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Tourist Attractions in Chennai
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 The Partasarathy Temple is located in the Tiruvallikeni (Triplicane) area of Chennai city. The temple is considered be the oldest of its kind in the Chennai city. The temple origins date back to the 8th century A.D., the reference of which has been given in the Vaishnavite works of the Alwar saints. The Parthasarathy Temple bears impressions of the popular historic dynasties like Pallavas, Cholas and Vijaynagar.
Parthasarathy temple was originally built by the Pallavas. The temple saw its renovation by later dynasties, including the Chola and the Vijaynagar kingdom. Parathasarathy temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The name Parthasarathy has been derived from two Sanskrit words Partha and Sarathy. The former word refers to Arjuna and the later means Charioteer. The temple architectures is a medley of temple building style. There are inscriptions of the Pallavas, Cholas and the Vijaynagar kingdom on the temple structure.The temple besides being dedicated to Parthasarathy, is also revered for Venkatakrishnaswami and to Ranganathar. The temple, when it was built, housed five avataras of the deity Vishnu. The structure, as it stands today, houses the shrines of poular deities like Venkatakrishnan with Rukmani, Balaraman, Satyaki, Anirudha, Pradyumna, Rama, Lakshmana, Barata, Sita, Shatrugna, Varadarajan and Hanuman.
During festival days the place is given a new look and accompanied by various traditional rites. The floating mirror palanquin which is brought out, to pay homage to Parthasarathy is one such traditional practice. The tradition followed a good 135 years of practice and was temporarily stopped, following the deterioration suffered by the palanquin. |
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 The Kapaleeswar Temple is one of the most visited temples in the state of Tamil Nadu. The temple, located in the region of Mylapore in Chennai suburbs, is a fine example of the Dravidian culture. The temple structure, as it exists, is about 300 years old. However, the deities have been regularly told of in the words of popular personalities.
Kapaleeswar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple houses the shrines of Kapaleeswar (Shiva) and Karpagambal (Parvati). The temple architecture reveals the Dravidian traits, with its carved gopuram measuring about 37 metres in height. The temple is also provided with elaborate mandapams and a storage tank. The inscriptions on the temple structure are some seven and a half centuries old. The structure was renovated by the Vijayanagar kings in the 16th century A.D. The facade of the structure lies towards the east and the entrance is marked with Puranic inscriptions. The temple flag mast has the shrine of Saint Gnanasambandar, who is believed to have resurrected a girl. This shrine is one of the reasons for the popularity of the temple. The Punnai tree in the courtyard reveals the tale that eventually gave the place (Mylapore) its name. This tree is the oldest of its kind in the city of Chennai.
Kapaleeswaram is provided with a Shiv Lingam, which is believed as having been installed by the Brahma, to do penance. The lingam is known Kapaleeswarar. A small shrine of Parvati in the form of peacock is contained within the courtyard. There is one more courtyard that houses the shrines of 63 saints.
The place witnesses a huge crowd during the Arupathu Moovar Vizha Festival. The temple is beautifully adorned with the streets complimenting the stated phenomenon. There are processions, sweet distribution ceremonies and classical dance performance in the nearby region. The ten days festival gives the temple and the area of Mylapore a new tint of excitement. |
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 Ashtalakshmi Temple is a recently built temple that stands on the shores of Bay of Bengal. The temple is situated in the Besant Nagar suburbs of Chennai city. The temple is grounded on the southern tip of a popular beach of Chennai that is Elliot's beach. The Tiruvanmiyur Bus Station is only a couple of kilometres away and provides easy access to the place.
Ashtalakshmi Temple is considered as the only temple featuring the eight manifestations of the Goddess Mahalakshmi. The temple was built in the year 1976 and features various characteristics of Dravidian temple architecture. Ashtalakshmi temple and the Mahalakshmi temple in Mumbai are the only temples of the goddess that are located on the Indian coast. The eight manifestations of Goddess Mahalakshmi include Sri Aadhi lakshmi the Goddess of health, Sri Dhanya lakshmi the Goddess of food, Sri Dhairya lakshmi the Goddess of courage, Sri Gaja lakshmi the Goddess of luck, Sri Santhana Lakshmi the Goddess of children, Sri Dhana lakshmi the Goddess of wealth, Sri Vijaya lakshmi the Goddess of victory and Sri Vidya lakshmi the Goddess of education. Some other deities worshipped here include Sri Hanuman, Sri Guruvayurappa and Sri Ganesh. The temple was built by a trust consisting of five members and headed by Mukkur Srinivasa Varadhachriyar. In the year 1994 the temple authorities by the state government and at present is run by the Hindu Religious Endowments and Administrative Departments. The temple witnesses a great fervor in the popular festivals like Navratri, Deepavali and Pongal.
