Churches, mosques and a cathedral

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Churches, mosques and a cathedral

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Churches, mosques and a cathedral ZoonarDmitry Rukhle / age fotostock

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Close to Fort Saint-Georges, the buildings are reminiscent of Indo-Muslim architecture and blend Italian, British and Byzantine influences.
Wander around Georgetown, the former "white city" and discover the Saint Mary Armenian catheral in the old popular neighbourhood, the place of worship of the local Armenian community. The Saint Mary church is the first Anglican church in India, lying next to the Hindu temples of Kandaswami and Kachaleshvara. In the Egmore neighbourhood, the Saint Andrew cathedral is easily one of the most charming traditional churches in India, and offers a stunning view from the heights of its blue dome. In Triplicane, discover the Grand Mosque constructed at the end of the 18th Century by the Wallajah Nabab, and further eastwards, the Parthasarathy temple of the 8th Century dedicated to Krishna. On Anna Salai, admire the mosque of a Thousand Lights built in 1800 and further downwards the Saint Georges cathedral. In Mylapore, admire the Saint Thomas cathedral facing the sea, built at the end of the 19th Century, and closeby, the vast Shivaist sanctuary of Kapalishwara with its pure Dravidian style and its gopuras covered with polychromic sculptures. To the south-west in the Grand Chennai on the two Saint Thomas mountains, climb towards the San Thome suburb, a former Portuguese neighbourhood with a 16th Century church and contemplate Our Lady of Hope on the site on which Saint Thomas is reported to have died.
Stroll on Marina Beach and take a look at the Moghul palace of Chepauk, the former residence of nabab.