| Location : | Tamilnadu, India |
| Temperature : | Summer- 37ºC, 21.10ºC; Winter- 32ºC, 19.81ºC |
| Rainfall : | 1,272 mm |
| Best Time to Visit : | October to March |
| Attractions : | Fort St. George,Valluvar Kottam,Crocodile Bank, Marina Beach |
| Languages : | Tamil, English, Hindi, Urdu |
About Chennai :
Chennai, popularly regarded as the Gateway to the South, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. It is the fourth largest metropolis in India, located on a 17 km stretch of the Coromandel Coast. The city grew up around the English settlement of Fort St. George and gradually absorbed the surrounding towns and villages. However, despite the strong British influence, Chennai has retained its traditional Tamil heritage and effectively blended it to create a unique synthesis of cultures.
Retaining much of its traditional charm, this 350-year-old city provides many a fascinating vignette of southern heritage. It is a city where the landscape of the past lives easily with recent history. In Chennai, you would find a modern metropolis with a clear skyline, long sandy beaches, parks and historic landmarks. With a population of 6 million people, Chennai is a vibrant city ever growing, expanding and changing every year.
Culture of Chennai :
Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu is a civilized, elegant and cultured city. Here the traditional arts grow and flourish. You can find a school of dance and music in almost every neighborhood of the city. The Tamil culture of warm hospitality is known the world over. Even the humblest householder will welcome you with some simple eatables and drinks. Generally, early rising and incorporation of religious rites into their day-to-day living is part of life. The doorsteps are decorated with kolam - patterns made from rice power or white stone powder for decorative as well as religious purposes. On Friday evenings, you will find many people visiting temples. It is customary to celebrate the various religious festivals with pomp and show. The cost of living being amongst the lowest in the country, one can fulfill one`s needs easily. Chennai has an unhurried pace and laid back ambience so that if you lose your way, you can be sure someone will be kind enough to take you to the place where you want to go or give you detailed instructions. Neighborhood friendships thrive with mutual give and take. People show such a lively curiosity about each other that it is impossible for one to live on one`s own, isolated, as it were. Chennai is a veritable mélange of cultures. The Sindhis, Gujaratis, Malayalees, Muslims, and Kannadigas, live peacefully with the Tamils in this cornucopia of religious and cultural diversity. The distinct characteristics and particular set of beliefs, ideals, and values and principles shape the culture of the city. There is intermingling of ideas and cultures that create the cosmopolitan character of Chennai.
The land of temples and priests, kaapi and Chennai Checks reflects its traditionalism every December when the music season is in full swing. Cultural trusts like The Bharat Kalachar strive to keep the richness of the city`s heritage alive. At the Y.G.P. Auditorium every year, renowned dancers like Alarmel Valli give Bharatanatyam recitals to appreciative rasikas. The other festival in the month of December brings together talented dancers from different backgrounds through the universal language of dance and music. However there is another side to this city. People dance away into the wee hours of the morning to Western trance music in Chennai`s numerous discotheques and pubs bringing globalization to the city. It has attained the distinction of being one of the prime cultural centers in India.
Places Around The City
The Port City of Mamallapuram in Chennai :
Once the port city of the Pallavas, Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram is situated at the outskirts of Chennai and is approximately 61 km from the main city. The artisanship of this place is beyond parallel. The place blossomed under the creative forces of that time between the fifth and eighth centuries. Today, the shore temple, the largest bas-relief in the world called Arjuna`s Penance and the famous and beautiful mandapams are what identify this sleepy town. Travel to Chennai and experience the joy of the city.
Crocodile Park in Chennai
Giving company to the snake park is the crocodile park, located just 44kms away from the city. It houses many rare species of Indian and African alligators and crocodiles.
Covelong Beach in Chennai
Replete with historical monuments such as forts, churches, mosques, and a lovely beach, Covelong is a place where you can experience the history of Tamil Nadu as a whole. If you are in Chennai, don`t miss out on a visit to this place.
Kanchipuram in Chennai
Kanchipuram, also close by, is a destination that is visited by almost all tourists to Chennai. In fact, along with Chennai and Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram forms the famous Golden Triangle of the Coromandel Coast. Although a dusty, dreary township of Tamil Nadu, Kanchipuram finds place on the global map because of the wonderful craftsmanship of the Kanchi weavers, the makers of what is perhaps the finest silk fabric in the world.
Tirupati in Chennai
Tirupati is the abode of the legendary Lord of the Seven Hills. It is one of the most famous shrines in the country where an uninterrupted worship of the Lord has been carried out for over thirteen centuries. Even today, Tirupati draws enormous crowds throughout the year. The main attractions are the Pratima Mandapam, which has the statue of Sri Krishnadevaraya; Tulabharam, the scales upon which materials for offerings are weighed; the Tirumalanayaka Mandapam, which is replete with beautiful carvings; and Dhwajastambham, and others.
Festivals in Chennai
Pongal, the traditional festival of harvest is celebrated with traditional gaiety and religious fervour. It begins on the last day of the Tamil month. Celebrated over a period of four days, the festival ends with a bullfight.
Shopping in Chennai
Chennai leads the rest of the country in providing one of the best shopping experiences through its swanky shopping malls which specialize in stores providing both western and ethnic wear. For traditional arts and crafts, you can visit Cottage Emporium, Poompuhar Emporium and Victoria Technical Institute all of which are at Anna Salai.
Getting There
By Air
You can get flights to European, the Middle East from the city`s Anna International Airport. All domestic airlines operate flights in and out of the city and flights are available to almost all Indian towns and cities.
By Rail
The city is connected to most of the major cities of the country through superfast and passenger trains terminating and starting from the Chennai railway station.
By Road
Being the capital of Tamil Nadu the city is well connected by roads to most of the country and the rest of the state.
