Chennai

Chennai, the first city of the south, and capital of Tamil Nadu, though comparatively young,has a chequered history dating back to 1639.

when . Francis Day & Andrew Cogan,agents of the East India Company acquired a strip of land granted on lease by the Vijayanagar Emperor Here was built the Fort St. George for setting up a factory as a nucleus around which arose the British settlements. Gradually but steadily the old, tiny villages like Triplicane, Egmore, Purasawalkarn and Chetput were clubbed with the new agglomeration of the fast growing Chennapatnam, as it was known then. Special Holidays with very attractive and discounted packages and hotel bookings.

Chennai, widely known as Madras till 1996 ,has a rich tradition and civilisation with a blend of the old, and the new, vibrating ceaselessly to keep pace with the rest of India, as the buoyant metropolis of the third most industrialised State. Special Holidays with very attractive and discounted packages and hotel bookings.People in Chennai are deep rooted in their cultural moorings and traditions, even though modernity has its own impact. Chennai is airy, spacious with verdant green patches and beaches.

With a population of about six million, Chennai is the fourth largest city in India. It has played a notable role in deciding the political destiny of India on many an occasion. Chennai has regained its pride of place in the automobile industry as the 'Detroit of the South'. Days are not far away when Chennai may be a 'Silicon City' with high-technological knowledge in software. Maybe that real India, in her pristine cultural warp and beauty as detailed in history, still lives in Chennai. Special Holidays with very attractive and discounted packages and hotel bookings.

A visit to Chennai to see the graceful people of glorious land will surely help the visitor to carry home this imprint of Indian heritage.

Tourist Spots:
Kalakshetra
Rukmini Devi Arundale founded a world-renowned centre of excellence for dance, music, arts and crafts, in 1936. Housed on over 100 acres at Thiruvanmiyur, it has produced many fine exponents of the Bharatnatyam dance tradition. Following the ancient Gurukula system of education, students from across the globe are taught nuances of traditional dance, music and art amidst the fresh air, large trees and the chirping of birds.Incredible India Tours with Indian Travel agent.

Theosophical Society
Founded by Madame H.P. Blavatsky and Col. H.S. Olcott in 1875,it is located on a vast expanse of over 250 acres on the banks of the Adayar estuary amidst the natural surroundings. Incredible India Tours with Indian Travel agent.It provides a peaceful retreat from the city. The Adayar Banyan tree with its roots spreading over 40,000 sq.ft and its library, a research centre in eastern civilization, philosophy and religion, are worth seeing. There is a church, mosque, Buddhist shrine and Hindu temple on the grounds.

Birla Planetarium
Part of the Periyar Science and Technology Centre at Kotturpuram, this is a voyage of discovery for the young and the old. This air-conditioned modern planetarium with a seating capacity of 236 brings to life celestial phenomena replete with special effects. It also conducts courses in astronomy and night-sky observations for public on every second Saturday. Incredible India Tours with Indian Travel agent.

Valluvar Kottam
The memorial to the poet-saint Tiruvalluvar is shaped like a temple chariot and is the replica of the temple chariot in Thiruvarur. A life-size statue of the saint has been installed in the 33m tall chariot. Explore Incredible India with Special Holidays.The 133 chapters of his famous work Thirukkural have been depicted in bas-relief in the front hall corridors of the chariot. The auditorium at Valluvar Kottam is said to be the largest in Asia and can accommodate about 4000 people. It stands as a modern memorial to the great poet who represents the glorious culture of the Tamils.

Fort St. George
Today, the seat of the State Legislative Assembly, it was once a British bastion. Built in 1640, the fort stills retains its large walls, massive wrought iron gates and deep moats. The Fort Museum , St. Marys church, Town Hall,and the tallest flagstaff et al lie within this fort. Explore Incredible India with Special Holidays.

Ripon Building
The attractive white structure, close to Chennai Central, is 252 ft. long and 126 ft wide. It has a 132 ft tall tower and a mighty clock 8 ft in diameter. Currently, it is the headquarters of Chennai Corporation.

Government Museum
This Museum is worth visiting. The main building has a fine archaeological section representing all the major South Indian periods including Chola, Vijaynagara, Hoysala and Chalukya.The bronze gallery has a superb collection of Chola Art. You will find the most impressive bronze statue of Lord Ardhanarishwara.You can also visit the National Art Gallery located in the same compound. The fascinating array of 10th -18th century Mughal, Rajasthani and Deccan artworks are displayed here. Explore Incredible India with Special Holidays.