings: 10.45 am - 1.45pm and 3.45 pm. Holiday Sunday. Ph: 24416751,24410025
TopConnemara Public Library One of the countries National Libraries, it has the largest collection of books and periodicals Touch screen computers have been installed recently to make operations easier. Located at Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008. Timings: 09:30 - 19:30, No Holiday. Ph: 28193751
TopCrocodile Bank Not far from Mamallapuram, 42 km from Madras, this crocodile breeding and research centre is run by Romulus Whittaker. It was set up in 1976. This bank was started to protect India's dwindling crocodile population and to preserve the Irula (Snake catching), tribe's way of life. This bank has already produced more than 6,000 crocodiles. There is also a snake farm where anti - venom is produced. Several species of Indian and African Crocodiles and Alligators bred in captivity are kept here in open pools. The snake venom extractions are a great attraction to the visitors and it help the Irulas (tribe) to maintain their way of life. Timings : 1000 to 1600. Wednesday to Monday. Tuesday holiday.
TopDakshinaChitra It is a unique Heritage village situated at Muttukadu on the new Mamallapuram Coastal Road, 20 Km from Chennai. It offers the visitor an unforgettable and authentic insight into the lifestyles of the diverse people of South India. The Arts and Crafts village, Dakshinachitra narrate the story of the South Indian Culture. The Tamil history, language and way of life can be experienced with a guided tour. Architecture of the past 200 years is represented in the real rural setting. Every house is typical of its own professional group. Traders, potters, weavers, and others working in the traditional way make exquisite pottery, baskets, and carved stone items, some of which are for sale. The center is now developed to include the cultural replicas from all four states of South India. The folk and classical dance performances can be seen here. For a arranged tour you can contact : The Madras craft Foundation, G3, 6 Urur Olcott Road, Besant Nagar, Madras 603112. Visit : Monday and Wednesday to Friday. Time 0945 to 1800, Saturday and Sunday time 1000 to 1800.
TopFort St. George It is at Kamarajar Road. It is the first British fort build around 1653 by the British East India Company. It has a 20 feet thick wall. The present structure, a fine example of 17th century British military architecture, was mostly built in 1966. The country's tallest flagstaff is here, thought to be over 300 years old. The 24 black Charnockite pillars are those reclaimed by the British in 1762 of the original 32 which once formed the colonade of the present Secretariat building. It remains the symbol of the British Raj. Now it houses the Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly. The best time to visit is on a Sunday. Tel: 2566566
TopFort Museum It is at Fort St. George. Museum has 10 rooms displaying the documents of Indian History. The old uniforms, coins, padlocks, old prints and palanquins are displayed here. The banquet hall upstairs has a collection of paintings of the governors and officials of the British regime. Timings : Saturday to Thursday from 1000 to1700.
TopGovernment Museum Complex It is situated in Pantheon road. This is not for its exquisite collection of more than 2000 Indian bronzes and Amaravathi marbles. Three great buildings of architectural value - the Museum Theatre, the extension hall and the Connemara Public Library are in this complex. The present Museum has several sections, four galleries- Hindu sculpture gallery, the Amaravathi gallery, the Bronze gallery and the National art gallery constitute the main attractions. Visit : Tuesday to Saturday from 09:30 to 17:00.
TopGuindy National ParkThis is the countries only Wildlife Sanctuary within a city's limits. This park spread over an area of 27.6 sq. km. Raj Bhavan, the Governor's mansion, occupies one end of the park, and at the other is the beautiful forest - girt campus of Chennai's famous Indian Institute of Technology. The nearest rail head, airport and town is Chennai, at a distance of 5km. The park was set up in 1976.
TopHorticultural Gardens Sprawling over an area of 22 acres, with rare trees, shrubs, flower beds and bonsais, this garden is situated at the heart of the city, near St. George’s Cathedral on Cathedral Road. Seeds, seedlings and plants are on sale. The annual flower show enthuses hordes of visitors.
Entry free. Timing : 8 a.m. to 12 noon & 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Thursday holiday. Located : Cathedral Road, Chennai - 600 086. Tel : 28111758
TopKishkintha The first theme amusement park is Kishkintha near Chennai. Situated 28 Km South of Chennai near Tambaram spread over 110 acres, Kishkintha park offers exciting rides and attractions. Timings: week days 11 am to 7 pm. Sunday and Holidays 11 am to 8 pm.
TopMarina Beach Lining the east of the city is the famous Marina beach, at Kamarajar Road, 3 Km away from Chennai. This is supposed to be the second longest beach in the World and runs to a length of 13 Km. On the beach there is the Anna Park, named after the founder of D.M.K (Dravida Munnetta Kazhakam) Anna durai and the tomb of M.G. Ramachandran who was a film star and the charismatic Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Statue of Labour is a splendid sculpture depicting the efforts of a team of labourers who are at hard manual labour. The beach can be ideally visited in the early mornings or in the late evenings when the area becomes a virtual ground; with food stalls and other entertainments.
TopM G M Dizzy world This amusement park is situated at Muttukkadu enroute to Mamallapuram. Timing: 10.30 am to 9 pm.
TopMuttukadu Boat House Situated on the edge of backwaters, this place has facilities for boating and wind-surfing. A windsurfing regatta is organised in Muttukadu, in February every year. Competitions in windsurfing and other water sports are also held. Training and demonstration programmes are held for youth.
TopRippon Building Another pride of Chennai city, this building was named after Governor Lord Rippon, the father of Self-Government in India. The Chennai Corporation and its council are functioning in this building. Now the Mayor of Chennai Corporation is elected directly by the people. Opp. to Park Rly. station. Chennai - 600 003.
Time : 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday : Sat., Sun. Tel : 25384510
TopSnake Park It is at Sardar Vallabbai Patel Road. There are more than 40 species of common snakes of India here. The crocodiles, chameleons, monitor lizards and tortoises can also be seen in their natural setting.Visit : Wednesday to Monday from 0830 to 1730.Tuesday holiday.
TopTheosophical Society It was founded by Madame H.P. Blavatsky and Col. H.S. Olcott of U.S.A. to study religion & philosophy. In 1892 the society moved to Chennai and was set amidst a vast expanse of woods on the estuary of Adyar. Above all, the largest Banyan tree several a hundred years old is found on this campus. It spreads its branches and roots covering a space over 40,000 sq.ft. giving a serene ambience. Adyar, Chennai - 600 020.
Entry free. Sunday Holiday. Timings : 8.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tel : 24912474
TopValluvarKottamValluvar Kottam , yet another architectural marvel was built recently in memory of poet-saint Thiruvalluvar, who is believed to have lived 2000 years ago. The saint authored a didactic book of epic proportions called Thirukkural consisting of 1330 couplets under 133 headings. The memorial is shaped like a temple car with an auditorium to accommodate upto 4000 spectators. The temple car structure is carved in granite with intricate details using the Dravidian Architectural style. Each chapter of Thirukkural is chiselled in a bas-relief. The auditorium is said to be the largest of its kind in Asia.
Entrance Fee : Adult Rs. 2/-, Children Rs. 1/- Timings : 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. No Holidays. Location : Valluvar Kottam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 34. Tel : 28172177
