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Chennai is the capital of Tamilnadu and the
fourth biggest city in India. Most of the city region of Chennai
comes under Chennai district. Chennai city plys an important role in
the historical, cultural and intellectual development of India.
Chennai is situated on the north-east end of Tamil Nadu on the coast
of Bay of Bengal. The city of Madras is renamed as Chennai. It is
the first city of Tamilnadu and comparitively a new city, only 350
years old.
Madras was the first major settlement in India for the British and
it was here that Robert Clive, who laid the foundation of the
British empire lived and planned his military expeditions in the
18th century. The changing moods of history are evident in the
different styles of architecture like the Dravidian architecture in
temples, Gandhi Mandapam and Valluvar Kottam, the Indo- Sarcenic
architecture in the High Court and University Senate Hall, the
Moghul architecture of the Arcot Nawab's palace at Chepauk, the
Victorian era architecture of the museum buildings and lastly the
sky scraper civilization as represented by some of the high rise
buildings and five star hotels.
Now Chennai is the automobile capital of India. Many of the
automobile manufacturers like Hyundai, Ford etc. have a base at
Chennai. Chennai is known as the Detroit of South Asia.
Accessibility:
By Rail:
Chennai is a very important rail centre of India and has trains to
almost all major destinations in India. The main Railway Stations
are Chennai Central and Egmore Stations.
By Air:
The Kamaraj Domestic Airport and the Anna International Airport at
Meenambakkam has flights to all major destinations in India nad
abroad.
By Road:
Chennai is well connected by road to most of the important places in
South India. There is a new Bus Terminus at Koyambedu which is known
as Chennai Mofusil Bus Terminus (CMBT). The terminus has all
facilities for a traveller and has buses to major places in
Tamilnadu. This is the starting point for the InterState Transport
Buses to the neighbouring states like Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh and Pondicherry.
For most tourists, Chennai serves as a starting point or base for a
tour of South India. It provides an excellent introduction to any of
the states in the South.
Places of Tourist Interest:
The Marina Beach
Fort St. George
Government Museum and Art Gallery
Guindy National Park and
Snake Park
Kalakshetra
Valluvar Kottam
Elliot's Beach
B.M. Birla Planetarium &
Periyar Science and Technology Museum
Anna Nagar Tower, Chennai
Places of Worship:
Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore
Sri Parthasarathy
Temple, Triplicane
Santhome
Cathedral, Chennai
Big Mosque, Triplicane
Gurudwara, T.Nagar, Chennai
Thousand Lights Mosque |