Mahalingapuram Sree Ayyappa Temple perhaps one of the cleanest and best temple complex where you have Sri Guruvayoorappan and Lord Ganapathy along with all the other deities closely resembling the actual panchaloha idol of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala. This temple gets lots of devotees especially during the pilgrimage season who do the rituals before proceeding on a pilgrimage to Sabarimala temple. It has been a pleasant temple where one can find peace. It is a lovely place for spirituality.
Temple is very clean and well maintained. Pooja Chanda melam makes our mind so relaxed, feels very close to the lord. This temple is situated near to Kodampakkam bridge and Nungambakkam highway, have very easy access from the road. The architecture of the building is similar to Kerala traditional temple and follows the same rituals spreads positive energy all over. It is one of the must-visit and truly a divine place in Chennai.
Ashtalakshmi Temple located near Besant Nagar beach is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and her 8 forms. Ashtalakshmi is considered as the giver of wealth, success, knowledge, prosperity, courage and food. The shrine was built on the wishes of Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal and sanctification of temple happened in 1976.
The complex was constructed in a manner to represent the shape of one of the most sacred symbols for Hindus, the Om. The complex is said to be inspired by the Sundararaja Perumal Temple in Uthiramerur and was built according to the “Ashtanga Vimana (eight parts)” style. In the temple, visitors can see the eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi installed in different sanctums at four levels.
The shrine dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu is on the second level. This is the first and the main shrine the devotees are lead to from the entrance. They then take the stairs that lead to the third level of the sanctum and has the shrines of Gajalakshmi, Santhanalakshmi, Vidyalakshmi, Vijayalakshmi.
The fourth level consists of a shrine maintained only for Dhanalakshmi. Outside the main shrine, there are shrines of Dhaanya Lakshmi, Aadi Lakshmi, and Dhairya Lakshmi all on the first level. Every floor also consists of avatars of Lord Vishnu in various postures – standing, sitting and resting. In addition to this, a standing idol of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi can be spotted on the first floor.
The temple also consists of a 5.5-foot gold-plated Kalasam on top of the sanctum sanctorum which holds the idol of Mahavishnu and Mahalakshmi as the supreme deity of the temple along with 32 other newly installed Kalasam.
A large number of devotees can be seen here during Hindu festivals like Navratri, Gokulashtami, Deepavali, and Pongal. Moreover, the Pooja that is held in the evening is worth watching. Apart from locals, you can also witness tourists flocking in from different parts of the world to enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of the temple.
Image Attribution : @Minion Clicks from Instagram
Kalikambal Temple, in the heart of Chennai. It is located in Thambu Chetty Street, is one of the oldest and most religious temple. There is one more entrance from Armenian Street. It is devoted to the Shaivite Gods – (Kamateshvarar) Shiva and his consort Kamakshi (Kalikambal) in her benign avatar.
Originally the Kalikambal temple was situated inside the Fort St. George. During the course of time, it has moved to its present venue in George Town. It is also said that the fierce form of Kali was which was worshipped earlier has been replaced with a serene form subsequently. Faith in worship itself brings miracles! But the temple itself is steeped in History.
The great Maratha warrior Chatrapati Shivaji Rao (17th century) along with his trusted Minister was here to worship Kali. The Tamil Poet Bharathi (20th century) has sung many songs in praise of this Goddess. He was a frequent visitor according to the writings on the temple walls.
The temple has also seen patronage from peoples of various strata of society. Today its patronage has swollen to great numbers. This is one of the few temples where God and Goddess are placed back to back. It is pretty rare as per temple architecture.
Kalikamba Temple can be reached easily by the MRTS (get down at Beach Station and walk across First Line Beach ). It is also easily accessible from Parry’s Corner bus stand. The parking of private vehicles will be a problem. But one can park a few streets away and walk it up or use a cycle rickshaw to commute the short distance to the temple. A visit to Chennai must include a visit to this temple.
One can also have a darshan of Lord Ganapathy, Murugan with Valli Deivanai Veerabhadra Swamy and Maha Kali. It is a belief that your prayers will be answered soonest upon your darshan of Kalikambal. It is pretty crowded always, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Kalikambal Temple Timings: Morning 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Evening 3.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
One can experience the real Hinduism culture here. A very powerful temple with great vibrations.
Madhya Kailash is an important landmark in Chennai in Adyar. This is located at the junction of Tidel park road and the Sardar Patel road. The main deity of the temple is Lord Ganesha. It is also called Nadukkayilai.
