Fort St. George Chennai Entry Fee
- 5 per person for Indians
- 300 per person for Foreign Tourists
Fort St. George Chennai Phone
079789 39119
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Fort St. George Chennai Address: Rajaji Salai, Near Legislature and Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600009, India
Step back in time and get to know more about the British colonial history at Fort St. George. A prominent landmark in Chennai, Fort St. George is a place where you can admire the displays of British Raj artifacts and gain some knowledge on the high living standard of British rulers.
Formally known as the White House, the Fort St. George is one of the oldest monuments in India that provides a home to the famous St Mary’s Church, Fort Museum, Wellesley House, a 150 ft tall Flag Staff, and government offices.
Located in the coastal state of Tamil Nadu, the fort attracts thousands of people every year due to its great historical significance and has become a must-visit tourist attraction to explore on your Chennai tour.
History of Fort St. George, Chennai
Constructed by the Britishers in 1640, Fort St. George has an interesting story behind its origin. It is said that the authorities of the East India Company came to India in 1600 and obtained a license for starting trading and commercial activities. However, to safeguard their English trade interests linked to spice and other items, the company decided to build a fort and hence, purchased the land close to Marina Beach.
After that, the EIC started working on it and the project was completed on April 23, 1644. Coincidentally, it was the same date on which St. George Day was celebrated, and hence, they named the fort as Fort St. George.
Architecture of Fort St. George, Chennai
Featuring an impressive architecture, the main highlight of Fort St. George is its museum. Named as Fort Museum, it boasts a varied collection of antiquities that are well-presented in different galleries. For example, you can visit the Portrait Gallery to see portraits and oil paintings of the Madras Governors such as Queen Victoria, King George III, Sir Arthur Havelock, and Robert Clive. Or you can explore the Indo-French Gallery to discover exhibits like clocks, stamps, furniture, lampshades, and centuries-old British coins.
The Uniform and Medals Gallery displays the military uniforms, ceremonial dresses, and approximately 64 medals that were given to the soldiers who fought various battles in the Indian subcontinent. Other than that, the museum also houses weapons, appreciation letters, sketches, and artifacts from Scotland.
Another interesting monument within the boundaries of Fort St. George is St. Mary’s Church. Considered as the oldest Anglican church in Asia, the St. Mary’s Church features intricate wooden furnishings along with glass windows and teak plaques that still shine. Dating its history back to the year 1678, this building has stood with time and is worth visiting for everyone.
Image Gallery of Fort St. George Chennai
Entry Fee and Timings of Fort St. George, Chennai
The entry fee to visit Fort St. George is INR 5 per person for Indians and INR 300 per person for foreigners. It is open for its tourists from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on all days of the week except Friday. Please note that there is no entry charge for kids under 15.
Travel Tips for Fort St. George, Chennai
- Always go with a guide whenever you wish to head towards this ancient fort. Otherwise, you might miss the things you need to see/notice there.
- Please pay attention to the display sign boards as few areas of the fort are closed for the public.
- Make sure to carry the water bottles as there is no facility for drinking water within the premises.
- Don’t take your camera along with you while going inside the museum. It is not allowed to click the pictures there.
Best Time to Visit Fort St. George, Chennai
Since Fort St. George is a year-round attraction, it can be visited by tourists at any time. However, if you want to avoid the long queues at the security check, it is advisable to explore it on Sunday mornings. At that time, the fort receives a comparatively lesser crowd.
How to Reach Fort St. George, Chennai?
Situated at a distance of 5 km from the city center, Fort St. George can be easily accessed by public transport. Choose to travel by road if you’re staying in/around the neighboring areas of Chennai. You can either opt for a bus journey or choose to self-drive all the way. Being a metro city, it provides good road connectivity to the other cities of the country.
For a more comfortable and hassle-free experience, tourists can catch a direct train to the Chennai Central Railway Station that operates frequent trains to and from Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Kolkata, Cochin, Patna, Bhopal, Kanpur, etc. After arriving at the station, look for an auto-rickshaw ride to get to the destination.
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