List of Best Places to Visit in Chennai – Bustling City of Many Allures

When the tropical heat of Chennai gets too much, take a break and go chill on the sandy banks of Marina Beach. The largest beach in the country, Marina is one of the best in Asia; hence you're in for a special treat idling along the Bay of Bengal. Take along the kids, the beach is quite lively with volleyball games and plenty of tykes building sandcastles. Visit the little shops located there and shop for souvenirs; costume jewellery and handicrafts fashioned from seashells. If you are staying at Turyaa Chennai plan a lovely day trip to the beach, just 45 minutes away; get there in time for a sunset or even a sunrise and enjoy the mesmerizing show.

Valluvar Kottam is a monument built to honour famous Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar; who is lauded as one of the greatest Tamil scholars in history. The temple is intricately designed to showcase the people's love for the poet and is quite impressive at sunset when lit up in golden hues. You will find Valluvar Kottam is easy to reach from well-located 5-star hotels in Chennai as taxis and buses are easily available to its location between Village Road and Kodambakkam High School.

Located in the area of Royapettah Chennai, this mosque was a shining beacon for the Muslims of Chennai; it is believed that in days of yore over a thousand lights were required to light up the main hall of the mosque. As such, plan your visit to the complex after dark, when it's lit up like a glowing star and looks extremely enchanting and elegant with its 64 foot high minarets and beautiful medieval architecture. The mosque is open from 5.30 am to 8.30 pm.

Elliot's Beach is one of Chennai's most famous; located within close proximity is the Ashtalakshmi Kovil, which you can visit for a dose of culture and local traditions. This beach is one of the cleanest in India and is a lovely expanse of sand facing the glistening India Ocean. Ideal to sunbathe and relax the beach is perfect for a romantic moonlight walk too!

DakshinaChitra is a museum where you get to experience the cultures, traditions, crafts, lifestyles, and architecture of South Indian states. The living museum comprises of 18 traditional houses, harbouring over 4,000 artefacts and illustrating lifestyles of 4 southern states; Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andra Pradesh. A fascinating place to explore for the entire family, this living museum is indeed a 'picture of the south' as the name DakshinaChitra denotes. Open from 10 am to 6 pm, the museum is quite a treat when visited over festivals pertaining to each state.