Chennai City Guide
Chennai or Madras is the fourth largest metropolis in India. Located on a 17 km stretch of the Coramandel coast, the city is trisected by the waterways of Cooum and Adyar and the Buckingham Canal. Popularly regarded as the 'Gateway to the South', Chennai presents culture that is distinctly different from that of northern India.
Chennai, earlier known as Madras, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. It is also the gateway to other popular destinations of South India. It is also considered among the four metropolitan cities of India. Once a small village of fishermen, Chennai attained a significant place during the British Rule. The name 'Chennai' is derived from a Tamil word, which means small in native language. The creamy serene beaches, the forts and palaces in Chennai reflect the cultural and historical legacy of Chennai. The city is known for the Dravidian temple architecture evident in the temples, coconut fringes and Kanjivaram silk saris. Chennai has many destinations of tourist interest, such as ancient temples and museums, churches and forts.
Do Not Miss On A Tour To Chennai
The main tourist places in Chennai include Marina Beach, St. George Forte, St. Mary's Church, Parthasarthi Temple, Guindy National Park and Snake Park, Kapaleeswar Temple etc. There are plenty of amusement parks, film halls and shopping malls in and around Chennai. Tiruvallikeni (Triplicane), Mayilapur (Mylapore) and the Anna Salai (erstwhile Mount Road) are the residential areas that retain the aura of the yesteryears in Chennai.
Visit Kanchipuram, the city of thousand temples, situated at 76 km from Chennai. A tour to Madurai from Chennai promises to be a fascinating experience for you. Visit the world-famous Meenakshi Temple at Madurai.
Mahabalipuram (58 km from Chennai), famous for its 7th century Shore Temple, is a must visit on your Tamil Nadu tour. You can also visit Tirupati (145 km from Chennai), one of the most sacred pilgrimage centers in south India, famous for the Venkateswara Temple. Tanjore, famous for its Brahadeeswara Temple, and Trichy are other major temple cities, which can be visited from Chennai.
Chennai is famous for its traditional South Indian (Tamilian) cuisine like Dosa, Idli (rice cake), and Sambar (gravy made of tamarind, lentils, chillies, coriander seeds and other spices). The special 'Filter Coffee' is the popular beverage consumed in Chennai. The Classical Music and Dance of Tamil Nadu i.e. Carnatic Music and Bharatnatyam can be easily seen in Chennai.
Chennai - An Educational Hub
The glory of the city is that general information on chennaiit has retained its charm amidst its envious development in the field of IT and the automobile industry. The city has championed the cause of education and has been the hub for education and learning for many years.
Enchanting Beaches of Chennai
If you are a beach lover, then Chennai is the ideal base to start your tour. The famous beaches of Tamil Nadu such as Marina - the second longest beach in the world, Elliot's Beach, the Covelong Beach, Kanyakumari Beach and Rameshwaram Beach, are located conveniently from Chennai. All these beaches offer perfect ambience for relaxing and have facilities for a range of leisure and recreational activities, including sunbathing, paragliding, surfing, swimming, parasailing etc.
Beautiful Hills of Chennai
Visit Kodaikanal, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Yelagiri, Yercuad, and Udagamandalam boast some of the stunning landscapes in India. Chennai provides you with easy access to all these enchanting hill destinations. For wildlife enthusiasts, Chennai provides easy access to major wildlife sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu such as Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is world-famous for its elephant populations, which can be seen moving in large herds, sometimes numbering into hundreds. Tigers, the king of jungles, can also be spotted in the parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu. The state also has a number of important eco-tourism destinations of India such as the famous Pitchavaram Mangrove Forests in Chidambaram.
Festivals in Chennai
Chennai also celebrates a number of festivals celebrating the agricultural activities and the date is fixed 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 with a religious fervor.
Things to see