This temple is famous for Adhyantha Prabhu, which is a part of God Ganapathy and God Anjaneya. The right side is Ganesh and the left Hanuman. The idol was crafted after a vision of such a form was seen by one of the temple officials. Other sanctums are Lord Suryanarayana, Shiva, Anjaneya, Swarna Bhairavar and few more.
In the afternoons, the priest offers rice to Lord Vishnu, made into a ball taken to God Surya shrine and offered to the crows. Another popular feature of this temple is, on Vinayaka Chathurthi day, sun falls on the deity showing an auspicious note, where the 8 bells, SA RI GA MA PA DA NI SA are played.
In Maharashtrian style, one can light the camphor to this deity himself, giving a great sense of satisfaction. Lord Vinayaka himself takes on the onus of propitiating the ancestors. In the earlier days, this place was famous for performing poojas for new vehicles.
The temple open timings are 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM. This is a small but elegant temple. It is possibly around 30 years old.
With so much of traffic and noise in the junction, it is surprising that there is no noise inside the temple. It always gives thought to Revisit again. This temple has enough parking space near the entrance. There are Pooja items shops nearby. It is a calm place to evoke one’s inner self a lot. A lovely temple, floated on the prime city of Chennai, a must-visit temple too.
Image Attribute : Sankar Pandian
Semmozhi Poonga or Semmozhi Park is a botanical garden in Chennai situated on the Mount Road junction. It was set up and maintained by the horticulture department of Govt. of Tamil Nadu. It was opened to the public in November 2010 by then chief minister Dr.M.Karunanidhi. It is the first botanical garden in the city. It was set up with millions of cost on importing exotic species of plants and the park currently has more than 500 species of plants. In fact, green thumbs can rejoice at the effort they’ve put in to cataloging each of the species and placing placards with their scientific names next to them.
There’s tall trees, small groves, lush vines, exotic flowers like orchids, green lawns. In the course of the construction, the garden has received nearly ₹ 800,000 worth plants from China. The arch near the entrance plaza is a vertical garden which is a unique feature of the botanical garden. The vertical garden, with an inbuilt irrigation and drain system for easy maintenance, is 22 feet long and 14 feet high intended to improve the scenic beauty of the park at the entrance.
A butterfly garden near the cascade fountains along the Anna flyover has been carved up into the shape of a butterfly, with flowering plants of more than 30 species completely fenced.
It is an ideal place for a family day out. which makes sense because the pretty walkways, chirping birds, and overall calm is inviting and there’s plenty of nice places to take photos. It is also great for a walk or a run in the morning, or for a post-work de-stressing stroll while sunset. Ticket prices are fairly nominal with an adult ticket costing INR 15. INR 25 fee for carrying a professional camera.
If a picnic is what you’re thinking, be advised that you’re not allowed to bring outside food/drink into the park. There is, however, a small food court inside the park that you can eat at or buy food from. Kids have their own playground with swings, slides, scaffolding to climb on and a sandpit to play in.
There is a small pond/tank, a fountain and a rock-garden (with water falling down some rocks). In the center of the garden, there’s a small open-air stadium/amphitheater to host social and cultural functions. It is a must-visit place if you’re willing to spend time with nature. It is a place to spend a lazy evening in a calm atmosphere and a decent crowd.
Amir Mahal is one of the greatest attraction in Chennai. The Amir Mahal was constructed in 1798 by the British East India Company to house administrative offices of the company. Robert Chrisholm was given the task of converting the office building into a palace. In 1876, the Nawab moved in with his family into the Amir Mahal. The mahal has since been the residence of the Nawabs of Arcot. Nawab of Arcot used to live here along with his family. It is located in the Royapettah.
The living style of this residency is different from other posh houses/Mahal. Prince of Arcot is very friendly with the supremacy. Not only visitors visit this oldest Palace of Tamilnadu but a number of leaders, Presidents, and many other celebrities also love to visit here. Amir Mahal is one of the oldest and most attractive palaces to visit in Tamilnadu. Amir Mahal was constructed in Indo-Saracenic style. It has been the residence of the family since 1876.
The Nawab’s successor, Mohammad Abdul Ali, and his three brothers still live in the palace with their families. It also has a mini-cricket ground which is currently being renovated by the government. With the end of Nawabship, supremacy took the prime residence of Nawab’s which is Chepauk palace, Marina. Kals Mahal is established in an area of 121-acre land. Presently, this Palace is used as a Public Work Department offices.
