Chennai is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. Its name was Madras until 1996. It is located on Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. The city is the centre to the cultural, economic and educational activities of South India. The land area of Chennai is 426 sq. km and a population of around 71 lakh.
The city is also known as “The Detroit of India”, due to presence of more than one-third of India’s automobile industry here.
Things to do in Chennai
Chennai is a city with a distinctive culture. There are plenty of things one can do while in Chennai. One can retrace Chennai’s history at Fort St. George, admire the Madras High Court, see ancient bronze statues at the Government Museum, stroll through markets and bazaars, get a view of the city from Chennai Lighthouse, view the beautiful Sunset at Marina Beach or get spiritual at Vivekananda House.
Tourist attractions in Chennai
The two most popular and visited beaches are Marina Beach & Elliot’s Beach. There are a number of museums as well such as Chennai Rail Museum & Birla Planetarium. One can visit historic monuments such as Vivekanandar Illam and Valluvar Kottam. One can also visit several historic government buildings such as Fort St. George, Ripon Building & Victoria Public Hall. The wildlife lovers can visit Vandalur Zoo and Guindy National Park.
Places to shop in Chennai
Chennai has many options, especially for retail shoppers. Some of the popular places to shop are Ranganathan Street, Phoenix Market City, Spencer Plaza, Ritchie Street, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Express Avenue Mall and Burma Bazaar.
Best time to visit Chennai
The best time to visit Chennai is before monsoon hits the city that is in the winter season between October and February.
Modes of transport
Buses operated by Metropolitan Transportation Corporation are the primary mode of transport within the city. The Suburban rail, another prime mode of transport, offers great connectivity. The city also has plenty of auto-rickshaws, taxis and app-based cab services.
Weather in Chennai
The temperature throughout the year is between 22 °C and 37 °C. The hot season is between April and July with an average temperature above 35 °C, and the cool season is between October and February with an average temperature below 30 °C. The clearer part is between November and April, and the cloudier part is between April and November.
Airport in Chennai
IndiGo offers domestic flights and international flights to and from Chennai International Airport (IATA: MAA), serving the city of Chennai and its metropolitan area. To know more, visit the flight schedule page on IndiGo’s official website.