Half Day Chennai City - Private Tour

Charming Chennai is known as the gateway to southern India and this half-day city tour allows you to get a feel for the country’s classical, ancient and spiritual sides. Visit the Government Museum and Art Gallery as well as the famous Kapaleeshwarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Then enjoy a scenic drive past historic Fort St George, the magnificent Marina Beach and the pristine Santhome Cathedral.

The Government Museum and the National Art Gallery form part of a cultural-historical complex that is the pride of Chennai. The museum is the second oldest in India and is housed in an Italianate red sandstone rotunda. It has sections dedicated to archaeology, zoology, natural history and sculptures as well as a priceless rare coins collection. The gallery is housed in an imposing Indo-Saracenic building and boasts collections of Indian miniature paintings and tanjore panel paintings, which often feature gold foil.

Visit the Kapaleeshwarar Temple and admire stunning stucco of the 57 metre-high gopuram (gateway steeple). A temple has stood on this site since the seventh century though the multicoloured gopuram dates from 1906. Look around and take in the intricate detail of this magnificent paean to the Lord Shiva. Access beyond outer courtyard is reserved for Hindus.

On your sightseeing drive through Chennai pass Fort St George, which was built by the British to protect their position, and Marina Beach, the second-longest beach in the world as well as glisteningly white Gothic revival Santhome Catholic Cathedral.

Languages

English