City Tours
Marina Beach :
The pride of Chennai city, the Marina beach is one of
the world's longest beaches running 13 Km in length. With its natural sandy
beauty and spacious promenade the beach continues to be the most sought after
rendezvous of many.
Anna & MGR Tombs : Lying adjacent to each other are the tombs of Dr. C.N. Anna Durai & MGR at Marina beach. Astounding architecture of both these tombs have made them into major tourist attractions.
Children's Park & Snake Park : The children's park in Guindy has a small collection of animals and birds. The main attraction in this park are the elephant & pony rides which are available on Saturdays and Sundays. Adjacent to this park is the snake park. This unique park has a vast variety of reptiles ranging from snakes to lizards and turtles. King Cobras, Branched Kraits, Puff Adders, Vipers, Pythons, Crocodiles and Gaint turtles are some of the species that can be seen here. During demonstrations visitors are permitted to view the snakes at close quarters and handle them if they want to. Time : 8.30 A.M to 5.30 P.M
Elliot's Beach : The Elliot's beach near Besant Nagar offers an alternative to the Marina for beach lovers who would prefer to avoid crowds and hawkers.
Fort Museum : Established in 1944, this Museum has sections devoted to weaponry, uniforms and costumes, coins, medals, porcelain, silverware, and other relics of the Raj, recreating much of the aura of the East India Company's tenure in South India. There are also a number of contemporary paintings and portraits among which the painting depicting "The Storming of Seringapatnam" by Robert Ker Porter is worth close examination.
Lighthouse : The lighthouse now stands 48m above sea level at the southern end of the Marina commanding a panaromic view of the city. It is open to visitors from 2 P.M to 4 P.M every day.
Planetarium : The B.M Birla Planetarium located at Kotturpuram in Chennai, houses a fully computerized modern projector which depicts the heavens on a hemispherical dome. The Planetarium presents to the visiting public & students audio-visual programmes on various themes in Astronomy. Timings (English) : 10.45, 12.15, 15.45 Hrs. Tamil : 12.00, 14.30 Hrs.
The High Court : Built in 1892, the imposing Indo-Saracenic style building is located near parry's Corner. it has beautiful domes, a grant central cupola-once once the lighthouse, and lots of stained glass windows. A granite Doric column 49m above sea-level was erected in 1841 to serve as a stand for the second light house. the column still stands tall, an ornament to the campus. The building houses the High Court, the small causes Court and the City Civil Court.
The Government Museum : Established in 1857, the Chennai Museum is undoubtedly one of the country's best museums located at Egmore. It has sections devoted to Geology, Archeology, Anthropology, Numismatics, Botany, Zoology and Sculpture besides which there is good collection of arms & armour as well as several other specimens of Anthropological interest. The museum's prized possessions however, are the relics from the 2nd century A.D Buddhist site at Amravathi & Pre-Historic exhibits from the stone & iron ages. the bronze gallery with its ancient icons & modern bronzes is perhaps the best found anywhere in the world. Time : 8 A.m to 5 P.M . Closed on Fridays.
The National Art Gallery : Located in Egmore, the National Art Gallery is housed in a building built in 1906 in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The building itself is a work of art and was originally intended to be the Victoria Memorial and Technical Institute but was made the National art Gallery in 1951. On display in this gallery are 10th & 13th century bronzes, 16th & 18th century Rajasthani & Mughal paintings, 17th century Deccani paintings and 11th & 12th century Indian Handicraft. Time : 8 A.M to 5 P.M. Closed on Fridays.
Valluvar Kottam : The Valluvar Kottam memorial situated in Numgambakkam is a 4,000 seat auditorium, built from 3,000 massive blocks of white granite. These blocks are inscribed with 1,330 verses of the Thirukkural, a philosophical Tamil poem composed by the poet-saint Thiruvalluvar in the A.D. 100's.
Victory War Memorial : Situated on the Marina beach road in the area which housed the coastal belfry and was formerly called Cupids bow, the Victory War Memorial honours those who have laid down their lives for their country in the World Wars. It was constructed to commemorate the victory of the allied armies during World War I (1914-1918) and later became the victory war memorial for the World War II (1939-1945) in the memory of those from Chennai presidency who lost their lives serving the nation.