Chennai

INTRO
Gateway to South Asia. Cradle of the Dravidian Civilization. Detroit of South Asia. Home to Kollywood, Chennai Open, Marina Beach, Guindy National Park, Anna Salai, Music Season, Pongal Festival. Godfather of a cotton fabric with patterned texture. If you haven't already guessed, here is the key to the riddle: The fabulous city of Madras, renamed Chennai in 1996. Like two different reflections of the city's face, its two names add a specific charm to it. One look in the mirror shows loyal guardians of ancient traditions and Tamil culture and yet another one unveils the city's impressive urban and industrial profile. The bright green nuances of nature in the background let both reflections melt into a magnificent masterpiece.

City Profile
City: Madras / Chennai
Country: India
Area: 181.06 km2
Population:4,352,932
Districts: 3
Mayor: M. Subramaniam
Language: Tamil
Rating:

LOCATION
The capital of the state of Tamil Nadu lies on a flat coastal plain on the southeast coast of India, also known as the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. The city's location has contributed to it turning into a major Indian port. The Buckingham Canal links the two rivers, Cooum River in the central part and Adyar River in the southern part. They traverse the city, almost dividing it into half. The 4km long canal runs nearly parallel to the coast through most of the city.

TIME TO VISIT
Madras' location on the thermal equator and the Indian coast doesn't allow for great variation in temperatures. The weather all year long is uniformly hot and humid. The hottest season is May-June with maximum temperatures of 38-42 °C. It is locally referred to as Agni Nakshatram ("Fire Star"). The coolest months tend to be December and January with minimum temperatures of 19-20 °C. The north-east moonsoon winds bring bountiful rainfall to Madras from October to mid-December. Therefore the perfect time for your vacation would be the period from November to February, when the temperatures are mildest and you would also have the incredible opportunity to witness Madras Music Season and Pongal Festival.

POPULATION
Chennai is the fourth largest metropolitan city in India with a total metropolitan population, estimated at 7,066,778 people. Otherwise the number of Chennaiites amounts to 4,352,932. The city is also considered to be among the world's densest, having a density of 5,847 per km2. The majority of its residents belongs to the Tamil ethnic group and speaks Tamil. Other widespread languages are English, Telugu and Urdu. There are also local Marwari, Anglo Indian, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujrati communities and an increasing number of expatriates.

DISTRICTS
The city of Chennai is divided into five administrative units called talukas. The metropolitan area however consists of three districts, Chennai City and the districts of Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur. Chennai City itself is formally divided into four major parts, namely a north, south, central and west part, each one famous for its own reasons.

North Chennai is for the most part an industrial area. It houses some of India's reputed automobile companies, thanks to which the city is known as "Detroit of South Asia". Moreover, the presence of Ennore Port and the fishing harbour makes this area an important trade centre.
South Chennai is both a residential area and a commercial centre. Here you can also find a series of tourist attractions including parks, historical landmarks and famous pilgrimage spots.
Central Chennai is the commercial hub of the city and the downtown area. It is a vibrant business district with an abundance of business enterprises and important offices. For the keen eye there are a few monuments and buildings established by the East India Company.
West Chennai forms to a great extent the area where most residential places are concentrated. It is amply provided with hotels, restaurants, schools, banks, financial and IT companies.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
There is a great number of interesting places to see in the city of Madras. It is fully loaded with a wide range of treats to all tastes including South Indian temples, historical monuments, museums, parks, golden beaches and industrial zones. The only thing you have to do is just dive in this sea of exotic pleasure.

