St. Thomas Mount is a scenic, archaeological, and religious edifice located in Chennai’s south, rising more than 300 feet above sea level. Although the ascent is tortuous and rocky, the route is lined with trees and other vegetation. Tourists will encounter four magnificent curves with a crucifix atop them as they climb to the peak. You will pass by the fourteen Stations of the Cross along the trip as well. You will then ascend the hill in 136 steps because the trail is covered in granite, which makes the journey smoother and easier. Throughout your visit to Chennai, schedule a quick excursion to visit St. Thomas Mount as you leave town. It is simple to reach on your route out of Chennai and well worth the stopover. You’ll appreciate visiting this location that has been revered for even more than a thousand years. The trip will be worthwhile, especially if you have immediate travel arrangements with last minute flights to India. The breathtaking vista is simply a breathtaking adventure from the peak. From this eminence, the alluring influence of nature will indeed soothe your minds. Here, in this article, we have adhered to the detailed information about one of Chennai’s lesser-known and mysterious tourist destinations, St. Thomas Mount.
The “Our Lady of Expectations” shrine is located at the summit of the mountain, with a beautiful panorama of the surrounding vegetation.
The famed saint of Christ St. Thomas is claimed to have his final resting place on the summit, also known as Periyamalai, which translates to “Big Mount” in Tamil. He supposedly traveled to India around 52 AD to teach the gospel of Jesus. On a tiny hill called Saidapet, today known as Little Hill, he lived his final years in India. St. Thomas left his residence in a cave in search of safety from an attacker, but he was shot dead by an arrow while running to a neighboring hill. Then, in honor of his sacrifice, this hilltop was given his name. On the spot where he was interred in 1523, the Portuguese constructed an elegant church. The ancient church underwent a number of modifications before being ultimately destroyed in 1893. After that, a monastery in Gothic architecture was erected there and dedicated in 1896. In 1956, in honor of the Saint’s martyrdom, the cathedral was then given the rank of a basilica. Today, the St. Thomas Mount Church is the name by which most people refer to this church. While securing an international flight ticket online from USA to India, you must add this holy place to your itinerary.
A granite crucifix bearing the phrase “Sassanid Pahlavi” and thought to have been carved by the apostle himself was found in 1547. Due to the bloodstains that appear to eerily reappear even after being scraped off, it is commonly referred to as the “bleeding cross.” The shrine ceiling is currently being erected with this bleeding cross. It is worthwhile to make a quick visit to this holy location, especially if you have immediate travel arrangements with last minute flights to India.
Patrons traveling by online flight tickets to Chennai from USA to this holy place will be mesmerized by the ground inscriptions and sculptures on either side as they enter the basilica. A sculpture of the Child and the Mother is located on the right side of the church. Within the church, there is merely a single row of worshipers that leads towards the shrine, that is where the significant Mount relic, the bleeding cross, is kept. According to mythology, St. Thomas himself etched this antique stone cross. The artwork of the Mother and Child which is said to be a creation of St. Luke is perched atop the altar. The twelve apostles of Christ are shown in oil paintings on the side of the chancels, on the other hand.
In addition to the church, St. Mount Thomas is the location of the Sacred Apostles Monastery, which is also administered by the priests of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary and accommodates kids with physical and mental disabilities. The location of Indian Army officer instruction is at the base of the mountain. A quick visit to this holy location is indeed worthwhile, especially if you have immediate travel arrangements with last minute flights to India.
St. Thomas Mount Chapel, a little, unnoticed chapel with a breathtaking view, is the reward at the end. The vista is magnificent from the church grounds. Indeed, it will be a lovely aesthetic taste for you. From there, you will enjoy the gorgeous sunset and the mesmerizing clouds. Birds tweeting, squirrels scuttling, insects buzzing, and shoes scuffing across the hillside’s trails. Skittering leaves across the difficult path. One can spend a lot of time gazing at the natural world in tranquility and contemplative joy. While securing an international flight ticket online from USA to India, you must add this to your itinerary. The essence of compassion will permeate the soul without regret, retaliation, or outrage.
Who would have anticipated that perhaps the soul of a Hindu nation could contain one such rich legacy of Christianity? This renders St. Thomas Mount a unique and stunning sight to witness in Chennai. These locations are not listed on the village blueprint. Brilliant grass colors beneath the sky, a thick layer of meadow engulfed in the twilight’s fire. What can be more stunning scenery that can be seen from this mountaintop? Everyone should experience the color of the environment from this location, which renders the earth even more wonderful.
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