Qibla finder / India
Qibla direction from Chennai, 287.9° west-northwest
From Chennai, face 287.9° clockwise from true north to face the Kaaba in Makkah, 4,381 km away. With a magnetic compass, face 289.0°.
- Distance to the Kaaba
- 4,381 km (2,722 miles)
- Magnetic compass bearing
- 289.0°
- Magnetic declination
- 1.1° west
- City centre
- 13.0827, 80.2707
How to face the qibla
Stand with a compass and turn until it reads 289.0°. That is 287.9° from true north, adjusted for the 1.1° west magnetic declination in Chennai. Or open the live compass on your phone.
Worked out for the centre of Chennai. Across the city the direction changes by less than a degree.
Guide
Why the qibla is west-northwest from Chennai
The qibla is the direction of the Kaaba, measured along the shortest path over the globe. From Chennai that path leaves heading west-northwest, at 287.9° from true north. Flat maps distort this route, so it can look wrong on a map even though it is the true direction.
A compass points to magnetic north, which in Chennai is 1.1° west of true north this year, by the World Magnetic Model 2025. That is why the compass bearing, 289.0°, differs from the true bearing.
Someone far from Makkah faces the direction (jihah) of the Kaaba. A small turn to the left or right does not affect the prayer, and a prayer made after a genuine effort stays valid even if you later learn you were slightly off.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The stronger view is to aim at the Kaaba itself by your best effort, even from far away.
- Maliki, Hanbali
- Facing the direction is enough, as in the Hanafi school.
Qibla from other cities in India
| City | Qibla | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 266.6° | W |
| Mumbai | 280.1° | W |
| Kolkata | 278.2° | W |
| Hyderabad, Telangana | 282.7° | WNW |
| Bengaluru | 288.5° | WNW |
| Ahmedabad | 273.4° | W |
| Lucknow | 270.9° | W |
| Jaipur | 268.4° | W |
| Bhopal | 274.5° | W |
| Patna | 274.0° | W |
| Srinagar | 256.8° | WSW |
| Surat | 276.6° | W |
| Kanpur | 271.1° | W |
| Pune | 281.0° | W |
| Kozhikode | 291.1° | WNW |
| Aligarh | 268.1° | W |
| Nagpur | 277.8° | W |
| Meerut | 266.3° | W |
| Varanasi | 273.6° | W |
| Indore | 274.8° | W |
| Guwahati | 275.8° | W |
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar.
Questions
Good to know
What is the qibla direction from Chennai?
The qibla from Chennai is 287.9° from true north, which is west-northwest. With an ordinary magnetic compass, face 289.0°.
How far is Chennai from Makkah?
About 4,381 km (2,722 miles) in a straight line over the globe.
Why is the qibla west-northwest from Chennai?
The qibla follows the shortest route over the curved Earth to the Kaaba, called a great circle. On a flat map this route looks curved, so the direction can look different from what a map suggests.
How exact do I need to be?
In the Hanafi school, someone far from Makkah faces the general direction of the Kaaba. A small turn to either side does not affect the prayer. Do your best, or follow the direction of your local masjid.