Chennai, the first city of the south, and capital of Tamil Nadu, though comparatively young,has a chequered history dating back to 1639 when Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, agents of the East India Company acquired a strip of land granted on lease by the Vijayanagar Emperor. Here was built the Fort St. George for setting up a factory as a nucleus around which arose the British settlements. Gradually but steadily the old, tiny villages like Triplicane, Egmore, Purasawalkarn and Chetput were clubbed with the new agglomeration of the fast growing Chennapatnam, as it was known then.Chennai, widely known as Madras till 1996 ,has a rich tradition and civilisation with a blend of the old, and the new, vibrating ceaselessly to keep pace with the rest of India, as the buoyant metropolis of the third most industrialised State.
People in Chennai are deep rooted in their cultural moorings and traditions, even though modernity has its own impact. Chennai is airy, spacious with verdant green patches and beaches With a population of about six million, Chennai is the fourth largest city in India. It has played a notable role in deciding the political destiny of India on many an occasion. Chennai has regained its pride of place in the automobile industry as the 'Detroit of the South'. Days are not far away when Chennai may be a 'Silicon City' with high-technological knowledge in software. Maybe that real India, in her pristine cultural warp and beauty as detailed in history, still lives in Chennai. A visit to Chennai to see the graceful people of glorious land will surely help the visitor to carry home this imprint of Indian heritage.
Chennai is neither ancient nor lovely. Formerly called Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu is a teeming, sprawling, bustling industrial metropolis established on the site of a fishing village in 1639 as the first British settlement in India. Today it is often choked by pollution, acrid smells - and people. The city is only marginally fascinating - it's a strange mix of British Raj-era monuments, Portuguese churches, Hindu temples, and one of the longest urban beaches on earth. Most travelers arrive here simply because it's a transport hub and soon leave, discouraged by the intense heat, polluted air, and fever-pitch crowds. One of its big attractions - Kanchipuram, city of "a thousand temples" - is a day excursion away, while the region's most celebrated tourist attraction lies 2 hours south at Mamallapuram, a spectacular World Heritage Site, where you'd do well to overnight.
Rule of the Screen Gods - It's not just temple gods who are worshipped here - much as in California, screen gods are adored by the local population, enough to elect them to the highest political office: in fact, the majority of Tami Nadu's leaders have kick-started their careers on the big screen. Across the state, you'll see massive billboards featuring the swollen face of Jayalalitha, a controversial actress-turned-politician who has been in and out of political power for 14 years but is currently Tamil Nadu's incorrigible chief minister. Kicked out of office on corruption charges in 2001, she jumped back in to reclaim her position, tossing her successor in jail. Once again declaring herself the voice of the people, she immediately set to work initiating a piece of state legislation to prevent the conversion of Hindus to other religions - a bill that no doubt earned her great favor with the powerful Brahmins who control the temples that so deeply influence the lives of the ordinary people.
Chennai's culture reflects its diverse population. The city is known for its classical dance shows and Hindu temples. Every December, Chennai holds a five-week long Music Season celebrating the 1927 opening of the Madras Music Academy. It features performances (kutcheries) of traditional Carnatic music by hundreds of artists in and around the city. An arts festival called the Chennai Sangamam, which showcases various arts of Tamil Nadu is held in January every year. Chennai is also known for Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu. An important cultural centre for Bharatanatyam is Kalakshetra, on the beach in the south of the city.
Chennai is the base for the large Tamil movie industry, dubbed Kollywood after Kodambakkam, home to most of the movie studios. The industry makes more than 150 Tamil movies a year, and its soundtracks dominate the city's music. Chennai's theatres stage many Tamil plays; political satire, slapstick comedy, history, mythology and drama are among the popular genres. English plays are also staged in the city.
Among Chennai's festivals, Pongal, celebrated over five days in January, is the most important. Tamil New Year's Day, signifying the beginning of the Tamil year, usually falls on April 14. Almost all major religious festivals such as Deepavali, Eid and Christmas are celebrated in Chennai. Tamil cuisine in Chennai includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Many of the city's restaurants offer light meals or tiffin, which usually include rice-based dishes like pongal, dosai, idli and vadai, served with steaming hot filter coffee.