Lying along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai is the entranceway to
the historical and cultural state of Tamil Nadu. Chennai has Andhra Pradesh
on its northwest and Kerala and Karnataka on its western side. The city with
a clear skyline, sandy beaches, architectural attractions, and beautiful
parks along with fine tourist infrastructural facilities has a grace and
charm of its own. Chennai has the distinction of being the fourth largest
city of India. This capital city also nourishes numerous art and dance
forms, roping in legions of tourists and travellers from across the globe.
Before you leave the city, don't forget to take a leisurely stroll through
its markets. Considering the endless number of shopping options, Chennai can
only be termed a shopper's delight. Traditional art work, antiques,
jewellery, metal works, carvings, bronze/ brass castings and designer
clothings are all available in the widest of ranges. Silk from Kanchipuram
is one of the finest buying options here.
Climate
Chennai experiences a hot and humid climate, as it lies in the tropical zone.
March to June is the summer period. May and June are the hottest months of the
year with temperature ranging between 38 degrees and 42 degrees Centigrade.
Winter season is the best time to visit the city. There isn't much difference
of temperature in the summer and winter seasons for it rains oftentimes throughout
the year. The north east monsoons bring rains from October to mid December.
The average annual rainfall records 1,300 mm. The ideal time to visit here is
from November to February.
Cuisines
Chennai sets forth an appetising lot of delectable South Indian cuisines.
While here, you could relish food delights like idli, vada, idiyappam,
uppuma, dosa etc. Non-vegetarian Chettinad cuisine is much popular with
travellers. Coconut and tamarind are chief ingredients of a South Indian
dish. Though, there are a number of restaurants and hotels offering
Continental, Chinese and Mediterranean delicacies, the traditional sea food
is the hot favourite of one and all. Fried fish, prawn bajji and parotta are
much in demand here. Non-vegetarian dishes like biryani and pulao can also
be relished.
Sightseeing
The city of Chennai is replete with tourist attractions. So, take out time to
explore the colonial legacy and the modern day charms that dot the terrain.
Fort St. George epitomises one of the best illustrations of
India's British military construction. It is also significant considering the
fact that Robert Clive, founder of the British empire, began his journey of
empire building from here. The
High Court and the
Law
College are some of the finest examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture here.
The third lighthouse was once housed in top most part of the court.
George
Town is the place where you can witness a whole lot of Chennai's populace.
There are a number of architectural attractions here that you can make yourself
cognizant of. So, once you are in Chennai, don't miss this place. The
Marina
Beach pulls a number of tourists and vacationers and is the second longest
beach in the world. Also pay a visit to the
Corporation Complex
that houses some interesting sites like Victoria Public Hall, Nehru Stadium,
parks, gardens and of course the Moon Market where you will have fantastic items
to take back home.
National Art Gallery puts together antiquated
Rajasthani, Deccan and Mughal paintings. A fascinating collection of Indian
handicrafts from the 11th and 12th century has also been exhibited here.
Getting There
Chennai has to its credit both international and domestic airports - the
Anna International Airport and the Kamraj Domestic Airport. The airports lie
at a distance of 20 km from the city. Regular national and international
airlines connect the city with the key destinations of the country and the
world. Rail routes and road routes are also well established here. Chennai
remains connected with all the major destinations of the country through a
number of national highways.
