Chennai: A City of Charms

  • How to Get There
  • The Marina Beach
  • Vivekananda House & Museum

Chennai

Chennai : A City of Charmst

A rich history marks the stunning city of Chennai. History flows through the veins of the people who live here. The culture of the city has been irrevocably marked by the ancient traditions. Its heritage is not dead. It lives on influencing the lives of the people even today.

Chennai possesses a fascinating charm that you just cannot resist no matter how hard you try. May be it has something to do with the history. After all, the history of Chennai dates back nearly two thousand years! In the past, Chennai was the fortress to some of the most magnificent dynasties of southern India. If its streets could speak, you will hear stories of its glorious past, stories of its occupation by colonial powers. Chennai was also the site where the forces of French and British colonialists clashed. Even the magnificent Mysore Kingdom fought here. During the 18th century, Chennai became one of most important naval ports in India. Such a history is bound to leave an effect.

Over the years, the city of Chennai has become rich in heritage. As you move around the city, you will come face to face with huge colorful temples. The Tamil traditions live on in the hearts of the people. The city shows a deep love for its culture through its native Carnatic music, classical dances and other artistic expressions. Chennai is not only a center of culture. Here. Industry is booming in various forms especially the automotive and movie industries. Chennai is the home of Kollywood, the popular name for the Tamil movie industry.

How to Get There

By Air :

Chennai International Airport is the third busiest airport of India which is located at a distance of 7 km from the main city. The international flights operates from Anna Terminal and Domestic flights operates from Kamaraj terminal,which is at a distance of 150 meters from The Anna terminal.

By Rail :

Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore are the two key long distance stations. There are Regular trains from Chennai to Bengaluru, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Cochin, Hyderabad Kolkata and most of the big cities of India.

By Road :

One of Asia’s largest bus stations is in Chennai, the CMBT. Chennai is well connected by 5 highways to all the major cities as well as states. Chennai is well connected with other cities in India with a decent road network. Distance from places; Bangalore: 335 km, Ooty: 558 km, Kodaikanal: 528 km, Madurai: 464 km,Rameshwaram: 562 km, Kanyakumari: 710 km, Pondicherry: 170 km, Tirupati: 172 km

The Marina Beach

Face the glorious sea at the Marina Beach to enjoy the cool breeze flowing through your hair. Then take a good look at both sides to see the immense length of the longest beach in India and the second longest beach in the world. The approximately 13 km stretch of the beach is a scene on its own. Most of it is composed of warn golden sands. As you take a trip down the beach you will come across varied sights such as cricket matches and picnics. You can select a spot under the shade of the gracious palm trees lining the beach and relax in the beauty of the place.

Vivekananda House & Museum

The imposing building where Swami Vivekananda once used to live has an interesting history. It was originally built to store blocks of ice imported all the way from USA. Later it was repurposed as a mansion. Swami Vivekananda came to live here. You are bound to be impressed with the building. It is charming but not opulent which is perfect for a spiritual leader. You can take a trip down memory lane with the paintings that showcase the life of the great man. There is also a project where you get a deeper understanding of the life and ideology of Swami Vivekananda.