| This metropolis is often called the cultural capital of India for its deep-rooted traditions and long heritage. Chennai is a city younger than its image. More than any other city in India, it is a true reflection of this country’s diversity. In a time span of just over 350 years, Chennai has blossomed into a charming city that has a large heart and is very welcoming. It is city that encourages all forms of development, both modern technology and the traditional arts and crafts, and it embraces a series of paradoxes. It was in 1639 that Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, agents for the English East India Company, acquired a strip of land on lease from the Vijayanagar King. They built the Fort St.George, which remains of the city’s important landmarks and serves as the Government Secretariat today. It was built to set up a factory that served as a nucleus for British settlements that began to be formed. Surrounding villages like Triplicane, Purasawalkam, Egmore and Chetput slowly merged with the new developments, to form Chennapatnam, as it was known. The city was called Madras till 1996 and then renamed Chennai. Today this buoyant metropolis is a blend of the old and the new, the traditional and the modern. |
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| Spread over 200 square kilometres with the Bay of Bengal on the east, the city is the gateway to the rest of South India. There are verdant green patches found amidst the high-tech, high-rise buildings |
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| With a population of around six million, it is India’s fourth largest city. From before days of Independence to present , the people of Chennai have played an important role in shaping the country’s political destiny |
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| Chennai’s Pride Chennai’s newest pride is the Tidel Park, the home for the Information Technology Industry. It is spread over 1.28 million sq.ft. of built up area. The Tidel Park is an architectural marvel and houses several large national and international software companies in its premises. The City of Grace And Peace |
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| Fort St. George |
| Fort st.George occupies pride of place and prominence in Chennai. This bastion derived its name form St. George, the patron saint of England. The State Legislature and the Secretariat are located inside this fort . The St. Mary’s Church, the oldest Anglican Church in India built in 1680 is situated here. The tombstones in its courtyard are some of the oldest British tombstones in India. The weddings of Robert Clive and Governor Elihu Yale, who later founded the famous Yale University in the U.S.A were solemnised in this ancient prayerhouse |
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| The Marina Beach |
| The Marina Beach, the pride of Chennai is the second longest beach in the world and has a wide sandy shore. Situated on the beach, are the Samadhis or memorials dedicated to C.N.Annadurai and M.G.Ramachandran, both former Chief Ministers of the state. They attract thousands of visitors everyday. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Chennai such as the University of Madras, the Senate House, Chepauk Palace, Presidency College and the Ice House are located on the beach drive |
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| Santhome Cathedral Basilica |
| Santhome at the southern end of the Marina gets its name from St.Thomas, the apostle of Jesus who is believed to have come to India sometime during 52 A.D. It is believed he was killed on St. Thomas Mount just outside the city in 78 AD and his remains interred in Santhome beach where a church was later built. |
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| Several years later, another church was built further inland and his mortal remains were transferred here. Chennai’s newest pride is the Tidel Park, the home for the Information Technology Industry. It is spread over 1.28 million sq.ft. of built up area. The Tidel Park is an architectural marvel and houses several large national and international software companies in its premises |
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| Vivekananda House & Museum |
| The state government had leased this building Sri Ramakrishna Mission. It is an imposing structure on the Marina along the South Beach Road. It was constructed in 1842 to store ice blocks imported from the USA by the Tudor Ice Company and the business continued until 1874, when the ice began to be produced locally. This is why it is called Ice House. Later Bilagiri Iyengar purchased this building in 1885 and called it "Castle Kernon." |
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| In 1897 Swami Vivekananda visited this city and stayed in this historic building from February 6 to 15 in 1897 on his way to Calcutta, after his acclaimed speech at Chicago for the Parliament of Religions. The Government took over the building in 1930 and in 1963 it was named after Vivekananda. On the eve of his Centenary Celebrations, in 1999 the building was renovated and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu unveiled the sage’s statue on the 20th December 1999. Photographs depicting the historical happenings associated with his life and books about him and his own written works are on display and sold here in the Museum |
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| Around Chennai |
| Pulicat |