Rajivji’s grandfather, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, had also visited Amir Mahal twice, as Prime Minister of India, in 1955 and 1963. World standards, extraordinary architecture, innovative layouts, and well-thought execution make this place a highly coveted point of tourist interest. Do not forget to carry your camera and capture special moments. Amir Mahal is a sure way to refresh and relax after a busy weekday. Explore interesting themes, fabulous designs, colorful landscapes, amusing characters, ambient music, props.
The Valluvar Kottam, located in Chennai, is one such historical monument which is dedicated to the well-known intellectual poet, philosopher and saint, Thiruvalluvar, who penned his well-known Thirukkural more than 2,000 years ago. It was built by M. Karunanidhi, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
The construction of Valluvar Kottam was the finest way to pay homage to this great and renowned personality as well his tremendous collection of magnificent works. This is one of the significant sites located in Chennai and is visited by a large number of visitors, every year, from all over the world. In the cultural life of the Tamils, saint Thiruvalluvar has great significance.
The architectural pattern of the Valluvar Kottam is like a temple chariot (39 m high), inside which there is a huge stone effigy of the saint Thiruvalluvar. The architect under whose guidance the Valluvar Kottam was built is a South Indian architect, V. Ganapati Chapatti, who is also the architect of the statue of Saint Thiruvalluvar, sited at Kanyakumari.
The main auditorium of the Valluvar Kottam can provide accommodation to more than 4,000 people at one time and stands as a contemporary cenotaph to the great and distinguished poet and saint, who symbolizes the splendid culture of the Tamils. A very unique feature of the Valluvar Kottam is that it stands baseless, without the support of any pillar.
The 1330 verses of the epic Thirukkural are engraved on the granite columns in the facade hall corridors, enclosing the vast auditorium of the Valluvar Kottam. In the construction of this, about 3000 blocks of stone were used. The lion on the main gateway is very remarkable, decorated with attractive designs. The contribution of saint Thiruvalluvar in Tamil Literature is very notable and admiring, visible through the affection returned to him by his fans through the construction of this remarkable monument.
Theosophical Society is one of the popular attractions in the city of Chennai. A peaceful heaven in the middle of the bustling city situated in Besant Nagar, near Elliot’s beach along the Adyar River. It was founded by Annie Besant in the year 1875. The Society played a vital role in the revival of Hindu culture. It is a lovely oasis in the middle of Chennai.
Society has various shrines and residential buildings. It has figures of Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Henry Steel Alcott, the founders of Theosophical Society. The campus of Theosophical Society consists of a Hindu Temple, Jain Temple, a Church, and a Buddhist Temple. The library within the campus has a rich collection of manuscripts on all major faiths and sacred books.
The Theosophical Society is spread over 260 acres but you can certainly cover the garden, which is home to migratory birds, fruit bats, snakes, jackals, wild cats, mongooses, hares and a variety of spiders. The campus is also known for 450-year-old banyan tree resides in the garden with aerial roots covering 60,000 square meters, provides shelter to 3000 people at once.
A perfect place to take a walk peacefully. Most of the plants and trees here will be labeled here, so it will be interesting when you cross them. We can go with your friends or family to relax for a while. Theosophical Society provides a peaceful, green, vehicle-free retreat from the city. Despite restricted opening hours, it’s a lovely spot to wander. A perfect place for meditation as well.
Guindy Race Course is a very nice locality. All required amenities readily available. It is very close to the railway station. This is the oldest racecourse in the country. A large iron horseshoe welcomes visitors at the entrance of the Madras Race Club(MRC). Televisions hang from metal holders before many booths where bets are placed and names are staked.
The land was taken from the Adyar villages of Venkatapuram and Velachery. Racing became irregular and almost stopped soon after it had begun in the 1770s. This was a result of Hyder Ali, who came within striking distance of Madras. A few years later, 35 cawnies were added and two race courses came up — a smaller one to train horses and the other with a stand to watch the races. The club now has about 625 horses in the station, three stands and boasts of the best race track in the country.
The racing season begins in November and goes on till March after which races are conducted in Ooty between April and June. A monsoon season has been introduced with races being conducted between August and October. “Sir Lester Piggott”, who is considered the world’s greatest jockey, has ridden here and commented that MRC has the best track in India. Many people with membership opt for this place for lodging. There is a lot of shopping spots nearby. Tariff is also reasonable with safety, comfort, and cleanliness.
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