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Georgetown heritage walking tour in Chennai about the founding of Chennai
4.9
86 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.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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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 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
Additional Information
This walk in Chennai is guided by an expert in cultural heritage who will bring to life the history and legacy of Chennai’s original settlement. On this journey, we will follow the transformation of George Town from a 17th-century trading point for the East India Company to its contemporary role as Chennai’s commercial hub.
Witness cultural diversity in this on-foot exploration in Chennai through lanes where merchants of various nationalities, including Armenians, once conducted their business.
Our company values the upliftment of local communities. We aid in training and employing local guides and support indigenous businesses to make sure the money spent on travel circulates within the local economies. Our guide will be pleased to share about the social projects we participate in.
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.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(86 Ratings)
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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
Maxgt2927vj
Mar 5, 2024
An essential part of any visit to Chennai - Brilliantly paced tour with an interesting, knowledgeable and very friendly guide (Satish). It was the highlight of our stay in Chennai as we learnt loads about it's history, religion and residents, all while being kept well-fed and refreshed (included in the tour price). Although it lasted 3-4 hours, there were sufficient breaks and time to sit in the shade so it wasn't too tiring.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lifeisbetterhere
Mar 4, 2024
Excellent Experience - We learned a great deal about the history of Chennai and the different times it was occupied by different nations. Our guide Sathish was full of knowledge and eager to please. Plenty of authentic South Indian veg snacks were included to add to a most enjoyable and worthwhile morning.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scenic45794914853
Mar 1, 2024
Walking tour around historical points in Georgetown, Chennai - 5*s - Informative and passionate tour guide, he was very accommodating and knowledgeable about the local architecture and history.
He took us to some great little food restaurants for snacks and really gave us an idea of local cuisine.
Could recommend enough - 100%
Review provided by Tripadvisor
730angharadw
Mar 1, 2024
Varied and interesting tour with a friendly guide - We really enjoyed our tour with Satish. It was interesting and varied. Satish is very personable and knowledgeable about local history and culture. We also tried some great local foods and drinks from places we never would have found alone! Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U8665artomt
Feb 29, 2024
Amazing historical tour! - We enjoyed this amazing tour around Fort St. George and the surrounding area including street markets, historical sites and some excellent street food! Satish was a highly knowledgable, informative and professional guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Felicityy2020
Feb 29, 2024
Great tour of Georgetown! - We took the Georgetown heritage tour with Satish as our guide. It was great. Satish was very knowledgeable about the history of Georgetown and all the buildings within the fort. He told us interesting stories about the East India Company as well as facts about Chennai's history and general society today. He was able to answer all our questions and was very easy to talk to. He also took us to some great street food as part of the tour. I would highly recommend this as an activity in Chennai!
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
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