An
Overview of Chennai :
Chennai, earlier known as Madras is one of the four metropolis of India and
the capital of South Indian state Tamil Nadu. This is the fourth largest
city of India and considered as the gateway to South India. The city is
popular for its numerous tourist destinations including beaches, temples,
forts, palaces along with many colourful festivals that attract tourists
from all parts of the country. The city presents a culture that is totally
different from North India and represents a lifestyle that is a perfect
blend of traditional and modern India. On one hand the ancient temples,
monuments, classical music, dance shows its traditionality and on the other
hand the modern high rising buildings and discos represents its modernity.
Climate of Chennai :
Being situated on the coastal area, Chennai experiences a hot and humid
climate. There is not much difference between winter and summer temperature
as the city receives rainfall throughout the year. The average summer
temperature varies between 37-21 degrees C while it is between 32 and 19
degrees C in winter. The winter months from November to February is the
pleasant time period to visit the city.
Tourist Attractions of Chennai :
There are numerous places to see and visit in Chennai. Some of the major
ones are :
» Marina Beach - Stretching over 12 km along the
Bay of Bengal, it is one of the longest beaches in India and a most sought
after beach holiday destination for many.
»
Fort St. George - Built in 1640, it is one of the finest example of
India and British architectural style. Now, it houses the Legislative
Assembly, the Council and the State Secretariat.
» Government Museum - Established in the year 1857,
the museum has a fine collection of art and artifacts associated with
different periods of Chola, Vijayanagar, Hoysala and Chalukya. It has a
invaluable collection of musical instruments, jewellery and bronze statues.
» Kapaleeswar Temple - Situated at Malayapur, this
ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its a typical example of
Dravidian architecture. Its intricately carved 37 meter gopuram is the prime
attraction of the temple. The temple also hosts the Aruvathi moovar temple
festival celebrated every year in the month of March/April.
» Sri Partha Sarathy Temple - Dedicated to Lord
Krishna, it is one of the oldest surviving temple in the city built by the
Pallavas.
» Santhomre Cathedral Church - Built during 14th
and 15th century, it is another important tourist attraction in the city.
The church houses the remains of St. Thomas the apostle.
Getting to Chennai :
»
By Air - Kamaraj National and Anna International Airport are about 17 km
from the city centre. Several airline operators provide services to
different parts of India and some international destinations.
» By Rail - There are two main rail terminals in
the city from where regular train services link Chennai with all the major
Indian cities. The Madras Central is on the broad gauge line and is
connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Trivandrum,
Cochin and Tirupathi. Egmore for meter gauge trains to Madurai, Trichy and
other important cities of South India.
» By Road - An excellent road network links the
city with all the important cities of Tamil Nadu and neighboring states.
