Omr, navalur, chennai in Chennai, India
Photo: Ajayy99 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

ValidaTrip / Things to do in Chennai

Things to do in Chennai in March 2027

By ValidaTrip Research · Updated May 20, 2026

Quick answer: Chennai in March 2027 usually runs near 34C by day, 24C at night, with about 1 rainy day.

Good starting points are Marina Beach, Guindy National Park, and Kapaleeshwarar Temple.

Check the dated events and venue hours below before assigning fixed dates.

Events, festivals, and public holidays for Chennai, India, in March 2027.

The point is making sure the places you already want to see are actually open on the days you'll be there.

Planning a Chennai trip in March?

Paste the recommendations you've collected — from friends, a ChatGPT itinerary, or blog listicles. ValidaTrip checks every place against your March dates: opening hours, closures, what needs booking ahead, and which Chennai events overlap your trip.

No account needed to try it.

Month context

Chennai in March: weather, seasonal timing, and what changes.

Chennai weather in March

High

34.2°C

Low

23.6°C

Rain

1d

15mm

11.9h daylight

What to prioritize in March

Prioritize Marina Beach, Guindy National Park, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San Thome Basilica, Parthasarathy Temple.

Dates to check

Events, festivals, and closures in Chennai.

Public holidays & closures in March 2027

No national public holidays fall in India during March 2027. Individual venues still keep their own closed days — ValidaTrip checks each place on your list against the exact dates you're there.

City context

What Chennai is known for before you choose what to prioritize.

Known for

City context

Chennai is the Bay of Bengal capital where colonial Fort St George, Mylapore temple streets, Carnatic music halls, and IT corridors stretch along a hot, humid coast. The visitor map centers on George Town, Mylapore, Egmore, T Nagar, Besant Nagar, and the ECR/OMR edge south of the Adyar River.

Food & drink

Local flavor

Chennai food is built on idli, dosa, sambar, pongal, vada, filter coffee, Chettinad chicken, biryani, sundal, and seafood from the coast. Mylapore, T Nagar, Sowcarpet, Marina Beach stalls, and Buhari-style biryani houses are practical food anchors. Prices stay moderate outside luxury hotels, and December music-season canteen meals are a real cultural draw.

Things to do

Attractions and sights to consider in Chennai.

Things to do in Chennai

Map of top sights in Chennai

  1. 1Marina Beach
  2. 2Guindy National Park
  3. 3Kapaleeshwarar Temple
  4. 4San Thome Basilica
  5. 5Parthasarathy Temple
  6. 6Kalakshetra Foundation
  • 1

    Marina Beach

    4.3outdoor

    Long urban beach running along the Bay of Bengal from Fort St George toward Mylapore. It is for walking, snacks, and people-watching rather than safe swimming.

    Wikipedia
  • 2

    Guindy National Park

    4.1outdoorClosed Tue

    Small protected forest inside the city, with blackbuck, deer, and the adjacent Children's Park and snake park. It is close to IIT Madras and Raj Bhavan.

    Wikipedia
  • 3

    Kapaleeshwarar Temple

    4.8indoorOpen daily

    Mylapore Shiva temple with a tall gopuram, tank, flower stalls, and festival streets. The present structure is usually dated to the 16th century after earlier coastal temples were lost.

    Wikipedia
Show 7 more sights
  • 4San Thome Basilica
  • 5Parthasarathy Temple
  • 6Kalakshetra Foundation
  • 7DakshinaChitra
  • 8Government Museum, Egmore
  • 9T Nagar shopping district
  • 10Fort St George

Areas and routes

Neighborhoods, day trips, and getting around Chennai.

Chennai neighborhoods

  • Mylapore

    Temple-and-culture district with Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Luz, San Thome, music sabhas, and old vegetarian restaurants. December music season makes it especially busy.

  • George Town and Parry's Corner

    Old trading district north of Fort St George, with wholesale lanes, Armenian Church, High Court buildings, and dense market traffic.

