Chennai, the gracious capital city of Tamil
Nadu is the fourth largest metropolis in
India. Located on a 17km stretch of the Coramandel coast,
the city is trisected by the waterways of Cooum and Adyar
and the Buckingham Canal. With a population of 6 million people,
Chennai is a vibrant city ever growing, expanding and changing
every year.
Popularly regarded as the "Gateway to the South",
Chennai presents culture that is distinctly different from
that of northern India. Music, dance and all other art forms
of the South are cherished and nurtured in this city which,
though industrialized, continues to be traditional and conventional
in many ways.
Chennai is a city where the traditional and the modern blend
in life everywhere. From traditional vegetarian fair to fast
foods, from nine-yard sarees to the latest in fashion, from
ancient temple architecture to modern high-rise - with Indo-Saracenic
and Victorian as stops along the way - from classical music
and dance to discos throbbing to heady beats, Chennai has
them all and many more vivid contrasts that are a pleasant
surprise. And perhaps the most striking of them all is that
here is a modern metropolis with beaches, parks and even sanctuaries
in the heart of the City.
Chennai offers a wealth of nature and a rich historic past
to visitors in the ambience of a city with every modern facility.
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How to get there
Chennai has an international airport connected by several
international airlines while the domestic traffic is handled
by Indian Airlines. There are regular flights to several cities
around the world from the International Terminal. There are
also daily flights to all important centres in India from
the Domestic Terminal. There are two major railway stations
in Chennai.
Chennai Central is the bigger one and connects the city by
broad gauge as also broad gauge trains to all major cities
and towns of India. The Egmore station is the starting point
for both metre gauge and broad gauge trains proceeding to
destinations within the state as well as trains to neighbouring
Kerala. Chennai is also accessible by road from any part of
India.
Chennai is connected by good network of roads with all important
places in Tamil Nadu and other parts of India. You may rent
a car with popular private cab owners. White plated taxis
ply 5 people on contract. Pre-paid taxis and airport coaches
are available at airports.
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WHAT TO SEE -
Temple -
Kapaleeswarar Temple, Parthasarathy Temple, Kandaswamy Temple,
Vadapalani Temple.
Church -
St. George's Cathedral, St. Andrew's Church, St. Mary's Church,
San Thome Cathedral Basilica.
Mosque -
Big Mosque, Thousand Light Mosque,.
Fort St. George:
Built in 1640 AD, it was once the bastion of the British Raj.
It now houses the State Legislature and the Secretariat.
St. Mary's Church:
The oldest Anglican Church in the country, was consecrated
in 1679.
Fort Museum:
Displays relics of the British legacy.
Marina Beach, the pride of Chennai, is the
second largest beach in the world and has a wide sandy foreshore.
V.G.P Golden Beach Resort: This beach resort
is popular not just with the people of the city, but also
with tourists. There is an entertainment arcade for children
and for adults.
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