Chennai, India

Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is located on the southeast coast of India.  India was ruled by the British for almost 200 years, so this city has some colonial-era buildings and Fort St George, which was originally built by the British East India Company.  We visited a large Hindu Temple (80% of India is Hindu) and then went to the Catholic Basilica of Saint Thomas, which is said to contain the remains of St Thomas the Apostle.  He was killed with a spear in Chennai in 72 AD. We were able to attend a little of the Easter mass there, which was being said in English.

Chennai is a growing center for medical tourism -- people come here for medical procedures because it is less expensive than at home.  The streets are crowded with small motorized tuk-tuks that transport people all over the city, as most people do not own a car.  There are slums and lots of garbage near the beach.  Cows are sacred in the Hindu religion and you can see them wandering on the streets and in temples.

Chennai is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeast India

Ladies shopping in Mylapore area

Fruit stand near the Hindu temple in Mylapore

Many people buy flowers to take to the
Hindu temple as an offering to the gods

Colorful exterior of the Mylapore Hindu temple

Front of St Thomas Catholic Basilica

Slum area across from the Chennai beach

Back of St Thomas Basilica

Selling fish near the beach

A street scene -- many poor areas in the city with lots of garbage on the ground

Cultural Center - one of the prettiest buildings we saw

St Mary's Church, the oldest surviving Anglican Church,
built  in 1680
(it has a thick domed roof, designed to withstand cannonballs)