San Thome Cathedral Tours
Saint Thomas the Apostle, or ‘Doubting Thomas,’ as he was later called, came to India in 52 AD where he purportedly lived out the remainder of his days. The 16th century Sao Thome Cathedral, built by the Roman Catholic Portuguese and later rebuilt by the British, is said to house the bodily remains of St Thomas in a tomb below the white neo-Gothic structure.
A series of stained glass windows inside the basilica depict scenes from St Thomas’s life and carved wooden panels recount the last days of Jesus’s life from his last temptation to the crucifixion. As a working cathedral, visitors are welcome to stop in for mass (in both English and Tamil), though the church draws larger crowds for mass.
After visiting the main cathedral, view the tomb of St Thomas in the underground Tomb Chapel, accessible from outside the main church structure. Another structure on the grounds houses a small museum containing artifacts related to St Thomas and a theater showing a video about his life.
A series of stained glass windows inside the basilica depict scenes from St Thomas’s life and carved wooden panels recount the last days of Jesus’s life from his last temptation to the crucifixion. As a working cathedral, visitors are welcome to stop in for mass (in both English and Tamil), though the church draws larger crowds for mass.
After visiting the main cathedral, view the tomb of St Thomas in the underground Tomb Chapel, accessible from outside the main church structure. Another structure on the grounds houses a small museum containing artifacts related to St Thomas and a theater showing a video about his life.
Address: 38, San Thome High Road, Chennai 600 004, India
14 Tours and Activities to Experience San Thome Cathedral
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Chennai City Sightseeing Tour
Chennai is full of old heritage buildings, from ancient Pallava-era temples to colonial-era churches and public buildings constructed under British rule. This tour takes you to some of the most interesting structures, from the 7th-century Kapaleeswarar Temple to the 20th-century Ripon Building, all in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle.
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From
$36.00
Price varies by group size
From
$36.00
Price varies by group size
Peacock Trail Walking Tour in Mylapore
Explore Chennai's Mylapore neighborhood with a local guide and learn about the rituals of daily life, hear stories of gods and demons, and gain a deeper understanding of local customs and traditions. This popular walking tour showcases the highlights and the history of this incredible city and is not to be missed.
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From
$25.13
From
$25.13
Mylapore Heritage Walking Tour with Breakfast
Explore the best of Chennai's cultural hub of Mylapore with this heritage-themed walking tours. You'll meet your guide bright and early and have a traditional breakfast before heading on to see some of the area's most interesting and historically significant sites. Highlights include visits to San Thome Basilica, the temple of Ramakrishna Math, and the 7th-century Kapaleeshwar Temple, the most famous temple in town.
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From
$71.80
Price varies by group size
From
$71.80
Price varies by group size
Chennai Shore Excursion - Full Day Private Chennai City Tour
Explore the highlights of Chennai on a full-day private tour of the city. See the St. George Museum, St. Mary Church, San Thome Church, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, and the Government Museum, and get photo ops of architectural gems like the Central Railway Station, Parry's Corner, and the High Court.
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From
$80.00
From
$80.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Chennai Cultural Heritage Tour
Explore several of Chennai’s most must-see religious landmarks during this three-for-one guided tour. Admire the Dravidian architecture of world-famous, 7th-century Kapaleeshwarar Temple, follow worshippers to bustling Parthasarathy Temple, and learn about the city’s Portuguese heritage at St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica. Tours include hotel pick-up and drop-off in a private air-conditioned vehicle for added comfort.
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From
$36.38
Price varies by group size
From
$36.38
Price varies by group size
Private Custom Tour: Chennai Sightseeing with Guide
Join us for the private full-day sightseeing tour & explore the beautiful city Chennai, the capital of state Tamil Nadu in an air-conditioned transport with a professional guide. Experience the diverse cultures of the people living here, the architectural marvels of the historical structures, forts, palaces, religious sites like temples and various beautiful beaches.
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From
$77.95
Price varies by group size
From
$77.95
Price varies by group size
South India Church Tour - 5n6d
The history of Christianity in Tamil Nadu dates back to 2000 years ago, but in the 16th century, the religion is believed to have made a mark with the introduction by St Francis Xavier in Kanyakumari district. With the colonization by Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Italians in different years, the state saw a drastic change in its silhouette as well. Today's Tamil Nadu has some of the most spectacular churches which are must-visit. Tamil Nadu boasts a church in Chennai City where St Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus is said to originally interred.
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From
$335.74
Price varies by group size
From
$335.74
Price varies by group size
Trip to Visit Historically Significant Churches in Chennai
Luz Church (1516), St. Thomas Mount Church (1523), St. Mary's Church (1680) and
Armenian Church (1772) - These churches of Chennai reflect the 500 years of rich architectural heritage and the cultural traditions of the devout Christians who built them. Let's take once in life time experiences on this tour when you're in Chennai.
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From
$31.18
Price varies by group size
From
$31.18
Price varies by group size
St Thomas Trail in Chennai by Wonder tours
Listen to guided commentary as you travel detailing the influence footsteps of St. Thomas had on the city and the country of India as a whole between AD52 and AD72.Learn about the history of Christianity in Chennai through visits to local religious landmarks such as the cave in the Little Mount, the handprints of St. Thomas, St. Thomas Mount, and the St. Thome Basilica.
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From
$80.00
Price varies by group size
From
$80.00
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Trip to Visit Famous Churches in Chennai
Especially when plan to visit Churches & Cathedrals in the city, this below list are the "Top 5" in the city
San Thome Church,
Armenian Church,
St Mary's Church,
St George's Cathedral,
St. Andrews Church
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From
$41.81
Price varies by group size
From
$41.81
Price varies by group size
Mylapore Walking tour with Breakfast by Wonder tours
Explore one of Chennai's most interesting neighborhoods on foot with this walking tour of Mylapore. You'll get to visit the famous Kapalesshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the Portuguese San Thome Church, walk through colorful markets, and try out some traditional South Indian snacks at the famous Saravana Bhavan restaurant.
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From
$23.58
From
$23.58
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Following the foot steps of St Thomas in Chennai
Tours are led by cultural ambassadors who will bring alive the history and culture of the times when St Thomas came to India in the first century AD.
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From
$82.06
Price varies by group size
From
$82.06
Price varies by group size
Chennai full day city tour
Chennai City Tour is a day trip organized in a private vehicle to experience authentic Chennai with its rich cultural heritage. The highlights include a visit to Mylapore to visit Chennai’s most famous temple of Kapaleeswar, the magnificent San Thome Basilica, Ramakrishna Math the monastic organization and Fort St George which played a crucial role in establishing British rule in India.
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From
$97.44
Price varies by group size
From
$97.44
Price varies by group size
Gods of Mylapore, a heritage walk in Chennai
This walk will demystify Hindu Gods & Temple rituals. From far, the thousands of Hindu Gods and complex rituals in temples look bewildering! Our Cultural Evangelist will demystify the reason for so many Gods and purpose of Temple rituals.
Relics of St Thomas are a highlight. Visit the Shrine in San Thome Basilica to see relics like a small bone of St Thomas, the head of the lance with which the Saint was pierced and an ancient painting of Our Blessed Mother.
This walking tour is led by a cultural evangelist who will bring alive the cultural heritage of Mylapore.
The walk coms with an opportunity to taste the iconic Filter Coffee of Mylapore.
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From
$70.00
Price varies by group size
From
$70.00
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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