Madras, now known as Chennai, is a city on the east coast of southern India. Situated on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, this capital of the state of  Tamil Nadu is India's fourth largest metropolitan city and one of the 35 largest metropolitan areas in the world.Its name was officially changed to Chennai in 1996, but the older name Madras is still widely used. The city is a large commercial and industrial centre in India, and is known for its cultural heritage.

The East India Company developed Chennai as one of the major trading centers in India. Chennai has a blend of Dravidian and Gothic architecture in its buildings. The city might have grown but it has never lost its traditional grace and charm. With a population of over 6 million people, Chennai is a vibrant city ever growing, expanding and changing every year.   Music, dance and all other art forms of the South are cherished and attract sizeable patronage. Chennai is the epitome of tradition, culture and life-style of Southern India . But like the rest of India , Chennai has over the years, developed its share of urban style and modernity.   Accommodation and transportation are cheap and efficient. As far as religion is concerned, history has certainly left its mark on this city, which is believed to have been the place of St. Thomas, in the outskirt of the city. There are a number of churches in Chennai that are connected with the life and times of this apostle. There are also several ancient temples around Chennai, and, within the city itself are two magnificent temples - a temple in Triplicane and another in Mylapore.  Visit the 4.5 km long Golden Marina beach, one of the longest beaches in the world.     City Information Name Chennai Population 55,859 (1991 Census) Area 130 Sq. Kms. Language Spoken Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, English   Seasons Season Period Max. Temperature Min. Temperature Winter Dec - Feb 30°C 21°C Summer May - Aug 38°C 25°C Monsoon Sep - Nov 34°C 22°C Weather (Temperature in Degree Centigrade)   Months Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max. 31 31 35 35 38 38 38 38 34 34 34 31 Min. 21 21 23 23 25 25 25 25 22 22 22 21   Places of Tourist Interest Around Chennai Place Distance Accesibility Tirupathi 158 Kms. Rail / Road Mahabalipuram 58 Kms. Road Pondichery 163 Kms. Road Tiruvannamalai 185 Kms. Road Kanchipuram 76 Kms. Rail / Road Marina Beach 17 Kms. Rail / Road Crocodile Park 25 Kms. Road Rameswaram 569 Kms. Air / Rail / Road upto Madurai & Rail / Road Vedanthangal 85 Kms. Road