7 Places You Have To See In Chennai
by Abinaya Shree K. Content WriterFormerly
known as Madras, Chennai is the Cultural Capital of India and is the fourth largest
metropolitan city in India. It is one of the most frequented tourist
destinations in Tamil Nadu. It is popular for its beaches, parks, historical
monuments, and museums. There are many scenic attraction spots in Chennai that
are definitely worth your time. It is not possible to cover all these places
within a single trip. To help you with this, I have come up with the list of 7
places that you should definitely not miss in Chennai.
1. Marina Beach
Situated along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Marina Beach stretches for a distance of 12 km and is second largest urban beach in the world. It is the most popular tourist spot in Chennai. With silver sand and blue water, Marina Beach allures plethora of tourists throughout the year. The seashore is scattered with casuarinas and palm trees. The main attractions on the Marina Beach are the Lighthouse, Ice House, Anna Square, Aquarium and Swimming Pool. Indulge in adventure activities like sunbathing, windsurfing, fishing, beach volleyball, and kite flying. Taste fresh fish fry and enjoy the vista of the city from the lighthouse.
2. Arignar Anna Zoological Park
Located in Vandalur at a distance of 35 km from Chennai, Arignar Anna
Zoological Park is one of the largest zoos in Asia. It was named after the
famous Tamil politician, Arignar Anna. If you want to spend a day amidst nature
and wildlife, there is no other better place in Chennai than the Vandalur Zoo. It
houses more than 170 species of birds, reptiles, and mammals. If you want to
explore the zoo, you can stroll around the park or opt for battery-powered
vehicles. The prime attractions of this zoo are Lion Safari Park, Deer Safari
Park, Elephant Safari, Reptile Section, Library, and Aquarium.
3. Mahabalipuram
Situated on the coast of Bay of Bengal, Mahabalipuram (also known as
Mamallapuram) is one of the most visited tourist spots in Chennai. It is
frequented by tourists for its scenic beaches, culture, and beautiful sculptures.
Most of the rock carvings and temples in Mamallapuram were built in the 7th
century. The must-visit places in Mahabalipuram are Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram
Beach, Pancha Rathas, Krishna’s Butter Ball, Tiger Cave and Cholamandal
Artist’s Village. If you are looking for accommodations, there are many good
hotels in OMR where you can stay at a decent price.
4. Queensland
Nestled in Poonamallee, Chennai, Queensland is one of the best theme
parks in South India. It stretches for an area of 70 acres on the
Chennai-Bangalore Trunk Road. It is one of the best adventure parks in Chennai
in terms of service and entertainment. It is open on all days except Mondays
and houses a total of 51 rides (18 for kids and 33 for adults). Some of the
popular attractions in this theme park are Cable Car, Himalayan Water Ride,
Free Fall Tower, Niagara Falls, Alpenblitz, and Centrox.
5. Santhome Basilica
Set at Mylapore in South Chennai, Santhome Basilica is a famous Roman
Catholic Church in It is constructed over the tomb of St. Thomas, the Father of
Indian Christianity in the Neo-Gothic architecture style. This church is 155
feet high, 112 feet long and 33 feet wide. The glass windows are inscribed with
the pictures of St. Thomas and other Apostles. There is an idol of St. Thomas
inside the Church. The main features of Santhome Cathedral are Tomb Chapel,
Museum cum Theatre.
6. Parthasarathy Temple
Situated in the heart of Chennai on Peter’s Road, Parthasarathy Temple
was constructed by the Pallava Kings in the 8th century. It is one
of the oldest temples in India built in the Dravidian architecture style. The
main deity in this shrine is Lord Krishna (also known as Parthasarathy). One of
the unique features of this temple is the colored Gopuram. There are also
statues of Lord Vishnu, Lord Narasimha, Lord Rama and Lord Ranganathan in this
temple. It is one of the must-visit places in Chennai.
7. Guindy National Park
Guindy National Park is the 8th smallest National Park in India and stretches for an area of 2.70 km2. It plays a crucial role in preserving endangered flora and fauna. It charms more than 700,000 tourists every year. The main attractions in the park are Children’s Park and Snake Park. The Children’s Park houses a mini zoo, playgrounds, mini-railway, swings, and pony rides. The Snake Park is famous for its wide variety of pythons, cobra, vipers, turtles, tortoises, lizards and chameleons. There are memorials for leaders like K.Kamaraj, Mahatma Gandhi, and C. Rajagopalachari inside the park.
About the author:
Abinaya Kannan is an engineering graduate from Chennai. She is currently working as the Content Writer & Media Coordinator in Ulo Hotels. She likes traveling and loves to write about Travel & Leisure.
My Blog: Backpack Ideas
Sponsor Ads
Created on Mar 21st 2018 00:56. Viewed 470 times.