6 Beautiful Parks That One Must Not Miss in Chennai (2024)
Chennai is one of the most famous cities in South India and the fourth biggest city in India. The city is known for its rich cultural heritage and tradition and is often referred to as the cultural capital of India. Established by the British in the 17th century, Chennai has a great past, and the many historical monuments in Chennai are proof of this glorious and majestic history of the city. When you think of Chennai, you often imagine great ancient temples and historical monuments. Not many people know, though, that Chennai is also a city of beautiful parks. Amidst the concrete office city, there are nestled some beautiful parks that add a much-needed dash of green to the city’s landscape. Here are some of the most beautiful parks in Chennai.
6 Beautiful Parks That One Must Not Miss in Chennai
1. Semmozhi Poonga
A relatively new addition to Chennai’s park scene, the Semmozhi Poonga was opened in November 2010 as its first botanical park. The park boasts of having over 500 different species of plants, which includes many medicinal plants and aromatic herbs as well. Some of the trees here are over 100 years old. The park is divided into eight zones, and each of these segments has been developed with an individual theme. Image Source
The garden is located on the Cathedral Road – Anna Salai junction, just opposite the American Consulate. The Semmozhi Poonga garden contains many exotic and unique plants that have been imported from Thailand and China, such as several varieties of bonsai-like ficus ginseng and ficus microcarpa.
The eight sub gardens here display various varieties of trees and plants, including a tree court, mural walk and bonsai, an artificial duck pond, and herbal and exotic gardens. The garden has been built incorporating the beautiful elements of an Indian-Buddhist garden. There is a wide range of indigenous species spread across the tree court, palm court, and the golden garden, which features plants that flower in various shades of gold. There is also a butterfly garden, a water and rock garden, a sunken garden, a fern garden, and a theme garden.
Apart from the various exotic herb species, there are also around 90 spiral-shaped and multi-branched miniature trees present here that are growing in containers.
The garden attracts visitors from all over the country, and many film crews also come here for filming in this beautiful location.
The Semmozhi Poonga garden is open from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm. It remains closed on Tuesdays.
2. Guindy National Park
The Guindy National Park is another major attraction in Chennai. This park is one of the biggest contributing factors to the lush greenery that covers the Chennai city. This is the eighth national park in the country and the smallest national park in Chennai. The park is unique in that it is one of the rare national parks located inside a city.
Image Source
The Guindy National Park is today home to over 400 blackbucks, 2000 spotted deer, 24 jackals, 130 species of birds, over 60 species of spiders and butterflies each, and a wide variety of geckos, snakes, and tortoises. The park is also home to innumerable grasshoppers, termites, ants, crabs, slugs, snails, mites, scorpions, millipedes, and earthworms. With minimal interference of human beings, this park houses many exotic species of fauna and flora.
Over 700,000 tourists visit Guindy National Park in Chennai every year. The park is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
3. Secretariat Park
This urban park in Chennai is located just opposite the Secretariat at Fort St. George, very near the Chennai Port. This park once used to be an undeveloped plot near the port with just some trees. However, in 2009, the Corporation of Chennai developed this piece of land into a beautiful park. The park was inaugurated in 2009.
This lush green space is perfect for morning and evening walks. The Secretariat park in Chennai is spread over 18.5 acres and stretches from the subway at the Reserve Bank of India to the War memorial. There is a grand circular fountain in the center of the park and many pedestrian walkways. There is also a tree court in the park with 18 granite benches placed strategically around the trees, two public rest houses, a grand granite plaza for practicing meditation and yoga, and a one-acre sunken court located below road level for children.
The unique feature of the park is the three ramps that connect to the pathways and enables people with disability to use all parts of the park.
There are many beautiful murals done on the walls of the park by art students from all over Chennai.
4. Arignar Anna Zoological Park
The Arignar Anna Zoological Park is one of the most popular picnic spots in Chennai. Located in Vandalur, the zoo is an excellent place to discover the local flora and fauna. The Arignagar Zoo is just 30 kilometers from the main Chennai city, and it is the largest zoo of its kind in all of Southeast Asia. Sprawled over 1260 acres, the zoo has an extensive collection of exotic and endemic animals. It is possible for visitors to experience the natural beauty of this zoo first hand with a trip similar to safari parks that allows you to see many deer and lions.
There are over 140 different species of organisms, such as the Himalayan brown bear, tiger, elephants, Indian civet cat, and lions. There is also a reptile house with many reptile species like the king cobra, python, viper, and many others. There is also a small built-in Jurassic Park inside the zoo for children. There is also a children’s park, an education center, and elephant joy rides for children.
The zoo is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and it remains closed on Tuesdays.
5. Anna Nagar Tower Park
Officially known as the Dr. Visvesvaraya Tower Park, the Anna Nagar Tower Park is a beautiful urban park in the suburbs of Anna Nagar in Chennai. It is a truly unique park as it is the tallest park tower in Chennai. The park also has a statue of Lise Meitner. However, while the tower has since been closed for the public, the park remains open to visitors. The 135-foot tower with 12-storeys was built in the center of the park in 1968 as part of the World Trade Fair, and still remains one of the main attractions of this park.
Spanning an area of 15.35 acres, Anna Nagar Tower Park is another green area of Chennai. The park has a bird-watching deck, badminton courts, an amphitheater, a skating rink, a lake, and various convenience facilities for visitors.
6. Nageswara Rao Park
Spread over four acres, the Nageswara Rao Park is located on Luz Corner in Chennai. The park is open from 5:00 am to 8:00 p, daily and is a popular place for locals to exercise and go for walks. There are many different varieties of trees that can be found in this park. Medicinal and ornamental plants like a Copper pod, Enterolobium saman, Tabubia, and many others are also found in the park.
This urban park has a badminton court, separate play area for children, and regularly hosts various musical functions and civic forums.
These lush green spaces in Chennai are a huge relief for the citizens of the city as it is the perfect way for relaxing and unwinding from the hectic daily life. These much-loved green spaces in Chennai are a popular draw not just for tourists, but also the kids, adults, and elderly in the city. Replete with many shady green trees, these parks of Chennai provide the best environment for a day of picnic. They are being used efficiently by locals for their morning and evening walks and exercise sessions.