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Following the foot steps of St Thomas in Chennai
5.0
34 Ratings
Chennai (Madras)
Tours are led by cultural ambassadors who will bring alive the history and culture of the times when St Thomas came to India in the first century AD.
Tours are led by cultural ambassadors who will bring alive the history and culture of the times when St Thomas came to India in the first century AD.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- San Thome Church - We visit the renowned San Thome Basilica, the main church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore. In the 10th century AD, Christians from Persia established the Christian village of Santhome and constructed a church and tomb over the burial site of St. Thomas. The current neo-Gothic structure was built by…
- San Thome Church - We visit the renowned San Thome Basilica, the main church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore. In the 10th century AD, Christians from Persia established the Christian village of Santhome and constructed a church and tomb over the burial site of St. Thomas. The current neo-Gothic structure was built by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century. The shrine houses a small bone of the saint and the head of the lance that pierced him. We will also see an ancient painting of Our Blessed Mother, which St. Francis Xavier used to pray before.
- Little Mount Shrine - Our next stop on the St. Thomas Tour is Little Mount, a cave where St. Thomas hid in AD 68 and did penance. There is an eastern opening through which St. Thomas escaped when his pursuers found him. The palm and hand prints near the tunnel’s entrance are believed to be those of St. Thomas. We will also see the masonry cross at the top of the hill, thought to be the cross before which St. Thomas prayed. Another fascinating feature of this cave is the perennial spring inside the hill, believed to be miraculously created by St. Thomas himself.
- St. Thomas Mount National Shrine - On December 21, AD 72, St. Thomas was martyred on this hillock. The hill features a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Expectation, built in 1523. The altar of this shrine stands on the spot where St. Thomas was killed. Another notable relic is a gateway with four impressive arches topped by a cross inscribed with the date 1547.
What's Included
- Snacks
- Guide
- Pick up and drop to Chennai hotel
- Snacks
- Guide
- Pick up and drop to Chennai hotel
Location
San Thome Church
38 San Thome High Road,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(34 Ratings)
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Sherpa65354951328
Aug 3, 2024
Wonderful experience - Great experience, the tour was fun, interesting and we got to know a lot of information regarding the significance of the place.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E4977tsms
Aug 1, 2024
Wonderful experience! - Great experience! Kannan was knowledgeable and provided great insights and details! Our driver was great navigating traffic and keeping the ride smooth.
Highly rated guide and tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nobuom502
May 29, 2024
It was nice tour - I had Thomas tour with Kannan of this company. He guided me and he was very kind and gentlemanly. He explained everything clearly and made the trip safe and nice. If any of my friends want to go there, I will refer them to this company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Seattletravelguy55
Apr 12, 2024
One word. Magnificent! - This tour was everything and more. Excellent guide Kannan was very knowledgeable on the sites and history of Chennai. So special to see history up close. Definitely recommend this tour and tour company. Thanks again for the great day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Faraway460869
Apr 7, 2024
In the steps of St Thomas - The tour undertaken with our guide Nivethitha was excellent. While I had visited the basilica in 2006, there was much that I had not appreciated about the whole history of the work and persecution of st Thomas here in Chennai. Not only did I enjoy visiting both the mount and the tomb where he lived, but was grateful for the narrative given by Nivethitha. We were especially fortunate to also arrive at the basilica to hear the Sunday sermon given in English. Throughout the trip she was also very sensitive to my need for quiet reflection at each of the places visited. Thank you for a truly lovely experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Minhoj94
Mar 18, 2024
Great tour experience - Detailed explanation and convinient ride. and nice coffee. I had a great experi3mce through through the tour. I recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fernlea64
Oct 30, 2023
There’s no doubt at all about this St Thomas tour! - Very informative tour of St Thomas Apostle’s time in India during first century AD.
So much to see, the Christianity here is in full flow with numerous churches and schools.
The basilica of St Thomas is a stunning church with his relics underneath in the crypt.
The other sites offer a great insight into St Thomas’s presence here and offer stunning views of Chennai itself.
The guide Kannan was top class and very knowledgeable about the subject matter.
He took me for a stunning lunch showcasing the best of South Indian cuisine.
All in all, a highly recommended tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ytgg
Jul 30, 2023
Excellent tour Following the footsteps of Saint Thomas - I really enjoyed 'Following the footsteps of Saint Thomas ' tour . The tour guide Kanan was exceptional. He was very patient throughout the tour . He was very knowledgeable and allowed me time to pray at each church which I really appreciated. I felt very relaxed during the tour . Kanan made the tour memorable. I must acknowledge the driver as well Vignesh who was always waiting with the AC car when we were ready.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamieaq3405wq
May 15, 2023
Amazing day following St Thomas - The st Thomas trial was a revelation. It was a fascinating story of how St Thomas came to Chennai 2000 years ago and introduced Christianity to this part of the world. Our guide Kannan was amazing and even showed us the 2000 year old handprints of the apostle. He regaled us with stories of St Thomas and the history of the city . Very highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Valerypavlova
Feb 17, 2023
Great and interesting tour - Very interesting and fascinating guided tour to the places connected to the time that the apostle St Thomas spent in Chennai: we visited the beautiful St Thomas basilica ( one of the 3 churches in the world built on a tomb of a Saint); the Little mount (the cave where St Thomas tried to hide for few years) and the third place on the hill where he was killed. Thank you for the great tour to my private guide Kannan (very knowledgeable and attentive). Thanks to the company 5 senses who organised the transfer to the airport right after the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor