Chennai features some famous religious places. The city is furnished with some stylish temples, churches and mosques. The architectural style of temples in Chennai are really attracts tourist from all over the world. They are built in typical Dravidian style .The churches and mosques are famed for their historical importance.Most of the temples in Chennai is constructed by chola rulers. The most churches in Chennai describe the story of a British influence in the city. The churches housed in the city also reflect the Gothic architecture and the European building style of 17th and 18th century. The holy places in the city include Kapaleswar Temple, San Thom Cathedral, Ashtalakshmi Temple,Iskcon etc.
Kapaleswar Temple
The Kapaleeswar Temple is one of the most visited temples is situated in Mylapore. Kapaleeswar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple reveals the Dravidian style of architecture, with its carved gopuram measuring about 37 metres in height and elaborate mandapams and a storage tank. The construction was modernized by the Vijayanagar kings in the 16th century A.D. This holy temple witnesses a huge crowd during the Arupathu Moovar Vizha Festival. The ten days festival gives the temple and the area of Mylapore a new tint of excitement. Kapaleswar Temple is one of the popular travel attraction of Chennai.
San Thom Cathedral
San thome Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church, at Mylapore in South Chennai. Santhome Cathedral is an admired religious centre. The church has an vastly stained glass window and a beautiful one-meter statue of Virgin Mary that was brought from Portugal in 1543. There is an underground tomb chapel below the church. His Holiness Pope John Paul II visited and prayed at this tomb on 5th February 1986.
St.Thomas who brought Christianity to India is considered to be the Father of Indian Christianity.
Ashtalakshmi Temple
The temple is situated in the Besant Nagar suburbs of Chennai city. It was built in the year 1976 and features various characteristics of Dravidian and the contemporary style of temple building. The temple enshrine Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth and Lord Vishnu as the principal deities.Ashtalakshmi Temple is considered as the only temple featuring the eight appearance of the Goddess Mahalakshmi. The architecture of the temple is unique, with the idol set up in four levels. It looks different than the other South Indian temples as it a modern construction. The whole structures is painted with a multitude of colors. From the Elliot’s beach Ashtalakshmi temple looks excellent.
Iskcon
ISKCON Temple is situated in the Injambakkam region in Thyagaray Nagar of Chennai. The temple is one of the many well-liked places established by the ISKCON society in the region of India. It is a merge of tradition and modernity to give the creative style. The ISKCON Temple is the alignment point from where the tradition of Lord Sri Krishna is spread. The divinity in the temple includes those of Rukmini and Krishna. Other divinity worshipped in the temple includes Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra and Gaura-Nitai. ISKCON Chennai also encourages and defends traditional art and craft of South India.
places to visit in chennai 