Chennai

• Population of Tamil nadu : 55,638,318
• Capital of Tamil nadu : Chennai
• Cradle Of : South Indian Temple Architecture
• Official State Language : Tamil
• Best Time To Visit Tamil Nadu : December To February

Chennai (formerly, Madras), the largest city in South India and the fourth largest city in the country, is located on the Coromandel Coast. The city's British lineage is evident in the various cathedrals, buildings in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, wide tree lined avenues but there is no denying its traditional Tamil Hindu culture either. This is not surprising because this region had remained a centre of Pallavan culture long before the British came here.

The varied aspects of traditional South Indian culture existing alongside the lifestyle of a modern city complete with its plush hotels, restaurants offering a range of continental to typical South Indian cuisine, long and uncrowded stretches of beaches, modern shopping malls, cinema halls, etc.

Chennai - The Gateway To The Southern IndiaPopularly regarded as "The Gateway to the South", Chennai is the fourth largest city in India and the capital of Tamil Nadu state. With a vast population of about six million people, Chennai is a city that is growing, expanding and changing vigorously.

Location of Chennai

Chennai has the Bay of Bengal bordering its east, while the state of Andhra Pradesh is on its northwest. It has the Kanchipuram on its south and the states of Kerala and Karnataka on its western side.

Chennai, previously called Madras, is comparatively a new city, about 350 years old. The erstwhile villages of Mylapore, Triplicane, Ezhambur (Egmore), etc., all now a part of Chennai, have a recorded historical past centuries older than Chennai. Chennai is a gracious city that has a clear skyline, long sandy beaches, parks, historic landmarks and tourist infrastructural facilities which make it a convenient entry point or base to start a tour of Tamil Nadu and South India.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS/PLACES TO SEE

Marina Beach - Golden sand, good surf and a shimmering clean blue sea; this in a nutshell is Marina beach. This beach is counted among one of the longest beaches in Asia.

Theosophical Society - On a vast expanse of over 250 acres on the banks of the Adyar estuary lies the more-than-a-century-old Theosophical Society, amidst the woods, marshes, gardens and waters.

Kapaleeswara Temple - The Kapaleeswara Temple situated in Mylapore is very famous and attracts thousands of devotees, especially during festival days.

EXCURSIONS FROM CHENNAI CITY

MGR Film City - Known to the world over for its film industry, MGR Film City is a special delight, which houses various locations and settings for film shootings besides dubbing and re-recording theatres.

Mahabalipuram - Located at a distance of 58 km from Chennai, Mahabalipuram has everything that makes a site memorable; tradition, history, piety, western annals, and current importance as a centre of tourism.

Crocodile Bank - Located 42-m from Chennai is a farm where several species of Indian and African crocodiles and alligators are bred in captivity. This crocodile bank is on the way to Mahabalipuram and is run by Romulve Whittaker.

Tirupati - 84-km from Chennai at the extreme south of Andhra Pradesh is Tirupati, one of the most important pilgrimage centres of India.

HOW TO REACH CHENNAI

Chennai, is an international arrivel point and is well connected by Air from all the major national and international cities around the world. Regular train services also connect Chennai (Madras) directly with all the major cities and National Highway connect the city with excelllant road network from other capitals and major tourist places in India.