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CHENNAI
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Chennai, also known as
Madras, the fourth largest city in India and the capital of Tamilnadu. The
city sprawls over more than 70 square km. The population of Chennai is 5.9
million. Many of the indian languages are spoken in Chennai, though the main
language of Chennai is Tamil. For travelers with an interest in the colonial
history of India, Chennai has much worth exploring and abundant transport
operations make other parts of the country readily accessible.
SIGHTSEEING
 KAPALEESWARAR
Kapaleeswarar, an ancient Shiva temple, is the biggest temple in Chennai. A
masterpiece of Dravidian style and displays the architectural elements -
gopurams, mandapams and a tank. There are some fragmentary inscriptions
dating back to 1250 AD.
SRI PARTHASARATHY TEMPLE
 Sri
Parthasarathy Temple, devoted to Lord Krishna, was originally built by the
Pallavas in the 8th century and renovated in the 16th century bt the
Vijayanagars. It houses the five 'avatars' of Lord Vishnu, and has a small
temple shrine dedicated to Vishnu's consort, Vedavalli Ammai. It's one of
the oldest surviving temple in Chennai.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH
St. Mary's Church built in 1678-80, was the first English Church in Chennai,
and is the oldest surviving British Church in India. There are reminders in
the Church of Clive, who was married here in 1753, and of Elihu Yale, the
early Governor of Chennai who later founded the famous American University
bearing his name.
 THE
SANTOME CATERDRAL CHURCH
The Santhome Cathedral Church built in 1504, then rebuilt in neo-Gothic
style in 1893, this Roman Catholic Church near Kapaleeshwarar temple is said
to house the remains of St. Thomas the Apostle.
B.M. BIRLA PLANETARIUM
Situated in Kotturpuram in Chennai, the B. M. Birla Planetarium houses a
modern, fully computerised projector, which depicts the heavens on a
hemispherical dome.
FORT ST. GEORGE
Fort St. George was built in the 1640 A.D., the first bastion of British
power of India, the fort has undergone much alteration. The fort is now used
by the
 Tamil
Nadu Legislative Assembly and the Secretariat office. The 46m high flagstaff
at the front is actually a mast salvaged from a 17th century shipwreck.
THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
The Theosophical Society, is set in a tranquil spot on the banks of the
Adyar river. There is a huge banyan tree, with its branches spreading over
an area of 40,000 square ft, where discourses are conducted.
 THE
SNAKE PARK
The Snake Park with its lizards, crocodiles and turtles is more interesting.
It is well maintained with generous enclosures. The Snake Park has a wide
variety of reptiles. The next compound is the 'Children Park', which has a
small collection of animals and birds and a big play area for children.
VALLUVAR KOTTAM
 The
Valluvar Kottam, on the corner of Kodambakkam High Rd and Village Rd,
honours the acclaimed Tamil Poet, Thiruvalluvar, whose classic work - one
thousand three hundred and thirty kurals (couplets) - are reputed to be
about 2000 years old. Established in 1976, Valluvar Kottam replicates
ancient Tamil architecture with the 1330 verse Kural inscribed on panels.
The outer structure in stone is a replica of the temple car of Thiruvarur in
Tamil Nadu.
LITTLE MOUNT SHRINE
St. Thomas is believed to have lived in Little Mount Shrine (a tiny cave)
when he came to India around 58 A.D. Known locally as Chinnamalai, the cave
is entered via the Portuguese Church that was built in 1551.
 THE
NATIONAL ART GALLERY
The National Art Gallery situated in Egmore were established in 1857. There
are sections on geology, archaeologym anthropology, numismatics, botany,
zoology and sculpture, besides a collection of armoury.
KALAKSHETRA
Kalakshetra devoted to the revival of classical arts, was founded by Rukmini
Devi Arundale in 1936. Classical dance, music, traditional textile designs
and weaving are taught in natural surroundings.
GOVERMENT MUSEUM
Well worth visiting, the Government Museum is on Pantheon Rd, between Egmore
and Anna Salai. The buildings originally belonged to a group of eminent
British citizens, known as the Pantheon Committee, who were charged with
improving the social life of the British in Chennai. The main building has a
fine archaeological section representing all the major south Indian periods
including Chola, Vijayanagar, Hoysala and Chalukya. It also houses a good
ethnology collection. The bronze gallery has a superb collection of Chola
art. One of the most impressive is the bronze of Ardhanariswara, the
androgynous incarnation of Shiva.
 MARINA
BEACH
The stretch of beach known as the Marina extends for 13km. South of the
pitiful aquarium is the Ice House, once used to store massive ice blocks
transported by ship from North America. It later became the venue from which
Vivekanand preached his ascetic philosophy.
ST. THOMAS
St. Thomas Mount situated near the Meenambakkam airport, is the place
where the apostle is said to have been killed.
THE FORT MUSEUM
The Fort Museum has a collection of objects from the tenure of the East
India Company in Chennai including letters from Robert Clive. There are many
contemporary paintings too.
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