  • Egmore and Nungambakkam

    Museum, rail, college, restaurant, and hotel belt with Government Museum, consulates, cafes, and central access.

  • T Nagar

    Shopping district of sari stores, jewelry houses, Pondy Bazaar, and Ranganathan Street crowds. It is practical but intense before festivals.

  • Adyar, Besant Nagar, and Thiruvanmiyur

    South Chennai coast with Elliot's Beach, Theosophical Society, Kalakshetra, cafes, and quieter residential lanes.

  • OMR and ECR

    Southern technology and beach-road corridor, with IT parks on Old Mahabalipuram Road and day-trip resorts along East Coast Road.

Day trips from Chennai

  • 60km / 1.5h by car or bus along East Coast Road

    Mahabalipuram

    UNESCO shore temples, rock reliefs, and Pallava monuments beside the sea. Start early because ECR traffic grows on weekends.

  • 75km / 2h by train or car from Chennai

    Kanchipuram

    Temple city known for Ekambareswarar, Kailasanathar, and silk saris. It is a full-day temple-and-textile trip.

  • 55km / 1.5h by car north of Chennai

    Pulicat Lake

    Lagoon and birding area near the Andhra border, best in migratory-bird season. Boat access depends on local conditions.

Getting around

Chennai Metro Blue and Green lines connect airport, Central, Egmore, T Nagar approaches, and parts of the south, while suburban rail is useful for beach and outer-corridor trips. Use a CMRL travel card or QR ticket, then rely on autos, taxis, and MTC buses for temple-neighborhood last miles.

How to plan Chennai in March

  1. 1

    Anchor the month

    Use the Chennai weather, seasonal timing, and attraction list as the spine because the dated March event list is still sparse.

  2. 2

    Protect closure days

    Confirm weekly closed days for museums, markets, and major sights even though India has no national public holidays in March.

  3. 3

    Group and validate

    Group each Chennai day by nearby neighborhoods, then validate the saved places against your trip dates before exporting the checked route to Google Maps.

What to pack for Chennai in March

Pack from the monthly climate profile, not a generic Chennai checklist.

  • Light, breathable daytime clothes for average highs around 34C.
  • Breathable evening clothes because nights stay near 24C.
  • Sun protection and comfortable walking shoes; rain is usually limited this month.

How many days do you need in Chennai

4 days covers the main Chennai highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.

Is Chennai worth visiting in March

Yes. Chennai in March: 34.2°C high, 23.6°C low, 15mm rain over 1 days, 11.9h daylight. Hot and dry — outdoor friendly, hydrate.

Validate your list

Turn this into a Chennai plan that actually works

All your recs in one place

Paste what friends, ChatGPT, and blogs gave you for Chennai. ValidaTrip pulls out each place and sorts it — no spreadsheet by hand.

Open on your dates

Every place checked against the days you're actually in Chennai, with timed tickets and reservation-only spots flagged while you can still get a slot.

Export to Google Maps

Send the cleaned, checked, and neighborhood-grouped plan to Google Maps so your Chennai days are ready to navigate.

Questions

What's on in Chennai in March 2027?
We're still compiling the March 2027 event list for Chennai. Public holidays and opening-hour checks still apply to whatever you're planning.
Are there public holidays in Chennai during March 2027?
No national public holidays fall in Chennai during March 2027, but individual venues still have their own closed days.
Will the places on my list be open when I'm in Chennai in March?
Not always. Opening days and hours vary by weekday, season, and holiday. Paste your Chennai list into ValidaTrip and it checks every place against the exact dates you're there, flagging closures before the trip instead of at a locked door.
How do I plan Chennai days without crossing the city twice?
ValidaTrip groups your places by neighborhood so each day stays in one or two areas instead of zig-zagging. It also flags what needs booking ahead, so timed tickets and reservations don't fall through.

Other months in Chennai

Other cities in March 2027

AI itinerary checks