What to expect
Little Mount
A small rocky hillock (Chinnamalai) with a cave where St. Thomas the Apostle is believed to have hidden and prayed before his martyrdom. A Portuguese church built here in 1551 stands beside a large modern circular church added in 1971. Pilgrims visit the cave, a spring said to have sprung at St. Thomas's touch, and a hand-print in the rock.
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Little Mount
Place
Practical guide
Plan Little Mount
Typechurch
Nearest baseSaidapet
Best timeOctober to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta
Time neededAbout an hour
EntryFree
Nearest town/baseSaidapet
DistrictChennai
Place typechurch
Time neededAbout an hour.
A small rocky hillock (Chinnamalai) with a cave where St. Thomas the Apostle is believed to have hidden and prayed before his martyrdom. A Portuguese church built here in 1551 stands beside a large modern circular church added in 1971. Pilgrims visit the cave, a spring said to have sprung at St. Thomas's touch, and a hand-print in the rock.
Little Mount is planned from Saidapet, one of the travel bases in Chennai district. Use Saidapet for stays, food and local transport, then plan this place as a focused stop.
Visiting
Little Mount — at a glance
Timings6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Best timeYear-round
Entry: Free
Getting there: In Saidapet beside the Adyar river; Little Mount metro station is a short walk away.
See the cave shrine and the rock spring behind the old Portuguese church.
Getting there
How to visit
- Base yourself in Saidapet or nearby in Chennai, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel.
- If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
Distance by road
- Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)55 km
- Kanchipuram72 km
- Puducherry150 km
- Vellore135 km
- Tirupati135 km
Road km to Chennai; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
Weather in Little MountSeasonal guide
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Visitor notes
Safety
Good to know
On the map
Where Little Mount is
Good to know
Little Mount — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Little Mount?
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
What are the entry fee and timings at Little Mount?
Entry: Free. Timings: 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Fees and timings are indicative — confirm on site before you travel.
How do I reach Little Mount?
Base yourself in Saidapet or nearby in Chennai, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel. If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
How much time do I need for Little Mount?
About an hour.
What else is near Little Mount?
Nearby you can pair Guindy National Park (1.5 km), Gandhi Mandapam (2.3 km), Chennai Snake Park (2.4 km), Birla Planetarium (2.6 km).
Read next
Stories & guides for Little Mount
StoryThe Peahen Who Worshipped Shiva: The Legend of Mylapore6 min readStoryHow Madras Was Born: Francis Day and Fort St. George6 min readStoryThe Apostle's Tomb by the Sea: St. Thomas and San Thome6 min readStoryThe Armenians of Madras: A Vanished Community and Its Church5 min readItineraryChennai in 2 Days: A Practical Itinerary7 min read
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