Religious/ Spiritual

Kapaleeswarar Temple, located at the southern part of Katcheri Road in south Mylapore, Chennai, is a holy relic dating back to 1250. Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of the Kapaleeswarar Temple. Karpagambal, his consort, is another major deity. The architecture is a supreme example of ancient Dravidian style, with typical side entrances, gopurams, courts and a tank built around the central shrine. The 37 m tall gopuram (pillar) is carved with stucco gods, goddesses, and saints. The bronze statues of 63 Shaivite saints adorn the temple courtyard.

This is a Hindu religious attraction in Tamilnadu. Kaligambal Temple is located in Kanchipuram, near Chennai. The presiding deity is Kaligambal. There is also an idol of Lord Shiva in the temple courtyard. The divine tree (pipal) is to the right of the mandapa and the idol of a divine serpent is seen under this tree.

This is a very famous temple is situated at Saidapet, a residential suburb city of Chennai. This temple is located next to the railway station. This temple has a 7-storied Gopuram with two prakarams. The main deity is Lord Karaneeswara and Goddess Swarnaambikai. This temple has a beautiful tank and is a main attarction apart from the tall gopuram. Annual ten day Brahmotsavam takes place in the Tamil month of Chithirai 1. Lots and lots of devotees throng to this temple during this festival. This is a worth religious place to visit.

This well visited temple is located in the bustling commercial area of George Town - in Thambu Chetty Street, (near Parrys Corner) in North Chennai. It is over 400 years old and is said to have been visited by the Maratha King Shivaji. The Universal Mother is worshipped as Kalikaambaal - Kamakshi here. The annual temple festival involving an ornate chariot decorated with metal cymbals/cups is a unique feature of this temple. The festival attracts lot of tourists as well as local people.

Jain Temple: First Jain temple in South India is in Chennai, this temple is known as Shree Gujarati Swetamber Jain Mandir. Lord Parshwanatha, the 23rd Teerthankar is the presiding deity of this renowned shrine. The three gopurams and five doors of the Mandir have marble carvings based on the architectural principles of the famous Dilwara temples. Only marble has been used in the construction, and the architects, carvers and workers were brought in from Rajasthan. The idol is made of Quartz selected from the Chellur mines in Karnataka.

ISKCON Temple is located in the Injambakkam region in Thyagaray Nagar of Chennai. The temple is one of the many popular worshipping places established by the ISKCON society in the region of India. It is a blend of tradition and modernity to give the artistic style as well as the best of latest scientific technology. 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 deities worshipped in the temple include those of Rukmini and Krishna.

CSI Wesley Church, located in Royapettah, Egmore in Chennai and established by the Methodists in 1905, is now part of the Church of South India, Madras Diocese. In this Church there is an emphasis not only on corporate worship in the Methodist tradition at the regular Sunday services at 8.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. but also in building Christian fellowship during the week through well organized activities like the Men's Fellowship, the Women's Fellowship, the Youth Fellowship, the Prayer Fellowship, Area Fellowships and the Choir. This is a place worth visiting for Christians.

CSI Church House of Prayer is located in Adayar in Chennai, one of the churches controlled by Church of South India, Diocese of Madras The entire church campus is filled with prayer and it is a ‘House of Prayer' to all people. The church is kept open from 6am to 6 pm to enable people seeking a comfort and silence could come and surrender them to God in a place so filled with prayer. The Congregation worshipping at the Cathedral is a vibrant community of believers from all over India and there are some from different parts of the world as well.

St Thomas, the Apostle of India visited and settled down in what is now Chennai around 70 AD. He is said to have carved a stone cross with his own fingernail. This cross was alleged to bleed, for close to 100 years. The mountain and cave, which is called as home, was discovered by the Portuguese who built the Church of "Our Lady of Expectations" in Chennai. Believers thronging to this place believe that this sacred church does miracles to those who offer prayers.

This nizhal thangal, temples without any distinction of caste or creed, is based on Ayyavazhi, proclaimed by Ayya Vailkunder. This is controlled by Swamithoppe in Nagarcoil. There are no 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. This Nizhal Thangal in Chennai serve as community center, with facilities to cook for large crowds of people and also serve as schools for the community.