Before knowing Chennai City, let’s elaborate on the city itself. Chennai is renowned as Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu. It is the fourth metropolitan city in India and plays an influential role in the historical, cultural, and academic expansion of the Indian economy. This city is the cultural capital of India, stated for its deep-rooted practices and long ancestry.
It’s a south India gateway and 2nd largest seashore in the world on the pristine beaches, misty forests, and laid-back vibe of the Bay of Bengal. Chennai also hosts many cultural events like music season, where hundreds of artists and a rich theatre scene and is a vital center for the Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form. Its film industry, known as Kollywood, is best known for its tradition-rich movies with different cultural values.
These are the best things to see in South India, and its food is rich in species and flavors. Now see the combination of culture and tradition in the most famous temples in Chennai. Here you will find the most peaceful places in India with their beautiful structure and stories.
Hindu dharma is so expansive and scientific. Many people think of it as non-logical practices, but when you search about it, you will find that every doing has a meaning, and every Shalok of spiritual books has a defined word and has answers to all life problems. Many people still don’t know about some famous temples, which are openly visited by foreigners in Southern India and also famous in all other parts of India.
Chennai, you will feel the divine sands and start your spiritual life by connecting with faith, antique ritual, and varied history. These temples are the fatherly and highest respected of classic dance, sweet and peaceful music, folktales, occasional poems, and many more famous things. This state of India has around one lakh temples housed, and all of them are famous for their uniqueness in their respective ways.
1) Kapaleeswarar Temple
Here people worship Idol Lord Shiva in the form of Lingam. This temple was built in the 7th century by the Pallavas, the most powerful dynasty of South India, and it is one of the most peaceful temples in Tamil Nadu. On two days of the week Monday and Friday, there are many devotees as compared to normal days. You can also see the most joyful festival Bhramotsavam in March, and it’s a 12 days celebration.
Story: The temple was built with Dravidian architecture, and according to Hindu scripture the wife of Shiva, Parvati worships Shiva in the form of a Peacock. It’s also one of the reasons for the area’s name Mylai which means peacock.
Temple Timings: 5 am – 12 Noon and 5 pm – 9 pm.
Other Attractions: Shirdi Sai Baba temple, Gaudiya Mutt, Parthasarathy Temple, Express avenue mall, and Marina Beach, you can visit these places nearby this temple.
2) Parthasarathy Temple
Triplicane is a beautiful place with beautiful temples and one of the most famous temples in Chennai is Parthasarathy temple. It has a colorful Gopuram, which attracts everyone, and devotees worshiped the Lord Venkat Krishna. You can also see the existence of this temple in the scripts of Alvars. In this temple, people worship different idols of Lord Narasimha, Lord Rama, and Varaha.
Story: Before in times this place is a Tulasi Forest at the time of the Chola dynasty whose King Sumati requested to see the Vishnu in the form of Parthasarathy and prayed at Srinivasa temple in Triptai.
Temple Timings: 6 am – 12 pm and 4 pm – 9 pm every day but on Friday and Saturday it is more crowded.
Other attractions: Parthasarathy temple near by places are Marina Beach, Vivekananda house, Express Avenue Mall, T Nagar, Kapaleeswarar temple, Rama Krishna temple, and Shirdi Sai Baba temple.
3) Ashthalakshmi Temple
On the shores of Elliot Beach, you will find one of the best spiritual places to visit, which is the Ashthalakshmi temple. You will see the eight forms of Lakshmi in one temple these are offspring, success, wealth, food, courage, knowledge, prosperity, and bravery. At the main sanctum, there is Lord Vishnu worshiped along with them and its architecture is too attractive and unique. This is a four-story temple near besant nagar beach.
Story: This temple was constructed on the wishes of Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal of Kanchi Mutt, which was applied in January 1974 by public participation.
Temple Timings: 6:30 – to 12 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm.
Other attractions: Besant Nagar Beach, Ramakrishna Temple, Gandhi Statue, Kalakshetra dance academy, Marudeeswarar Temple, Arupadai Murugan Veedu Temple, Elliot’s Beach, and the Anna centenary library visit these places, and you will find the peace in every corner of these places.
4) Kalikambal Temple
This temple is the most powerful and oldest temple in Chennai. It was built in 1640 AD on Thambu Chetty Street, which is the financial street. Here the Godness Paravati form is worshipped, which is famously known as Kalikabal. This temple is most famous in Chennai for its powerful forces. This temple holds elegance and sacredness, which was destroyed by the invasion of the Portuguese.
Story: This temple is dedicated to the goddess Parvathi in the form of Kali and this place is so powerful and has got energy that protects the people and city.
Temple Timings: 4:30 or 5 pm – 9 p:m.
Other attractions: Shri Ayyappan Temple, Viswaroopa Adhivyadhihara Sri Bhaktha Anjaneyaswami Temple, Padi Sivan Temple, Thiru Vidanthai Temple, and Vada Palani Murugan Temple, you can also visit these temples.
5) Arupadai Veedu Murugan Temple
The temple of Lord Muruga has six brigade camps of Lord Muruga. There are different shrines for six Idols named Palani Dhandayuthpani, Thiruthani Murugan, Thiruparankundram Murugan, Palamuthircholai Murugan, Thiruchendoor Subramaniyan, Swami Malai Murugan. The architecture is unique and worthy to see must visit this temple for worship and get peace in life.
Story: This temple is famous for its spiritual incidents. The story is of Lord Murugan explaining the essence of the Pranava Mantram, which is “OM” to Lord Shiva.
