Religious/ Spiritual

This famous temple is located in Besant Nagar, a very posh suburb of Chennai. The cool rosy wind emulating from the close by beach provide a very calm and seclude atmosphere. The main deity is Ratnagirishwar, means God of Retnagiri (Lord Shiva). Growing flow of devotees is a main characteristic of this temple. The Maha Kumbabhishekam is the main attraction here. On Pradosham day large number of devotees throng to this temple. Maha Sivarathri is another celebration which draws very big crowd throughout the day performing religious rituals.

This temple is built based on the teachings of Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, a leading saint in Hinduism, of Manthralaya in Andra Pradesh. The temple and "Mutt" complex are the main attractions for any visitors, but most people reach here are devotees rather that sightseers. If one goes in the special occasions on evenings, rathas, the chariots, mounting the deity being drawn all around the temple and the temple elephants paying courtesy to the deity, can be seen. It is pretty a stunning sight.

This is an ancient impressive mosque situated in Adayar, a very vibrant and dynamic area in Chennai. This mosque attracts lot of religious devotees and many tourists. Minarets of this mosque have got its own significance among the devotees visiting this divine mosque.

Sathya Sai Baba established three primary mandirs in India. The first center, established in Mumbai, is referred to as either "Dharmakshetra" or "Sathyam". The second center, established in Hyderabad, is referred to as "Shivam". The third center, established in Chennai, is referred to as "Sundaram".Sundaram, the beautiful adobe of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the city of Chennai, is truly a ‘Prashanthi Nilayam away from Prashanthi Nilayam' for thousands of Sai devotees. Sundaram fills all the devotees with peace and strength.

The Periaapaalayath Amman temple, dedicated to Goddess Periyapalayathamma, an incarnation of Shakti (Supreme Mother Goddess), is an important religious and tourist place in Chennai. She is depicted in a fierce form but is considered loving and considerate like a mother. The temple comprises shrines of other gods like Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga and many others. Navagrahas (the nine planets of the Solar System) are also worshipped here. Hanuman worship here is special and done in great grandeur. The festival of Shivarathri is celebrated with great zeal in this temple.

Nizhal Thangals are temples without any distinction of caste or creed. This kind of temple is a typical feature in South India. Such temples arose owing to the suppression of the lower caste people by the upper caste. Nizhal Thangals are marked by the absence of any idols or priests. The only things present are a saffron cloth spread over a chair with a rudraksha chain placed over it. A mirror is hung on the wall behind the chair. These objects serve as the symbol of the almighty.

Mundakaneeyaman Temple, or Mundagakkanni Amman Temple, is a highly revered shrine situated at Mylapore, in Chennai. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Renuka Parameswari and the deity is known by the name Mundagakkanni Amman. The temple, believed to be 1,300 years old, has a three tiered Rajagopuram. The Garbh Griha has no permanent covering on the top; the idol is kept open to the elements of nature because she is believed to cure all maladies caused by climatic changes. Lot of tourists are getting attracted towards this temple.

Marundeeswarar Temple, God of Medicines, in Tiruvanmiyur has the temple deity Shiva in the form of Marundeeswar or Aushadeeswarar. Mythology says that it was Agastya, great saint, who named the deity "Aushadeeswarar". The Sun and the Moon, it is said, perform puja at this temple every evening. Unlike other Siva temples, this temple does not have a shrine to the Navagrahas because the Sun and Moon are in prayer mode here. The main "lingam" is described as Swayambu. He is also called "Palvannanathan" because Kamadhenu, the divine cow, used to shower him with milk constantly.

This is a recently built, a pleasant white structure striking the eyes, is located on the left at the Taramani turn-off in Adyar. This temple has many specialities. This is the only temple in Tamil Nadu constructed in accordance with the cult of Ganapatyam, one of the five cults mentioned by Adi Shankara. The main deity here is Venkata Ananda Vinayakar, is encircled by temples of Lord Siva, Lord Vishnu, Surya and Goddesss Devi. On Vinayaka Chaturthi day, the rays of the sun fall on the presiding deity, striking an auspicious note.

Church of ‘Our Lady of Light', popularly known as Luz Church, is located in a tiny corner of Mylapore, in Chennai. The church, built by Franciscan missionaries from Portugal in honor of Mother Mary in 1516, is commonly known as ‘Kaatu Kovil' (Church located in a forest) amongst the local people.. It is the first church built in honor of 'Our Lady of Light' and is believed to be the oldest church in Chennai.