City History
Chennai- one of the four metropolitan cities, formerly
known as Madras is the capital of TamilNadu. This age
old city grew under the influence of an English
settlement of Fort Saint George. But the city has
managed to remain untouched by the overshadowing
British influence and has built up a rich culture of
its own. It is one of the major trade centres well
linked by road,rail and air besides having a seaport.
It is far less congested eventhough its one of the
major metropolitan cities and plus it is less
polluted. One who travels to chennai is sure to be
enchanted by the temples,forts and palaces.
From being a small fisherman's village in 1639 chennai
has evolved into one of the largest cities of the
south. It is also a host to several cultural theatres
and dance forms like Bharathanatyam. Chennai has the
larget filmdom in South India. Overall the city
retains its charm and is surely a gateway to the south
that promises to entice and fascinate you in every
single way.
| Name History |
| Madras | Chennai |
|
The Englishmen who granted is more strip of land just south of a village where lived a few fisherman-families and two capuchin fathers from france.Some sources say this village was called Madraspatnam legend has it that its headman was a roman catholic named Madarasen(madaraja -madhan=faith, or madha =mother).Legend also has it day not much with this rather independent headmen, whose banana grove chosen for its site for fort. It was that thimmappa slopped in and promised to get the factory called madrasapatnam, if the headman would agree (thope) being taken over. |
Madras an was no doubt thrilled by the idea of being rembered by poterity but official grant made by the damarha brothers , the local nayaks of rajah of chandragiri- and they wanted the new settlement named chennna patnam after their father chennapa (chennapa-chinna= small?) Nayak. So there was, possibly , a kuppam called (madarasan patnam a fort possibly, called Madras patnam ) and its Indian settlement (Indian weavers) called chennapatnam. |
| In time, all merged and grew into the city known as Madras to most of the world. And as Chennai to tamil purists. |
How to get there
Chennai is an international airport connected by several international airlines while the domestic traffic is handled by Indian Airlines. There are regular flights to several cities around the world from the International Terminal. There are also daily flights to all important centres in India from the Domestic Terminal. There are two major railway stations in Chennai. Chennai Central is the bigger one and connects the city by broad gauge as also broad gauge trains to all major cities and towns of India. The Egmore station is the starting point for both metre gauge and broad gauge trains proceeding to destinations within the state as well as trains to neighbouring Kerala. Chennai is also accessible by road from any part of India.
Air:
Kamaraj National and Anna International Airports are situated at Meenambakkam about 20 kms. from city. Can also be reached by suburban train services. Alight at Tirusulum. You must travel light and walk a km to airport.
Rail:
Chennai is connected by rail with all major towns and cities in India. Main Railway Stations: Central and Egmore. Central linking north and west and Egmore south.
Road:
Chennai is connected by good network of roads with all important places in Tamil Nadu and other parts of India. You may rent a car with popular private cab owners. White plated taxis ply 5 people on contract. Pre-paid taxis and airport coaches are available at airports.
General Information
Area : 174 sq. kms.
Population : 3,795,028 (1991 census)
Altitude : Sea level
Summer : 37ºC Max , 21.10ºC Min
Winter : 32ºC Max 19.81ºCMin
Rainfall : 1,272 mm.
Season : Tropical throughout the year
Climate :Tamil Nadu has a tropical climate with no wild swing between summer and winter temperatures. April and May are the hottest months with the mercury often soaring above the 40 degree Celsius mark. Coastal regions also get uncomfortably warm and humid during these months but the nights are usually cool, thanks to the sea breeze that sets in during the afternoon.A mild winter falls between November and February
Clothing : Tropical
Languages spoken :
Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu and English.
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