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Chennai (/ ˈ tʃ ɛ n aɪ / ⓘ, Tamil: [ˈt͡ɕenːaɪ̯], IAST: Cennaī), formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India.It is the state's primate city and is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.
- Fort St. George
Plan of Fort St. George made during the French occupation of...
- Greater Chennai Corporation
Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is a local government for...
- Chennai Central
Chennai Central (officially Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G....
- Sixth-Most Populous City
The following tables are the list of cities in India by...
- Chennai District
Chennai district, formerly known as Madras district, is one...
- Damarla Chennapa Nayaka
Damarla Chennapa Nayaka was a Nayaka ruler of Kalahasti and...
- Fort St. George
- Overview
- City site
- Climate
- City layout
- People
- Manufacturing
- Finance and other services
- Transportation and telecommunications
Chennai was previously called Madras. Madras was the shortened name of the fishing village Madraspatnam, where the British East India Company built a fort and factory (trading post) in 1639–40. Tamil Nadu officially changed the name of the city to Chennai in 1996.
How was Chennai founded?
The present-day Chennai city emerged from the British East India Company's fort and a trading post at Fort St. George. By 1652, Fort St. George was recognized as a presidency, and between 1668 and 1749 the company expanded its control. The English became masters of southern India and Madras, their administrative and commercial capital.
In which state is Chennai located?
Chennai is located in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. It is situated on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is also the capital of the state.
Chennai, city, capital of Tamil Nadu state, southern India, located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Known as the “Gateway to South India,” Chennai is a major administrative and cultural centre. Pop. (2011) city, 4,646,732; urban agglom., 8,696,010.
Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast along the Bay of Bengal. The Cooum (Koovam) River flows through its centre and the Adyar River through its southern portion. The Buckingham Canal runs parallel to the coast, joining the Kortalaiyar (Kosasthalaiyar) River in the northern edges of the city and the Muttukadu Backwaters south of the city.
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Chennai’s climate is warm and humid. It reaches average temperatures of 89 °F (32 °C) in May and 77 °F (25 °C) in January. Annual rainfall is about 50 inches (1,250 mm), occurring mostly from October to mid-December.
Madras developed without a plan from its 17th-century core, formed by Fort St. George and the Indian quarters. To the north and northwest are the industrial areas. The main residential areas are to the west and south, where a number of modern high-rise apartment buildings have been constructed, and the old villages are in the centre.
The most distinctive buildings in the city are the seven large temples in the Dravidian style, situated in the city sections of George Town, Mylapore, and Triplicane. The Chepauk Palace (the former residence of the nawab [Mughal ruler] of Karnataka) and the University Senate House, both in the Deccan Islamic style, and the Victoria Technical Institute and the High Court buildings, both in the Indo-Saracenic style, are generally considered the most attractive buildings of the British period.
The population of Chennai is predominantly Tamil. About four-fifths of the population is Hindu; Muslims, Christians, and Jains make up the remainder. Tamil is the most common language, and many professionals speak English. About one-tenth of the population speaks Telugu; slightly fewer speak some variety of Hindustani.
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Since the late 1990s, software development and electronics manufacturing have made up the bulk of Chennai’s economy. Numerous technology parks, where many foreign companies have offices, are found throughout the city. Other major industries include the manufacture of automobiles, rubber, fertilizer, leather, iron ore, and cotton textiles. Wheat, ma...
Services, especially finance and tourism, are also significant. Indian Bank and Indian Overseas Bank, both administered by the Ministry of Finance, are headquartered in Chennai. Hotels, luxury resorts, restaurants, marinas, and parks line Marina Beach, the coastline abutting Chennai city.
Chennai is well connected by road, rail, air, and sea. It has an international airport and seaport. Within the city a network of bus services and auto-rickshaws are common modes of transport. About 37 miles (60 km) south of Chennai, the historic town of Mamallapuram, with its Shore Temple, is a popular tourist destination.
Chennai has one of the highest penetrations of high-speed Internet access in India and is one of a handful of cities in the country connected to submarine fibre-optic cables. It was one of the first cities in India to offer free Wi-Fi connectivity in public spaces.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
India, Asia. If you have time to explore Chennai (formerly Madras), this 284-sq-mi (400-sq-km) conglomerate of urban villages and diverse neighborhoods making up Tamil Nadu's capital will pleasantly surprise you. Its role is as keeper of South Indian artistic, religious and culinary traditions. Day Trips.
Madras State was a state of India which was in existence during the mid-20th century. The state came into existence on 26 January 1950 when the Constitution of India was adopted and included the present-day Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Andhra state was separated in 1953 and the state was ...
Aug 22, 2023 · After the British rule ended in 1947, the state and the city continued to be referred to as Madras. It was carved out of the larger Madras presidency that had covered parts of other South Indian states. In 1969, the state was officially renamed Tamil Nadu and in 1996, the capital city of Madras became Chennai.
- Rishika Singh
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By Management. 100,251. Chennai (Madras), India. The diverse population of Chennai (Madras) is reflected in its rich cultural scene. You’ll find serious theatre as well as the glitz and glamour of Kollywood. Chennai is also an important center for the Bharatanatyam, a local form of classical dance. Visit in January, for the festival of Pongal ...
Chennai (Tamil: சென்னை Ceṉṉai), formerly Madras, is the capital of the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.With a population of 8.6 million (2011 census), Chennai's urbanised area is the most populous in Southern India and the fourth most populous in India.
