Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Chennai


Chennai, the gracious capital city of Tamil Nadu is one of India’s major port and the commercial hub of South India. Chennai, formerly known as Madras is the gateway to southern India, established in 1639 by the East India Company, is one of the oldest cities of the country. It became a metropolitan city and emerged as fourth largest city in the country. Located on a 17km stretch of the Coramandel coast, the city is trisected by the waterways of Cooum and Adyar and the Buckingham Canal.

Chennai is a city of charm, courtesy and culture. It is a vibrant city ever growing, expanding and changing every year. On your Chennai tour you will discover that Chennai's culture is distinct from that of north India. Explore the music, dance and other art forms of the South, on tours to Chennai. Experience the gracious beauty with a wide range of tourist attractions Chennai with its long sandy beaches, parks and historical landmarks has all the ingredients for being a successful tourist attraction. While there are many magnificent temples that are not only notable for their religious value but more for the archaeological and beauty of construction, the city also hosts numerous churches. The city is believed to have been the place of St. Thomas and there are numerous churches that are believed to have connection with the life and times of this apostle.


Chennai is a city where the traditional and the modern blend in life everywhere. From traditional vegetarian fair to fast food, from nine-yard saris to the latest in fashion, from ancient temple architecture to modern high-rises, from classical music and dance to discos throbbing to heady beats, Chennai has them all and many more vivid contrasts that you can discover on your tour with Chennai Hub. The world-famous town of Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is a must visit from Chennai. The shore temple, the largest bas-relief in the world called Arjuna's Penance and mandapams are the main attractions here. The golden triangle of southern Indian comprises of Chennai, Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. The Kanchi weaves are known to produce the finest silk fabric. The world-renowned shrine of Tirupati draws innumerable devotees all through the year. It is abode of the legendary Lord of the Seven Hills. Many of the Indian languages are spoken in Chennai, though the main language of Chennai is Tamil. For travellers with an interest in the colonial history of India, Chennai has much worth exploring and abundant transport operations make other parts of the country readily accessible.

Chennai has served as an important administrative, military, and economic centre dating back to the 1st century. It has been ruled by South Indian kingdoms, notably the Pallava , the Chola, the Pandya and Vijaynagar empires. The town of Mylapore, now part of the metropolis, was once a major port of the Pallava kingdom.The South Indian culture is distinctly different from that of all other parts of India and is probably experienced at its best in Chennai. You will get to experience the very best of distinct South Indian culture at Chennai. With time, though Chennai has increasingly been modernized and industrialized it still preserves traditionalism and is pretty much conventional in many ways.

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