Mylapore Day Trip: Kapaleeshwarar Temple and Santhome Church

Why Mylapore is an easy half-day from Royapettah

Mylapore borders Royapettah, according to Wikipedia's Royapettah page, so you are not crossing the city to reach it. The hotel does not publish a travel time to Mylapore, so ask the front desk for the current traffic situation when you leave. An auto or app cab is the usual way, and the ride is short compared with a trip to the airport or the north side of town.

A good plan is one morning: temple first, breakfast second, church third, then back to the hotel for a rest before the afternoon heat.

Kapaleeshwarar Temple: what to know

Wikipedia describes the temple as a Dravidian-style shrine dedicated to Shiva as Kapaleeshwarar and Parvati as Karpagambal, with a 120-foot eastern gopuram built in 1906 and a large sacred tank. The temple's origins are placed around the 7th century and it is mentioned in Tevaram verse.

Timings: one published guide lists 5 AM to 12 noon and 4 PM to 9:30 PM, every day. Another Wikipedia summary lists ritual services from 5:30 AM to 10 PM. These do not match exactly, so treat both as approximate and confirm locally. The temple closes in the afternoon, which is the main thing to plan around.

The big festival is Panguni Peruvizha, held in March to April, with a chariot procession and the Arupathimoovar day, which draws the largest crowds. Expect very busy streets then.

The sacred tank sits beside the temple and measures about 190 by 143 metres, according to Wikipedia, with a granite mandapam at its centre used in the annual float festival. It is a pleasant spot to sit after you leave the shrine, though the steps and surrounding paving can be hot in the middle of the day, so go in the early morning or late afternoon.

What to wear and carry

The Madras High Court in 2015 ordered a dress code for temples run by the state's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department: for men a dhoti or pyjama with upper cloth, or formal trousers and shirt; for women a sari, half sari or churidhar with an upper cloth. Shorts, miniskirts and sleeveless tops were listed as unsuitable. The rule was described as interim, and temples enforce things differently, so the safest choice is simple, covered clothing.

You leave footwear outside. Wear slip-on sandals and carry a small cloth bag for them if the stalls outside are not convenient. Pavements can be hot at noon, so a morning visit is kinder to bare feet.

Photography rules differ from shrine to shrine, and the inner sanctum is usually off limits for cameras. Ask a temple attendant before you take photographs, and avoid photographing people at prayer. Mobile phones are best kept silent. If you are carrying a bag, expect it to be checked at the entrance, so carry as little as you can.

San Thome Basilica

San Thome Basilica is built, according to tradition, over the tomb of St Thomas the Apostle. The current neo-Gothic building was constructed between 1893 and 1896, and Wikipedia notes a 45-metre bell tower, teak-wood vaulted ceiling and stained glass. It was made a minor basilica in 1956. There is also a small museum with artefacts linked to the saint.

One tourism page lists visiting windows for the tomb area on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and on Saturday, but it does not give Sunday service times, and church timings change for services. Phone ahead or check on arrival, and dress modestly, as in any place of worship.

The basilica is described by Wikipedia as having 34 stained glass panels, 14 Stations of the Cross, a 200-year-old British pipe organ and a gold-painted wooden statue of Mary from Lisbon. It is one of the few churches in the world said to stand over an apostle's tomb. It is a gentler stop than the temple, where queues on busy days can add waiting time.

A simple sequence for the morning

Start at the temple around opening time. Walk the nearby Mada streets, where Outlook Traveller's guide names Mylai Karpagambal Mess and Rayar's Mess for breakfast. Then take a short auto to Santhome, and return to Royapettah by late morning.

The Marina Beach promenade is on the same side of the city, so some visitors add a short sea-front stop. Marina Beach is about 8 to 10 minutes from the hotel, which makes it an easy add-on if you are returning that way.

If you only have half a day, choose one of the two sights and do it properly. The temple deserves an unhurried visit, and the basilica is easier to add at the end because it is a calmer, quieter stop. Whichever you pick, bring water and a hat, and plan to be back at the hotel by early afternoon, when the heat peaks and the temple closes for the break.

Staying nearby

Hotel Royal King has a 24-hour front desk, a lift, free Wi-Fi and free on-site parking. Rooms start at Rs 1,600 for the Single Deluxe, Rs 2,000 for the Double Deluxe, Rs 2,800 for the Triple Bed Room and Rs 3,600 for the Quadruple Room. Please reconfirm current rates and taxes when you book. Message or call +91 73973 96612 with your dates.