Temple Timings: 7 am – 11 pm and 5 pm – 8:30 pm
Other attractions: Pamban Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi Temple and Ashtalakshmi temple are also very nearer to this temple must visit them when you have time.
6) Sri Marundeeswarar Temple
One of the most famous temples in Chennai is the Sri Marundeeswarar temple at Thrivanmaiyur, one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. The architectural beauty will amaze you and you must visit this temple once and is a place of remedying worship for people with illnesses. It depicts the might of two powerful dynasties of South India, the Pallava, and Chola.
Here you will see the perfect paintings, decorated pillars, and detailed carvings. Here you can see the five-tier Gopurams models dedicated to Lord Shiva, This temple is filled on the days of Brahmotsvam, Siva Rathiri, and Pradhosham and all Mondays with the devotees of Lord Shiva. Here you can see the second-highest statue of Lord Shiva or Sri Anantadrishti 123 feet tall.
Story: The great Saint Boga made Lord Muruga with the Navapashanam or the nine herbs. He worshipped God and glorified his Idol, after many centuries the idol was damaged. He hides the idol in the forest. During the Chola dynasty king, Perumal go on a haunt where he rested under a tree and had a dream of the Lord. Lord give him a task to find the Idol, repolish, and start worshiping. The king does as Lord said, and many stories are behind it.
Temple Timings: 5:30 am – 12 Noon and 4 pm – 10 pm.
Other attractions: Ashtalakshmi temple, Rukmini Devi Museum, Besant Nagar beach, Sri Krishna Balarama temple, VGP universal kingdom, VGP golden beach, these are some places where you can visit if you reach there when the main doors are closed.
7) Sree Ayappan-Guruvayurappan Temple
This Lord Ayappan temple is in Nungambakkam and you can also worship other sanctums for Lord Muruga and Lord Vinayaka, which are other sons of Lord Shiva from the power of Shakti, Parvati. In the month of Karthigai, you will see this temple become crowded by the Ayappan devotees. The morning and evening prayers are more peaceful and advised to see them.
Story: The Lord Ayyappa is the son of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. When Lord Vishnu creates the Mohini roop to lure the demon/ asura Bhasmasura and try to distract him as he was misusing his powers obtained from Lord Shiva. The power is to burn anyone by putting a hand on the head, and he wants to try this on Lord Shiva Vishnu created himself as Mohini, and then Lord Ayyapa was born, who assassinated many other demons.
Temple Timings: 4 am – 11 am and 5 pm – 8:30 pm.
Other attractions: Panangal Park, Mahalingeshwarar Temple, Jeeva Park, and Semmozhi Park, these are near places that you can see if you are early from the time of the opening of the temple.
8) Vadapalani Murugan Temple
This temple has a rich history and elaborate architecture. In the temple, you will see Lord Muruga in the standing posture, and here you can see all 108 mudras of Bharathanatiyam. These are carved in the temple’s eastern tower, which is 40m high. The holy book, Sakandh Puran incidents are depicted on the ceiling, which amazes you the most. This is one of the most famous temples in Chennai.
Story: The devotee of the Murugan lord do prayers at this place in front of the portrait. This architectural temple was built in 1890 by Annaswami Nayakar, the founder and first priest of the temple of Murugan.
Temple Timings: 5 am – 12 noon and 4 pm – 9 pm.
Other attractions: Varasiddhi Vinayaka temple, the forum mall, Angallam temple, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Mahalingapuram Sree Ayyappa Temple, and Olive Ayurvedic Center, these are some places to visit near this temple.
9) Sai Baba Temple, Ambattur
There are several temples of Sai Baba in Chennai but this one is prominent as it has a story behind it. This temple was built in 3 years, and here you will see the nine feet idol of Sai Baba with other Hindu idols. Every Thursday, an Annadhanam(food charity) and pooja are performed by the priests and some renowned names of this temple.
Story: A person Sadhana Deva Kumar claimed that Sai Baba came in his dream and ask him to build his temple as he was holding a real estate business. He sold his all property for building this temple. At that time rain was continuously falling on the ground, which close down the work, and after that, a Naga sai appeared and protected the land until it finished.
Temple Timings: 6 am – 12 pm and 4 pm – 8 pm.
Other attractions: Chinna Thirupathy Aalayam, Guruvayur Krishna Temple, and Ambattur Lake, visit these places nearby and feel the peacefulness in your life and enjoy the trip.
10) Vedapureeswarar temple, Thiruverkadu
The idol of Swayambu Lingam is worshiped as one of Shiva Sthalam and Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams. Its architectural view is of vimana atop the Sanctorum, which was built in the unique Gaja Brishtam way. It is around 1300 years old and is renowned for the work of the great poet Thriugnanasambanthar.
Story: Shiva, the supreme Lord visited here at the request of Saga Agastya in the marriage pose. There is also a story associated with his son Kartikeya (Murugan) earning his weapon to destroy the demon King Surapadma.
Temple Timings: 5 am – 12 noon and 4 pm – 8 pm.
Other attractions: Vishwaroopa Adhivyadhihara Anjaneyar Temple, Padi Sivan Temple, Rajiv Gandhi Memorial, and Cholamandalam Artist Village are some of the attractions near this temple.
Closing
These are the most famous temples in Chennai on which many people have spiritual beliefs. There are some special stories behind the forming of these temples. These temples show the hard work and dedication of laborers who form such a masterpiece of art and culture. These temples do many charity works and deliver good deeds to orphans and homeless people. The donation to these temples is in very high amounts which also contribute to the Indian GDP through donations from people and by earning incomes from the foreign tourist. For more engaging blogs, do visit our website and also share your thoughts on this topic.
About Author
