The fourth largest metropolitan
of India, Chennai or Madras is the capital of
Tamil Nadu. The city sports a 17 km stretch of
the Coramandel coast and is divided roughly into
three parts by the Cooum and Adyar waterways and
the Buckingham Canal. With its distinct culture
that differs to that of the North Indian
culture, it is said to be the 'Gateway to the
South'. An important musical, dance, art and
cultural centre of the South, Chennai is also a
significant industrial, trade and commerce
centre. It presents a unique blend of the past
and the present and one can find all the
varieties of traditional to latest trends in the
city.
Traditional vegetarian food along side fast
foods, nine-yard sarees vis-à-vis latest
fashionable attires, ancient temple architecture
along with modern Indo-Saracenic and Victorian
architectural styles and classical music and
dance performances to thrashing beats of discos
can all be seen in Madras. One can see beaches,
parks, sanctuaries and glimpses of a rich
historical legacy in the city. It is said that
Chennai originated as a small fishing village in
1639 called Madraspatnam, which received early
English merchants. It has a number of churches
from the times of St. Thomas and several ancient
temples, the most prominent being a temple in
Triplicane and another in Mylapore.
Chennai's Prime
Attractions
Fort St. George:
Built during the period of British East India
Company in 1640, it houses St. Mary's Church and
fort museum. The church is the oldest Anglican
Church in India and was built in 1680 and houses
the oldest British tombstones in India in its
courtyard. The ancient prayer house was the
place where Robert Clive and Governor Elinu-Yale
were married, who later founded the famous Yale
University in the States. The fort is used today
as the offices of the State Legislative Assembly
and the secretarial offices of the Tamil Nadu
government. It has the tallest flagstaff in
India.
There is a war memorial in its south that was
built in 1939 in the memory of the martyrs of
the the First World War. Its Island Grounds,
situated on an island formed by the river Cooum
is known for its natural beauty and greenery and
is a popular venue for all the Trade and the
Tourist Fairs. It also houses the High Court
boasting of decorative domes and Indo-Saracenic
corridors, which is an important landmark of
Chennai along with the adjacent Parry's corner.
The Fort Museum has many relics belonging to the
period of East India Company and British India
on its display such as the weapons, uniforms,
coins, costumes and medals along with the
contemporary paintings.
Kapaleeswarar Temple:
It is the biggest temple in the city and is
dedicated to Lord Shiva. The inscriptions here
date back to the 13th century and is a fine
specimen of the Dravidian style of architecture.
The 37-m has intricate carvings inspired from
Hindu mythology.
Sri Parthasarathi
Temple:
The 8th century temple, dedicated to Lord
Krishna, was built under the patronage of the
Pallavas and houses the idols of the five
avataras of Sri Vishnu. A small temple shrine in
its premises is dedicated to Vishnu's consort
known as 'Vedavalli Ammai' by the natives.
Santhome Cathedral:
Situated at the southern end of Marina Drive,
Santhome is named after St Thomas, the apostle
of Christ who came to Madras in 52 AD to spread
the message of Christianity. It is said that he
was killed on St Thomas Mount just outside the
city in 78 AD and was buried on the San Thome
beach. A curch was later constructed here,
though his remains were later transferred to
another church built further inland. In 1606,
this new church was rebuilt as a cathedral that
became a basilica in 1896, which is known for
its beautiful stained glass window showcasing
the story of St Thomas. The Central hall has 14
large wooden plaques depicting scenes from the
last days of Christ. Another highlight is a 3 ft
high statue of Virgin Mary that was imported
from Portugal in 1543.
The Marina Beach:
The famous 12 km long Marina Beach is the second
longest beach in the world and looks especially
beautiful in the early mornings and late
evenings when it cirtually becomes a fair ground
with numerous food stalls and other
entertainments.
The Theosophical
Society:
The world headquarters of the Theosophical
Society is in Adyar. The society studies
comparative religion and philosophy and was
founded by Madame Blavatsky and Col. Olott in
USA. The headquarters moved to India in 1882 and
now features shrines of all faiths, peaceful
Garden of Remembrance and a 95-year old library
with a rich collection of rare original oriental
manuscripts written on palm leaves and
parchment.
Kalakshetra:
Kalakshetra or 'Temple of Art' is situated In
Thiruvanmiyur, beyond Elliot's beach. Rukmini
Devi Arundale founded it in 1936 to promote
Bharatanatyam, the classical dance form of the
state and local handicrafts of textile designing
and weaving. The institution is the finest of
its kind in the country and follows the ancient
gurukulam system. It conducts music, recital and
dance performances in different parts of Chennai
all the year round.
Birla Planetarium:
The Birla Planetarium at Kotturpuram is the
latest planetarium in the country with a fully
computerized projector to depict the skies. Near
it, there is a Periyar Science and Technology
Museum meant to encourage the interest of
students in science.
National Art Gallery
and Government Museum:
This museum is in Egmore and was founded in
1857. The incredible and well-organized sections
of museum have various relics on display related
to archaeology, geology, anthropology,
numismatics, sculpture, armory, botany and
zoology.
Anna Square:
Anna Square at the northern end of Marina Beach
is the place where Dr. C.N. Annadurai, former
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was buried. About
30 km from the city, there is a huge Anna
zoological park spread across 510 hectares,
featuring safaris in the park, a nocturnal
animal house, an Aquarium, Natural Museum and
many others.
Valluvar Kottam:
The temple-chariot shaped memorial is dedicated
to the famous Tamil poet-saint Tiruvalluvar is
the replica of the one at Thiruvarur. The 33m
tall chariot houses the life-size statue of the
saint and is inscribed with 133 chapters of the
poet's famous work Thirukkural in stone in the
front hall corridors of the chariot. The
memorial also houses the Asia's largest
auditorium that can accommodate about 4000
people.
Chennai City Facts
| Location: | Situated in Tamil Nadu, India. |
| Climate: | Chennai has hot and humid tropical climate with frequent rains and almost same temperature throughout the year. |
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How to Reach:
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| By Air: | Chennai has Kamaraj Domestic Airport and Anna International Airport, which is at Tirusulam, 20 km from the city. |
| By Train: | The railway network connects Chennai to all the major cities in India. The main railway stations of Chennai are Madras Central and Egmore. |
| By Road: | It is easily accessible from other major cities of Tamil Nadu and the surrounding states. |
