Chennai
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| Home › Destinations › Tamil Nadu › Chennai |
Chennai, Tamil Nadu(Chennai is also known as Madras)
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| Travel Guide | Attractions | Map | How to reach | Weather | Hotels |
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| On this page: History, Culture, Travel within city, Food, Nightlife, Shopping, Hotels, Articles, Blogs |
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Elegantly placed in the shores of Coromandel Coast, Chennai boast of a rich heritage, which is elaborately intertwined with the culture, traditions and living style of the people through generations. One of the prettiest metropolitan cities in India, Chennai perfectly mixes the elegance of past with the vibrancy of modernism. This contemporary city is often referred as the Gateway to the South India. Chennai was formerly called as Madras and to the rest of India, Madrasis represents the entire south Indians.
An ancient city, which has got a rich history of long 350 years, Chennai has been able to preserve its ethnicity and charm. In between the long busy sandy beaches, parks, sculptures and historic landmarks, one can see a vivacious and lively city which is ever growing, sprouting, mounting and shifting in harmony with the modern trends. One of the oldest cities of India, Chennai is a melting point of culture and tradition. The harvest festival - Pongal is seven day event, showcases the art of Tamil Nadu. When we think about Chennai, the first place that comes in to our mind is the Marina Beach whose long expansion of sandy beaches with its alluring charm enthralls the spectators for a long.The pious among the visitors can go for a short trip to Milapur where ancient shrines like Kapileswara temple, St. Thomas Basilica, St.Thomas Mount and a Portuguese church are located. One can start the sight seeing from Fort St George, where a museum awaits its visitors to unfurl the richness of the past. Then the Clive House stands proudly as a true testimonial to the British legacy. Another important place to be visited is the St Mary’s Church, which is considered as the oldest Anglican Church in Asia. An intrinsic network of so many industrial, software and automobile sectors in the 200 square kilometers expansion of Chennai shows the progressiveness of an enduring society. Without loosing its traditional vigor, this metro has been able to establish a good name as a new entrant in the field of software and sophisticated technological arena. A genuine blend of diverse cultures, people with distinct features, varying viewpoints, beliefs, values and morality has shaped the culture of the famous city. There is combination of cultures and ideas that make the cosmopolitan nature of Chennai. With its charismatic monuments, temples, mosques and churches coupled with the deep sense of ethnicity and tradition this metropolis offers exciting activities to the visitor. For tourists Storytrails service (91-44-42124214) is a great way to know the city, which unveils facts and stories that many locals don’t know. Must See/Do: Marina Beach, MGR Film City, Vivekananda House (Ice House)All attractions
It is best to take a TTDC conducted tour of the city to cover the main tourist spots, before you can venture onto the offbeaten track. TTDC is safe and reliable.
ArticlesView allIndia – Holidaying Within Limitsby Afia Ahmad on Mar 01, 2013India is a myriad country and the people of the country completely believe in the saying – ‘Atithi Devo Bhava' – meaning Guest is God What You Should Know About the Chennai Turtle Walkby Madhav Srinivasan on Nov 14, 2011Turtles may look very tough, but they are an endangered breed of species. The Chennai Turtle Walk is a movement to save this unique creature from extinction along the coastal lines of India. Celebrating all things Madarasiby Shwetha on Aug 25, 2010A day to look back on the city's history,heritage and humble beginnings as a small settlement - Celebrating Madras Day Travel NewsView allChennai’s Second Airport Project may get Green Signal by April 2012Feb 15, 2012 03:45 PMChennai is all set to get an approval for the second airport in the city by April 2012. This airport is supposed to be near the Sriperumbudur area. Read on to know more about the developments in the project… Tamil Nadu allotted Rs 550 crore for development of tourism InfrastructureDec 26, 2011 05:46 PMTamil Nadu is taking up the task of improving tourism in the state with special focus on the cities of Tiruchirapalli and Chennai. The state Government has already sanctioned an amount of INR 550 crore for the development of infrastructure in the state. HistoryAn erstwhile settlement of the colonial forces, Chennai has attained the prestigious status as one of the presidencies under the imperial power. St George Fort, which captures the attention of the onlookers, was built in the year 1640 by the British as their seat of administration. Later this was captured by the French in 1746. By the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, the British regained its control and they fortified the bastions to prevent any further attacks. From that date onwards till India get freedom, this city was ruled by the British under whom the city has shown dynamic development. After Independence, the city has become the capital of Tamil Nadu and it is this city, which has changed the political equations of the whole nation. Chennai has witnessed violent agitation against imposition of Hindi as the national language in the year 1965 and after that the city has been the hub of regional politics. CultureAptly called as the cultural capital of South India, Chennai represents the richness of classical and traditional art forms. A flourishing center of the traditional dance forms, Chennai presents a perfect ambiance for the toddlers in this field to flourish. Evenings in the city are marked with enthralling performances of veteran dancers and vocalists. Overwhelming participation of the general public is a unique feature of the cultural festivals in the city. Tinsel world influences the lifestyle of the Tamil people to a great extent. Kollywood, as the Tamil film industry is popularly called, has provided three popular chief ministers to Tamil Nadu. Tamil movies have a large number of spectators around the world, which is famed for its exquisite music and marvelous cinematography. A five day music extravaganza, which commemorates the annual celebrations of the Madras Music Academy features performances of traditional Carnatic music by hundreds of artists in and around the city. An arts festival called the Chennai Sangamam held in each January showcases various arts of Tamil Nadu.
