Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu and the fourth largest city in India, is a sprawling metropolis and also an important port. Once a fishing village, Chennai was the capital of the Chennai presidency during the British era and was converted into the capital of Tamil Nadu in 1969. The East India company built a fort in Chennai, as Chennai was known earlier, in 1639 and developed it as one of the major trading centres in India. Chennai displays a blend of Dravidian and Gothic architecture in its buildings. The Kapaleeswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is a fine example of Dravidian temple architecture.

Due to its location, Chennai is known as the Gateway of Southern India and also the 'Queen of the Coromandel'. Stretching 19 km along the Coromandel Coast and extending about 8 km inland, Chennai has the privilege of housing two major rivers, the Coovam and Adyar river as well as the historic Buckingham Canal. Airy and spacious with verdant green patches and beaches, Chennai has played a notable role in deciding the political destiny of India on many occasions.

Memorials to national leaders like Mahatama Gandhi, Kamaraj and Rajaji provide an added attraction to the place.

Chennai is also known as the 'Detroit of the South' thanks to the automobile industries. The city is rapidly moving towards technological superiority in software and is likely to one day become the Silicon City of India.

Chennai has a very hot tropical type of climate made pleasant by the cool breeze wafting in from the sea with little temperature variation between winters and summers. There is rainfall throughout the year.