Chennai

Overview:

Situated on the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal, Chennai boasts of a rich cultural heritage. Formerly known as Madras, the capital city of Tamil Nadu has the perfect blend of the elegance of the past and the vitality of the present. It had been under the control of the Chola, Pallava, Pandya and Vijayanagara kingdoms. It presents a perfect blend of the mysticism of the past and the effervescence of the present – a place that has retained its old charm and ethnicity alive despite modernization. Chennai is also referred to as the ‘Gateway to South India’. It has a 350-year old history that manifests itself in its historic edifices and landmarks. Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is also a major port city of the country. This can be attributed to the fact that it is strategically located and well-connected to most of the important parts of the world. The city also attracts hordes of tourists who come to see the various places of interest in Chennai. The city has its own charm with beautiful parks, historic landmarks, striking sculptures and sandy beaches. Tourists can hire a cab or city taxi to visit the various sightseeing points in and around Chennai. Tourists usually prefer traveling in and around the city of Chennai by cars as it make it easy for them to commute from one part of the city to the other without depending on the city’s public transportation system. The hot and humid climate of Chennai makes it traveling by buses or auto-rickshaws very uncomfortable. Tourists holidaying in south India prefer hiring car rentals or cabs from Bangalore to Chennai as that makes for an economical and convenient option. Chennai is located at a distance of about 337 kilometers from Bangalore, which is around a 6 hours drive. People prefer to avail car rental services to travel from Bangalore to Chennai, as it ensures that they have a car at their service throughout the duration of their trip. Travelling by car is the best way to experience the platonic shift of landscape, climate and culture while travelling from Bangalore to Chennai. There are a number of eateries on the way from Bangalore to Chennai where people can stop their cab to have some refreshments. It is better to opt for an air-conditioned cab to Chennai from Bangalore, especially in summers, when the weather is hot and humid.

Places of interest:

Fort St. George – This beautiful edifice houses both the Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly of the state. It is situated on the banks of the Bay of Bengal, in the eastern part of the city. It was constructed by the British East India Company in 1640 AD under the supervision of Andrew Cogon. The fort is named after the patron saint of Britain, Saint George. It also houses a church and museum. It has a 46 meter high flagstaff that was salvaged from a seventeenth century shipwreck.

National Art Gallery – Located inside the Pantheon Complex in Egmore, this art gallery is also known as Victoria Memorial Hall. Constructed entirely from pink sandstone, it was built by T. Namberumal Chetty in 1907 in the Jaipuri-Jaina style. It displays a variety of artifacts including Indian handicrafts from 11th and 12th century AD, Deccan paintings from 17th century AD, Rajasthani and Mughal paintings from 16th to 18th century AD, and bronze work from 10th and 13th century AD.

Vivekananda House – Also known as the Ice House, this house is a pilgrimage centre for Swami Vivekanada’s admirers from all over the country. He is believed to have stayed here for nine days after his return from the West. The structure is a masterwork of Victorian architecture. It is now maintained by Sri Ramakrishna Math.

Other tourist spots in Chennai include the National Art Gallery, Ripon Building, ValluvarKottam, Marundeeswarar Temple and ISKON. The best way of visiting these places is by hiring a taxi as that would give people enough to appreciate their beauty.

The city has many more visual treats in store for its visitors. Hiring a car or taxi cab in Chennai for sightseeing is quite popular among visitors so they can see the various tourist spots both within as well as around the city.

Things to do:

The first place that people would want to visit when in Chennai is Marina Beach. The vast expanse of sandy beaches enthralls tourists with its sheer beauty. A walk along the coastline watching the waves thrashing the shore does wonders to relax the mind, body and soul. Those with a religious bend of mind would also want to make a short trip to Milapur to see the Kapileshwara temple, St. Thomas Mount, St. Thomas Basicila, and an old Portuguese church.

Being one of the biggest metropolitan cities of India, Chennai is a shopper’s paradise. There are numerous market places and humongous malls where everything from a pin to a plane can be purchased. Chennai is a good place to purchase handcrafted knick-knacks made from rosewood, ivory, sandalwood, bronze and silver; apparels made from silk; traditional jewellery; designer wear produced by Indian and international fashion designers and fashion houses alike.

There is an abundance of outdoor activities in Chennai. There are numerous amusement and theme parks which vary in their quality and degree of fun.

The culturally rich city of Chennai celebrates a multitude of festivals. The month of August brings with it a whirlwind of festivals. All things ‘Tamil’ are celebrated during this Summer Festival. The festivities include almost everything, ranging from appreciating the verdant beauty of the evergreen ‘Queen of the Hill Stations’ – Ooty; to fruit shows and boat races in neighboring towns.

The long heritage of classic Carnatic music is celebrated each year in December. Musical recitals and dance performances are rendered by India’s best at various venues all across the city. Pongal, Diwali, Id are few of the other major festivals of Chennai.

Chennai is a important economic center of India. Trade fairs and exhibitions attract people all throughout the year. Among India’s largest leather trade fairs, the India International Leather Fair is held in Chennai in the month of February every year.