India Untapped

Chennai India

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is regarded as "The Gateway to the South". The city grew out of a small village when in 1639 a fishing hamlet called "Madraspatnam" was selected by early English merchants of the East India Company as a site for the settlement.

Chennai presents a culture that is distinct from that of the northern part of India and is famous for its traditional yet modern outlook. Chennai’s clear skyline, long sandy beaches, parks, historic landmarks and tourist infrastructural facilities make it a convenient entry point for a sojourn to South India.

Some of the famous tourist attractions of Chennai are:

Marina Beach: Longest beach in the world, Marina extends for 13km. The place is a famous picnic spot and a popular site for film shootings.

Kapaleeswarar: It is an ancient Shiva temple built in Dravidian style. The temple has some fragmentary inscriptions dating back to 1250 AD.

The Santhomre Cathedral Church: The Church was first built in 1504. It was then rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in 1893. This Roman Catholic Church near Kapaleeshwarar temple is said to house the remains of St. Thomas the Apostle.

Fort St. George: Fort St. George was built in the 1640 A.D. The first bastion of British power in India, the fort has undergone much alteration. The fort is now used by the Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly and the Secretariat office. The 46m high flagstaff at the front is actually a mast salvaged from a 17th century shipwreck.