Chennai

Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu was originally known as 'Madras'. Boasting about its history which is around 367 years old, the city is the fourth largest city of India. The 16th century saw the arrival of the Portuguese in Chennai. Later Dutch established their supremacy and finally the British East India Company gained control over the city. The British founded the city in the 17th century when they felt a need for an naval base. It is located on the Coromandal Coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Chennai, the door to Tamil Nadu is an IT hub. It is dotted with numerous industries such as auto mobile, software services, hardware manufacturing, financial services, petrochemicals and textiles. IIT Madras is a world famous engineering institute in the city. It is a modern city yet enveloped in traditions. The people of Chennai are known as Tamilians. The primary language of the city is Tamil. English is also spoken by people who are into business and education. Majority of the population follows Hinduism. Other religions followed here are Islam, Christianity and Jainism.

If you want to see the city at its best, then throng in here during December when Chennai comes alive with its melodious Carnatic music concerts and classical dance programmes held at different places in the city. These performances truly leave the audience spell bound. The exhibitions in the Tourist Fair held in January displays all the attractive places in Tamil Nadu, its culture, heritage and economy. Dance festival at Mamallapuram provides a unique opportunity of seeing Kathakali, Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi under one roof. Pongal festival, the four-day harvest festival is the most famous festival of the city and is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

From traditional South Indian food to fast food,  beautiful saris, ancient monuments, sun-kissed beaches, National Parks ,exquisitely carved temples which are known for their architectural beauty the world over, Chenni has so much to offer.

Some of the main attractions are:

Marina beach, the second largest beach in the world is a must- see tourist attraction of Chennai.

The Government Museum which has 6 galleries displaying the rich heritage of the State.

Kapileshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is an architectural marvel.

San Thome Cathedral built by the Portuguese . It is famous for its wood and glass paintings.

Shopping In Chennai:

Browse the markets of Chennai for its famous items such as brass, stone, wood and ivory carvings, leather bags and shoes, mats, metal work, paintings, silk saris and traditional jewellery.

Climate:

Best Time to visit Chennai is between October to March as during that time the climate is quite pleasant.

How To Reach:

Air: International airport – Anna International Airport; National Airport: The Kamaraja National Airport. Both are situated at Titusulam which is 20 km from the city.

Rail: A good network of Railways connect Chenni with al the major cities of India.
Road: A good network of roads also connect the city with rest of the country.

Accommodation: