Chennai (Madras) Trip Overview
See Chennai’s historical and architectural gems on this half-day private sightseeing tour. Visit Fort St George, the first English fortress in India, and browse interesting art collections and exhibits at the Government Museum, which houses the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside of Europe. Learn about the Dravidian architecture of Kapaleeshwar Temple, built in the 7th century, and enjoy scenic views of Chennai on a drive along Marina Beach.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 hours
Starts: Chennai (Madras), India
Trip Category: Tours & Sightseeing >> Half-day Tours
Explore Chennai (Madras) Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu, India
See Chennai’s historical and architectural gems on this half-day private sightseeing tour. Visit Fort St George, the first English fortress in India, and browse interesting art collections and exhibits at the Government Museum, which houses the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside of Europe. Learn about the Dravidian architecture of Kapaleeshwar Temple, built in the 7th century, and enjoy scenic views of Chennai on a drive along Marina Beach.
Stop At: Fort St. George, St. George Street, Chennai (Madras) India
Fort St. George is the first English fortress in India, founded in 1639 at the coastal city of Madras, the modern city of Chennai. The construction of the fort provided the impetus for further settlements and trading activity, in what was originally an uninhabited land.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Kapaleesvarar Sannadhi Street Vinayaka Nagar Colony, Chennai (Madras) 600004 India
Kapaleeshwarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to lord Shiva located in Mylapore, Chennai. The form of Shiva’s consort Parvati worshipped at this temple is called Karpagambal is from Tamil. The temple was built around the 7th century CE and is an example of Dravidian architecture.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Government Museum, Pantheon Road, Chennai (Madras) India
The Government Museum is a museum of human history and culture located in the Government Museum Complex in the neighbourhood of Egmore in Chennai. Started in 1851, it is the second oldest museum in India after the Indian Museum in Kolkata and is the tenth oldest Museum in the World. It is particularly rich in archaeological and numismatic collections.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Fort Museum, Fort St. George, Chennai (Madras) 600 009 India
Featuring an impressive architecture, the main highlight of Fort St. George is its museum. Named as Fort Museum, it boasts a varied collection of antiquities that are well-presented in different galleries. You can visit the Portrait Gallery to see portraits and oil paintings of the Madras Governors such as Queen Victoria, King George III, Sir Arthur Havelock, and Robert Clive. Or you can explore the Indo-French Gallery to discover exhibits like clocks, stamps, furniture, lampshades, and centuries-old British coins.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: St Mary’s Church, Near Fort St. George On Fort St George administrative complex, Chennai (Madras) India
Another interesting monument within the boundaries of Fort St. George is St. Mary’s Church. Considered as the oldest Anglican church in Asia, the St. Mary’s Church features intricate wooden furnishings along with glass windows and teak plaques that still shine. Dating its history back to the year 1678, this building has stood with time and is worth visiting for everyone.
Duration: 15 minutes