Chennai

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Overview		Tourist Attraction		How to Reach

Introduction Chennai City is one of the most important Metro cities in India. Chennai has a very vibrant culture. The reason behind this cultural dynamism is the fact that Chennai, since decades, has remained a focal point of Dravidian movements, be it political or cultural. Due to its stress on a particular form of movement Chennai has not developed to be a heterogeneous society as some of its neighboring cities such as Banglore and Vishakhapatnam are. Nevertheless Chennai is desperately trying to put off this baggage now and is catching up with cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad. The city is spread over an area of 200 square kilometers along the Bay of Bengal and is relatively clean. You can find verdant green patches amidst the high-tech, high-rise buildings. Chennai is a city where the tradition and the modernism have a subtle blend. From traditional south Indian courses to fast food joints, from ancient temple architecture to modern high-rises, from Carnatic music and dance to groves in discotheques, Chennai has them all. Best Time to travel Round the year Fort St. George Fort St. George was the first bastion of the British in India. Built in 1640, the fort stills retains its large walls, massive wrought iron gates and deep moats. Now, this place acts as the seat of the State Legislative Assembly. The Fort Museum, St. Mary's church, Town Hall, The flagstaff are things worth appreciating within this fort. Valluvar Kottam The Valluvar Kottam was built to honor the acclaimed Tamil Poet, Thiruvalluvar, whose classic works are about 2000 years old. Constructed in 1976, Valluvar Kottam replicates ancient Tamil architecture that has as many as 1330 Kural (verses) inscribed on its panels. Birla Planetarium Part of the Periyar Science and Technology Centre at Kotturpuram, this is a voyage of discovery for both the young and the old. This air-conditioned modern planetarium with a seating capacity of 236 brings to life celestial phenomenons that are replete with special effects. It also conducts courses in astronomy and night-sky observations for public on every second Saturday of the month. Government Museum The Government Museum is worth visiting in Chennai. The museum has a marvelous archaeological section that is classified along major South Indian dynasties namely Chola, Vijaynagara, Hoysala and Chalukya. The bronze gallery has a superb collection of Chola Art. You can also visit the National Art Gallery that is situated in its vicinity. The place boasts off some of the most fascinating array of Mughal, Rajasthani and Deccan artworks. Kalakshetra Rukmini Devi founded this center of excellence for dance, music, and craft in the year 1936. Situated at Thiruvanmiyur, Kalakshetra has produced many fine exponents of the Bharatnatyam and other Carnatic dance tradition. It follows the traditional Gurukul system of education, where students from across the globe study art amidst the fresh air, large trees and the chirping of birds. Lalit Kala Akademi The South Indian center of Lalit Kala Akademi is located on Gream's Road. Among other things, the place has a very descent collection of Paintings and Artifacts produced by the local artists. Equal importance has also been given to the collection of literature, especially the vernacular ones. Theosophical Society Founded by Madame H.P. Blavatsky and Col. H.S. Olcott in 1875, Theosophical society is located on a vast expanse of clearing on the banks of the Adyar estuary. The place provides a retreat from the madding crowd. The Adyar Banyan tree, Library and Theosophical Research centers are some of the things worth seeing. Introduction Chennai City is one of the most important Metro cities in India. Chennai has a very vibrant culture. The reason behind this cultural dynamism is the fact that Chennai, since decades, has remained a focal point of Dravidian movements, be it political or cultural. Due to its stress on a particular form of movement Chennai has not developed to be a heterogeneous society as some of its neighboring cities such as Banglore and Vishakhapatnam are. Nevertheless Chennai is desperately trying to put off this baggage now and is catching up with cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad. The city is spread over an area of 200 square kilometers along the Bay of Bengal and is relatively clean. You can find verdant green patches amidst the high-tech, high-rise buildings. Chennai is a city where the tradition and the modernism have a subtle blend. From traditional south Indian courses to fast food joints, from ancient temple architecture to modern high-rises, from Carnatic music and dance to groves in discotheques, Chennai has them all. Best Time to travel Round the year How To Reach Air Chennai has an international airport with flights connecting all the major cities of the world. Domestic airlines connect Chennai with all the major cities of India. Nearly all the major airline carriers in India provide their service to Chennai. Road Excellent roads from all parts of the Peninsular India connect Chennai. Both Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation as well as private operators provide bus link from Chennai to other cities of the Deccan Plateau Rail Regular train services connect Chennai directly with all major cities of the country. Various Super Fast and Express trains run from various provincial capital and other important destinations to Chennai.