Chennai walking tour & city guide

Temples, markets and the beach

Mylapore is one of the oldest parts of the city. The Kapaleeshwarar Temple, with its brightly painted gopuram tower and temple tank, is surrounded by lanes of flower sellers and shops selling brass and silk. Close by, the San Thome Basilica stands near the sea, and in Triplicane the Parthasarathy Temple is one of the city's oldest shrines.

Marina Beach stretches for kilometres along the Bay of Bengal and comes alive in the evening, when families walk on the sand and stalls sell snacks. To the north, George Town is a dense trading district of wholesale markets around Fort St. George, and in the west, T. Nagar is the city's busiest shopping area, with Ranganathan Street and Pondy Bazaar packed with sari and jewellery shops.

A classic walk: Mylapore to Marina Beach

Start in the morning at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, when the flower stalls are busiest and the temple is full of worshippers. Walk around the tank and through the lanes of Mylapore, then continue to the San Thome Basilica.

From there it is a short walk to the southern end of Marina Beach. Stroll north along the promenade in the late afternoon, past statues and old public buildings, and stay for the sea breeze and the evening snack stalls.

Good to know

December to February is the best time to visit; the northeast monsoon brings heavy rain from October to December, and April to June are very hot and humid. The metro and suburban trains connect much of the city, and auto-rickshaws and ride-hailing apps are easy to find. Dress modestly and remove your shoes at temples, where some inner shrines are open only to Hindus. The shore temple town of Mamallapuram is a popular trip down the coast.