Indian Columbus

Kasi Viswanath Temple is a well-known Shiva temple in Chennai, located in West Mambalam . The layout follows the familiar rhythm of a South Indian shrine: an east-facing rajagopuram , the dhwaja stambham (flag staff), and the bali peetham aligned along the central axis. In the main sanctum, Kasi Viswanathar is worshipped as a small Shiva linga , with Nandi seated in front, facing the deity in quiet devotion. The goddess, Visalakshi , has a separate south-facing shrine , giving her a distinct space within the complex. The outer wall of the main sanctum carries the standard koshta deities in niche panels— Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga . As you walk through the prakara, the temple opens up into multiple shrines and icons, making the circumambulation itself a slow, engaging experience. Among the important icons you will notice are: Ganesha The 63 Nayanmars The Nalvar (the four principal Shaiva saints) Revered devotees and spiritual figures such as...

Sai Baba, who lived from the latter half of the 19th century into the early 20th century, is revered by both Hindus and Muslims as a saint of rare spiritual presence. For many devotees, his place in faith goes even further—some worship him as a divine form and have built temples dedicated to him across India. Since his life is closely associated with Shirdi , he is widely remembered as Shirdi Sai Baba , and the temple at Shirdi remains the best-known centre of his worship. On similar lines, Chennai too has a Sai Baba temple that draws steady devotion. It is located in Mylapore , one of the city’s most heritage-rich neighbourhoods. The Sai Baba Temple at Ramakrishna Mutt Road , on the route towards Mandaveli , is spacious and welcoming. The walls carry paintings and visual panels that depict episodes from Sai Baba’s life, making the walk through the temple feel like a quiet narrative unfolding around you. The main shrine houses Sai Baba’s murti, and there is a practice here that many...

Mylapore, Chennai’s much-loved heritage quarter, is best known for ancient temples such as Kapaaleeswarar . Yet, amid these age-old shrines, there is also a modern-day Hanuman temple that has quickly earned a strong following. You’ll find it near P. S. School , in Alamelumangapuram , a small lane not far from the well-known Sai Baba temple . Hanuman is named Bhakta Anjaneya in this temple. What draws visitors here is the temple’s striking main icon: a 16-foot monolithic granite murti of Anjaneya (Hanuman) . It is often spoken of as one of the tallest Hanuman icons in Chennai. The deity faces north , and the sheer scale, combined with the clean, uncluttered setting, makes the first darshan memorable. Alongside the main shrine, the temple also includes smaller shrines for: Hayagreeva Ganesha Rama with Lakshmana and Sita Garuda As you walk around the prakara, you will also notice Hanuman appearing in multiple forms: icons such as Panchamukha Hanuman and Yoga Anjaneya , ...

Mylapore is one of Chennai’s best-known neighbourhoods, but its identity goes far beyond the modern city. Ancient references and long-standing local memory place Mylapore (Mayilappu) among the oldest living settlements of this region. At its heart stands the magnificent Kapaaleeswarar Temple , the most visited Shiva temple in Chennai and, for many, one of the city’s two principal temples, alongside the Parthasarathy Temple at Triplicane . Kapaaleeswarar is also counted among the Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams of the Tondai region ; the shrines praised in the Devaram hymns, holding the position as the 24th in that regional list. Saints such as Tirugnana Sambandhar and Appar have sung of this sacred space, with Appar referring to it as “Mayilappu.” The temple’s festivals, and especially its famed tank, the Mylapore Theppakkulam , continue to remain among Chennai’s most recognisable heritage images. Highlights: Sambandhar  has revered the temple in his verses in Dev...

May Day Park is one of the better-known public parks in Chennai, located in the Chintadripet area. Spread across roughly 15 acres , the space is broadly divided into two parts: one section laid out as a conventional park, and the other functioning as an open playground . In earlier years, the park was known as Napier Park . Over time, as May Day processions became an annual fixture here, the name “May Day Park” took root and stayed. Even today, the ground continues to serve a public role beyond leisure. Political parties and labour unions still use it for meetings, gatherings, and processions , keeping the park connected to the city’s civic and working-class history. Happy travelling.

