Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu and is one among the four major metropolitan cities of India. Known as the Gateway of Southern India, Chennai has a blend of Dravidian and Gothic architecture in its buildings. The city is an epitome of the rich tradition, culture and life-style of Southern India. However, like other cities of India, Chennai has over the years, developed its share of urban style and modernity. It is one of the oldest cities of India and is the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] largest metropolitan city of the country. Situated on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai has the second longest beachfront in the world. Although an important industrial city, it is one of the spacious cities in India. Geography and Climate Located at 13.09° N 80.27° E on the south–eastern coast of India in the north–eastern part of Tamil Nadu on a flat coastal plain known as the Eastern Coastal Plains, the average elevation of Chennai is 6.7 meters (22 ft) and its highest point is 60 m (200 ft). Two major rivers flow through Chennai, namely the Cooum River (or Koovam) through the centre and the Adyar River to the south. Chennai has a tropical wet and dry climate and lies on the thermal equator and is also on the coast, which prevents extreme variation in seasonal temperature. The hottest part of the year is late May to early June, known regionally as Agni Nakshatram ("fire star") or as Kathiri Veyyil,[ with maximum temperatures around 35–40 °C (95–104 °F). The coolest part of the year is January, with minimum temperatures around 15–22 °C (59–72 °F). The lowest temperature recorded is 13.8 °C (56.8 °F) and the highest recorded temperature is 45 °C (113 °F). The average annual rainfall is about 140 cm (55 in). The city gets most of its seasonal rainfall from the north–east monsoon winds, from mid–October to mid–December. Demographics As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Chennai in 2011 is 4,681,087; of which male and female are 2,357,633 and 2,323,454 respectively. The literacy rate is 3,850,472 of which 2,004,498 are males while 1,845,974 are females. Average literacy rate of Chennai city is 90.33% of which male and female literacy was 93.47% and 87.16 %, respectively. The sex ratio of Chennai city is 986 per 1000 males. History of Chennai Chennai is considered as an important contributor towards administrative, military, and economic centre since the 1st century. The Pallava, the Chola, the Pandya, and Vijaynagar the powerful dynasties ruled over the city. Mylapore was a major port of the Pallava and in the year 1522, the Portugese built a port called Sao Tome, which was named after the Christian leader of reforms, St. Thomas who preached in the area between 52 and 70 A.D. The former name Madras was given from the Madraspattinam which is a fishing village situated to the north of Fort St. George. There are different accounts related to the origin of the name Madras. According to one of the assumption, it states that the name Madre de Deus must have been given by the Portuguese to the village when they arrived there in the 16th century. Whereas, the historians believe that it is named after a prominent Madeiros family who declared the Madre de Deus as a sacred church in San Thome in 1575. This church demolished in the year 1997. On the contrary, the other theory says that the village is named after an Islamic college named 'A Madrasa' situated in the same area. The present city of Chennai was considered as a part of the empire of the King of Chandragiri, the period when the British arrived in 1639 A.D. Further; it was named as Chennapattanam by the British when they acquired it from Chennappa Nayaka, the leader of Vijayanagar. In Tamil language the word 'Chenni' means face and the Chenna Kesava Perumal Temple was thought of as the face of the city. Therefore, some people believed that the Chennapattanam was named after the Chenna Kesava Perumal Temple. During 16th and 18th century, Madras was ruled by Portuguese and Frenchmen. The arrival of railway in India during 19th century helped city to connect with other important cities like Mumbai and Kolkata which encouraged the communication and trading in the surrounding areas. On 22nd August 1639, a small piece of land was purchased by the British East India Company which is located on the Coromandel Coast in Chandragiri from Peda Venkata Raya, king of Vijayanagar. For trading projects, Damerla Venkatapathy being the ruler of Vandavasi region permitted the British to build a factory and a warehouse. The next year British built the Fort St. George which then became a core part of the growing colonial city. In 1746, the French under General La Bourdonnais, the Governor of Mauritius, who ransacked the town and nearby villages captured the Fort St. George and Madras. The control once again went in the hands of the British in 1749 through the Treaty of the Aix-la-Chapelle. They then strengthened the town’s fortress wall to defy further attacks from the French and other looming threat by Hyder Ali, the Sultan of Mysore. Along with Tamil Nadu, the other northern modern-day states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka were conquered by the British in the late 18th century. This was the period when Madras Presidency was established with Madras as the capital. Under British rule, the city grew into a major urban centre and naval base. During the First World War, German light cruiser 'SMS Emden' attacked an oil depot in Madras. This attack demolished the shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean causing interruption to shipping and was the only Indian city which was attacked during the First World War. After India attained independence in 1947, Chennai became the capital of Madras State and in the year 1969 Madras state was renamed as state of Tamil Nadu. Culture of Chennai The Gateway to South India, Chennai is a city that is well-known for keeping intact its age-old rich culture and tradition. Despite of the modernization, the city has managed to keep the age old culture and traditions of the state intact. Chennai carries the legacy of rich cultural heritage imbibed in its fine arts, music and dance forms, people and cuisines. Although a cosmopolitan city, core value system and orthodox beliefs along with warmth and hospitality coexist in the city. Dance and music forms an important part of the rich cultural heritage of the city. Tourist Places in Chennai A small fishing village on the coast of the Bay of Bengal until 1639, Chennai today is the most peaceful and green metropolis in India. The city has numerous attractions including the beautiful Marina beach, where golden sands are kissed by the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. The city has its share of forts and palaces reminding the tourists of its antiquity. Some of the prominent attractions of the city are: Fort St. George Freemasons Hall Government Museum Kamaraj Memorial House MGR Memorial Senate House Marina Beach Thousand Lights Mosque Valluvar Kottam War Memorials St. Mary's Church Velakanni Church Adeeswar Temple Kapaleeswarar temple Parthasarathy Temple Elliot's Beach Covelong Beach Transportation Airport The city of Chennai being one of the major metropolitan cities of India as well as the Gateway of South India, it houses an International Airport, which comprises Anna international terminal and the Kamaraj domestic terminal. The Chennai International Airport is the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] busiest airport and the second busiest cargo terminus in India. The city is connected to major hubs across Asia, Europe, and North America through more than 30 national and international carriers. Railway Chennai is the headquarter of the Southern Railway and has two main railway terminals, namely Chennai Central station, the city's largest railway station that provides access to other major cities as well as many other smaller towns across India and Chennai Egmore, which provides access to destinations primarily within Tamil Nadu. It consists of four broad gauge sectors terminating at two locations in the city, namely Chennai Central and Chennai Beach. While three sectors are operated on-grade, the fourth sector is majorly an elevated corridor, which links Chennai Beach to Velachery and is interlinked with the remaining rail network. Road Chennai is one of the cities in India that is connected by the Golden Quadrilateral system of National Highways. The Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) is one of the largest bus stations in Asia and is the main intercity bus station of Chennai, which is administered by 7 government-owned transport corporations that operates intercity and interstate bus services. There are many private bus companies that provide similar transport services to the people. The MTC provides an exclusive intercity bus service, consisting of 3,421 buses on 724 routes. However, three wheeled auto rickshaws offer the easiest way of getting around and taxi services are also available within the city.
