Private Tour
Private Chennai Day Tour - Art History and Contemporary Chennai
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Discover Chennai on our exclusive private day tour led by accomplished, highly educated cultural custodians with backgrounds in History, Architecture and Fine Arts.
This comprehensive tour of Chennai takes you to all the highlights of Chennai - Fort St George, Egmore Museum, St Thomas Basilica, St Georges Cathedral, Kapleeshwar Temple and more.
We will engage you in lively conversations and debates about Chennai's history, share interesting facts and anecdotes, and also explore the contemporary importance and pulse of the metropolis.
Whether you're keen to delve into history, explore bustling markets, or savor authentic cuisine, this tour promises memories to last a lifetime.
Please note:
1) The two museums usually part of the tour are closed on Fridays and other special holidays. We will visit alternate sites depending on your interests on such days
2) Lunch is not included. You must pay for your lunch as well as for the guides lunch.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tour is of low intensity, but does require some amount of walking on uneven surfaces.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Entrance tickets where applicable
Budget USD 10 - 15 per person for a good lunch in a secret restaurant you will love! Note: The guides lunch must be paid for by you.
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Fort St. George
The first stop is on the private tour of Chennai is Fort St George, the first fort built by the British in India, completed in 1639. This is where the story of Chennai started. The fort houses an interesting Museum and St Mary's Church, the oldest Anglican Church in India. It is this fort that enabled the British to take over the "jewel of the British empire", India.
Santhome Cathedral Basilica
The Santhome Basilica was originally built by the Portuguese in 15 CE. The cathedral today is a magnificent building in the Neo Gothic style. Portuguese tradition has it that St. Thomas arrived and preached in Chennai between 52 A. D. and 72 A. D. It is believed that it is here that St Thomas was buried - making it one of the 3 churches in the world built on top of a grave of an Apostle.
Options
Private Chennai Day Tour - Art History and Contemporary Chennai
Pickup included
Reviews
19 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Highlights of Chennai
Harold A,
Jan 21, 2025
- Viator
5.00Chennai is a culturally rich environment with major Hindu and Christian sacred places and important British colonial relics. My visit offered an excellent introduction to them all. The guide was quite knowledgeable and a pleasure to travel with. A really delightful day!
Chennai day tour
Alistair L,
Dec 31, 2024
- Viator
5.00Chandan is a very engaging and knowledgeable guide with a serious passion for his country and his areas history, and this really comes across in his detailed and informative stories about the points of interest which we visited on the tour. He also knows some great local cafes and restaurants to really enjoy the genuine local food. I had a great time on this tour and would highly recommend it to anyone who has a spare day to spend in Chennai and wants to get to see the interesting parts of town as it's not the easiest place to negotiate if you're a tourist and don't know the area. Money very well spent.
Highly recommended experience - not to be missed !
Ann A,
Dec 12, 2024
- Viator
5.00An excellent guided tour with the perfect tour guide Chandan. He knew so much about the places we visited and it was obvious he was not only extremely knowledgeable but also passionate about his craft. On a first visit to Chennai, after only a few hours, I feel like I walked away with a wealth of knowledge about the arts, the history, and the attitudes and beliefs and events which influenced the Chennai of today . There were plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion and considering this was probably the wettest weather I had ever experienced ( and I live in the UK !)… with just a bit of paddling here and there and our umbrellas, we managed to visit so many places of interest and the tour was certainly not a wash out ! I would definitely encourage visitors to take this tour and gain deeper insight through this kind of learning - so much more informative and meaningful than reading facts in a guidebook - not to mention you need someone who can transport you in one piece through the busy traffic (in all weathers !) Many thanks for a wonderful introduction to my short stay in Chennai …
An amzing experience
Christos P,
Nov 5, 2024
- Viator
5.00This is a Hidden gem. Chandan is amazing, very firendly and has very good knowledge of the city. I just had one day in Chennai and it was the best choice for me to take the private tour with him!
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