CHENNAI

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Chennai, officially known as Madras, is the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the fourth largest metropolitan city of the country. Entitled as the 'Detroit of South Asia,' Chennai is a large commercial and industrial center. The name Madras is derived from 'Madraspatnam', the place chosen by the British East India Company in 1639 for a permanent settlement. Following the conception that the name Madras was of Portuguese origin, the city's name has been changed to Chennai in August 1996. The 368-year-old city was ruled by South Indian Kingdoms like the Pallava, the Chola, the Pandya, and Vijaynagar empires. In 1749, the British regained the control of the town and by 18th century they captured most of the regions in Tamil Nadu. During the British rule, the city developed into a major urban center and naval base. After Indian Independence in 1947, the city became the capital of Madras. The Corporation of Chennai that consists of a Mayor and 155 Councillors governs the city.

Area & Location: Located on the east coast on India on the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal, Chennai is situated at 13.04° Latitude North and 80.17° Longitude East. It has an average elevation of 6m. Cooum and Adyar Rivers pass through the city. Chennai occupies a total area of 1,180 sq. km and has a population of 7.60 million, which makes it the 36th largest metropolitan area in the world.

Tourist Attractions: Chennai has become a popular tourist destination with its age-old monuments and temples. With the launch of many new foreign companies, foreigners often visit the city for business purposes.

Places of Attraction:The Marina beach, one of the longest beaches in the world is a major tourist attraction of the city. The city has number of parks especially amusement parks like Kishkinta is a major fascination to the tourists particularly to the children. Kapaleeshwar temple and Ramakrishna temple attract pilgrims. The government museum and snake park in the city are also interesting.

Transportation: With a major transport system, the city is well linked with the other parts of India as well as the world.
Chennai International Airport, which operates both domestic as well as international flights serve as the main gateway to the city. It is the busiest airport in India. Chennai Port, one of the largest artificial ports and the Ennore Port handle the state's trade. Chennai Central station and the Chennai Egmore railway stations provide enough train services to all parts of the country. Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus that has all intercity buses is another major transportation facility in the city. Five major national highways link the city with other cities. Chennai suburban railway network eases the commutation of the passengers. Metropolitan Transport Corporation that has an extensive bus system, taxis, maxi cabs and autorickshaws include the public transportation facilities in the city.

Hotels:The city known for its number of hotels that serve traditional meals and rice-based items are a favorite haunt for its visitors. The city also holds a wide range of star hotels that provide world-class reception to the tourists with secure and comfortable rooms and lip smacking western dishes. Taj Connemara, Trident Hilton Chennai, GRT Grand Days, The Residency Towers, Fisherman's Cove, The Park Chennai, Ramada Rajpark Chennai and ITC Hotel Park Sheraton & Towers welcome thousands of tourists. The hotels situated ashore the beach give a wonderful experience to its customers.