The Government Museum, or Madras Museum, is India’s second oldest museum and the tenth oldest museum in the world. Inside, you’ll find Chola bronze statues and the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside of Europe. Elsewhere, the bright pink Vivekananda House houses an exhibition on Swami Vivekananda, a 19th century monk who introduced yoga to the West. It was formerly a storehouse for ice shipped over from the United States.

Founded in 1639, elegant Fort St. George is India’s first English fortress and was formerly the British capital of south India. The Fort Museum tells the story of Chennai under British rule through many relics of the Raj era. Within the fort’s walls lie more Chennai landmarks: St. Mary’s Church, India’s oldest Anglican church nicknamed the “Westminster Abbey of the East,” and Clive House, said to be India’s first British settlement, built in 1609.

Southern Indian cuisine revolves around rice, lentils, and stews - unlike the breads and curries found in the north. Local Chennai food includes traditional breakfast dishes like idli (steamed rice cakes) and dosa (thin rice and lentil pancakes). Wash everything down with a cup of hot, filtered coffee: Chennai’s signature beverage.

Chennai is situated on the southern coast of India and boasts many scintillating beaches. Start your day at the Marina – one of the longest beaches in the world – and enjoy the majestic sunrise over Bengal Bay. Besant Magar Beach (or Edward Elliot’s Beach) is best enjoyed during the day, thanks to its clean, golden sand and welcoming waters, and is the perfect spot to watch the sunset.

Nungambakkam is home to some of the best tourist attractions in Chennai, such as the sprawling Valluvar Kottam Park and the Alliance Francaise of Madras, Faraway Tree Gallery, and Apparao art galleries. If shopping is on your mind, visit Khader Nawaz Khan Road for the best luxury stores – head here in the evening, as the area is renowned for its fine dining, watering holes and vibrant nightlife.

No Chennai holiday is complete without a shopping trip to T. Nagar’s shopping district, Pondy Bazaar. The narrow historic lane of Ranganathan Street is famous for Kanchivaram silk sarees and gold jewellery, as is Usman Road, where you’ll find shops selling Chennai and Sri Kumaran silks. Sathya Bazaar is also a great market boasting low-priced shoes and CDs. Bring your best bartering skills and brace yourself for the district’s crowds.

Set beside a sacred lake in Mylapore district is the 7th-century Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar temple. Dedicated to Shiva, this temple is a beautiful example of Dravidian architecture, decorated with thousands of colourful sculptures. Just outside of Chennai lies Marundeeswarar Temple, which is dedicated to lord Shiva in the form of the God of Medicines (Marundeeswar), and is often visited by people looking to cure themselves of illness.

Chennai is surrounded by spectacular landscapes offering visitors numerous hiking trails and treks. Koli Hills, meaning ‘Mountain of Death’, is a mountain range located in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. The area remains relatively untouched by tourism, making it a tranquil place of natural beauty. Nagalapuram, a beautiful Chittoor hill station, offers hikers views over four rushing waterfalls. Over in Sri Venkateswara National Park, the Talakona Waterfall hike is also a great option.

A popular tourist attraction near Chennai is the ancient town Mahabalipuram, or Mamallapuram. Located between the Great Salt Lake and the Bay of Bengal, these monumental 7th-century rock carvings illustrate dramatic events from the Mahabharata. A trip to this UNESCO world site isn’t complete without visiting the stunning Shore Temple and Pancha Rathas, which showcase intricate architecture from the seventh and eighth centuries, respectively.

While there are many things to do in Chennai, people travel from all over the world to visit Kanchipuram. Known as ‘The City of a Thousand Temples’, it’s a pilgrimage site filled with magnificent stone carvings and shrines. Located less than two hours from the city, it’s a perfect day trip on your Chennai holiday. Visit the impressive Ekambareswarar Temple – the largest temple in the city, covering 12 hectares – and the striking Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram’s oldest temple.