Chennai

Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu and the gateway to South India, blends deep Tamil culture with colonial Madras heritage. Kapaleeshwarar Temple's towering gopuram, the sand dunes of the Marina, the 16th-century Fort St George, and the basilica of San Thome mark the essential sights. Chennai is also the base for the rock-cut Mahabalipuram and the temples of Kanchipuram.