Agastya, spelt as Agasthiar in much of South India, is one of the best-known sages in Hindu tradition. His stories travel across regions, appearing in both northern and southern narratives. And because many episodes connected to him are rooted in the southern landscape, his presence is also felt in temple iconography: you will often find an Agastya image tucked into a niche, a corridor, or a subsidiary shrine in several South Indian temples. In Chennai’s T. Nagar , there is even a temple that carries his name, known locally as Agastyar Temple or Agastyar Ashram . Located very close to Pondy Bazaar , this is a popular neighbourhood temple with a steady stream of visitors. Interestingly, though it is called an Agastyar temple, the presiding deity is Shiva . The origins of the temple, who built it and how old it is, are not clearly known. What is evident, however, is that the current structure and many of its expansions belong to more recent times. The temple has a gopuram, and once...

M. G. Ramachandran,fondly remembered as MGR , was first a towering star of Tamil cinema and later one of Tamil Nadu’s most influential political leaders. Even though he passed away in 1987 , his image and legacy still surface regularly in the state’s political landscape, often invoked to tap into the affection people continue to hold for him. During his tenure as Chief Minister, MGR functioned from an office on Arcot Street in T. Nagar, Chennai . After his death, this office building was converted into a memorial and opened to the public in 1990 . The MGR Memorial (T. Nagar) is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM , on all days except Tuesdays . There was a time, especially until about a decade ago, when the memorial would be packed with visitors. The crowd today is thinner, but the place still draws people, particularly visitors from smaller towns and villages, who make it a point to stop here when they come to Chennai. Inside, the memorial preserves a slice of MGR’s public and persona...

The twin temples of Chintadripet in Chennai have an unusual origin story. Built in the 1740s by a dubash associated with the British East India Company, they are often remembered as Chennai’s “Company shrines.” Standing close to each other, the pair is dedicated to Adipureeswarar (Shiva) and Adi Kesava (Vishnu) , a Shaiva–Vaishnava combination that quietly reflects the character of this old neighbourhood. Among the two, the Adipureeswarar Temple is the Shaiva shrine. The presiding deity is a large Shiva Linga , commanding and serene. At the entrance to the sanctum, Ganesha and Murugan stand on either side, framing the approach in the familiar South Indian way. The east-facing sanctum is guarded by a striking pair of dwarapalas , large and finely carved, creating an impressive threshold before the deity. The goddess, Tripura Sundari , is housed separately in a south-facing shrine , giving her space and prominence within the complex. In front of the main shrine, the axial ar...

The twin temples of Adi Kesava Perumal (Vishnu) and Adipureeswarar (Shiva) in Chennai’s Chintadripet can, in many ways, be seen as the city’s Company-period shrines . Chintadripet itself was a planned settlement, developed in 1734 as a weavers’ neighbourhood under the East India Company. The man closely associated with this development was Dubash Audiyappa Naicken , during the governorship of George Morton Pitt . In the decades that followed, Audiyappa Naicken went on to play a larger civic role, and it was in the 1740s that he began building these two temples; one Shaiva, one Vaishnava, side by side in Chintadripet. Among them, the Adi Kesava Perumal Temple is dedicated to Vishnu. The presiding deity, Adi Kesava , stands in dignified posture with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi positioned on either side. Inside the sanctum, you will also notice the bronze utsava murtis of Adi Kesava along with his consorts, kept close to the main icon. The temple follows the familiar grammar of a So...

Madhya Kailash is among Chennai’s most visited temples, and its location makes it hard to miss. It stands right at the point where the city’s Old Mahabalipuram Road (the IT corridor) meets Sardar Patel Road, directly opposite the Kasturba Nagar MRTS station. For many commuters, the gopuram is the first familiar landmark that signals you’ve reached this busy junction. The name “Madhya Kailash” might make you expect a Shiva temple, but the heart of this complex belongs to Ganesha. The sanctum enshrines Vijaya Ananda Vinayakar , and the space in front carries the familiar temple elements such as  dhwaja stambha  (flag staff) and bali peetham,  aligned in the traditional manner. Step closer to the sanctum and you’ll notice an interesting detail: there are two Ganapati murtis inside; one larger, beautifully proportioned form, and a smaller one placed in front. Around the sanctum, the bronze utsava murtis add to the charm: Ananda Vinayakar and Nardana Vinayakar , the dancin...