Kapaleeswarar temple is a famous Hindu temple and probably the most splendid example of Dravidian architecture. Located in the region of Mylapore, this Shiva temple was built in the 8th century but it was later destroyed by the Portuguese and rebuilt 300 years later. The temple houses the shrines of Kapaleeswar (Shiva) and his wife Karpagambal (Parvati). It becomes a key place of worship during the Therotsavam and Arupathimoovar Festivals. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://eventsuk.britishairways.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.detail&event_id=149304
Fort St Georgeis an important historical monument as its establishment in 1640 marked the birth of the new city of Madras. It was built by the British East India Company as a commanding post in the region. At present the fort houses the Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. It is furthermore home to a museum and the oldest Anglican church in India, St Mary's Church. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Tamil-Nadu/Channai.htm
Guindy National Park is the smallest national park in India and the only one in the world that is situated within a metropolis borders. It is an extension of the grounds that surround the residence of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. The park used to be a game reserve till 1817 but now it features astounding bio diversity. The amazing flora and fauna include 24 sorts of trees, 14 types of shrubs and mammals as well as some rare species and thus make the park a favorite tourist destination. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/wildlife/Parks/GNChennai.aspx?catid=C5&subcat1id=C5S2&subcat2id=C5S2S4&sm=C5S2S4
Marina Beachis one of the longest beaches in the world with its 12km long shoreline. The roadside of the beach is beautifully adorned with stone statues, including ones of Indian and local celebrities. The beach provides ample opportunities for swimming, windsurfing, fishing, beach volleyball and more. The tsunami in 2004 caused massive death and destruction to the beach but the coastline is recovered and rebuilt now. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.kerala-tourism.net/tamilnadu/beaches-in-tamilnadu.html#marina-beach
Government Museum on Pantheon Road is the first government sponsored museum in the country, opened in 1851. It houses a series of galleries, which all contain priced collections. There are Hindu Sculpture Gallery, Bronze Gallery, Amravathi Gallery and National Art Gallery. In addition, the museum boasts impressive numismatic, philatelic, musical instruments and industrial arts collections. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.chennailine.com/travel/governmentmuseum.html

AIRPORT
Madras is very well connected both internationally and to other parts of the country.The Chennai International Airport (consisting of Anna Terminal for international flights and Kamaraj Terminal for domestic flights) operates as the city's airport but a new airport is planned to be constructed in the near future.

The Chennai International Airport is located in Meenambakkam in Kancheepuram district, 7 km south of Chennai. The airport is accessible by road and rail transport links. You can reach the city centre with less trouble by taxi. You should use pre-paid taxies, which are either standard black taxies with yellow tops or private-call taxies. You should also be aware that the fares are different for the domestic and international terminals. The minimum fare tends to be Rs50 for 2 km and they charge Rs10 for every subsequent kilometre. More info at: http://www.chennaiairport.com/

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
There are several modes of transportation available to the visitors of Madras:

The suburban railway network has four sections. There are two main railway terminals, Chennai Central Station, the largest railway station in the city and Chennai Egmore. There exist plans to construct a metro railway system. Fares Rs4 - 5.
The bus service in the city is run by the government-owned Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC). Tickets are quite cheap and can also be ordered online. Fares Rs2 - 7.
Auto rickshaws are a typical means of transport for the country as a whole. These two or three-wheeled motorised carts are very appropriate for short distances. It is preferable to negotiate a price beforehand. You should expect to pay about Rs8 per kilometre.
Taxies can be ordered by phone and have digital fare meters. They are generally more expensive. The minimum charge for the first 2 km is Rs50 and Rs10 for every kilometre after that. The best choice for a tour around the city are the tourist cabs, which usually cost Rs10 per kilometre and Rs50 per hour.

HISTORY
As long ago as in the 1st century the region around Madras served as an important administrative and economic centre as well as a major port. It was ruled subsequently by South Indian dynasties, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the British. The name of the city derives from Madraspatnam, the place chosen by the East India Company for a permanent settlement in 1639. The whole city was however formed as a result of the merging of Madraspatnam and Chennapatnam, where the city's current name comes from. This event actually marked the birth of the modern city, which by 18th century had grown into a major urban centre. After the independence in 1947, the city became the capital of the Madras State, which was later renamed Tamil Nadu.

CITY LINKS

The Hindu, a daily newspaper in English: http://www.hindu.com/
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority: http://www.cmdachennai.org
Interesting Places in Chennai: http://www.chennailine.com/
Useful Tips: http://wikitravel.org/en/Chennai
Business Information: http://www.chennaionline.com/

UNIVERSITY LINKS

University of Madras, one of the three oldest universities in India: http://www.unom.ac.in/
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), an elite engineering and technological institution: http://www.iitm.ac.in/
Anna University, a premier engineering university in India: http://www.annauniv.edu/

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