Chennai
Chennai is a city located in India and is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. This city covers an area of seventy square miles and has a population of four and a half million people. This makes the city the fifth most populated city in the country. Chennai is situated on the Bay of Bengal on the Coromandel Coast. This city can trace its history all the way back to the first century when the area served as a military installation for South Indian dynasties such as the Chera, the Pallava and the Vijaynagar Dynasties. During the seventeenth century, the British East India Company bought a small section of land situated on the Coromandel Coast. A year later after obtaining this permission the British erected St. George Fort. This allowed the city to be the nucleus of the new colony. This fort would fall into the hands of the French when General La Bourdonnais captured the fort and plundered the town and surrounding areas. Three years later the British regained control and strengthened the town’s wall to defend it against attacks from the French. By the eighteenth century, the British controlled the region around the city and constructed the Madras Capital. The city flourished into a major city and a powerful naval base.
In the nineteenth century, the introduction of the railroads into India allowed this city center to be connected to cities such as Calcutta and Bombay. The city gained independence in the 1940s and twenty years later was renamed and became the capital of Tamil Nadu. Today, Chennai has a robust economy that centers around such economic activities such as automobile production, software production and financial services. Other key areas of the economy include chemicals, electronics, oil and textiles. Chennai also has Tamil Entertainment located there. This entertainment company is responsible for movie, television and music production and is one of the largest entertainment companies in India, being second only to Bollywood.
Chennai is a city with a lot to explore and see, but the tourist should plan their trip ahead. That’s because many of the attractions in the city are very spread out and transportation in the city can be a real headache. One of the most attractions in Channai is Fort St. George. Fort St. George is the British fortress that was erected in 1639. The fortress has eighteen foot walls and is now home to the legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu. But, the fort also has several features that have historical significance. One of these features is St. Mary’s Church. This church is the oldest Anglican church in all of India and was erected in 1680. Also in the fort is the Fort Museum. The Fort Museum was built in 1795 and houses many artifacts of the British Raj.
Another prominent attraction in the city is Marina Beach. Marina Beach is a sandy beach that is located on the Bay of Bengal. It is always busy with shops, roadside vendors and food courts. The beach has a joggers and bikers path and contains a thirty-four foot artificial waterfall. Swimming and sunbathing are illegal on this beach, but there are many statues of famous people and historical monuments. The statues on this beach include Robert Caldwell, Sivaji Ganesan, Subramaniya Barathiyar, Kannagi, Thanthai Periyar, Mahatma Gandhi, Avvaiyar, Thiruvalluvar, George Uglow Pope, Subhash Chandra Bose, Annie Besant, M. G. Ramachandran and Bharathidasan. Historical landmarks, agencies and memorials located on this beach include the Victoria War Memorial, Inspector General of Police Headquarters, Public Works Department, Presidency College, Lady Wellington School, Forensic Science Department, All India Radio, University of Madras Chepauk Campus, the Anna Memorial, the MGR Memorial, Vivekananda House, Queen Marys College and University of Madras Marina. Marina Beach also has a few amenities which include an aquarium, Anna Swimming Pool, Marina Cricket Ground, Marina Swimming Pool and Dr. Annie Besant Park.
Parthasarathy Temple is a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Krishna and built during the eighth century. At this beautiful temple are shrines dedicated to Sri Vedhavalli, Narasimha, Swami Manavala Mamunigal, Varaha, Sri Anjaneya, Ramanuja, Lord Parthasarathy and Sri Gajendra Varadharaja. Another prominent temple is Kapaleeshwarar Temple. Kapaleeshwarar Temple is dedicated to the God Shiva and Goddess Shakthi. The temple was built in the seventh century by the Pallavas, but was rebuilt by the Vijayanagar Kings in the sixteenth century after the original temple was destroyed by the Portuguese.
San Thome Basilica is a Roman Catholic basilica that was originally built during the sixteenth century by the Portuguese. When the British took it over in the nineteenth century it was rebuilt in the British style and achieved the status of cathedral. Its built in a neo-Gothic style that was popular among British architects during that era. Today, the basilica is the main church of the Mylapore Catholic Archdiocese and is a popular pilgrimage for Christian visitors to India. Attached to this church is a museum that contains many religious artifacts.
Chennai is a city that has many restaurants, cafes and hotels. The hotels in Chennai fall into five categories which include five star, four star, three star, budget hotels and heritage hotels. Five star hotels in the city include the Accord Metropolitan Hotel, Fishermans Cove Hotel, Park Sheraton, Chola Sheraton Hotel and Le Royal Meridien. Four star hotels in the city are Ambassador Hotel, Green Park, GRT Grand Days Hotel, The Hotel President and Quality Inn Sabari. Three star hotels in Chennai are the Ampa Crystal Inn, Hotel Kanchi, Aadithya Hotel, Beverly Hotel and the Breeze Hotel. Budget hotels in the city include The Blue Diamond, Balaji Resorts, Goldmine Hotels, Henkala Hotels and Hotel Abu Palace. The heritage hotel listed in the city is the Sterling Swamimalai. When choosing a hotel be sure to choose one that is near the center of the attractions that you wish to visit. That way you can avoid much of the traffic congestion that this city is well known for. Also choose one that fits your budget and has the amenities that you want to enjoy.
