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Annadurai statue
Annadurai statue · Srinath1905, CC BY-SA 3.0
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IITMmensa · Mzwirlein, CC0
Kathipara
Kathipara · Guru coolguy ( talk ), Public domain
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Saidapet Bridges Adyar River Chennai Jul18 DSC05378 · Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Tamil Virtual Academy · Thamizhpparithi Maari, CC BY-SA 4.0
Periyar Science and Technology Centre and Birla Planetarium, Chennai 46
Periyar Science and Technology Centre and Birla Planetarium, Chennai 46 · Sivahari, CC BY-SA 4.0

Saint Thomas Mount, India

Saint Thomas Mount is a town of 43,795 people in Tamil Nadu, India.

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Population43,795 GeoNames
RegionTamil Nadu
Elevation91 m 299 ft
Time zoneAsia/Kolkata
Nearest airportChennai International Airport (MAA) 3 km

Why visit Saint Thomas Mount

Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 56 places to eat, 10 places to stay and 10 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Anna University, Central Polytechnic Chennai, Birla Planetarium and Tamilnadu Science and Technology Center.

About Saint Thomas Mount

St. Thomas Mount (also known as Parangimalai) is a small hillock in the Chennai district of Tamil Nadu, India, near the neighbourhood of Guindy and close to Chennai International Airport. By extension, it is also the name of the neighbourhood surrounding the hillock.

From the Wikipedia article St. Thomas Mount (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do10

Anna University

School · 4.5 km

State-run university in Guindy, Tamil Nadu

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Central Polytechnic Chennai

School · 5.5 km

Government polytechnic college in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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Chennai Airport Flyover

Bridge · 4.0 km

Bridge in India

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Indian Institute of Technology Madras

School · 4.3 km

Autonomous public engineering and research institution located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

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Kathipara Junction

Bridge · 0.9 km

Bridge in India

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Maraimalai Adigal Bridge

Bridge · 3.5 km

Bridge in India

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Tamil Nadu Open University

School · 3.8 km

Open university based in Chennai

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Tamil Virtual Academy

School · 5.0 km

Indian university

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Jothi Theatre

Cinema and theater · 0.7 km

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Thadam Naturals

Farm and orchard · 2.3 km

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Museums and landmarks10

Birla Planetarium

Museum · 5.2 km

Planetarium museum in Chennai, India.

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Tamilnadu Science and Technology Center

Museum · 5.0 km

The Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre (TNSTC) is a science museum and educational institution in Chennai, India. Established in...

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Chennai Trade Center

Monument and historic site · 1.4 km

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Our Lady of Good Health

Monument and historic site · Catholic · 1.0 km

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sriram.s

Monument and historic site · 2.5 km

3/60 fourth cross street, Chennai

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Cross of Sacrifice

Monument and historic site · 1.2 km

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Lt. Col. Samuel Dalrymple (Madras Artillery) Cupola

Monument and historic site · 0.6 km

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Mother Teresa

Monument and historic site

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Pope John Paul II

Monument and historic site

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T-55

Monument and historic site · 0.7 km

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Parks, trails and playgrounds6

Guindy National Park

Park · 3.8 km

National park in Chennai, India

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Alandur

Park · 1.0 km

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Indian Airlines Stadium

Sports field and stadium · 1.8 km

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King park

Park · 2.3 km

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Madras Gymkhana Club Golf Annexe

Golf course · 2.2 km

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Rotary Park

Park · 1.9 km

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Restaurants and cafes56

Sukkubhai Biryani

Restaurant · 0.6 km

14 Railway Station Road, Chennai

Mo-Su 10:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +91 44 2233 0444;+91 44 2233 0666;+91 44 2233 0888

Dindigul Thalappakatti

Restaurant · Indian · 1.3 km

2 Venu Reddy Street, Chennai

Open in Google Maps · +91 44 4351 8144

Masaledaar Desi Rasoi

Restaurant · Indian · 2.0 km

11:30-15:30, 18:30-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +91 99402 87901

Hotel Om Muruga

Restaurant · 2.3 km

டிபன் - சாப்பாடு - வெரைட்டி ரைஸ் - பாஸ்ட் புட் சைவம் - அசைவம்

1325, LIG II TNHB Main Road, Chennai

Open in Google Maps · +919840108951

Sree Saiva Bhavan

Restaurant · 1.9 km

Mo-Su 07:30-22:00

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Eat N Good

Cafe · Ice Cream, Tea, Coffee Shop, Snack · 2.5 km

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Hotel sangeetha

Restaurant · 1.2 km

Mount Poonamallee Highway

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House #22 Cafe

Cafe

North Parade Road, Chennai

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Kanchi Singu Aiyyar Bhavan

Restaurant · 2.3 km

Parthasarathy Koil Street, Ekkaatuthangal

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Kayal

Restaurant · Mediterranean · 1.1 km

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Navratna

Restaurant · North Indian · 1.1 km

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Polka Pastry

Restaurant

North Parade Road, Chennai

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44 more on the map.

History

Historically, St. Thomas Mount was also known as Periya Malai (பெரிய மலை, meaning “Great Hill or Mount”) in Tamil and Monte Grande (“Great Mount”) in Portuguese, distinguishing it from the nearby Chinna Malai (“Little Mount”).The hill is also known locally as Parangimalai (பரங்கிமலை). The Madras Journal of Literature and Science (1887–1888) explains this name as “the Mountain of the Franks or Europeans,” associating it with the early Portuguese settlement.

The area is closely associated with local traditions. According to Hindu tradition, the sage Bhringi resided and meditated on the hillock in his quest to see Shiva. The locality thus came to be known as Bhringi malai, or "the hill of Bhringi", which over time morphed into "Parangimalai". It is also said that this connects several other regions in the city with the origin of their names. For instance, the place where he laid his pitcher, known in Tamil as kindi while performing worship, has now come to be known as "Guindy".

From the History section of St. Thomas Mount on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay10

Churches and places of worship55

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Shopping8

Gas and EV charging10

Schools, colleges and libraries26

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Healthcare46

Map of Saint Thomas Mount

237 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Chennai International Airport (MAA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 km away.

  • Manapakkam 3 km northwest, about 3 min by car
  • Meenambakkam 3 km southwest, about 3 min by car
  • Pallāvaram 6 km southwest, about 6 min by car
  • Ambattur 11 km north, about 11 min by car
  • Tambaram 12 km southwest, about 12 min by car
  • Chennai 13 km northeast, about 13 min by car
  • Avadi 16 km northwest, about 16 min by car
  • Vandalūr 18 km southwest, about 18 min by car
  • Tiruvottiyūr 21 km northeast, about 21 min by car
  • Kanchipuram 57 km west, about 57 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 3, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.