All About Chennai (Madras) – South India
Chennai, the city situated at the Coromondal coast of Bay of Bengal is often recognized as the ‘Detroit of India’ and the ‘Gateway of South’. The fourth largest and one of the prosperous cities of the country, Chennai is an attraction in itself. It is the capital of the state Tamil Nadu, and fifth most populous city of India. Elegantly placed in the shores of Coromandel Coast, Chennai boast of a rich heritage, which is elaborately intertwined with the culture, traditions and living style of the people through generations.
Chennai, one of the metropolitan cities in India, is often called the cultural capital of India for its deep-rooted traditions and long heritage. The city is a true reflection of this country’s diversity. Chennai has flourished into a charming and welcoming city, in a time span of just over 350 years. This city encourages all forms of development, both modern technology and the traditional arts and crafts, and embraces a series of paradoxes.
Amongst the must visits in Chennai has the second longest beach in the world – Marina Beach. The gorgeous golden sands invite innumerable tourists especially during the evenings. The British East India Company’s St. George Forte is a famous landmark of Chennai. Another colonial structure in the city of Chennai worth visiting is the Santhome Cathedral. For the religious minded people visit to the Kapaleeshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parthsarthy Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is a must. For animal lovers Guindy National Park and Snake Park of Chennai offer unforgettable experiences.
Chennai is the centre of South India’s film industry; its skyline is ablaze with bright movie billboards advertising the latest celluloid fantasies. There are many big film studios.
How to Get There
Air
Directly linked to the major cities.
Rail
Connected with Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kodai Road, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Ooty, Rameshwaram, Trichy, Tirupati Trivandrum and Varanasi.
Well connected by roads to all the major towns and cities in Tamil Nadu, Kochi, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Bangalore in Karnataka.
Local Transport
Local buses, cycles.
Chennai Best Season:
The best time to visit this city is the winter season, i.e., November to September when the weather is pleasant.