Little Mount Shrine
Little Mount Shrine
4.5
5:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
5:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
5:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
5:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
5:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
5:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
5:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
5:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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- Little Mount • 2 min walk
- Saidapet • 9 min walk
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4.5
96 reviews
Excellent
58
Very good
26
Average
11
Poor
1
Terrible
0
The_Pale_Ridah
Gladesville, Australia1,956 contributions
Sept 2010
St Thomas travelled the long road to India to spread Jesus’ teachings & like many of these Apostles, died a violent death. Modern day Chennai aka Madras or Mylapore was the location of his martyrdom, making the Indian Church the 2nd oldest church community in the world, next to the Catholic Church, with a direct connection to Jesus.
The holy site at Little Mount or locally known as Chinnamalai comprises the cave where St Thomas lived, a holy spring, a stone carved cross & a small circular chapel. Inside the cave is a stone boulder with an imprint of a hand on it, supposedly St Thomas’s hand print or that of a large beast. Being alone in the cave I thought about this being the hand print of a bloke who hung out & drank wine with Jesus! Near the cave is a fresh water spring that miraculously appeared to quench the thirst of followers, a shame Hindus didn’t drink wine, a mysterious wine spring would create some buzz id imagine. Inside the locked shed that protects the stream is an ancient stone cross that was uncovered recently & believed to have been carved by the saint himself & on which he hugged while he was violently stabbed to death by a hating Brahmin priest.
Little Mount is located in Saidapet, Chennai near the Maraimalal Adigalar bridge. The chapel is open all day & is a cool blessing from Chennai’s heat. Many auto-rickshaw/taxi drivers might not know where it is but just tell them to go to Saidapet & ask around. There are no admission fees but the old man who holds the key to the natural spring & stone cross might appreciate a small ‘donation’ for unlocking the door to access the cross & spring, u can find him loitering around the place. A visit to Little Mount cannot be complete without a trip to the San Thome Basilica which is one of three places in the world where a church has been built over the tomb of an Apostle of Jesus, the others being the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain for St James & St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in Rome.
The holy site at Little Mount or locally known as Chinnamalai comprises the cave where St Thomas lived, a holy spring, a stone carved cross & a small circular chapel. Inside the cave is a stone boulder with an imprint of a hand on it, supposedly St Thomas’s hand print or that of a large beast. Being alone in the cave I thought about this being the hand print of a bloke who hung out & drank wine with Jesus! Near the cave is a fresh water spring that miraculously appeared to quench the thirst of followers, a shame Hindus didn’t drink wine, a mysterious wine spring would create some buzz id imagine. Inside the locked shed that protects the stream is an ancient stone cross that was uncovered recently & believed to have been carved by the saint himself & on which he hugged while he was violently stabbed to death by a hating Brahmin priest.
Little Mount is located in Saidapet, Chennai near the Maraimalal Adigalar bridge. The chapel is open all day & is a cool blessing from Chennai’s heat. Many auto-rickshaw/taxi drivers might not know where it is but just tell them to go to Saidapet & ask around. There are no admission fees but the old man who holds the key to the natural spring & stone cross might appreciate a small ‘donation’ for unlocking the door to access the cross & spring, u can find him loitering around the place. A visit to Little Mount cannot be complete without a trip to the San Thome Basilica which is one of three places in the world where a church has been built over the tomb of an Apostle of Jesus, the others being the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain for St James & St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in Rome.
Written 20 April 2011
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.
Ruby S
202 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
It is a religious attraction of both spiritual and religious significance. The church and surroundings are well maintained accessible by both foot as well as car. The location overlooking the airport attracts general visitors as well.
Written 11 April 2015
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.
Leena I
Pune, India165 contributions
Sept 2014 • Solo
There seems some confusion in the reviews of the place. The place known as little mount is locally called chinnamalai and the church is named as 'our lady of health'. This is located at Saidapet and NOT near the airport. The church or shrine near the airport is st.thomas mount.
Little mount is believed to be the place where St. Thomas was in hiding. You can see the cave as an underground place attached to the church. There is a rock with a huge palm impression and it is believed that this palm impression belongs to St.Thomas. There is a spring which again is believed to have been in existence from the time of St.Thomas and many devotees carry this water back along with them. This place therefore has historic and religious importance. Just around the church there is a small garden with the depiction of the stations of the cross. Though I wasn't here for any Good Friday service, I am told it is a beautiful and meaningful service.
Little mount is believed to be the place where St. Thomas was in hiding. You can see the cave as an underground place attached to the church. There is a rock with a huge palm impression and it is believed that this palm impression belongs to St.Thomas. There is a spring which again is believed to have been in existence from the time of St.Thomas and many devotees carry this water back along with them. This place therefore has historic and religious importance. Just around the church there is a small garden with the depiction of the stations of the cross. Though I wasn't here for any Good Friday service, I am told it is a beautiful and meaningful service.
