St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai

St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai tickets: which one to buy

The Saint Thomas Cathedral Basilica, known as San Thome Basilica, stands on the Santhome High Road in the Mylapore district of Chennai, in southern India, close to the Marina Beach, and entry is free. It is one of only a few churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle, which makes it an important place of pilgrimage. The basilica has a museum and a crypt, reached from behind the church, where the tomb is displayed;

entry to these is free. City tours of Chennai combine the basilica with the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, Fort Saint George, the Government Museum and Marina Beach. The basilica is an active church, with masses in several languages, and visitors should dress modestly and remain quiet in the crypt. Auto-rickshaws and taxis are the easiest way to reach it. Visitors should take off shoes before entering the crypt chapel.

Visiting St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai: what to see

According to tradition, the apostle Thomas came to India in the first century, preached in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and was martyred in 72 AD near Chennai, and he was buried at this spot. The Portuguese, who arrived in the sixteenth century, built a church over the tomb in 1523, and the present church was built by the British in 1893 in a neo-Gothic style, with a tall spire about fifty metres high and a white exterior. It was declared a minor basilica in 1956. Inside, the church has a high vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows, including a large window telling the story of Saint Thomas and his doubt, and a statue of the Virgin believed to have been brought from Portugal.

The crypt beneath the church holds the tomb chapel, with a statue of the saint and relics. The museum displays artefacts related to the history of Christianity in India. The crypt's tomb chapel is lit with candles, and pilgrims pray before the statue of Saint Thomas. The church's pulpit and altar are carved in wood. The stained glass window in the apse was made in Munich. The museum's collection includes ancient inscriptions and a Portuguese sculpture. The basilica's spire is visible from the seafront. The church's interior walls hold Stations of the Cross. A small shop sells devotional objects. Pilgrims from Kerala come to honour the apostle who brought Christianity to India.

St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai opening hours and the best time to go

The basilica is open daily, with masses throughout the day. Chennai is hot all year, with the most pleasant season from November to February; the north-east monsoon brings heavy rain in October and November. The feast of Saint Thomas on 3 July brings pilgrims and celebrations. Christmas and Easter are celebrated with large congregations. Early morning and evening are the best times to visit, and a walk along the Marina Beach at sunset is popular. Allow about half an hour for the basilica, crypt and museum, and visit the Kapaleeshwarar Temple nearby. The Kapaleeshwarar Temple, about ten minutes by auto-rickshaw, is a vibrant Dravidian temple dedicated to Shiva.