Chennai Central railway station
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Chennai ( / ˈtʃɛnaɪ / ⓘ, Tamil: [ˈt͡ɕenːaɪ̯], IAST: Cennaī ), formerly known as Madras, [b] 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.
- 7 m (23 ft)
- India
Discover Chennai (formerly Madras), Tamil Nadu's capital and a hub of South Indian culture, art and cuisine. Explore its attractions, day trips, free things to do and more with Lonely Planet's expert tips and advice.
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2 days ago · Chennai, formerly known as Madras, city and 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 center.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Visit the 2nd longest beach in the world - Marina Beach. Marina Beach is a natural urban beach in Chennai, along the Bay of Bengal. The beach runs for a distance of 6.5 km (4 mi) thus making it the longest natural urban beach in the country and the second longest urban beach in the world.
- Visit the church at st. thomas mount. St. Thomas Mount is a small hillock near the airport in Chennai. St. Thomas the Apostle is believed to have been martyred at this place, a shrine dedicated to Mother Mary was built in 1523 on top of the mount.
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. Vedanthangal in Tamil literally means ‘hamlet of the hunter’. This is a protected area near Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu.
- Watch First Day First Show (FDFS) of a blockbuster movie at Satyam Theatre. Chennai or Madras is famous for its film industry, popularly referred to as Kollywood.
- Catch a breath of fresh air on Marina Beach. There’s no charge to wander the broad sweep of sand that marks the eastern limits of Chennai. Marina Beach is one of the longest city beaches in the world, sprawling for 13km (8 miles), and the sands are crowded with promenading locals, fortune tellers, kite flyers, fish hawkers, corn roasters and teenagers giving it their all in beachside cricket matches.
- Take a snap from the top of Madras Lighthouse. There’s a very modest 20 rupee (US$0.27) entry fee to take the lift to the top of Madras Lighthouse for panoramic views up and down the shoreline (without the rather garish red and white lighthouse marring the view).
- Soak up Chennai history in Fort St George. It’s often forgotten that Chennai – then Madras – was the first formal British outpost in India. Through negotiations with the Hindu rulers of Vijayanagar, the English East India Company purchased the rights to a small strip of land on the Coromandel Coast in 1639, and promptly constructed Fort St George to protect their investment.
- Hone your haggling skills at Pondy Bazaar. The rainbow-colored bazaars around the affluent neighborhood of T Nagar are thronged by shoppers bargaining for silk saris, slippers, glass bangles, gold wedding jewelry and other sartorial essentials.
Things to Do in Chennai (Madras), India: See Tripadvisor's 283,662 traveler reviews and photos of Chennai (Madras) tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in May. We have reviews of the best places to see in Chennai (Madras). Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
May 18, 2020 · Discover the culture, history, and attractions of Chennai, India's fourth-largest city. Explore its temples, museums, markets, beaches, and more with these tips and suggestions.
