Chennai, previously known as Madras, is counted as the fourth largest metropolitan area of India and the capital city of the Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast in the Bay of Bengal, Chennai had a population of 4.2 million according to 2001 census, essentially within its municipal area. The urban assemblage of Chennai has an approximated population above 7 million, making it one of the largest urban assemblages in India.

Chennai was established during the 17th century by the British, who were key to develop the city into a major urban centre and naval base. By the 20th century, it had become a crucial administrative centre, as the capital of the Madras Presidency. The city grew up around the English settlement of Fort Saint George and slowly absorbed the surrounding towns and villages. However, in spite of the strong British influence, Chennai has retained its traditional Tamil Hindu culture and effectively blended it with foreign influence.

Chennai`s economy is equipped with a panoptic industrial base in the automobile, technology, hardware, manufacturing and healthcare sectors. The city is home to major India`s automobile industry and is the country`s second-largest exporter of software, information technology (IT) and information-technology-enabled services (ITES), just behind Bangalore. Chennai Zone contributes 39 per cent of the State`s GDP (gross domestic product). The city is responsible for 60 per cent of the country`s automotive exports and is sometimes lovingly referred to as "the Detroit of India".

The city is host to an international airport and two foremost ports; it is linked to the rest of the country by five national highways and two railway terminals. Chennai is also home to thirty-five consulates. Chennai is far less crowded and polluted compared to the other metropolitan cities of India. Chennai is a journey into changeless India, a kaleidoscope of moods. Its riches include temples and shrines to forts and palaces; the landscape of the past lives easily with the present.

Chennai hosts a magnum opus cultural event, the annual Madras Music Season, which comprehends performances by hundreds of artists. The city owns a pulsating theatrical scene and is a key centre for Bharatnatyam, a classical dance form. The thriving Tamil film industry, lovingly known as Kollywood, is based in the city. Chennai is known for its sports venues and hosts an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) event, the Chennai Open. The city however is barraged with problems of water shortages, traffic congestion and air pollution. State and local governments have undertaken honest enterprises like the Veeranam project, rainwater harvesting and the construction of mini-flyovers to deal with these troubles.

History of Chennai, Tamil Nadu: History of Chennai can be studied from the Chola or Pallava periods, when India was strictly under the monarchic system of government. After Portuguese invasion, it was the time for British Empire to rewrite Madras (that was what Chennai was referred to in prior times) history in significantly dissimilar way. Their battles, their buildings, their strategies, or even their introduction of railways in Chennai, truly strengthened Chennai city historically.

Tourism in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: Tourism in Chennai can be termed as enormity redefined, with its mind-boggling presence of both past and present artefacts. Beginning from amusement parks, hi-tech developed parks, halls devoted to art and craft, museums, planetarium, fortresses and of course, Chennai`s star attractors, its god-gifted beaches galore, tourism in Chennai is so promising, that tourers just seem to return again and again in reminiscence.

Geographical location of Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Chennai is located on the southeast coast of India in the north-eastern side of Tamil Nadu. The strategic location of the city is on a flat coastal plain known as the Eastern Coastal Plains. Its average elevation is approximately 6.7 metres (20 ft) and its highest point is 60 m (200 ft). The legendary Marina Beach runs for 12 km along the shoreline of the city. Two rivers wind through Chennai, the Cooum River (or Koovam) through the centre and the Adyar River to the south. A third river, the Kortalaiyar, flows through the northern peripheries of the city, before emptying into the sea at Ennore.

Chennai is divided into four parts: North, Central, South and West. North Chennai is essentially an industrial area. Central Chennai is the commercial nerve-centre of the city and includes a significant business district, Parry`s Corner. South Chennai and West Chennai, previously predominately residential, are fast becoming commercial. They are home to a rising number of information technology firms, financial companies and call centres. The city is amplifying quickly along the Old Mahabalipuram Road and the Grand Southern Trunk Road (GST Road) in the south and towards Ambattur, Koyambedu and Sriperumbdur in the west.

