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Georgetown Heritage Walk: Chennai's Founding
4.9
93 Ratings
Chennai
Explore the founding of Chennai on a heritage walking tour in Georgetown. Discover how this trading post for the East India Company evolved into Chennai’s vibrant trading hub.
Explore the founding of Chennai on a heritage walking tour in Georgetown. Discover how this trading post for the East India Company evolved into Chennai’s vibrant trading hub.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Fort St. George - We will commence the walk at the first English Fortress built in 1644 by the East India Company. During this visit we will the Museum inside the Fort to understand how the British came to dominate India , their rule and finally how India won its independence. Note the museum will be closed on Fridays.
We will also visit St Mary’s…
-
Fort St. George - We will commence the walk at the first English Fortress built in 1644 by the East India Company. During this visit we will the Museum inside the Fort to understand how the British came to dominate India , their rule and finally how India won its independence. Note the museum will be closed on Fridays.
We will also visit St Mary’s Church, the oldest Anglican Church of India. - St Mary’s Church - Visit the oldest Anglican Church of India to appreciate the “Last Supper”.
- George Town - Explore the site of a couple of Old Lighthouses which were functional during the times of East India Company.
- Dare House #234 - This is an iconic art deco building steeped in history. It was the head quarters of Parrys company which was named after Thomas Parry who was welsh and one of the first free merchants of Chennai. The building is named after his John Dare, his business partner
- Madras High Court - Set up in 1862 by a decree from Queen Victoria, the High court serves the state of Tamil Nadu today. We will narrate the events in 1914 during the Word War I, that led to an attack on this building by German submarines. This is one of the highlights of this walking tour in Chennai.
- Armenian Church - This Chennai walk takes us past the street where Armenian refugees set up trade for silk, spices & gems 300 years ago. Visit the unique Armenian Church for an immersive experience.
What's Included
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
Additional Information
The Georgetown Heritage Walk offers an engaging walking tour in Chennai. This tour is organized by a company approved by the tourism ministry and is a member of IATO.
This Chennai walk brings to life the heritage and legacy of Chennai’s first settlement. Participants will explore the transformation of George Town from a 17th-century trading post for the…
The Georgetown Heritage Walk offers an engaging walking tour in Chennai. This tour is organized by a company approved by the tourism ministry and is a member of IATO.
This Chennai walk brings to life the heritage and legacy of Chennai’s first settlement. Participants will explore the transformation of George Town from a 17th-century trading post for the East India Company to its current status as Chennai’s leading trading hub.
Experience the cultural diversity on this walking tour in Chennai, where traders from various nationalities and communities, including Armenian merchants, once conducted their business.
The company is dedicated to empowering local communities. It provides training and employment for local guides and supports local businesses to ensure that travel expenditures benefit the local economy. The guide will gladly discuss the community initiatives undertaken by the company.
Location
C1 Flower Bazaar Police Station
Rattan Bazaar 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
4.9
(93 Ratings)
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Extraordinary759214
Oct 9, 2024
Great tour - Excellent tour with Sateesh who was very informative about Indian history as he took me on a very varied walk around the Fort St George, St Mary’s church, the Armenian church and a temple. I learnt lots. And booked into another tour with the same company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
124i-e3244320
Oct 4, 2024
Five Senses and Satish: a winning combination! - Satish was a most wonderful guide, whose knowledge of history and culture of the city of Chennai was remarkable.
His ability to integrate lessons from the past with life today made it an extraordinarily informative and worthwhile visit.
My daughter and I were extraordinarily pleased and recommend Satish and Five Senses Tours very highly. Thank you again Satish.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hhaman
Sep 26, 2024
Great history lesson about Chennai. - The Georgtown heritage tour was a fun experience. I learned a great deal about the history here in Chennai and I visited many interesting churches, cafes and the vibrant street market. The guide was superb! I highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Chennai for the first time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dwivra
Sep 25, 2024
Historical and cultural tour de force - I had a private tour with my guide Satish, who was able to pick me up from my hotel and drop me off back there. Starting at the magnificent Fort St George, I was quickly immersed in the history of the East India Company and was able to view the houses of Clive of India as well as the Duke of Wellington. The Church of St Mary in the Fort complex is stunning. Walking a short distance from the Fort, we went past the beautiful Madras High Court (noting where it was attacked during WW1) and towards Parry’s Corner, learning about the mercantile history of this area. Our next stop led us to the spectacular Armenian Church, where I was able to spend time inside admiring the altar and marvelling at the architecture. We stopped for food at Murugan Idli which was probably the best idli and chutney combination I have ever had! Special sukku coffee (spicy ginger and jagree flavour) was then had and we explored local markets nearby. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour and recommend it anyone with either an interest in British colonial history or wanting a local culinary/architectural experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
544arunak
Aug 1, 2024
Nice tour of colonial Chennai - We had a very informative and fun tour with Satish. He was very flexible with our needs and despite the hot weather kept us engaged and interested. He genuinely cared about our experience. The tour included a food stop and many interesting sites such as the Armenian Church.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jyotsna0205
Jun 23, 2024
Takes you back in time! - Being a resident of Chennai, I found this heritage tour with 5 Senses to be quite eye opening. Our guide Satish was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We went around the Fort Museum, St. Mary’s Church, Parry’s corner, High court, Armenian Church and Chenna Kesava Perumal temple and learnt so much about our colonial history. Spotting the exact place where a bomb fell during the 1st world war and seeing a pillar on NSC Bose road which served as a boundary of the Esplanade during the British times felt so surreal! The excellent food at Murugan Idli shop and Agarwal Bhavan were a surprise bonus for us! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who visits Chennai and loves to explore our heritage.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julienwilanow
Apr 15, 2024
Perfect experience! - It was a perfect experience! My guide Hareesh was really great, the explanations were clear, I learned a lot about the history of Chennai and the evolution of George Town. I recommend. Thanks again Hareesh and 5Senses!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
La
Mar 27, 2024
A beautiful experience in Chennai - The visit was super!
Satish gave us a wonderful experience, showed us and described everything accurately and took us to try some delicious food.
Thanks again for the great experience.
Super recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Isabellea399
Mar 6, 2024
Brilliant introduction to Chennai - This walking tour was a really great way to explore the city! Satish was a fantastic guide - he was very knowledgable and friendly and was able to answer all our questions and more. The tour takes you to interesting sights across George Town in the morning when they’re all nice and quiet. Satish also took us for a morning meal with delicious South Indian delicacies.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N1158obfernandas
Mar 19, 2024
If you want to explore this part of Chennai, that’s the tour for it! - The main problem with this tour is Georgetown itself, which is mainly a slam area, with no sidewalks, and as crowded as it gets. Honestly, the sights are not that interesting as well, but you’re able to cover a large area with this tour, safely, which I probably couldn’t have done on my own, as a solo woman traveller. My guide Srikrishnan was very polite an easy to be around. He gave a lot of historical details, but spoke quite fast. I’d have appreciated if he could add in some curiosities to make the explanations more interesting. Overall, if you want to explore this part of Chennai, this tour will make the most of it and you’ll be able to learn and enjoy your day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
