Chennai formerly known as Madras is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Originally Chennai was a cluster of fishing villages along the Coromandel Coast. Under British rule during the 17th Century it developed into a major urban centre and naval base. Today it is South India’s commercial and cultural capital and the fourth largest metropolis in India.
Fort St George was Britain’s first trading post in India and from here the Empire grew. The first factory was completed within a fortified enclosure in a Banana Grove owned by a farmer called Madrasan on St George’s day 23 April 1640.From this time on it was named Fort St George. It was the East India Company’s first settlement in India. The Fort was reconstructed in 1750 after it was destroyed by the French. It was redesigned with sloping ramparts, walls and a moat surrounding the entire complex. Today the seat of government of Tamil Nadu is located in the Secretariat building inside the fort. Also located here is St Mary’s Church built in 1678 and known as the oldest Anglican Church in Asia. The Fort Museum is a must visit h with its treasure trove of colonial memorabilia.
George town was originally an area where the manufacturing of woven materials took place. The areas inhabitants called it Chennapathnam from where Chennai got its name. It is an interesting area to explore. Places of interest are the Lighthouse, The High Court Building, and General Post Office dating from 1892.Thomas Parry started a Mercantile Company at Parry’s Corner in 1799 and this still operates in Chennai today. Mint Street is where an authorized mint was set up in 1841 to produce gold coins for the British as well as for local rulers. Today the old mint buildings are still in use and house a government printing press. In George Town a visitor can see many 17th Century houses which were originally the homes of Portuguese, Armenian and other foreign traders. Merchant Street was the location of a small Jewish community that traded in corals.
St Andrews Kirk is a great example of neo-classical architecture and is well worth a visit. Its construction in 1821 was problematic due to the sandy soil which was prone to flooding. A solution to this problem was the construction of 150 wells which were dug to provide a sound foundation for the church. This technique was also used in many of the other buildings in this area. Curved bricks were dug into the soil in a cylindrical shape which would allow water to rise in the middle.
The Pantheon Complex contains a number of interesting cultural institutions including The Government Museum, The Bronze Gallery, Connemara Public Library, The National Art Gallery, and the Contempory Art GalleryChennai hosts a large cultural event, the annual Madras Music Season, which includes performances by hundreds of artists. The city has a vibrant theatre scene and is an important centre for the Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form. The Tamil film industry, known as Kollywood, is based in the city; the soundtracks of the movies dominate its music scene.MGR Film City is the location of Tamil Nadu’s flourishing film industry. It is a fantasy world of extravagant film sets which are open to the public and can be visited. .