8 Heritage Buildings and Structures to Visit in Chennai

Once known as Madras Central Railway Station, the Chennai Central Railway Station, built in the year 1873, takes inspiration from both Gothic and Romanesque styles of architecture. Situated on what used to be an open garden owned by John Pereira, a Portuguese merchant, this building, with its big clock tower and brick red façade, is often portrayed in movies, on postcards, etc. The clock tower reaches a height of 136 feet (41.5 meters) and also has Travancore-styled caps. Always bustling with activity, the railway station is a must-visit place when you’re in the city.

The Government Museum, or Egmore Museum, is the second oldest museum in the country, after Kolkata’s famed Indian Museum. It houses the National Art Gallery, Children’s Museum and Contemporary Art Gallery, in addition to a few others, and due to its location in the Pantheon complex, it boasts different architectural styles. As for its collections, this museum has one of the world’s richest collections of bronze artefacts, most of which are the remnants of the 10th-12th-century Cholas. The museum also has some fascinating displays, including a sensor-enabled dinosaur, manuscripts, and paintings by Raja Ravi Varma.

Also known as Town Hall, Victoria Public Hall is the work of Robert Chisholm, an architect who has designed some of the city’s finest structures. Built in the Romanesque style in 1887 to honour Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, this hall later hosted many unique events, even screening the first cinema show in the city. The Trevelyan Fountain, in front of the hall, is a beautiful structure built to honour the contribution of Charles Trevelyan, the then-Governor of Madras from 1859 to 1860.

This fine neoclassical building, located close to Central Railway Station, now serves as the headquarters of the Chennai Corporation. Constructed by Loganatha Mudaliar, the building houses the most iconic Westminster Quarter chiming clock. Built in honour of Lord Ripon, this imposing white structure is a beauty in itself and a must-visit place for its colonial elegance.

Established in 1850 by surgeon Alexander Hunter, the Government College of Fine Arts and Crafts was once called Madras School of Art. It is one of the oldest art colleges in the country, preceding Kolkata Arts College. While the structure is simple, the art and sculptures inside the campus are anything but plain. Today, it still functions as an arts college, producing several successful artists like K. C. S. Paniker and Kanayi Kunjiraman.