Pilligrimage in Chennai

[Guest guest]

Dear Sirs

 

 

I am giving a small information about piligrimage in Chennai which

may be informative.

 

 

Regards

 

 

Prasad KS

 

Pilgrimage Travel in Chennai, India

Chennai has number of temples, Mosques and Churches for those who

have religious bent of mind. Some of these temples and Churches are

very old and equally beautiful.

 

Churches

 

San Thome Cathedral:

The San Thome Cathedral located at the Southern end of Marina Beach

is one of Chennai's historic landmarks. Named after the apostle of

Christ, St. Thomas, Cathedral is rebuilt in Neo -Gothic style in 1833.

 

St.Mary's Church:

The first English church built in India in the late 17th century.

Highlights of the Church are the altarpiece and a huge painting

of 'The Last Supper' done a la Raphael.

 

St.Thomas Mount:

A place of pilgrimage, St.Thomas Mount is located near Meenambakkam.

The paintings of " The Holy Lady and The Child " in the church and " Our

Lady of Expectations " are widely believed to have been painted by

St.Thomas himself.

 

Descanso:

Located in Mylapore. Built in 17th century, it is believed that this

is the site where St.Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ

used to rest and indulge in acts of charity.

 

Velankanni Church:

This church is in honour of Our Lady of Health, the Madonna of

Velankanni. Other churches that would be of great interest are the

Little Mount, the Armenian Church and St.George's Cathedral

 

St.Andrew's Church:

This Church was completed in 1821 built in classical style. Popularly

referred, as 'The Kirk' it is one of the finest specimens of Georgian

architecture in Asia. Consecrated in 1821, it is part of the Church

of South India and was erected for the Scottish Community in Chennai.

The dome is fifty-one and half feet in diameter on the inside

supported by sixteen fluted, Corinthian columns. This dome was

constructed using the 'Syrian masonry' technique. It is believed to

be one of the few in the world to be supported by columns of this

height. The mahogany woodwork and the chequered black and white

marble floor add to the elegance of this church.

 

Christ the King Church:

Commissioned by French clergymen this church was designed and built

by an Indian mason in 1933. It is a fine example of gothic

architecture standing majestically in the middle of Loyola College

campus. It has pointed arches, ribbed vaults, rose windows, three-

aisled nave and flying buttresses. Covering an area of 150 feet by 60

feet, with stained glass windows, this church is a captivating sight,

inside as well as outside. The spire is 157 feet high and has a

stairway leading to the top, where a cross stands.

 

Sri Guru Nanak Sat Sangh Sabha:

Sri Guru Nanak Sat Sangh Sabha at T.Nagar is a place of remarkable

serenity and tranquility.

 

Jain Temple:

Located in T.Nagar. The two-tiered, 70' high temple is built of lime-

and- soapstone and marble giving it a dazzling appearance.

 

Big Mosque:

Built in 1795 of gray granite, this mosque is surely one of the most

attractive ones in South. The Wallajah family built it in 1795 in

memory of the Nawab. Located at Walajah Road

 

Thousand Lights Mosque:

Built in mid-1800 in the land donated by Nawab Wallajah, this mosque

last rebuilt in 1981, has two 64' tall minarets. The mosque also

houses a library, a burial ground and guesthouses. It is called the

Thousand Lights Mosque because of the legend that over one thousand

lamps had to be used to light up the Assembly Hall that stood at this

same spot.This multi-domed mosque, with sayings from the Holy Koran

painted on its walls, comes alive during the annual Moharram

 

Temples of Chennai

 

Shri Parathasarathy Temple:

Located at Triplicane High Road is Sri Prthasarathy Temple. This

Hindu Temple, devoted to Lord Krishna, was built in the 8th Century

by Pallava King and has been ornately renovated since. It is one of

the oldest surviving temples in Chennai.

 

Kapaleeswarar Temple:

This Lord Shiva temple is little more that 350 years old, is

considered by Hindus to be one of the most sacred sites in Southern

Part of India. It displays the architectural elements of gopurams,

mandapams and a tank found in the famous temples.

 

Temples of Mamallapuram

 

Shore Temple:

This beautiful temple represents final phase of Pallava art.it was

originally constructed in 7th century it was later rebuilt by

Narsimha Burman 11 .The temple contains shrines for Lord Shiva.Facing

east and west the original linga captured the sunrise andsunset. A

third shrine is dedicated to the reclining Visnu.The temple is listed

in World Heritage Sites.Ganesh Ratha is a rock-cut Dravidian temple

resembling a chariot.It is a shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesh.Trimurti

Cave Temple honors the Hindu Trinity -Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva with a

separate section dedicated to each deity.

 

Temples of Kanchipuram

 

Vaikunthaperumal Temple:

This important temple was built by the Pallava King Nandivarman

Pallavalmalla in the 7th Century. Lord Vishnu is depicted in sitting

reclining and standing poses.

 

Kamakshi Amman Temple:

Famous for ornate gold-plated gopuram, this temple was built by the

Chola Kings in the 14th century. Dedicated to the goddess Parvati, it

is one of the three holy places of worship in India.

 

Ekambareswarar Temple:

This ancient temple of Kancheepuram is surrounded by a huge stonewall

built in the early 16th Century during the days of the Vijaynagar

Empire. Dedicated to Lord Siva, the temple is the epitome of

Dravidian temple architecture.

 

Kailasanatha Temple:

Constructed from sand stone in the 8th century by King Rajasimha and

completed by his son, Mahendram, this temple is noted for its

intricate and prolific sculptures. Fifty-eight smaller shrines

surround the main shrine.

 

VaradarajaswamyTemple:

Also known as the Devarajaswamy Temple, this massive structure is

noted for its shine tops a rock in the shape of an elephant. The

temple has two high towers, one in the east and the other in the

west. The 1000 pillared hall has interesting and highly detailed

sculptures.