We will meet you at entrance of Ramaksirhna Mutt. During this walk we will trace Mylapore’s history back to Roman times when it used to trade pepper and fine cloth with Rome for Gold! It was occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and later fell into the hands of the British till India’s independence in 1947. We start the walk at a unique monastic organization called Ramakrishna Math, dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna the 19th century saint. Guests will get to see the universal temple, the shrine, a beautiful Mantapam, a multimedia museum and an enchanting library. Our next destination is the magnificent Kapaleeshwar temple. Built in the 7th century this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built in Dravidian style architecture it has a towering “Gopuram”. Guests can expect a mesmerizing experience of rituals and serenity inside the temple. We walk to the famous San Thome Basilica, the principal church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore. Built in neo gothic style it was built by the Portuguese explorers in the 16th century. The last leg of this Chennai walk takes us to the Light House of Chennai. The view from the top is magnificent and makes for a perfect ending to this walking tour of Chennai.

Start the tour at 4 PM at Marina Light House where your tour will commence. Meet your guide and follow them as you set off along the beach. First, climb up the lighthouse for a great view of the beach and the city, before heading back down to explore the Maritime Museum. Continue your walk and soak up the festive atmosphere as you listen to your guide tell the story of Chennai through its statues. The statues tell a great story about the evolution of the city from a small fishing village to a thriving metropolis. Next, head to the famous Vivekananda House and learn about Swamy Vivekananda and his landmark speech about Indian Philosophy. Hear more about how he was the first religious leader in India to understand the need to provide food and other bare necessities of life to the hungry millions.  Make your last stop at the ancient Parthsarathy Temple. Take a guided walk inside the temple and its surroundings as you get to know the rituals. Admire incarnations of Vishnu and shrines which were built during the rule of Cholas and Vijayanagara Kings. Be spellbound by the intricately carved pillars of the temple. Finally, end the tour at 7 PM outside the temple.

Meet the guide at the entrance of Fort St George, the first English Fortress built in 1644 by the East India Company. During this visit we will understand how the British came to dominate India , their rule and finally how India won its independence. We will visit the museum (except on Fridays when it is closed) and St Mary’s Church, the oldest Anglican Church of India. We will walk to the Madras High Court. Set up in 1862 by a decree from Queen Victoria, the High court serves the state of Tamil Nadu today and is a great specimen of Gothic architecture. Dare house is our next destination. This is an iconic art deco building steeped in history. It was the head quarters of Parrys company which was named after Thomas Parry who was welsh and one of the first free merchants of Chennai. The building is named after his John Dare, his business partner We walk to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road also called China Bazaar road, which has a market famous for utensils, cosmetics and clothes. As we walk past this ancient bazaar, we will talk about the evolution of a small trading post into a megapolis in just over 2 centuries. We walk past the street where Armenian refugees set up trade for silk, spices & gems 300 years ago. Visit the unique Armenian Church for an immersive experience. Experience a riot of colours and jazz in the busy bazaar and taste a local snack.