Matsya Narayana Temple — Attraction in Zone 15 Sholinganallur

If you're looking for a serene and peaceful place for meditation near the seashore, then the Matsya Narayana Temple in Uthandi, Chennai is definitely worth a visit. This temple, maintained by the Chinmaya mission, is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and connect with your inner self.

The best time to visit this temple is in the early morning when you can experience the tranquility of the surroundings. The temple offers an open meditation space, which is perfect for those looking to meditate in nature. The sound of waves crashing onto the shore and the cool breeze from the sea will provide the perfect setting for your meditation practice.

Apart from the temple, there is also a beach nearby with multiple food stalls, making it an ideal spot for family outings. The beach is one of the best in the ECR region, and it quickly became our favorite spot for spending quality time with our family.

The temple is well maintained and clean, and there is even a kids' temple for younger visitors. However, parking can be a struggle, and during weekends, the area can become quite crowded, making it hard to find a parking spot. If you're new to the area, finding the right road can also be challenging, but you can use the landmark A2B opposite on the opposite side Rajaji road to guide you.

In summary, the Matsya Narayana Temple in Uthandi is an excellent place to visit for those looking for a peaceful and serene environment. The open meditation space, the nearby beach, and the well-maintained temple make it a must-visit destination. Just be aware of the parking struggles and...

First I should thank the watchman who allowed us eventhough we came late.

This temple is owned by Chinmaya Mission founded by Swami Chinmayanandha.

This is one of the rare temple complex dedicated to Matsyavatharam( Lord in Fish form) which is considered as 1st avatharam of Narayana.

This temple is fully a grainate structure, which holds sanadhi for Vinayagar who warmly welcomes you by facing the entry gate and right to him is Parthasarathi in a pose of giving Geetha who's right is occupied by Veda Vayasar and his left is Adi Sankarar and behind him is Swami Chinmayanandha. All these were craved as a monolithic.

Going ahead, Anjuneyar stands facing Matsya Narayana with folded hands.

And past him , we can see Lord Shiva meditating inside a small alter and a Nandhi facing him with an attention.

To left of Shiva is a spherical stage which is surrounded by many ceiling less pillers holding slokas on each.

Many animal structures are placed around the stage.

By claiming to the stage, one can see the majestic beauty of Lord Matsya Narayana who is posing with mustach like Parthasarathi of Thiruvalikeni and standing very tall at the center of a small pond, behind him is the Bay Of Bengal.

This temple has no ceiling or....simply I can say, sky is the ceiling for this temple.

One can become calm, peaceful and relaxed by visiting this place which holds sprituality through nature and architectural beauty.

Best time to visit is mornings and evenings... Visit before 10 AM ( 11 AM on Sundays) In morning hrs and after 4 PM...

Matsya Narayana Temple off ECR road a mere 100 mtrs, n just a stones throw from frothing waves, is a great place from Chinmaya Mission, me n my friend visited this morning. We were lucky enough to gain entry at the wee end of morning darshan hour or minute. Hence a fast tour instead of a slow paced one which i would have wished.

Hope we do soon a trip to enjoy the beauty in good weather n time!!

Please note Darshan times are

6.00 to 10.00 hrs 17.00 to 20.30 hrs

The centre court open to. Beautiful skies n nature with none between you n the Lord with only sounds of waves n chirping of birds you can meditate sitting in the ample amphitheatre seating. There are beautiful idols of Ganesha, Hanuman, Navagraha Nayakas n more all around the temple set amidst refreshingly cool flora n fauna, instantly bringing in a soothing feel to eyes n soul.

Could not experience other services like souvenir shop etc which i am sure is available at evenings especially weekends.

Disappointing points

Lack of road signages on fast ECR road

Bad quality of lane leading to this beautiful temple

Access to beach not clean n good, especially if you take a big car to park n to take turn to return

Lack of parking at peak hours n weekends a big issue

Nevertheless this place for sure a not to be missed important religious place of interest for all...