Things to Do in Chennai in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Chennai
Is April Right for You?
Advantages
- Pre-monsoon lull means minimal rainfall despite 10 technically rainy days - showers are brief and typically happen overnight or early morning, leaving most daylight hours completely dry for sightseeing
- Beach season is still viable with calmer seas along the East Coast Road before the Southwest Monsoon arrives in June - water visibility is decent and temperatures are warm enough for extended swimming at 28°C (82°F)
- Tamil New Year (Puthandu) on April 14th brings incredible street food markets, temple festivals with elaborate kolam designs, and a genuine local celebration you can actually participate in without massive tourist crowds
- Hotel rates drop 20-30% compared to December-February peak season while temperatures are only marginally higher - you get the same Chennai experience for significantly less money before summer vacation crowds arrive in May
Considerations
- Heat builds throughout the month with afternoon temperatures regularly hitting 36-38°C (97-100°F) in direct sun - the UV index of 8 means you'll burn in 15 minutes without protection, and outdoor activities between 11am-4pm are genuinely uncomfortable
- Humidity at 70% makes the temperature feel about 3-5°C (5-9°F) hotter than the thermometer reads - that morning walk feels fine at 26°C (79°F) but by noon you're dealing with what feels like 39°C (102°F) with sticky air
- Power cuts increase as the city strains under AC load, particularly in neighborhoods away from the central business district - budget hotels without generator backup can mean 1-2 hour outages during peak afternoon hours
Best Activities in April
Mahabalipuram Shore Temple and Cave Temples Exploration
April mornings before 9am are perfect for exploring the UNESCO World Heritage rock-cut temples 55 km (34 miles) south of Chennai. The granite structures stay relatively cool overnight and the sea breeze picks up by 8am. Tourist numbers are down compared to winter, meaning you can actually photograph the Shore Temple without dozens of people in frame. The light is spectacular for photography between 6:30-8:30am. Combine this with the Pancha Rathas and Arjuna's Penance before the heat becomes oppressive. Local guides typically charge 500-800 rupees for 2-3 hours and provide crucial context about Pallava dynasty architecture that you'd completely miss otherwise.
Fort St. George and Government Museum Indoor Cultural Tours
April's heat makes air-conditioned museum time not just pleasant but strategically necessary for afternoon hours. The Government Museum in Egmore has an extraordinary bronze gallery showcasing Chola dynasty sculptures that rivals any collection globally, plus the museum's natural AC from thick colonial walls keeps things bearable even when power cuts hit. Fort St. George's museum tells the British East India Company story through original documents and artifacts. These aren't exciting on paper but they're genuinely fascinating if you have even passing interest in colonial history, and you'll appreciate being indoors between 12pm-4pm when outdoor Chennai is brutal. Budget 2-3 hours per museum.
Kapaleeshwarar Temple and Mylapore Walking Tours
Early morning temple visits around 6-7am let you experience Chennai's spiritual rhythm when priests perform pujas and locals come for darshan before work. The Dravidian gopuram towers are stunning in morning light, and April's clear skies before monsoon haze make for incredible photography. Mylapore's tank area stays relatively cool in morning hours, and you can explore the surrounding streets where women create elaborate kolam designs outside homes. The neighborhood comes alive during Tamil New Year week with special decorations and traditional foods sold from homes. Walking tours cover 2-3 km (1.2-1.9 miles) over 2-3 hours, ending before serious heat arrives.
East Coast Road Beach Hopping and Seafood Villages
The 50 km (31 mile) stretch from Chennai to Mahabalipuram via ECR passes fishing villages, relatively clean beaches, and excellent seafood shacks. April is actually ideal because tourist crowds thin out while the sea remains calm and swimmable - Southwest Monsoon rough waters don't arrive until June. Covelong Beach and Mahabalipuram Beach have decent swimming conditions with lifeguards present. Stop at Injambakkam or Neelankarai fishing harbors around 7-8am to watch boats return with catch, then eat at beachside restaurants where you pick your fish and they grill it fresh. The drive itself is pleasant with sea breeze through car windows, though avoid midday heat by starting early.
Dakshinachitra Cultural Museum and Craft Demonstrations
This living history museum 25 km (15.5 miles) south on ECR showcases authentic South Indian homes reconstructed from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. April is perfect because the outdoor village layout becomes tolerable with strategic timing - go right when they open at 10am before peak heat, or after 4pm when temperatures drop. Craft demonstrations by traditional artisans happen throughout the day in shaded workshops. You'll see bronze casting, pottery, basket weaving, and kolam design. The museum restaurant serves authentic regional thalis that give you a taste of four states' cuisines. Budget 2-3 hours, more if you're genuinely interested in traditional architecture and crafts.
Besant Nagar Beach Sunset and Evening Food Scene
Locals call it Bessie, and it's where Chennai residents actually go to relax versus Marina Beach's tourist crowds. April evenings from 5:30pm onward see temperatures drop to tolerable levels around 30°C (86°F) with sea breeze making it genuinely pleasant. The beach itself is cleaner than Marina, and the adjacent Elliot's Beach has decent swimming conditions in April before monsoon. The real draw is the food scene on the streets behind the beach - Murugan Idli Shop, multiple juice stalls serving fresh sugarcane and fruit juices for 30-60 rupees, and street food vendors setting up by 6pm. Watch sunset around 6:15-6:30pm in April, then explore the neighborhood's cafes and restaurants that stay open late.
April Events & Festivals
Tamil New Year (Puthandu)
April 14th marks the Tamil calendar new year with temple festivals, elaborate kolam designs decorating every doorstep, and traditional foods like mango pachadi (sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy dish symbolizing life's experiences) served in homes. Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore hosts special pujas and processions. Families wear new clothes and visit temples for blessings. Street markets around major temples sell traditional sweets, flowers, and new utensils. This is a genuine cultural experience rather than a tourist-oriented festival - you're welcome to observe temple ceremonies and photograph kolam designs, though remember basic temple etiquette like removing shoes and asking permission before photographing people.
Chithirai Thiruvizha Temple Festivals
The Tamil month of Chithirai (mid-April to mid-May) brings temple festivals across Chennai with deity processions, classical music and dance performances, and temporary street markets. While the main Chithirai festival happens in Madurai, Chennai temples including Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane host their own celebrations with evening processions of deities on decorated palanquins or temple chariots. Timings vary by temple and lunar calendar, but expect evening events around 7-9pm when temperatures cool. These are working religious festivals where locals come to worship, creating an authentic atmosphere that's fascinating to witness respectfully from the sidelines.