Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu and is known as one of India’s top 4 metropolitan cities, and an important educational, cultural and commercial hub. Brimming with history and culture, visitors can enjoy grand monuments, popular music, arts and festivals, as well as having convenient access to the wildlife safaris and tours in the surrounding region. Chennai itself is home to the second longest urban beach in the world and is also a popular destination for medical tourism.
-
Location
Chennai is located on the South Eastern coast of India, alongside the shorelines of Coromandel Coast. The city occupies a total area of 426 square kilometres, divided into four broad regions, each with their own highlights.
-
Exploring Chennai
Marina Beach, St.George Fort, Harbour, Kapaleswarar Temple, San Thome Cathedral, Parthasarathy Temple, Government Museum and Art Gallery, Theosophical Society, Kalakshetra, institution for Indian classical dance and music, National Deer Park, Snake Park are just a few of the vast array of places to see.
-
Kanchipuram
The temple town of Kanchipuram, 64 km from Chennai, was the ancient capital of the Pallavas. Famous as a city of 1000 temples, it still has 124 shrines. The first temple, dedicated to Shiva, was built in the 7th and 8th century and has rare paintings on the walls.
-
Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram is famous for its seven pagodas- a group of ancient rock hewn temples on the seashore. They are an excellent example of the Dravidian style of architecture.
-
Currency
Indian Rupee (INR)
-
Language
English is widely spoken and understood in all cities and Tourist areas. Hindi is the official language.
-
Climate
Chennai has a tropical wet and dry climate with a monsoon season lasting from June to September. However, because of its proximity to the coast, the city does not suffer from extreme temperatures. Winters occur between November and February, with January being the coolest month of the year. This is considered the most pleasant time of the year to visit the city.
-
Flying Time
Flying time from Muscat : 2 Hours 30 Minutes
-
Time Difference
GMT + 5.30 Hours