The temple features a blend of ancient Dravidian architecture and the contemporary style of temple building. The temple complex consists of a series of tiers, five in number, with some prolific stone works. The images of principal deities, Mahalakshmi and Mahavishnu, are located in the second tier. On the southern end of the first tier is the image of Aadhi laksmi. On the western and northern turf are the images of Dhaanya and Dhairya laksmi. A flight of stairs takes from the first to the second one. Here one can find the shrine of Santaana Lakshmi facing the southward dierction. The shrine of Vijaya lakshmi is located in the same tier but towards the west. Facing the eastern side of the tier is the shrine of Gaja lakshmi. The fourth tier contains only the shrine of Dhana lakshmi, that faces towards the east. The whole structures is painted with a multitude of colors. With the sea in the background, Ashtalakshmi temple looks simply superb. |
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 Location: ISKCON Temple is located in the Injambakkam region of Chennai city. The temple structure lies in the Thyagaray Nagar and off the, Burkir Road.The temple is one of the many populsr worshipping places established by the ISKCON society in the region of India.
History
The ISKCON preaching in Chennai was started by H.H. Giriraj, a disciple of the founder of ISKCON. It was not un till 1983 that the ISKCON Chennai established a temple and ashram at Kilapuak Garden Road. The deities to this temple were donated by a patron and the worship started from late 1983. In the year 1988 ISKCON Headquarters moved to T Nagar.
Overview
The ISKCON Temple at Chennai like other ISKCON centres is the axis point from where the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya are spread. The temple is the most frequently visited one in the capital city of Tamil Nadu. The deities worshipped in the temple include those of Rukmini and Krishna. The image of deity Satyabhama, one of the eight wives of Krishna, is also housed in the temple premises. Other deities worshipped in the temple include Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra and Gaura-Nitai. The ISKCON Temple of Chennai is built over a small area and has few provisions. But the rush of the pious devotees is quite the same as at other centres and temples. |
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 Location
Vadapalani is one of the most frequently visited temples in the Chennai city. The temple is located near Andavar Koil Street in the Vadapalani area of city suburbs. Vadapalani temple is one renowned worshipping place in the state of Tamil Nadu.
History
Vadapalani temple used to be a small thatched shed some 125 years ago. The temple is dedicated to Lord Muruga, who is the most revered deity in the state of Tamil Nadu. The small hut which was later on replaced by the existing structure was built by Annaswami Tambiran. Annaswami was a great devotee of Lord Muruga and it is he who built the hut and put an image of Lord Muruga in it. The person is said to have been put into trance while worshipping in the temple. Annaswami in his state of trance started uttering words that became popular as Arulvak. After the demise of the devotee some three more carried on the mission. The place became popular and offerings in great amount were secured by the head maintaining the temple. One great names among the contributors responsible for constructing the temple is of Kripananda Variyar.
Features
The temple at Vadapalani is primarily dedicated to Lord Muruga. Some other deities, besides Lord Muruga, that are worshipped here include Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi, Lord Ganesh and Lord Anjaneya. The temple is provided with a number of courtyards featuring many sannidhis. The temple entrance is covered with a rajagopuram which is adorned with images depicting the legends of Skanda Puranam. The temple is affronted with a large temple tank. On the eastern wall of the temple structure are bharata natyam gestures.
The temple is provided with a large hall were marriage ceremonies are performed. The temple is one of the premier places for performing marriage and about 7000 marriages are performed here annualy. The festival ceremonies held in the complex include that of Skanda Sashti and Panguni Uttiram.