Written 21 September 2014
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.
dhanyamarath
Chennai2 contributions
Jul 2011 • Solo
In 2008, when I was new in Chennai I happened to see a statue in little mount (chinnamalai, Saidapet) which attracted me. I followed it and reached this church and it was wow I found peace there!
No one talked much about this church, though it is one of the tourist spots in chennai. I did not know the history, I was only in search of peace and I found it there, I would say.
As mentioned in the other comment, there is a small cave (a very cool place to beat the heat of chennai) which is the attraction point in this church. I find lot of crowd in and around church, but when I get into the cave and sit there for a while I will feel as if I am meditating. It's a good feeling and it is worth visiting this place in chennai.
No one talked much about this church, though it is one of the tourist spots in chennai. I did not know the history, I was only in search of peace and I found it there, I would say.
As mentioned in the other comment, there is a small cave (a very cool place to beat the heat of chennai) which is the attraction point in this church. I find lot of crowd in and around church, but when I get into the cave and sit there for a while I will feel as if I am meditating. It's a good feeling and it is worth visiting this place in chennai.
Written 9 August 2011
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.
lixonsamuel
Bengaluru, India34 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
We traveled a long route to get here. It was a good feeling to visit the ground where this hallowed christian apostle who bought the gospel into India. spent his last few moments.
Written 1 February 2014
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.
Aparajita C
goa41 contributions
Dec 2011 • Solo
The shrine centers around the little underground basalt cave in which St thomas is said to have taken refuge to escape from his prosecutors and the perennial spring said to have miraculously arisen to quench his thirst .The 14th century Portugese church that stands above is still in use and the local congregation gathers to celebrate mass on Sundays.It is not a touristy place but visited by streams of earnest pilgrims has an air of peace and sanctity about it.It is an amazing feeling to drink from the perrennial spring as a pilgrim pours out a tiny mugful into your cupped hands.The cave entrance is hidden by an adjacent chapel and once you have siddled inside there is hardly space to stand erect in the low basalt cave where St Thomas used to meditate. It is bare except for an altar that has been placed quite recently.you can also see the narrow (grilled) opening in the cave wall said to have opened up miraculously to allow the saint to escape from his pursuers.The entire shrine has a feeling of ascetic serenity and prayerfulnes about it along with a sense of historical drama and danger.It is highly recommended for devout Catholics as well as history buffs.
Note: The locals call it Chinna malai (little mount) and is located in Saidapet. It should not be confused with the much higher and more famous Periya malai (big mount)/Firangi malai which is popularly called St thomas mount and overlooks the airport, and was the site of St thomas' Martyrdom.Several reviews on this page confuse the two, the photographs are of the little mount shrine .
Note: The locals call it Chinna malai (little mount) and is located in Saidapet. It should not be confused with the much higher and more famous Periya malai (big mount)/Firangi malai which is popularly called St thomas mount and overlooks the airport, and was the site of St thomas' Martyrdom.Several reviews on this page confuse the two, the photographs are of the little mount shrine .
Written 18 November 2012
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.
OsdenF77
Vasai, India121 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
Liked the silence in which a Church is always surrounded. cleanliness and the atmosphere. The place is very much in the city and is one of the foundation stone monuments in the Country for the Roman Catholic faith.
Written 1 January 2015
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.
excellent2013
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India34 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
Little Mount Shrine is located where St.Thomas preached the Gospel to the people.It is really wonder to see the footprints of St.Thomas on the hill.God protects him from his enemies and provide everything wonderfully.
The surroundings of the Shrine may be maintained neatly which may attracts more people.It is a holy Shrine so that it may be neat and tidy.On the Main road some signs may be put to know the way correctly.
It is a good chance to understand how God protects and provides His Children by visiting the Shrine Cave and the Fountain.
The surroundings of the Shrine may be maintained neatly which may attracts more people.It is a holy Shrine so that it may be neat and tidy.On the Main road some signs may be put to know the way correctly.
It is a good chance to understand how God protects and provides His Children by visiting the Shrine Cave and the Fountain.
Written 11 November 2014
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.
selection11
Chennai (Madras), India1 contribution
Apr 2012
Welcome for the Feast on 5th and 6th May 2012. This is the only Shrine for two Saints. This the place where St.Thomas Stayed and preached the good news of god. The Shrine has following places to visit.
Alter of St.Thomas
Cross carved by St.Thomas
Water pond digged by St.Thomas which in the mountain which never dries
Alter of St.Thomas
Cross carved by St.Thomas
Water pond digged by St.Thomas which in the mountain which never dries
Written 23 April 2012
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.
joepurakel
Kottayam, India119 contributions
Apr 2016 • Solo
i visited the shrine a decade ago and it was a serene place.
Now the new unplanned garish structures has marred the harmony with nature and spiritulity. construction needs to have been done in an ergonomic way and in harmony with the naure and nature of the shrine.
Now the new unplanned garish structures has marred the harmony with nature and spiritulity. construction needs to have been done in an ergonomic way and in harmony with the naure and nature of the shrine.
Written 18 May 2016
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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