Fort St. George, British fort in Chennai, India

Fort St. George is a fortress of light grey stone on the Chennai coast, entered through three gates and still ringed by a visible moat. Its walls stand 6 metres high. Inside are the Tamil Nadu secretariat, the legislative assembly, St. Mary's Church, Clive House and the Fort Museum, whose upper floor was once the Public Exchange Hall.

The English built this fortress in 1639 as their first military base in India. Its foundation led to the growth of Madras, which later became the city of Chennai.

St. Mary's Church inside the walls serves as the oldest Anglican place of worship on the Indian subcontinent. Its interior holds British gravestones from the 17th century, marking the resting places of traders and soldiers who lived here.

The grounds serve today as the seat of the Tamil Nadu Legislature and state administration, so some areas remain closed to visitors. Plan your visit around the museum and the church, which open during regular hours.

The Fort Museum, completed in 1795, first housed the Madras Bank, and its upstairs hall served as the Public Exchange Hall for meetings and lottery draws. On the third floor, the first Indian national flag flown after independence in 1947 is kept; visitors may look but not touch or photograph it.