Chennai

Capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and the fourth largest city in India with over seven and a half million inhabitants, Chennai’s unique mixture of cultural heritage and modernisation make it an attractive spot for visitors.

Once an important economic and military hub of the Tondaimandalam province in the 1st century, Chennai’s (or Madras) history has been dominated by European influences. Taken by the Portuguese in 1522, who built the port of São Tomé on site, the city passed first into Dutch and then British hands over the course of the 17th century. With the exception of a brief period between 1746 and 1749 under the French, Madras stayed under British control, establishing the city as a major naval base and bringing about economic prosperity through the trade. With Indian independence in 1947, Madras became Chennai and was soon established as the capital of Tamil Nadu in 1968.

Despite the devastation wreaked by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, Chennai continues to impress with its fabulous temple architecture and, coupled with a welcoming atmosphere (most inhabitants speak English as well as the Tamil dialect), is firmly established as a tourist hotspot.

Attractions & Culture

Standing as testament to Britain’s long association with India is the Fort St. George, the first British fortress in the country. Built in 1644 and once used by the East India Company in the spice trade, the Fort now acts as the legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu state and also houses a museum with relics of the Raj.

Visitors come to Chennai to see the many temples, the most celebrated of these being the Kapaleeswarar Temple. Dedicated to the Lord Shiva, the temple’s history is extremely contentious due to its uncertain origins, but the beauty of the edifice is certainly not in question and has to be seen. Conversely, reflecting the diversity of Chennai’s history is Mary’s Church. Built in 1680, it is the oldest Anglican Church in India.

Closer to modern Chennai is the Valluvar Kottam. Constructed in 1976 in the style of a temple chariot, the building is topped by a life-size statue of the great Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar (author of the Thirukkurals) and acts today as an auditorium.

Similar in concept is the Vivekanandar Illam, devoted to the spiritual leader of the Vedanta philosophy, Swami Vivekananda, who briefly inhabited the building in 1897. As well as this deep religious connection, the Vivekanandar Illam is a spectacularly lavish building in its own right and hosts an exhibition on India’s cultural heritage.

Chennai is chiefly associated with Indo-Saracenic architecture, a mixture of Hindu and Islamic designs and the Gothic revivalism of the Victorian era. The best example of this style is the Government Museum and Art Gallery in Pantheon Road, but the Madras High Court and the Presidency College (both built around the mid-19th century) are also remarkable.

The city has plenty of institutions made for learning such as the Birla Planetarium, the Lakshmi Ethiraj Art Gallery in 1st Main Road and the Guindy Snake Park and National Park. Perhaps the most popular point of interest in this regard is the Theosophical Society grounds, which contain the famous Banyan Tree, more than five thousand years old.

Cricket is an obsession in Chennai. The local team, Tamil Nadu, play their games at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, one of the oldest stadiums in the country (founded in 1916) and used regularly for Indian Test Matches. Chennai also has an interest in tennis, hosting the ATP Chennai Open in January at the SDAT Tennis Stadium.

Shopping

Chennai is packed with open-air markets which run throughout the week, but the main starting points for tourists are the plazas and malls like Chennai Citi Centre in Radhakrishnan Salai. Especially popular is the Spencer Plaza in Anna Salai, which dates back centuries and professes to be the largest in India.

Nightlife & Dining

The city does not have the greatest gastronomic reputation in the country, but you can still find some excellent authentic Indian cuisine at establishments like Residence in the Park Sheraton Hotel and Sangeetha in Gandhi Nagar.

International cuisine tends to dominate in the city, ranging from Japanese at Akasaka in Suraj Towers to Italian at Bella Ciao in Kottivakkam.

Equally, the nightlife leaves something to be desired around the city. The best places for drinking and dancing are HFO in the Quality Inn Aruna and Zara at Chola Seraton. If you’re willing to travel outside of Chennai, EC 41 is an open-air discotheque located along the East Coast Road.

Tourist Information

  • Government of India Tourist Office
  • 154 Anna Salai
  • Chennai
  • 600 002
  • Tel: +91 852 4295
  • Web: [http://www.tourisminindia.com Tourism In India]

Airport

Chennai is served by [http://www.airportsindia.org.in/chennai/index.jsp Chennai International Airport], 7 km from the city itself.

As the third busiest airport in India, international and domestic connecting flights are regularly available to multiple destinations.

British Airways (London-Heathrow) use Chennai International Airport to and from British locations.