Chennai
is one of the most colorful city
of Southern India. It's a city
on the move. A visit to Chennai
reveals its unique culture which
is very different from the culture
of mainland India. Chennai is
a city renowned for its heritage,
art, music and dance. It is a
city which has harmoniously blended
the traditional with that of the
contemporary. From conventional
vegetarian cuisines to noveau
international cuisines, Kanjivaram
saris to the latest in haute couture,
from enchanting temples modern
day skyscrapers and the best of
classical music to the pulsating
discotheques. It's all here at
Chennai
Chennai is undoubtedly the gateway
city of Southern India. Of course
these days, there is also Bangalore
in neighboring Karnataka which
is also vying for that position.
Chennai is the capital city of
Tamil Nadu and it is a bustling
metropolis in its own rights.
The city owes a lot to the erstwhile
British East India Company and
Chennai matured as a city from
the periphery of Fort St. George
which was built by the British.
Although Chennai has been influenced
by the British, it is till date
among the most conservative cities
of India. Chennai is renowned
for its classical charm.
It is
a city where the past and the
present co-exist in a perfect
harmony not seen anywhere else
in India. Chennai has a lot to
offer to today's discerning global
traveler by way of spectacular
beaches, verdant parklands and
ancient monuments.
The city is the hub of the South
India's film industry. The city
landscape is replete brightly
lit billboards that have banners
of Tamil blockbusters. Actor Rajnikant
is a demi god here. There are
numerous film studios roll out
movies every fortnight.
For a number of years the phenomenon
of actors and actresses of the
tinsel town turning into erudite
politicians is what sets them
apart. It all began with the late
M. G. Ramachandran, the larger
than life former chief minister
of Tamil Nadu, till the presnt
day Chief Minister - Jayalalitha
who also had a movie background.
Chennai is the place to visit
with people with a penchant for
classical dance and music. There
are numerous dance and music recitals
that are staged in some of Chennai's
most esteemed auditoriums. These
shows attract tourists from far
away countries who find Chennai's
music and dance scene to be very
captivating. Chennai is the bastion
of the world famous Carnatic music
and some of the most graceful
expositions of the Bharatnatyam
dance form can be witnessed in
many of Chennai's renowned public
halls.
Chennai offers a plethora of interesting
sites to the discerning tourists.
A list of must visit tourist sites
of Chennai are compiled below
for the benefit of tourists who
intend to go on a sight seeing
spree of Chennai:
Tidel
Park:
Chennai's most recent landmark
is the Tidel Park which is an
exclusive city hub for the IT
industry which has seen a burgeoning
growth in the past decade. This
fascinating park with a built
up area of 1.28 million sq.ft.
is a high water mark in Chennai
architectural landscape. The park
is home to a number global IT
and Software giants.
Fort St. George:
Fort St.George is one of Chennai's
most enduring tourist landmarks.
This imposing fort is named the
renowned British patron St. George.
The fort houses the Tamil Nadu
State Legislature and the Secretariat
and is a must visit site of Chennai.
St. Mary's Church:
The elegant St. Mary's Church
happens to be the oldest Anglican
Church in India and was built
way back in 1680. This magnificent
church of Chennai is the most
popular place of Christian congregation.
The graveyards in the church's
courtyard are amongst the oldest
British graveyards in India. The
church was the venue for two much
hyped about wedding ceremonies.
One was of Robert Clive while
the other was Governor Elihu who
went on to establish the esteemed
Yale University in the U.S.A.
Marina Beach Tours in Chennai India :
Marina Beach is a world famous
beach and has the enviable distinction
of being the second longest beach
in the world. That is indeed some
record ! Ain't it? Along the beach
promenade beach, are the Samadhis
or cenotaphs of C.N.Annadurai
and M.G.Ramachandran, both of
whom were former Chief Ministers
of Tamil Nadu. Some of Chennai's
fine-looking edifices like the
University of Madras, Chepauk
Palace, the Senate House, Presidency
College and the Ice House are
located on the beachfront.
Santhome Cathedral Basilica:
Santhome Cathedral Basilica is
ideally located at the southern
part of the Marina beach. The
Basilica is dedicated to one of
Jesus Christ's apostle - St.Thomas,
who is supposed to have visited
India during 52 A.D. It is thought
that the apostle was killed on
St. Thomas Mount on the outskirts
of the city in 78 AD and his vestiges
were interred at the Santhome
beach. Later on a church was built
on the spot. Many years later,
another beautiful church was built,
this one a little more inland
and the apostle's mortal remains
were removed here.
Vivekananda
House & Museum:
Initially the Government of Tamil
Nadu had let this building to
Sri Ramakrishna Math. It is one
of Chennai's most remarkable edifices
located on the Marina beach front
on the South Beach Road. This
building was built in 1842 primarily
to stock up ice blocks that were
imported all the way from USA
by the Tudor Ice Company whose
business thrived till 1874. This
is the reason why the building
is popularly referred to as the
Ice House. Thereafter Bilagiri
Iyengar acquired this building
in 1885 and renamed it "Castle
Kernon."
In the year 1897 Swami Vivekananda
visited this city and lived in
this famous building from February
6th to 15th in the year 1897 after
his commendable speech at Chicago
Parliament of Religions. The Government
acquired the building in 1930
and in 1963 it was consecrated
in honor of Swami Vivekananda.
There is a museum which has numerous
vintage photographs portraying
the Swamiji's life and times along
with books written by him.
The Island Ground:
The Island Ground are the lungs
of this bustling city. It is a
picturesque island shaped by the
shimmering Cooum river. This ground
is a much sought after location
for Trade and Tourist Fairs and
Exhibitions that are held every
year.
The High Court:
The Chennai High Court is conspicuous
by its pretty domes and passageways
evocative of the Indo Saracenic
style of architecture. The High
Court is near to the Parry's Corner,
which is also a Chennai landmark
in its own rights. This judicial
complex was built way back in
1892 and has the enviable distinction
of being the world's largest judicial
complex.