Climate of Chennai, Tamil Nadu India: Climactic conditions of Chennai make the city`s soil as being predominately clay, shale and sandstone. Sandy areas can be seen along the riverbanks and coasts, like those of Tiruvanmiyur, Adyar, Kottivakkam, Santhome, George Town, Tondiarpet and the remaining coastal Chennai. Here the excess and saturated rainwater sinks in quickly through the soil. Chennai possesses an essentially maritime climate, with clay underneath most of the city, including T. Nagar, West Mambalam, Anna Nagar, Villivakkam, Perambur and Virugambakkam. Hard rock areas comprise Guindy, Perungudi, Velachery, Adambakkam and a part of Saidapet.

Chennai is positioned on the thermal equator and is also coastal in its charting, which thwarts extremity in discrepancy in seasonal temperature. Throughout most of the year, the climate of Chennai remains hot and humid. The hottest part of the year starts from late May, ending in early June, locally popular as Agni Nakshatram ("fire star") or as Kathiri Veyyil. Maximum temperatures hover around 38 to 42 degrees Centigrade (100 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit). January days comprise the coolest part of the year, with minimum temperatures ranging from 19 to 20 degrees Centigrade (66 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit). The average annual rainfall counts at approximately 1300 mm (51 inches). The city receives most of its seasonal rainfall from the north-eastern monsoon winds, from mid-September to mid-December. Cyclonic depressions from the Bay of Bengal are common in climactic conditions of Chennai. The most predominant winds in Chennai are the South-westerly, between May and September and the North-easterly during the rest of the year. The best time to visit this city is the winter season, i.e., months comprising November to September, when the weather remains pleasant.

How to reach Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Chennai being one of the primary metro cities in India, is one the most comfortably accessed city. The coastal city can be reached hassle-free by the three foremost modes of transportation. The city is extremely well-connected with almost all the prominent places in the country.

By Air: Chennai is well branched in the sky route with the world and a majority of international airlines have flights to Chennai`s Anna International Airport. Almost all the domestic airlines operate daily flights to all major cities of the country from the Kamaraj domestic terminal, near the international terminal. Both the air terminals are located at Meenambakkom, approximately 20 km from the city.

By Rail: Chennai is the headquarters of Southern Railway, a division of Indian Railways. As such, the city is connected to many cities and towns by super-fast and express trains. The city has two foremost railway stations: Chennai Central, which links north and west India and Chennai Egmore, which links south India. To further facilitation for people travelling, Chennai has also introduced local electric train network, MRTS (Massive Rapid Transport System) to connect different points of the city.

By Road: Chennai is smoothly connected to all the major cities of India by a network of national highways and roads. Most government bus services for Tamil Nadu and other states now run from the newly opened Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Koyembedu. The bus stand is known to be the largest bus station in Asia. Inter state buses run at regular intervals from Chennai. A number of private bus operators are also available for domestic and interstate transportation. Pre-paid taxis and airport carriages are available at airports and railway stations.

Shopping in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: Shoppers visiting Chennai can go through a memorable phase, due to the city`s hoards of options to choose from. There is the presence of the hep malls with their sheen, then there are the ethnic lanes offering true South Indian sarees, at surprising affordable prices.

Visiting Information about Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: Chennai is a pulsating metropolitan city, equipped with a powerful hospitality industry. It possesses hotels and accommodations, furnishing world-class facilities to their guests and visitors. The wide range of hotels available in Chennai City range from Five Star Hotels to Four, Three, Two and One Star Hotels, along with Budget and Economy Hotels. As such visiting Chennai can never be a trouble, with ample information available. The place is never in dearth of comforts. Chennai hotels offer all the elite-level comforts for guests on vacations or people visiting for leisure. The major hotel chains in Chennai greet their guests with all professionalism and warmth. Some of the hotels are:

Le Royal Meridien, Chennai, The Park, Chennai, Taj Coromandel, Chennai, Fisherman`s Cove, Trident Hilton, Chennai, Radisson Chennai ,The Raintree Chennai, Ambassador Pallava, Chennai, Benz Park Tulip, Chennai, Hotel President, Chennai, Tulip Aruna, Chennai, Hotel Savera, Chennai, Fortune Select Palms.

For complete business listing of Chennai visit Chennai Yellowpages