San Thome Church
San Thome Church
4.5
Architectural BuildingsReligious SitesChurches & Cathedrals
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Probably the most magnificent and prominent reminder of Chennai's colonial lineage, the San Thome Church bears a colossal amount of history since A.D. 52, the year when St. Thomas traveled to India, though the Roman Catholic basilica was built in the 16th century by the Portuguese. It was then rebuilt by the British in 1893. The imposing structure reaches a height of 155 feet and emanates peace and architectural splendor with its tall spires over the tomb of the saint. The sea makes a wonderful backdrop to the pristine white structure. The San Thome Church is considered one of the pilgrimages for people around the world.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: Mylapore
The religious and cultural epicenter of Chennai, Mylapore is highly revered by the locals and tourists for the rich history and architectural marvels that line its narrow alleys and markets and is one of the oldest residential neighbourhood of the city. Home to a cluster of tree-lined avenues full of popular churches and the renowned Kapaleeswara Temple soaked in Dravidian architectural vibes, Mylapore is filled with small lanes with old-style homes, music auditoriums and stores selling music and religious memorabilia. The bazaars selling jewellery, fresh produce and flowers that surround the streets of this neighbourhood provide a colourful backdrop to the temple. Aimless strolls through the small lanes lead you to hidden corners of some mouth-watering south-Indian dishes served at local places like Maami’s mess, Jannal Kadai and Kaalathi Stall.
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See what travelers are saying

  • John_machado_15
    Mumbai, India104 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Peaceful and Serene
    San Thome Basilica in Chennai is a revered religious site, showcasing impressive neo-Gothic architecture. Dedicated to St. Thomas, the apostle, it holds historical and spiritual significance. You will appreciate the serene atmosphere, beautiful stained glass windows, and the tomb of St. Thomas. It's a peaceful place for reflection and a glimpse into the city's Christian heritage.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 18, 2023
  • Film G
    New England1,051 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Vibrant Center of Faith and History
    Come on a Sunday and you will find packed services with the faithful spilling out the doors at one of the 5-6 Masses. Light a candle. And be sure to visit the crypt with the earthly remains of St. Thomas, Apostle. This is one of 3 churches built on the remains of an apostle. You will likely have people come up to you to say hello, and ask about you. Friendly. Welcoming.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 3, 2024
  • LolaGo1
    Washington DC, District of Columbia6,632 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Burial site of St Thomas, Beautiful Cathedral, Small Museum
    I thoroughly enjoyed my isit here. There is ample free parking during our visit. We visited the interiors of this church, admired the wood carvin and simple decorations. . There is also a small museum showing some artifacts of the old times. The tomb or crypt is located towards the back of the Basilica. There are pews to kneel/sit down when praying to St. Thomas. The tomb is located at the center of the crypt. I said my prayers here and took some pictures. Note that there is aircondition here, the area is kept clean.Highly recommended to visit.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written March 15, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,260 reviews
Excellent
630
Very good
481
Average
133
Poor
10
Terrible
6

Manmeet k
3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Business
The worst food I’ve had on the planet in the name of buffet is served by the roof top restaurant ‘Angare’.
Wifi is pathetic that simply never works!
Hand towel in the washroom is worse than a mobbing cloth. I am falling short of words to describe why the hell did I decide on staying here that too for 4 days & 3 nights....
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

podrozniczka60
New Jersey16,679 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
The fact that this church is built on the tomb of the fascinating Apostle St Thomas really got me excited about visiting this place. St Peter's in Rome is built on the tomb of St Peter. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain - on the tomb of St James. And here we are - St Thomas! He travelled far to India and spent a number of years on the west coast of the subcontinent where there were prominent Jewish communities. He was later killed on the east coast in what is now Chennai.
The Basilica built by Portuguese is beautiful but, of course, different from European churches. One day we entered it during prayers and singing and the atmosphere was unforgettable. Indian custom calls for respectfully taking your shoes off when you enter. Next to the church - take place outdoor masses and processions. Across the parking lot there is a nice religious store with souvenirs and religious paraphernalia.
The Tomb of St Thomas can be entered through the separate building behind the church. There you go down the stairs and actually visit the tomb which is below the altar in the basilica.
The entrance to both the church and the tomb with the relic are free.
Written March 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Film G
New England1,051 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Come on a Sunday and you will find packed services with the faithful spilling out the doors at one of the 5-6 Masses. Light a candle. And be sure to visit the crypt with the earthly remains of St. Thomas, Apostle. This is one of 3 churches built on the remains of an apostle. You will likely have people come up to you to say hello, and ask about you. Friendly. Welcoming.
Written March 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SingaporeGirl
Singapore, Singapore517 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Much larger than one might expect with exhibition halls and venues, including a small snack shop, in addition to the main church. The underground 'crypt' with a relic of St. Thomas had a lovely very quiet atmosphere where many travellers and visitors stopped for a silent prayer. The apostle Thomas is not buried here, however, as the Portuguese apparently sent his body back to Portugal, but a small relic was kept. St. Francis visited the site in 1541 adding to its historicity. Plan a 30-minute visit. When we were there, we found a wedding in process--a real bonus!
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew D
Singapore, Singapore398 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Solo
I am not usually a fan of churches, but this is susprisingly good. It is one of the only three churches in the world built on a tomb of a disciple. The building is imposing and it is lovingly located on the same street where a Muslim mosque and Hindhu temples can be found, talk about multi-cultural!
Written December 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Poopyscoop
Brighton, UK1,307 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Beautiful church and our favourite thing in Chennai. Lots to see and it’s a gorgeous building. The church is easy to walk around and it’s less chaotic than other places. A little bit of tranquility.

I don’t think you need a tour to do this. Just book a taxi and go there.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John_machado_15
Mumbai, India104 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
San Thome Basilica in Chennai is a revered religious site, showcasing impressive neo-Gothic architecture. Dedicated to St. Thomas, the apostle, it holds historical and spiritual significance.

You will appreciate the serene atmosphere, beautiful stained glass windows, and the tomb of St. Thomas. It's a peaceful place for reflection and a glimpse into the city's Christian heritage.
Written November 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LolaGo1
Washington DC, DC6,632 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
I thoroughly enjoyed my isit here. There is ample free parking during our visit. We visited the interiors of this church, admired the wood carvin and simple decorations. . There is also a small museum showing some artifacts of the old times.

The tomb or crypt is located towards the back of the Basilica. There are pews to kneel/sit down when praying to St. Thomas. The tomb is located at the center of the crypt.

I said my prayers here and took some pictures. Note that there is aircondition here, the area is kept clean.Highly recommended to visit.
Written March 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AZCasualTraveler
Mesa, AZ2,438 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
San Thome Church, or more commonly known as St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica is a beautiful church located in Chennai India. The exterior of the Basilica looks nice with its very tall spires, and the interior is also quite nice and spacious. This Cathedral is a very historical and religious place because it has a tomb built over the remains of Saint Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.
Written September 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Saish B
Old Goa, India163 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Friends
Located not so far from the marina beach is this gem of a church. In pristine white and peaceful as expected. We reached there on Sunday morning as mass was about to end. Please check mass timings if you want to get inside as there can be a lot to people. Behind church is crypt chapel which we didn’t visit. 100/100 I would recommend.
Written May 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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San Thome Church, Chennai (Madras)

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