St Thomas Mount is one of Chennai's most important Christian pilgrimage sites, traditionally linked with the apostle Thomas and his martyrdom. A small Portuguese church stands on the summit, filled with relics and devotional objects.
The climb is part of the visit. A flight of steps passes the Stations of the Cross before reaching the hilltop, where the city opens out below and the site's long mix of local tradition, colonial history, and Catholic devotion becomes easier to understand.