Chennai [Madras]
General Information about Chennai

Chennai (formerly known as Madras), the largest city in South India and the fourth largest city in the country, is located on what is popularly called the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is really a lot more than the Gateway to South India. The varied aspects of traditional South Indian culture existing alongside the lifestyle of a modern city complete with its plush hotels, restaurants offering a range of continental to typical South Indian cuisine, long and uncrowded stretches of beaches, modern shopping malls, cinema halls. While moving around in the city one cannot overlook the obvious british influence which is so evident in the various cathedrals, buildings in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, wide tree lined avenues… the undeniable English legacy but Chennai has retained its traditional Tamil Hindu culture.

ANNA SQUARE
Anna Square which is at the northern end of the Marina Beach. It is located in the centre of a beautiful park, the entrance to which is a spectacular contemporary-style arch in the shape of twin converging elephant tusks. Here the mortal remains of Dr. C.N. Annadurai, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was buried.

B.M. BIRLA PLANETARIUM
B.M. Birla Planetarium located at Kottur in Chennai, houses a modern fully computerised projector which depicts the heaven on a hemisperical dome. The planetarium presents to the visiting public and students audio-visual programmes on various themes in astronomy.

BIG MOSQUE
This mosque is definitely one of the most attractive ones in South. It was built in 1795 of grey granite rather than wood of steel

CHILDREN'S PARK Children Park is on Sardar Patel Road, the main attractions of the Park are the elephant and pony rides

CHENNAI MUSEUM
The Chennai Museum established in the year 1857, is undoubtedly one of the country's best museums. It has sections devoted to geology, archeology, anthropology, numistics, botony, zoology and sculpture besides which there is a good collection of arms and armour as well as several other specimens of anthropological interest. Museum exhibits from the Stone and Iron ages, exquisite carvings and a fairly large collection of South Indian musical instruments and jewellery

CROCODILE BANK
On the way to Mahabalipuram at 42 km point from Chennai is the Crocodile Bank. This is a farm where several species of Indian and African Crocodiles and alligators are bred in' captivity

DASH 'N' SPLASH
South India's exclusive water park Dash ‘n’ Splash, 30 Kms from Central Station has wave spiral and free fall slides and flumes from height of 12ft to 35ft

DEV CENTRE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
An exquisite collection of ancient and modern musical instruments, both original and prototype can be found here

ELLIOT'S BEACH
This beach is comparatively quieter and an ideal place to go sea bathing, ideal for sunset strolls. It is located near Besant Nagar. The road down south from Marina leads to the alluringElliot’s beach. The shore is an enjoyable stretch for fun and leisure and is frequented during the sweltering summer months. The Astalakshmi temple and Velankani Church are revered spots of faith on the shores.

This beach is comparatively quieter and an ideal place to go sea bathing, ideal for sunset strolls. It is located near Besant Nagar. The road down south from Marina leads to the alluringElliot’s beach. The shore is an enjoyable stretch for fun and leisure and is frequented during the sweltering summer months. The Astalakshmi temple and Velankani Church are revered spots of faith on the shores.
Here several sets of artificial sceneries like forest, water fall, market place etc., are built here to serve as background for the shooting of films. This is a specially designed to serve the film industry.
 

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