Capital of Chennai
Capital of Chennai
Chennai formerly known as Madras is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This
metropolis is often called the cultural capital of India for its deep-rooted traditions and long
heritage. The city is the gateway to the rest of South India. It has the 2nd longest seashore
in the world, located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. With a population of
around six million, it is India’s fourth largest city.
The city was established in the 17th century by the British, who developed it into a major
urban centre and naval base. By the 20th century, it had become an important administrative
centre, as the capital of the Madras Presidency.
From before days of Independence to present, the people of Chennai have played an
important role in shaping the country’s political destiny.
Chennai’s economy has a broad industrial base in the automobile, technology, hardware
manufacturing, and healthcare industries. The city is India’s second largest exporter of
software, information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services (ITeS). A major chunk of
India’s automobile manufacturing industry is based in and around the city. Chennai accounts
for 60 percent of the country’s automotive exports and is referred to as the Detroit of South
Asia.
Chennai hosts a large cultural event, the annual Madras Music Season, which includes
performances by hundreds of artists. The city has a vibrant theatre scene and is an important
centre for the Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form. The Tamil film industry, known as
Kollywood, the second largest movie industry in India, is based in the city; the soundtracks of
the movies dominate its music scene.
Tourist places to see in & around Chennai
Parthasarathy Temple
Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane was built by the Pallava kings of South India in around 8th
century and later renovated by the Vljaya nagar Kings in the 16th century. It is one of the
major tourist attractions of Chennai.
Santhome Cathedral
An important pilgrimage center of Christians, visiting chennai the Santhome Cathedral is at
the site of the tomb of Apostle St. Thomas who came to India from the Palestines.
Marina Beach
The famous Marina Beach, the Pride of Chennai, is second longest beach in the world and has
a wide sandy foreshore. One can see statues of heroes from Tamil culture to Samadhi of
great leaders like Anna and MGR here. Walk along the Marina in the evening to cool off and
eat crispy sundal and murukku. An aquarium is also located on the Marina Beach. Watching
sunset and sunrise from the beach is a fascinating experience.
