Meenakshi Temple, with its Thousand PillarsChennai has more than it's share of religious, cultural, and architectural points of interest, the oldest surviving Anglican church in Asia is located here. St. Mary's Church was built in 1680 and is located inside Fort George, which was constructed by the British in 1640. San Thome Cathedral Basilica was a church many centuries before that.
Traditional dance and music flourish in Chennai, safeguarded by a culture that relishes it's Tamil roots and protects them with a quiet pride. Modern business and industry co-exist in harmony with ancient rituals and practices in this city of six million inhabitants. There are miles of clean beaches, along with interesting museums and great local shopping.
Just south of Chennai is the ancient city of Mahabalipuram, containing some of the most fascinating examples of ancient Hindu religious art and architecture. Explore the Shore Temple (built in the eighth century), Lord Krishan's Mandapa, and Arjun's Penance, just to name a few of the historical marvels located within a few minutes walking distance from each other.
Although it has monuments left over from ancient cultures, the city of Chennai as we currently know it was founded by the British in the early 17th century. In the 2nd century AD, Greek geographer Ptolemy described Mylapore (part of modern Chennai, located south of Marina Beach) as a prosperous port. The Kapaleswara temple and San Thome Cathedral are both located in this part of Chennai, and are well worth a visit.