| It is India’s second largest brackish water lagoon, and is located 60 km north of Chennai. The Pulicat Lake is a breeding ground for rare birds. It consists of about 16 island villages and 30 adjoining the lake. The lake offers a good potential for eco- tourism. The principal birds that visit Pulicat lake are the flamingo and heron. About 15,000 of these birds visit Pulicat every year |
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| Mamallapuram |
| It is about 60 kms from Chennai.The monuments of Mamallapuram date back to the Pallava period of the 7th-8thcenturies. It is also a beach resort offering wide range of hotels to stay. Tourists are charged a one-time Entry fee for all monuments |
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| Vedanthangal (85 kms) |
| This is a bird sanctuary for migratory water birds. It is about 85 kms from Chennai |
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| Gudiyam Caves (75 kms) |
| Situated 10 kms from the Poondi Reservoir at Alikuzhi Ghats, it is believed to be a pre- historic hominid habitation. There are about 16 rock shelters that are naturally formed like canopy-like structures in the reserved forests. It is the right kind of expedition for trekkers and nature-lovers |
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| Fort Museum |
| It houses rare exhibits of weapons, uniforms, coins, costumes, medals and other artefacts and memorabilia of the British period. The flagmast at Fort St. George is the tallest in India |
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| The Island Ground |
| This is one of the lungs of this teeming city. It is situated on an island formed by the River Cooum. This ground is the venue for Trade and Tourist Fairs that are held periodically and seasonally |
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| The High Court |
| It has decorative domes and corridors reminiscent of Indo Saracenic architecture. Adjacent to Parry’s Corner, it is another prominent landmark of Chennai. Built in 1892, the High Court of Chennai is one of the largest judicial complexes in the world |
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| Theosophical Society |
| The world headquarters of the Theosophical Society was formed to facilitate and encourage the study of comparative religions, philosophy and science and rational thought. It is situated in the beautiful and sylvan surroundings of the Adyar River. This society was founded by Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott in the U.S.A and transferred to Adyar in 1882. Apart from shrines of all faiths and the peaceful Garden of Remembrance, there is a 95 years old library which has a very good collection of rare Oriental manuscripts written on palm leaf and parchment |
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| Kapaleeswarar Temple |
| In Mylapore, there is an 8th Century Pallava Temple. The temple ‘Gopuram’ or tower is made in the characteristic Dravidian style of architecture. Dedicated of Lord Shiva, this temple has some beautiful sculptures, among which the bronze idols of 63 Saivaite Saints or the Nayanmars. They adorn the outer courtyard. Also in the courtyard under the old Punnai tree is a small shrine depicting Goddess Parvathi in the form of a peacock, worshipping Lord Shiva. It is from this legend that Mylapore derives its name Mayil meaning peacock in Tamil and Oor meaning town. Mylapore is the hub of the Arubathumoovar festival dedicated to the 63 Nayanmars held in March-April every year. |
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| Elliot’s Beach |
| Following the road along the coast down southward from the Marina one reach the Elliot’s beach. This long stretch of the coastline has the Velankanni church at one end. Built on similar lines to the church in Nagapattinam this church too attracts a large number of pilgrims. The Ashtalakshmi temple, which houses different forms of Goddess Lakshmi is another favourite place for devotees and tourists |
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| Birla Planetarium |
| The Birla Planetarium, at Kotturpuram, is situated between Adyar and Guindy, is the most modern planetarium in the country. It houses a fully computerised projector that depicts the heavens on a hemispherical dome. The Planetarium presents to the public and students audiovisual programmes on various themes in astronomy |
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| Kottam |
| This memorial to the immortal Tamil saint philosopher Thiruvalluvar is shaped like a temple chariot and is in fact the replica of the temple chariot in Thiruvarur. A life-size statue of the saint has been installed in the 39 metre tall chariot. The 133 chapters of his famous work Thirukkural have been depicted in bas-relief in the front hall and corridors of the chariot. The auditorium at Valluvarkottam is said to be the largest in Asia and it can accommodate about 4000 people. The latest additions in this complex are paintings depicting themes from Thirukkural |
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| Guindy National Park |
| The Deer Park, comprising 595 acres, is situated adjacent to Raj Bhavan. It was originally a part of the Governor’s Estate. This is the only National Park in the world to be situated within a Metropolis. It is botanically the only one of its kind to carry even today, vegetation that is truly representative of the natural thorny scrub jungle of southern dry zone. Interspersed with more than 30 trees species that include a number of centuries-old gigantic banyan trees. This park with a network of roads, footpaths, nature trails, lakes and ponds, offers good opportunities for viewing wild life |
