7 Must-Do Things As A First-Timer In Chennai: The Complete List 

Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, is a beautiful place of richness in its history, food, and tourist destinations. It offers many things to rejuvenate yourself in the South-Indian spirit. As a first-timer, Chennai is a living paradise; it has many spots to have good food, go shopping, and visit monuments. Here, Things2Do lists seven must-do things in Chennai if you’re visiting it for the first time. 

1Visit Marina Beach

This urban beach in Chennai is a famous tourist spot. It is the longest beach in Asia. It has a serene vibe that pleases the tourists and compels them to sit here in the evening for many hours. You can also enjoy the scene at this beautiful beach with your friends and family while enjoying the local food from vendors. 

It remains busy most of the time due to the vibrant air of this place. There are many statues here, which amplify this place’s special charm. Lifeguards are also present here to ensure the safety of individuals because of strong water currents. 

It’s a perfect spot for rejuvenation to get a break from your busy lives. As a first-time visitor to Chennai, Marina Beach is a must-go. 

2Visit St. George Fort

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After the British invasion of India, the first fort and church they built was St. George’s in 1644. This place has the oldest church in Asia, St. Mary’s Church. People and tourists often visit this place to get a glimpse of British architecture. 

The main Fort Museum is home to numerous artworks and articles from British rule but cameras are strictly prohibited in the zone. You may need 2 to 3 hours to visit this historical building with a keen eye. As a first-timer in Chennai, this can be a perfect spot to dive deeper into Chennai’s development. It’s just a few kilometres from the central railway station and you can easily find many delicious food items nearby. 

For a perfect tour at St. George’s, you can hire a guide. This way, you can get to know the hidden facts about every hook and corner of this famous British monument. 

3Take blessings at the Kapaleeshwar Temple

This is one of the oldest temples in India, with thousands of devotees visiting here daily to gather Lord Shiva’s blessings. It shows an amalgamation of the Drawidian and Vijayanagar artworks. Kapileshwar temple’s architecture is a testimony to the rich mythological history of Hinduism. 

Shivratri and the spring festival are celebrated with great glory and show. The best part about this enormous and sacred place is its location, as it is situated in the heart of Chennai, Mylapore. It is believed that the holy temple was destroyed by the Portuguese much before the Britishers cast their eye on it. But it was rebuilt during the period of the Vijaynagar Kingdom.

If you are somebody who loves to explore the serenity and positive energy of temples, Kapaleshwar Temple is a must-go for you. Make sure that you wear clothes covering your entire body as per the temple’s rules.

4Shopping at Pondy Bazaar

For a mesmerising shopping experience in Chennai, you cannot miss Pondy Bazaar in T. Nagar. This market has shops for almost everything, be it jewellery, clothes, decorations, footwear, books, and whatnot. Pick a sufficient amount of cash and head over to this busy market for a different shopping venture.

If you are somebody who has the inbuilt talent for bargaining with local vendors successfully to avail of high discounts, this is the perfect spot to show your talent. Apart from these miniature shops, you can find cool branded stores too. From Nike to Levi’s, Pondy Bazaar welcomes visitors with open arms. Many food outlets and local street food items are also available here. They provide an even better shopping experience to the customers with some of the best food items in Chennai. 

After strolling from one shop to another, wouldn’t you like to get a taste of a refreshing drink to quench your thirst? If yes, several juice points are also present here. 

5Taste refreshing Jigarthanda Drink

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Jigarthanda is a refreshing drink locally from Chennai. It usually contains three basic ingredients: milk (preferably cold), almond gum, and nannari syrup. As per your palate, you can choose sugar and vanilla ice cream too. 

This cold beverage is rich in taste and has a smooth blend of several sweet flavours. The frothy and creamy texture of the combination of milk and ice cream provides a heavenly taste. Some studies have mentioned that this ice cream drink is good for digestion and keeps the body cool during the summer season. 

It’s one of the best non-alcoholic beverages in Chennai and leaves you craving more. Many local vendors use basil seeds, nuts, and other such items to increase the richness of this drink.

6Taste delicious food at Mylapore

Mylapore is the traditional hub of Chennai. It’s home to several historical temples and is often called the heart of the city. It’s also a region where you can taste mouth-watering and the best local dishes in Chennai. 

Ratna Cafe is one of the most popular places to eat delicious idlis and vadas with coconut sauce (nariyal chutney) and warm sambhar. Vadas are found in a variety of concepts, like Medhu Vada and Curd Vada. In addition, dosa is another yummy food item on the cafe’s menu. Not just Ratna cafe, but you can find other restaurants to satisfy your taste buds too. 

The food in all these regions is finger-lickingly delicious. As a first-timer, Mylapore is a must-go for tasting the traditional blend of chutneys and spices in idlis, vadas, dosas, and bhaji. 

7Visit Arignar Anna Zoological Park

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This zoological park is a great place to spend an entire day with your kids in the city of Chennai. Safari rides are present to support wildlife animals like lions and tigers. Kids can have lots of fun visiting this place by seeing numerous birds, reptiles, and wild creatures. 

For animal lovers, this is a heavenly destination with an exciting adventure. You can rent a cycle or electric car if you have trouble walking for longer durations. Plastic bottles are banned as they focus on environmental conservation in every possible way. Here, outside food is also prohibited but it’s not an issue to worry about as there is a cafeteria present inside the zoo. 

You can spend a lovely weekend at this place with your kids without getting bored, as there is a special play area for children.

Conclusion: 

Exploring a new city always makes all of us feel excited. And if it’s Chennai, you deserve to feel every ounce of excitement in your blood and body. These seven things are a must-try for your Chennai visit if you want to make it worthwhile. 

Make sure to follow @things2doinchennai on Instagram if you want to read more about Chennai’s places and lifestyle. 

by Saanchi Gupta

Content Writer at Things2do