Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. It is a major economic, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational center of South India. It is also called the 'Detroit of India' as many automobile industries are located here. During the Nayakar's rule, Madras was originally known as Madrasipattinam. Chennai welcomes tourists all over, with its unique culture, unlike other Indian cities. The places to visit in Chennai are mostly temples. Apart from that, top tourist attractions in Chennai include beaches, historical buildings, zoological parks, markets, churches, museums, memorials, and amusement parks.

During the colonial period, the British bought the piece of land from the King of Vijaynagar and built Fort St.George which houses today's Secretariat complex of the Tamil Nadu Government. Though the locals called it Chennapatnam, the British retained its name as Madraspattinam. 

Chennai city differs from the rest of Tamil Nadu, with a modern seaport and airport, long beautiful highways, beautiful beaches, leisure outlets, convenient multi-transport system, theme parks, industrial cities, hi-tech software, silicon valley parks, sophisticated multi-specialty hospitals, world-class universities, residential complexes and high rise businesses.  The best tourist places in Chennai are a fusion of this sophisticated outlook of Chennai and its traditional outlook. 

The best places to visit in Chennai thus include Fort St.George, Santhome Cathedral Basilica, Marina Beach, Vivekananda House, Birla Planetarium, Mahabalipuram, Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Government museum, etc. Kishkinta Amusement Park, T- Nagar, etc become the top places to visit in Chennai with friends. Marina beach, the biggest beach in Chennai city, Fort St.George, Kishkinta park, etc, are famous places to visit in Chennai for couples and youth.

Fort St.George

Fort St.George is a popular landmark in Chennai city and was built by the British. St. Mary Church, which was built in 1860, is situated inside this fort. At present, it houses the State Legislature and the Secretariat, the administrative complex of the Tamil Nadu Government.

Ripon Building

The Ripon Building can make you awestruck with its fancy and classy architecture. It is the seat and headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation and is an example of Neo-classical architecture, a fusion of Ionic and Corinthian styles. It was commissioned in the year 1909 and is 100+ years old.

Birla Planetarium

The B.M Birla Planetarium is a big planetarium in Chennai which provides virtual tours of the night sky and holds cosmic shows on a specially perforated hemispherical aluminum inner dome. It was built in 1988 and houses  8 galleries namely Physical Sciences, Electronics and Communication, Energy, Life Science, Innovation, Transport, Materials Sciences, and International Dolls and Children.

Connemara Public Library

Connemara Public Library at Egmore is one of the four National Depository Libraries which holds a copy of every book, newspaper and is periodically published in India. It has the possession of the most respected works in the history of India and was established in 1896.

Vivekananda House

The Vivekanandar Illam aka Vivekananda House is a historical building in Chennai. It is significant for Indian Saint Swami Vivekananda to have stayed when he visited Chennai in 1897 and was constructed in 1842. It has exquisite architecture.

Dakshinachitra

The Dakshinachitrais a living-history museum in Chennai which is dedicated to South Indiana heritage and culture and was established in 1996. It has an array of displays of dwellings depicting the lifestyle of South Indian people.

Mylapore

Mylapore is the oldest residential neighborhood in Chennai and is also called Thirumayilayi. It is claimed as the birthplace of Tamil philosopher Valluvar. It is known for its tree-lined avenues, Katchri seasons, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, and Ramkrishna Math.

Vadapalani Murugan Temple

Vadapalani Murugan Temple aka Vadapalani Andavar Temple is a Hindu temple of Lord Muruga. In its history, it was a thatched hut in 1890 where Lord Muruga was devoted and was later renovated in the 1920s. It is located on a hill and is known for its long 600+ steps. Cable cars are also available for those who cannot climb. The Palani panjamrutha is a very tasty Prasada you can get here.

Government Museum

The government Museum Chennai is also known as Madras Museum is a museum for human history and culture. It was started in 1851 and is the second oldest museum in India. It possesses the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside Europe.

Santhome Church

The St. Thomas Church commonly known as Santhome Church is a Roman Catholic minor Basilica in Chennai. The present building of the church dates back to 1523 AD, built by the Portuguese. In 1896 it was rebuilt in Neo-Gothic Style, a beautiful classy white structure.

Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram aka Mamallapuram is a heritage town on a piece of land between the Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake. It is known for its historical significance, its temples, and monuments dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries built by the Pallava dynasty. 

Annai Velankanni Shrine

The Annai Velankanni Shrine or the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health is a Marian shrine located at Velankanni Tamil Nadu. The devotion to this shrine can be traced back to the mid 16th century, attributed to the '3 miracles'. The Basilica is built in the Gothic style as lays in a coastal area.