Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The main building (No 1) has a respectable archaeological section representing all the
major South Indian periods from 2nd-century-BC Buddhist sculptures to 16th-century Vi-
jayanagar work. Also here is a zoology section with a motley collection of skeletons and
stuffed animals.
The big highlight is building No 3, the
Bronze Gallery
, with a superb, beautifully presen-
ted collection of South Indian bronzes from the 7th-century Pallava era through to modern
times, with English-language explanatory material. It was from the 9th to 11th centuries,
in the Chola period, that bronze sculpture peaked. Among the impressive pieces are many
of Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, and a superb Chola bronze of Ardhanarishvara,
the androgynous incarnation of Shiva and Parvati.
The same ticket gets you into the
National Art Gallery
,
Contemporary Art Gallery
and
Children's
Museum
, in the same complex.
Fort St George
(Rajaji Salai; 9am-5pm)
Finished in 1653 by the British East India Company, the fort has
undergone many facelifts over the years. Inside the vast perimeter walls is now a precinct
housing Tamil Nadu's Legislative Assembly & Secretariat, along with a smattering of
9am-5pm Sat-Thu)
, has displays on Chennai's origins and the fort itself, and military mem-
orabilia from colonial times. The upstairs portrait gallery of colonial bigwigs includes a
very assured-looking Robert Clive (Clive of India).
St Mary's Church
FORT
GOOGLE MAP
, com-
MAP
pleted in 1680, is India's oldest surviving British church.
Marina Beach
Take an early-morning or evening stroll (you really don't want to fry here at any other
time) along the 3km-long main stretch of Marina Beach and you'll pass cricket matches,
flying kites, fortune-tellers, fish markets and families enjoying the sea breeze. Try a cob
of roast corn with lime and chilli powder from one of the vendors - delicious. Don't
swim: strong rips make it dangerous.
BEACH
Vivekananda House
MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