Contacts
Further information about activities can be had on the given telephone numbers: 4836903, 5301230. |
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 The Thousand Lights Mosque in Chennai will attract you with its architectural splendor. Located about 3 kms from the Anna flyover on Anna Salai Road in Chennai, Thousand Lights Mosque is a famous pilgrimage site for the Shia Muslim community in the country.
History records that the Thousand Lights Mosque in Chennai used to be crowded by the Shias, a sect of Muslims in the month of Moharram during early 19th century. An assembly hall came into place when the Arcot family built one in 1810 A.D. and then constructed a mosque in 1820 over three acres of land donated by Nawab Wallajah. The Thousand Lights Mosque in Chennai derived its name from the lighting of about 1000 oil lamps. This mosque was refurbished many times since its foundation.
 The Thousand Lights Mosque in Chennai has a library, burial ground and a guest house. The Mosque in Chennai displays the popular medieval architectural style in its structure. There is a multi-domed building with two exalting minarets. You will also find the dictums from the holy book, Koran painted on the structure. There is a main hall in the ground floor for offering prayers and a separate hall for women.
The Thousand Lights Mosque in Chennai has two rooms called Bargah on the second floor for shelter. The wooden planks on the second floor were the haven of Imam Hossein and Abolfazl-al-Abbas.
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The oldest surviving English church in Chennai was completed in 1680. Until 1678, when Streynsham Master was appointed the English East India Company's Agent at Madras, religious services were conducted in the dining-room of the Factory House. It was at Master's initiative, and without the sanction of the Directors of the Company, that a subscription was started for the construction of the church. The church was consecrated on the 28th of October, 1680 by the chaplain Rev. Richard Portman. The ceremony was marked by the firing of small arms and cannon by the fort's garrison.
On account of its peculiar roof-structure, the church was used as a barrack and granary between December, 1758 and January, 1759 during the Second Carnatic War, when the French besieged Madras and again when Hyder Ali invested the town in the late 18th century.
You will find the remainders of Robert Clive and Elihu Yale the early governor of Chennai in this church.
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 Luz Church of Chennai is one of the ancient Portuguese churches. The church was built in 16th century. Under the British rule, the church was renovated and the recent architecture shows typical Portuguese designs. According to the local folklore, there rests a story behind the church.
It is believed that when the Portuguese sailors were sailing during storm, they saw light and after following the light they reached the shore and after few year a church was constructed at the same place. This beautiful church with its simple construction and design attracts tourists from different corners of the country.
Luz church is located in one of the corner of Mylapore. The church is dedicated to Our lady of Light. The church is named after Luz Church Road. The church is also known as KaatuKovli. This oldest church in Chennai is believed that St. Thomas once had rested in this place.
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 Little Mount Church stands on a small mount, locally known as Chinnamalai. Portuguese built the church in the year 1551 and is one of the ancient churches of Chennai. This small church speaks of the architectural excellence of the Portuguese. It is believed that after Saint Thomas reached South India in 52 A.D., he resided in a small cave near the mount. The church's entrance is adorned by a statue of Saint Thomas.
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St. Andrew's Church, which is also famous as St. Anrew's Kirk, is situated on the Poonamallee High Road a few hundred metres from the Egmore Railway Station in the Chennai city. The monument is one of the best Georgian architecture buildings in South India and Asia at large.
Saint Andrew's Church is sometimes called as 'The Queen of Scottish Churches in the East'. The church was consecrated in the year 1821. The church was built for the Scottish Community that had settled in the Chennai city. The church foundation was laid by Doctor John Allen in the year 1818. East India Company under the banner of Major Thomas Fort de Havilland and Colonel James Caldwell were responsible for the construction of the church. The church construction plan was borrowed from an existing structure called St. Martins's Lane. St. Andrew's Church thus portrays the brilliance of Georgian Architecture.
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Commissioned by French clergymen this church was designed and built by an Indian mason in 1933. It is a fine example of gothic architecture standing majestically in the middle of Loyola College campus. It has pointed arches, ribbed vaults, rose windows, three-aisled nave and flying ramparts. Covering an area of 150 feet by 60 feet, with stained glass windows, this church is a captivating sight, inside as well as outside. The spire is 157 feet high and has a stairway leading to the top, where a cross stands.
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