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Chennai (Madras) is the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu. The district is located in the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal and is one of the four largest metropolitan cities in India. The city was originally known as Madras Patnam and was located in the Tondaimandalam Province. We at Toursitplacesinindia.com provide you with all that you want to known about the Indian city of Chennai (Madras).
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Chennai (Madras) is one of the most important Industrial cities and is one of the major exporters of Information Technology services in India. The city was established in the 17th Century by the British where they built the Fort St. George to establish British Power in South India.
The city of Chennai covers a total area of about 174 square km with a total population of about 4343645. The city has a large number of tourist destinations which includes temples and other places of interest in and around the city. Important temples in the city include the Kapaleeswarer Temple at Mylapore, Parthasarathy temple at Triplicane, Vadapalini Andavar Temple at Vadapalini, Shrine Velankanni and Shri Devi Astha lakshmi temple The festivals are mainly based on the agricultural activities and according to the position of the stars and planets. Pongal, celebrated in the month of January, is the most important festival of Chennai. Being a cosmopolitan city, almost all the religious festivals are celebrated here.
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Other important places of interest in the city include Fort St. George, Santhome Basilica, Anna Square, High Court, Children’s park, Deer Park, Snake Park, Marina Beach Aquarium, Anna Zoological park, National Art Gallery, Raj Bhawan Estate and Kalakshetra. One can also visit the Marina Beach which extends for 13 km which was once used to store massive ice blocks transported by ship from North America. It is a beautiful beach and is visited by large number of tourists every year. The best time to visit the city is between November and February.
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The city of Chennai (Madras) provides recreational facilities to the tourists. The city has a large number of bars, cinema halls, clubs and discotheques for the tourists to chill out. The city is also famous for its handicraft industry. Important handicraft items found in the city include Bronze and brass articles, Tanjore Art plates, sandal wood and terracotta items, glass toys, Tanjore picture paintings, garlands and musical instruments to name a few. |
There are a large number of hotels in Chennai which ranges from Star categories to Budget categories from which the tourists can choose depending upon their taste and purse. Madras is well connected by roads, rails and air. The city has a domestic airport – Kamraj Airport, which is connected by major airlines from different cities of India and an International Airport – Anna International Airport. The major railheads are the Madras Central and Egmore Stations which are connected with major cities in India by regular train services. Besides, luxury bus services connect Chennai with other states in India. |
| Tourist Places In Chennai |
| Kapaleeswarar Temple |
The Kapleeswarar temple is situated in Kutchery Road, Mylapore. Mylapore is located in the city of Madras.The Kapleeswarar temple is an emblem of Dravidian style and architecture. The notable feature of this structure is the 37-meter tall gopuram i.e. the pyramidical shaped temple top trying to touch the ultimate cool blue-sky surface which is spread all over the universe. As you enter the temple you can view a sculpture, which has an interesting story behind it. It is believed that a saint known as Gnanasambandar sung and brought a dead girl back to life.The goddess Parvati is believed to be the wife of Shiva according to the Hindu religious belief. Here in this Kapaleeshwarar temple you can view goddess Parvati been depicted as peacock and she is worshipping the lingam or the idol of Lord Shiva.
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| Government Museum |
Established in 1857, one of the country's finest museums takes you to a journey into the past. Witness authentic relics from 2nd century AD Buddhist site of Amaravati and the prehistoric antiques of South India. Exquisite carvings of the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths are displayed in the sculpture gallery .You can also see an interesting collection of wood carvings from processional temple chariots and a fine collection of South Indian musical instruments and jewellery. Superb ancient icons and modern bronzes, including the famous bronze Natraja and the beautiful set of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman jostle for space in the Bronze section.
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| Marina Beach |
Marina Beach is the most famous beach of Tamil Nadu and is situated in the city of Chennai. The beach is considered to be one of the largest beaches in India and the world over. The beach stretches over a distance of 12 km and has a considerably large width. It begins from St. George Fort, in the north, and extends till Besant Nagar, in the south. This sandy beach is not only popular amongst the morning joggers, but is also a must visit spot for the tourists.The road side along the Marina Beach is marked by a number of statues of known leaders and celebrities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Thiruvalluvar, Sir Thomas Munro, Kamarajar, Periyar and the Statue of Labor. Apart from this, there is Anna Square, the burial site of former Chief Minster of Tamil Nadu, Dr. C. N. Annadurai.
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| Fort St. George |
The most powerful symbol of the British Empire in its early days in India, Fort St. George was the first piece of real estate for British in India. For many, it is still unclear that why Sir Day (the founder) choose this place to build this important fort, leaving many other picturesque locations on the vast coastline of the Bay of Bengal. The fort has a grey granite exterior unlike the Mughal forts that has lavish ornamentation and luxury. It housed barracks for the British army, a parade ground, and the oldest church of Chennai-the St. Mary's Church. |
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| Kalakshetra |
Kalakshetra is the apex institution for classical dance, music and the fine arts, established in 1936 which is the brainchild of Late. Rukmini Devi. A Proteges of Annie Besant, was deeply influenced by the progressive views of the Theosophical Society. She defied tradition by learning and performing the classical dasi attam, which was considered to be in the sphere of devdasis (Temple Dancers). Covering an area of 100-acre in Thiruvanmiyur in South Chennai, Kalakshetra has enrolled students from around the world who have the flair for learning the best. Over the years, Kalakshetra has been associated with the betterment of the ancient cultural traditions of India. The auditorium within the Kalakshetra is built according to the Natya Shastra. |
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| Parthasarathi Temple |
The temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is a creation of Pallavas in the 8th century. Although this is considered to be one of the oldest temples in the region but it definitely has the most visually appealing structure. The temple is spread over an area of 1.5 acres and is a Triplicane. The temple finds its mention in the ancient Vaishnavite works of Alwar saints and is one of the 108 sacred center of the Vaishnavites. Vaikunth ekadashi is the main festival celebrated in this temple. There are special prayers that are offered to the deity on every Saturday in the Month of Purattasi. |
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