Facts & Figures :
| Area |
: |
468 sq. km |
| Population |
: |
5.9 million |
| Languages |
: |
Tamil and English |
| Best time to visit |
: |
November to February |
| STD Code |
: |
044 |
INTRODUCTION....Chennai, one of
the four major metropolitan cities of India, is the capital the southeastern
state of Tamilnadu-the exotic state famous for its cutworks in the temples,
coconut fringes, and silk saris. Stretched out at the coastline of the
country, it has number of sites for the tourists to visit. The Marina beach,
where the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal mingle with the golden sands, or
the forts and palaces, which remind one of the bygone eras, Chennai is a
preferred destination of the tourists.
CHENNA
LOCATION.... Chennai (formerly Madras) has the Bay of
Bengal bordering its east, while the state of Andhra Pradesh is on its
northwest. It has the famous district of Tamilnadu, Kanchipuram, on its
south and the states of Kerala and Karnataka on its western side. Being
situated at the tropical zone, Chennai normally has a very hot and humid
climate. The best time to visit this city is the winter season. Winter and
summer temperature does not vary much as it rains frequently through the
year.
CHENNAI HISTORY.... The city of
Chennai was once a village of the fishing community. In 1639, the British
took over the place and made it the capital of the British presidency. It
used to be the center of conflict for the supremacy of the British and the
French.
CLIMATE.... The best time to
visit Srinagar is during summers between April and June.
SITES
TO VISIT IN CHENNAI..... There are several places to visit
in and around Chennai :The Marina beach, stretched over an area of
13 km, is the second longest beach in Asia. It looks like a festive ground
on weekend evenings.
Presently used as the state secretariat, the
St. George Forte is another landmark of Chennai. The British East India
Company built it in the year 1653. It has a museum that houses a variety of
British and French antiques and other commemorations. Inside the fort is the
St. Mary's Church, the first English church Chennai.
One of the
many old temples of Chennai is the Parthasarthi temple. This temple is
dedicated to Lord Krishna. Built in the 8th century BC by the Pallavas, the
temple was renovated in the 16th century by the Vijaynagar kings.
Guindy
National Park and Snake Park, situated close to each other near the Guindy
station, are other places to visit.
Kapaleeswarar
Temple, the oldest temple of Chennai, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This
temple is a living testimony of the architectural skills of the Dravidian
people of the 13th century. However, non-Hindus are not allowed to enter
into the main worshiping place of the temple.
Santhome Cathedral,
built during the 14th -15th century, is another place worth visiting.
The
Birla Planetarium, Elliot Beach, Valluvar Kottam, National Art and
Government Museum, Anna Zoological Park, Kalakshetra and the Theosophical
Society are some of the other sites of tourist interest.
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.
A positive step
towards maintaining the ecological balance of nature is the setting up of
the crocodile bank. Just 44 km away from the main city, it houses many rare
species of Indian and African alligators and crocodiles.
Covelong
beach is another place worth visiting in order to experience the history of
the state as a whole. The fort, church, mosque and the seashore are quite
interesting.
Besides these, Muttukkadu, Thirukkalukundram,
Vedathangal bird sanctuary, etc., are other sites to visit around the city.
CHENNAI FESTIVALS.... Just like the
other Indian places, Chennai also celebrates a number of festivals. The
festivals are mainly based on the agricultural activities and according to
the position of the stars and planets. Pongal, celebrated in the month of
January, is the most important festival of Chennai. Being a cosmopolitan
city, almost all the religious festivals are celebrated here.
HOW
TO REACH CHENNAI..... Chennai has domestic as well as international
airports. The Kamaraj Domestic Airport and the Anna International Airport
are located at Tirusulam, at a distance of 20 km from the city. It is also
well connected to all the major cities in India through a wide network of
railways. The main railheads are Madras Central and Egmore.
