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A Rendezvous with
Chennai |
The
southern Indian metropolis - Chennai is a hub for trade, industry, health
care, education, research and tourism. It would not be an aberration to call
Chennai a very modern city with streaks of a medieval past. If one can see
multi-storied offices, glitzy malls, swanky hotels and aesthetically
designed hotels dotting one side of the landscape, an eclectic mix of
temples, steeples and minarets could also be seen in a different part.
Chennai is the fourth largest metropolis and the third important port of
India located on Bay of Bengal coast. Chennai is a fine example of a place
where the past, present and future intermingle conveniently.
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Things You Can Do
in Chennai |
» Sightseeing : Tourists has innumerable
options and destinations in a Chennai sight-seeing tour. There are temples,
churches, museums, zoological parks, beaches and lot more to keep you
occupied throughout your trip.
» Shopping : Items of silk like sarees etc. are the
most sought after by tourists. Anna Salai and T.Nagar are the main shopping
places of Chennai.
» Eating Out : Apart from the trademark Tamil Idli,
Dosa, Sambar and Vada, Tamil vegetarian thali is also very popular. Some of
the popular restaurants of Chennai include Raj, Highway, Madras Cafe and
Peshawri.
» Beach Activities : The most popular, Marina beach
at Chennai is always animated with locals and the tourists flocking there to
spend their evenings. Late evenings, specially, come alive with hawkers
selling attractive wares made of sea-shells, sea-food and what not. Sun
basking and beach-sports fill the daytime. Strolling around visiting the
nearby attractions can be another enthralling option.
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Sightseeing in
Chennai |
» Marina Beach : Marina, the second largest
beach in the world is one of Chennai's prime attractions. Tourists throng to
Marina in the early morning and evening to catch a glimpse of the
mesmerizing sunrise and sunset views on the beach. The evening market of
small vendors selling attractive decorative items on the beach is also very
popular among tourists.
» Fort St. George : A magnificent building of the
British period, Fort St. George is appreciated for its British style of
architecture. There is a small church and museum inside the church complex.
The fort has grey granite exteriors.
» Anna Square : It is the place where the samadhi of
Dr. C.N.Annadurai, the former Chief Minister of the state and a popular
leader is situated. Thousands of people visit the place to pay respect at
the place. The place is very well maintained and illuminated in the
evenings.
» St. Thomas Mount : The tomb of the great Saint
Thomas lies on the mount near the Chennai Airport. The tomb is located in a
serene and picturesque place and is widely visited by tourists.
» Anna Zoological Park : The zoo at Chennai, more
popularly known as the Anna Zoological Park is one of the largest in south
east Asia having more than 170 species of mammals, aviaries & reptiles.
Lion safari vehicles and Elephant rides are very popular in the park.
» Parthsarthy Temple : The Parthasarathy temple
attracts a large number of devotees. The temple is famed for the beauty of
its gopuram and exteriors. The temple was built way back in the 8th century
by the Pallava kings and richly renovated by the Vijayanagar kings in the
16th century. The temple is located in picturesque environs in Triplicane,
another beach in Chennai.
» National Art Gallery : A beautiful building built
in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture houses the National Art Gallery.
Designed by Henry Irwin, the building was earlier known as Victoria Memorial
Hall. Commenting on its architecture, some historians say that it is 'the
proudest expression of the Indo-Sarcenic movement'. Leaving the architecture
apart, the gallery has a good collection of old paintings and sculptures
which includes Tanjore paintings on glass. The gallery also has an
impressive display of Rajput and Mughal miniature paintings.
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Excursions |
Chennai
is the gateway to South India. For tourists it is like a launch-pad for
their South India tour. A few popular weekend getaways from Chennai, like -
Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram and Cuddalore, can be clubbed in your itinerary.
All the places are revered pilgrimage destinations where magnificent temples
of medieval period are present. Covelong, a small town near Chennai is
popular as a beach holiday destination. Plan your trip accordingly, so that
no destination is left out. Check out our well-tailored packages.
Chennai India
The
metropolis of Chennai has a very good infrastructure. The public
transport system is highly rated and every area of the city and its
suburbs is accessible anytime - night or day. Generally, taxis are
preferred by people for short journeys while tourist taxis are sought
for covering longer destinations.
