Chennai

The capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is a vibrant and bustling city, where many interesting churches still remain from the first British settlement in India. Founded in 1639 by the English merchant, Francis Day, as Fort St George, the original fort still remains, as do many remnants of ‘The Raj’ including the Church of St Mary, the oldest Anglican church east of Suez. This coastal city has a beautiful promenade and a string of waterfront Indo-Saracenix buildings, several designed by Robert Fellows Chrisholm and Henry Irwin.

With over 125 temples, Kanchipuram is truly a temple town. Formerly the capital of the Pallavan Empire, it was once home to many artists, actors and sculptors. Today it is still regarded as a spiritual centre. Many of the temples are well preserved and the silk industry continues to prosper.

Mahabalipuram is a sleepy coastal town an hour and a half south of Chennai. Famed for shore temples and stone carvings, it is the ideal place to purchase intricately shaped and skilfully carved statues.