A visit to oldest and most renowned dance accademy in India Kalakshetra is enough to know the depth and significance of classical culture
Travel within cityBusThe most extensive intra city transport system in Chennai is the bus service. This is government controlled and run by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation. Bus services extend to most parts of the city and suburbs. Volvo air conditioned buses also ply in the city. The bus fares range from Rs. 4 to Rs. 40. Local TrainThe Sub urban rail system is extensive and connects most of the city, the tickets are inexpensive and the trains ply till midnight. The Chennai metro is expected to begin its services by 2012. Auto RickshawThe most common mode of transport in Chennai is the auto rickshaw. However they might not run on meter i.e. approximately Rs 7 per km, and the traveler is advised to negotiate the fare well in advance. They charge special night fare which might be considerably higher than the normal fare. Cycle RickshawsIn order to experience a hint of the colonial past, travelers may opt for cycle rickshaws which are still available in certain parts of the city. However they are open to the sky and the heat of the city might become overwhelming. A ride on the city rickshaw is best for short distances and their price ranges from Rs 10 - 20 per km. Cabs / TaxisCabs or taxis are also available extensively and most hotels maintain contact with local cab offices. They run on meter in most cases. Cabs are the best mode of transport during the night. Some of contact numbers of the local taxis are - Comfort call taxi - 044-28460614 City cabs - 044-2815775 Airport to City NetworkThe Chennai international and domestic airports are located about 15 Kilometers from the city and the traveler has easy access to the city. Pre paid auto rickshaws and cabs are available from the airport and train stations. Both the terminals have many booths set up and various private taxi companies run shuttle services from the airport to the city. They charge approximately Rs. 450 to the city for an SUV. Airport Taxis available at the airport are cheaper and most of them are air conditioned. One can use the suburban trains which operate from just outside the airport is also good. It is advisable to buy a first class ticket as the trains can be crowded.
Auto rickshaws are the best way to get around the city, but ask locals about how much it would cost to your destination before you hop on to one, otherwise they will ask two times more.
FoodA variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine that smells delectable is the specialty of Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai. Coconut, asafetida, and tamarind, the chief ingredients of vegetarian foods make the dish yummier. Almost all the food items get its flavor from the spices in a coconut base. The Tamil lunch includes of cooked rice with so many vegetable dishes like Sambar, Rasam, chutneys, curd and pickles. Crispy Pappadams are inevitable part of a Tamil meal. Filter coffee is the favourite drink of Tamilians. All visitors in a typical Tamil family in Chennai would be treated with this refreshing drink, the taste of which would loiters for ever in your tongue if tasted once. With out describing Pongal the briefing about Tamil cuisine would be incomplete. Make sure that the restaurant you choose would serve this luscious cuisine. It is quite sure that the mouth watering recipe of Tamil Nadu would certainly provide you with a delightful time of eating.
To expereince South India in all its colors and flavors, one cannot miss eating a traditional meal at Sarvanabhavan.
NightlifeEven if dancing is not your passion, the lively music, the perky dance numbers are definite to tempt you to do something on the dance floor. Some of the hot spots of night crawlers in the city are Pasha, Dublin, EC 41, Flame Le Club. These pubs would be crowded with youngsters who dare to dance to the tune of the fast numbers. Intriguing flaunt of illumination and wonderful display of colors amidst the full flare of live compositions makes this nightclubs a hot favourite of the modern generation Those who prefers a cool ambiance of excellent bars can opt luxurious hotels like Ashok Residency, Hotel Connemara, Geoffrey's at Hotel Radha Park Inn, Park Sheraton and Towers. Those who want to spend their time with their family would also have lots of options. Some nice restaurants in this metro offer pleasant and quiet evenings where you can have dine with your beloved ones. ShoppingYou can purchase bits and pieces with traditional and antique touch from Chennai. Palmyra-fiber handicrafts and Pattamara Mats, leaf from Tirunellveli, bronze and brass casting and conventional jewelery from Kumbakonam, Metal works from Tanjavur, stone figurines from Mamallapuram and Silks from Kanchipuram are very popular among the shopping buffs. In Chennai you would be able to meet the traditional traders who are concentrated in the trade of a particular object for generations Traders around the fort region are doing the same business for so many years. While you shop do not hesitate to bargain with the traders. From the cheap fabrics that are exhibited on the footpaths to the exquisitely furnished malls, Chennai presents a wide range of options to the customers. When wandering through the streets and shopping markets, one would be bewildered to choose from the artifacts.
This coastal city is known for its silk weaves and gold ornaments, a visit to Sarvanan Store in T-Nagar will leave you gasping at the array of offerings for any Indian occassion.
HotelsYou can find 314 hotels in Chennai under following categories:
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| Comments (21) | Questions (269) | Reviews (4) |
Thanks for sharing the information. Its nice place to visit. I visited last week for that i Book Bus Tickets through online.
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i met with a lady in charge of mcom department distance education of madras university. The worst lady i met in my life. her character is as bad as a dog. please dont give hod position to Ladies. She is the worst lady in the world.
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Thanks for sharing the post...The Marina beach The famous Marina Beach, the pride of Chennai, is second longest beach in the world and has a wide sandy foreshore. Ticketgoose.com will help to get the detail information about the bus schedules, type of coaches ,and the boarding points also.
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nice and thank uuuu
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hi... dudes,
i'm newly comes to chennai. so, pls help me .... how can i know the chennai tourist places?
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Hi all, Im new to Chennai, can anybody help me out in knowing where cani order photo cakes for my sis's b'day in anna nagar and what will be the price approx? if they do door delivery with flowers ill be much happy...........
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online grocery shop in chennai - http://www.storesondoors.com
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Very great informative bloghe best things around ch about chennai.u can also search tennai using http://adyar.bestinchennai.com/Travels
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