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Chennai
is one of the four major metropolitan cities in
India. Retaining
much of its traditional charm,
this 350 year old city is the gateway to
the south, providing many
a fascinating vignette of southern
heritage. Formerly
known as Madras, Chennai was the first British
major settlement in India. As
a consequence, the
city is replete with much that is of significance
in British Indian history. But
the much older
settlements
have stories to tell too, and so the city
is an amalgam of ancient and more modern history |
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Everywhere
one goes in Chennai, one can find
history written in every name. Here
one cannot fail to notice the dominant British
influences in the form of old Cathedrals,
buildings in the
Indo- Saracenic style of architecture and
wide tree
lined avenues. Some
of the southern India's nicest beaches dot Chennai's
long seafront, the Marina beach is a 12-km long
strip of fine sandy foreshore and is known as the
'Pride of Chennai, where the blue waters of the
Bay of Bengal mingle with the golden sands. |
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It
presents a culture that is distinct
from that
of the northern part of India and is famous for
its traditional yet modern outlook. Chennai
is a city where the traditional and the modern
blend in life everywhere. From
traditional vegetarian fare
to fast foods,
from
nine-yard saris to the latest in fashion, from
ancient temple architecture to modern high-rise -
with Indo-Saracenic and Victorian as stops along
the way - from classical music to heady beats, |
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It will be an excellent orientation tour - the City
changes so rapidly that it will refresh 'old memories' and
delight 'first timers'.Chennai
has them all and many more vivid contrasts
that are a
pleasant surprise.
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