Fort St George

Fort St George was built in 1644 and is the oldest British fort still standing in India. This is where the city of Madras first took shape, and the fort remains the seat of the Tamil Nadu government even today. Inside its walls stands St Mary's Church, one of the oldest Anglican churches in Asia, along with a museum holding old weapons, coins, and portraits from the colonial period. Given how directly this fort connects to the city's founding, it ranks among Chennai's most important historical sites, and pairs naturally with a visit to nearby Chepauk Palace.