The heart of Dravidian culture, a thriving seaport, the southern citadel of British rule, and now the fourth largest metro in India - Chennai has many faces. The beautiful sea coast, the thriving cultural scene, the vibrant film industry and the gracious remnants of the colonial past now characterise this city which has a laid-back charm that the other Indian metros lack.

Highlights

• Fort St George - this was the centre of British rule, and still houses the centres of political power - the Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly. The buildings of both these offices of power date back to 1694 and 1732 - the oldest British buildings to survive in India. The beautiful St Mary's Church is again the oldest Anglican church in Asia and has many antiques within it. The Fort Museum has a fascinating display of colonial artefacts.
• St Andrew's Church - this neo-classical church built in 1821 is in the Egmore area. Its unique architecture and rich interiors are with a painted dome and stain glass windows are very artistic.
• Government Museum on Pantheon Road is well worth visiting - the gallery of bronze sculptures is superb. Close-by is the National Art Gallery in an imposing Mughal style building. The neighbouring Gallery of Modern Art houses an impressive collection of contemporary art.
• The Marina - this is an uninterrupted 13 km stretch of seashore running along the city. The Madras University - an architectural marvel is along this road, as also the famous cricket grounds. The South Beach Road stretch is a pleasant walk with shady parks and awesome colonial buildings.
• San Thome - this is a beautiful Gothic cathedral built by the British in 1894 over the grave of St Thomas who brought Christianity to Indian shores in 52 AD. The area is steeped in colonial history.
• Mylapore - This is the heart of traditional Tamil culture and is dominated by the famous Kapaleshvara Temple. It has lively markets, where you can shop for typical Madras saris and temple jewellery, and it also has some of the oldest homes of Chennai.

DAKSHINA CHITRA

This is a unique architectural museum set up 26 km south of Chennai - on the road to Mahabalipuram. Here you can see the typical houses of all the southern states, transported from their original site and perfectly re-constructed in a truly authentic ambience.

CROCODILE BANK

This is a unique reptile farm and museum set up by the naturalist Rom Whittaker. It has several rare species of crocodiles, alligators, and snakes and is a very interesting and educative place for young people to visit.

MAHABALIPURAM

This magnificent port settlement of the 7^th Pallava kings, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its highlight is the Shore Temple, dedicated to Vishnu and the five rathas or chariots chiselled out of solid rock. The carved rock face depicting Arjuna's Penance is another masterpiece, as also the different cave temples dedicated to different gods.

PONDICHERRY

Visit this lovely coastal town for three experiences - French nostalgia, a beautiful rocky sea face, and the Shri Aurobindo Ashram. The roads here are still named in French, the police wear French uniforms, and stately colonial mansions line the promenade. A lot of foreign tourists visit because of the French connection and to get spiritual solace. Pondicherry is a convenient drive from Chennai along the super smooth coastal road.