Chennai – The city of music
Chennai, earlier known as Madras, is Tamil Nadu’s capital city. The state government changed its name to Chennai in the year 1996. Chennai is considered to be the cultural and educational hub of the southern part of India. Chennai is also part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for its rich heritage in music.
The city is considered to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. It is an important place in India for medical tourism. Chennai is the centre of the Tamil movie industry and a prominent film production centre.
Tourist attractions in Chennai
Chennai has plenty of beaches and religious structures for tourists to explore. Its prominent tourist attractions are Marina Beach, Edward Elliot’s Beach, Breezy Beach, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Karaneeswarar Temple, Kumaran Kundram, Kundrathur Sivan Temple, St. Mary’s Church, St. Thomas Mount and Valluvar Kottam.
Places to shop in Chennai
If you are visiting Chennai in January, then Chennai Book Fair is something you can’t miss. Chennai is also famous for sarees and the prominent saree stores are Radha Silk Emporium, Aavaranaa, Revathy Stores and Shilpi. Popular shopping malls include Spectrum Mall, Ampa Mall, Chandra Metro Mall, Express Avenue and Spencer Plaza.
Modes of transport
Chennai has good rail and road connectivity. Chennai has a good bus network that you can use for intra city travel. Auto-rickshaws are also popular among tourists. The Chennai metro connects important spots, like the airport, to the rest of the city. App-based cabs are also available for hire.
Weather in Chennai
Summers in Chennai are hot and dry. The average temperature during summer is 37°C. The monsoon season begins in October and ends in December. During the monsoon, the city receives plenty of rain. January is the coldest month with the minimum average temperature hovering around 21°C.
Airport in Chennai
Chennai International Airport (IATA: MAA) is situated 15 km from the centre of the city. IndiGo operates several domestic and international routes from Chennai. To know more about various flight routes from Chennai, visit IndiGo’s official website.