Churches

St.  Mary's Church

The church is at Fort St. George.  Entry - free. The old masonry church was consecrated in 1680 by Streynsham Master. The building with its three arched aisles has a bomb-proof roof.  Well known people associated with the church include Robert Clive, who married Margaret Maskelyne here in 1753. Job Charnock, an official in the British East India Company, is thought to have had three daughters baptized here in 1889. The marriage of  Governor Elihu Yale (of Yale University fame) was the first to be performed in this church. Now this national monument is maintained by the Archaeological Department of the Government.

St. George's Cathedral

It is a white colonial church, with a beautiful garden located at 222 Cathedral road. Visit :  Daily 0800 to 1800. St.George's was originally Anglican but came under the Church of South India when the Diocese of Madras was constituted in 1835. It is now the headquarters of the church of  South India. It has a 130 feet spire with its interior very light and airy with stucco walls.  The decorated roof and many fascinating tablets and tombs add to beauty of the spire. 

Basilica of San Thome

This Cathedral is at the end of Kutchery Road, Mylapore.  It is believed that the Apostle Saint Thomas lived his last years in South India. This Cathedral was originally built in 1504.  It was rebuilt in 1890 with a 180 ft basilica. It is believed that St. Thomas's body was entombed inside this neo-Gothic structure. There is a museum catering to people who are interested in history. Open daily, 6 am-6 pm. Museum closes on weekends.

Rector & Parish Priest
Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas
Santhome High Road
Chennai 600 004
India
Ph: +91 442498 5455, +91 44 2498 0758
Contact : E-mail
Website: www.santhomechurch.com

St. Thomas Mount

St. Thomas Mount was built in 1523 by the Portuguese at the summit where Saint Thomas was said to have been killed. It is believed that the Saint was martyred while praying in front of a cross engraved in the natural stone base. St. Thomas was the apostle of Christ who was believed to have reached the western coast of India around 52 and 72 AD. He is then said to have traveled to Mylapore in Chennai. The Little Mount area or Chinnamalai is the area where he spent the last years of his life. It is on the bank of Adyar.

A flight of 130 steps takes you to the Church of Our Lady of Expectation on St. Thomas Mount. Here, you can find the painting of the Madonna that is said to have been done by St. Luke. The Bleeding Cross is an interesting relic here. This cross has stains resembling bloodstains that seem to reappear even after they are scrubbed off. The Cross is said to have 'bled' first during Mass in 1558. From the church yard we can see the entire city of  Madras. 

Temples

Parthasarathi Temple

It is at Peter's Road, Triplicane. It is one of the oldest temple in Madras, built by the Pallavas in the 8th century and rebuilt by the Vijayanagar Kings in the 11th century.  The temple is dedicated to Krishna, the charioteer of Partha (Arjuna).  It has a  coloured gopuram and several shrines with beautiful carvings. The four streets surrounding this temple have stalls selling brilliant powders,  flowers, puja articles, small idols, musical instruments and jewellery around the temple.
Timing Daily 6.30am - noon and 4pm - 8pm

Sri Kapaleswarar Temple

Known as a panacea from many troubles, Sri Kapaleswarar Temple is situated near Kutchery Road, Mylapore. Built in the13th century, this ancient Siva temple is a delightful introduction to Dravidian temple sculpture and architecture. The magnificent 37 meter tall gopuram is one of the main attractions of this temple. The crowded cosmogony of Stucco gods, goddesses and saints depict important Puranic legends. The 'Punnai' tree in the temple courtyard is one of the oldest trees in Chennai and shades a small shrine depicting the legend that gave Mylapore its name. The goddess Parvati, in the form of a peacock, is shown worshipping Shiva, represented by the traditional Lingam. Parvati is worshipped in this temple as 'Karpagambal'. 

The temple famed for being the site of a miracle is sculpturally represented in the shrine of the saint in front of the temple flag mast. Among other special features of the temple are the bronze statue of 63 Shaivite saints, canonised for leading exemplary lives of devotion and penance. The figures of these 63 Nayanmars (saints), which adorn the outer yard of the temple, are carried in a colourful procession on the eighth day of the 10-day Arupathumoovar temple festival held in March-April every year. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the inner courtyard. 

 Just inside the south entrance under the gopuram stands the shrine to Ganesh, the Elephant God, a smooth black image, shiny from many offerings. Rather than a pilgrimage site, the temple is a community gathering spot for worship. There are several shrines set into the courtyard wall that are accessible to non Hindus.  Timing :  Daily from 0400 to 1200 and 1600 to 2000.