8 Heritage Buildings and Structures to Visit in Chennai
Chennai’s rich history has paved the way for its distinct architectural style. From stunning Dravidian structures to the stately colonial-era buildings, the city has its own unique Indo-Saracenic architectural style. Take a look at some of these grand structures steeped in history.
1. Madras High Court
Built in 1892 in the Indo-Saracenic style, the Madras High Court has remained to this day one of the most distinct structures in the country. Housing the most courts in all of Asia, it also has two dysfunctional lighthouses inside its complex. The Madras High Court also survived a World War II bombing by a German warship, SMS Emden.
2. Chennai Central Railway Station
Train Station
3. Government Museum
Museum
5. Fort St George and St Mary's Church
Church, Museum
This English fortress, finished in the year 1653, is now maintained and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India and currently functions as administrative headquarters for the legislative assembly of the state of Tamil Nadu. The Fort St George has two main complexes, St Mary’s Church and the Fort Museum. St Mary’s Church, finished in 1680, is the oldest Anglican church in India. Some of its tombstones are the oldest in the country, and the church is famously known as the ‘Westminster Abbey of the East’. The Fort Museum, one of the oldest structures inside the fort, houses a few pieces of memorabilia from its colonial past.
Fort St George, Rajaji Salai, Near Legislature and Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai, India, +91 79789 39119
6. Ripon Building
Building
7. Government College of Fine Arts and Crafts
University
8. Senate House
University
Another one of Robert Chisholm’s creations, the Senate House, on the University of Madras campus, is still one of the finest examples of the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. The beautiful structure, with huge windows and massive pillars, is truly a sight to behold and serves as a venue for several meetings and events in the city.
Senate House, Navalar Nagar, Chepauk, Triplicane, Chennai, India
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