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Chennai, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, is one of the four
major metropolitan in India. Till 1639 what was a small fishing
village on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, is today the most
peaceful and green metropolis in India. Chennai has numerous
attractions including the beautiful Marina beach, where golden sands
are kissed by the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. The city has its
share of forts and palaces reminding the tourists of its antiquity
In earlier times, the city was a fishing community center and made
the capital of the British residency in 1639. Classical form of
dance, music,art and literature have all gained eminence from this
place and spread to other parts of the country. In the present
context, Chennai had evolved out to be a world class city with the
merge of the ancient civilization,the colonial powers influence and
the modern thinkers to create an industrial, IT savvy city of the
21st century.
PARTHASARATHY TEMPLE
Constructed under the able leadership of the Pallava Kings of South
India, the beautiful temple came to existence in the 16th century.
Placed in the middle of the city, the temple is renowned for the
attractive beauty of its archways or the gopuram. A whole locality
can be seen of late sprung around the temple surroundings.
KAPALEESHWAR TEMPLE
The
Kapaleeshwar Temple ably demonstrate the architectural skills of the
Dravidian and was created in the 13th century. Situated in the
malapore area of Chennai, the temple is the focal point of the local
markets that operate in the evening hours and residential quaters
have come around it. The entrance to the temple is painted with
different colours with the puranic legends sculpted on the inner
sanctorum facing to the east.
SANTHOME CATHEDRAL
The Santhome Cathedral is built on the tomb of Apostle St Thomas who
came to India from the Palestines and is one of the major pilgrimage
center of the Christians. Erected by the Persian Christians, the
Cathedral was refurbished in 1606 and turned into a cathedral. Later
in the early 19th century it was reconstructed in the form of a
basilica with a museum inside with a 16th century map of South Asia.
FORT ST. GEORGE
An important Fort during the pre independence period, it was built
by Sir Day as the first real estate of the British rule in India.
Created on the coast line of the bay of Bengal, the fort is endowed
with a granite exterior finishing that houses the barracks for the
British army along with a parade ground. The oldest church of
Chennai, the St Mary’s Church is its neighbour. The fort was
attacked many a times first by Daud Khan, general of Emperor
Aurangzeb, in 1701, then by the Marathas in 1741 and by Hyder Ali in
the late 18th century. Glimpses of early Chennai are still preserved
in Clive Corner, Wellesley House, Fort Museum and St. Mary's church.
MARINA BEACH
Extending from the St, George Fort to the Mahabalipuram, the Marina
Beach offers a stunning look in the dusk. The sun set in the evening
hours bring a lot of visitors to the beach. Thousands of beauty
lovers gather at the beach and the snack stall, the ice creams and
peanuts all adore the banks of the beach for the benefit of the
peoples. Not the least, the parrot reader and the Tarot card fortune
teller are seen at work in full command trying to change the fortune
of peoples in just few minutes. To the south there is the ice house
from where Vivekananda preached his philosophy and was earlier used
to store massive ice blocks shipped from America.
NATIONAL ART GALLERY
Preserved in a splendid Indo- Saracenic buildings, the gallery was
earlier called as Victoria Memorial Hall designed by Henry Irwin.
According to the well known historian Tillotson it as one of the
proudest expression of the Indo-Sarcenic movement. Exhibitions of
paintings and sculptures, handicraft, metal ware, ivory carvings
from 11th century are to be found in the corners of the museum.
Nearby Attractions
THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
The Theosophical movement given birth by Madame Blavatsky and Col
Olcott is head quatered in Adyar. The society is responsible for the
revival of the Indian spiritual learning and the head office
consists of a superb old building having a vast hall where complete
silence is maintained during the praying hours. Nearby the huge
edifice, there is a old Banyan tree believed to be the second
largest in India. There is also a serene Garden of Remembrance and a
fine Library with a collection of old manuscripts.
KANCHIPURAM
Kanchipuram - 65 kms from Mahabalipuram lies the magical city of a
thousand temples, Kanchipuram. It has 650 stone inscriptions
belonging to different dynasties. The temples here reveal the
maturity and efflorescence of Pallava school of art. These were
later added on by the ornate and imposing trappings later by the
Chola, Chalukya and Vijayanagara dynasties. The the Kailasanatha
temple, Ekambaranathar temple, Sri Varadaraja temple, Sri
Vaikuntaperumal temple are just a few of the long list of
architectural masterpieces. The city itself is devoted to the
presiding deity, Sri Kamakshi at the Kamakshi temple. The word
Kanchi in Sanskrit denotes girdle, and poets have metaphorically
characterized the city as girdle to the earth. The latest fad from
the city is the gold-embroidered Kanchipuram silk sari. Shops
selling silk and cotton saris and material, are everywhere in the
main street of the town. For a display of skills of the Kanchi
weavers, do stopover at the Weaver’s Service Centre on Railway
Station Road.
MAHABALIPURAM
Mahabalipuram At 55 km from Chennai is the world-famous
Mahabalipuram. The Pallava dynasty made this lovely coastal village
their second capital. The place shaped under the creative forces
between the fifth and eighth centuries. Today, the shore temple,
Arjuna’s Penance, the biggest bas-relief in the world and the
beautiful mandapams have become the identity of this sleepy town |
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