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Colonial
San Thome Basilica is a Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) minor basilica in Santhome, in the city of Chennai (Madras), India. It was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, and rebuilt again with the status of a cathedral by the British in 1893.

The Madras High Court and Government Museum in Chennai were designed by Henry Irwin.

Indo-Saracenic Architecture
Further information: Indo-Saracenic Architecture

It was a type of architecture which the British architects used in India in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. Indo-Saracenic architecture is a mixture of Islamic, Hindu, and Byzantine architecture. Features of Indo-Saracenic architecture include domes, arches, minarets, and stained glass. The British built many public buildings like museums, educational institutions, and railway stations using this type of architecture. Examples of Indo-Saracenic style buildings in Chennai include Madras High Court, Senate House, Chepauk Palace, and Egmore Railway station.

Notable buildings in Chennai
Many historic buildings are still fully functional and host government, business or educational establishments. Chennai is home to the second largest collection of heritage buildings in the country, after Kolkata.

Chepauk Palace
Constructed in 1768, it is the first building in India constructed using the Indo-Saracenic type of architecture. It was designed by Paul Benfield, a British architect. The Nawabs of Arcot used Chepauk Palace as their official residence. This building has a total area of 117 acres and consists of two blocks: Kalas Mahal and Humayun Mahal.

Senate House
Constructed in 1879 by Robert Chisholm, the Senate House is located inside the University of Madras campus. It was built by incorporating the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The main door of the Senate House opens to the Great Hall which is 150 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 50 feet high. The first Legislative Assembly of Madras met here in 1937. University convocations were also previously held here.

National Art Gallery
Originally it was the Victoria Memorial Hall built in 1906 by Henry Irwin is an example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. It was initially the location of the Victoria Technical Institute and was renamed as the National Art Gallery in 1951. It had about 175 collections of paintings from Rajasthan, Deccan, Tanjore, and Raja Ravi Varma. It also had many bronze, wood, and ivory items from the British era. However, the art gallery is closed since 2002 as it is being renovated.

Post-Independence
After Independence, the state witnessed a rise in a blend of Modern and Traditional style of architecture.

Gandhi Mandapam
Built in 1956, the Gandhi Mandapam is a set of memorials dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and numerous other chief ministers of Tamil Nadu. Its total area is 18 acres and it contains an amphitheater and a museum. The memorial is unique because it is built in the style of a South Indian temple.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial
The Vivekananda Rock Memorial was constructed in 1970 in the memory of Swami Vivekananda. It is located on an island near Kanyakumari next to the Thiruvalluvar Statue. Eknath Ranade, a social activist who was influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, played a crucial role in the construction of the memorial. He also founded the Vivekananda Kendra adjacent to the memorial in 1972.

Thiruvalluvar Statue
The Thiruvalluvar Statue, whose  construction started in 1990 and completed in 1999, is a 133-feet high   (statue height 95 feet erected on a 38 feet stone  pedestal ) dedicated to the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, whose Thirukkural, considered one of the greatest works in literature of morality and ethics. The height signifies the 133 chapters of Thirukkaral. The statue is located on an island near the southern most city of mainland India, Kanyakumari. It was constructed by Ganapati Sthapati.