"St Thomas Mount - Chennai, India"

Near the international airport in Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is the small hillock where the apostle St Thomas, the noble missionary and one of the principal diciples of Lord Jesus was assasinated way back in 72 AD. The origin of Christianity in India can be traced to St Thomas Didymas, the apostle. While most of Jesus´ diciples confined their activities to the meditaranian region, St Thomas chose as his field of labor, the distant and little known East, with its strange people and even stranger God´s. He first preached the Gospel in Parthia and then proceeded to the Malabar Coast by sea in the year 52 AD. After establishing seven major Communities of Christians in Kerala, he moved to the Eastern Coast of India and founded a Community in Mylapore in Madras (now Chennai) He continued to preach in this region until 3 July 72 AD when he died a Martyre´s death at the St Thomas Mount.
This is a place everyone (spiritual or not) must visit if visiting Chennai. The view at and from the mount is wonderful. The winding path to the top is long, steep and really magical. There is an old church at the top where one can see relics from the past. On the whole it is a moving experience for everyone irrespective of ones creed, caste or religion. When you realise the history behind the place, you can only admire the courage and love the apostle had for fellow beings.
There are excellent hotels both here and the nearby Chennai City. There are guided tours of the mount one can arrange before hand from Chennai. Please follow this url to find out more about the apostle and the mount from wickiepedia the free encyclopedia on the web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Thomas_Mount  and also what  Anupama Shekar, ark Commercials, wrote on Chennai online:  http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/singaarachennai/stthomas.asp

Hope these links prove to be useful to those of you who are interested to know more about the apostle and the Christianity in India.  I thank you all for the wonderful support I had here at  zaadz and wish you all the very best. take care
Cheers,
Kris