Chennai: The Traditional and Colorful South India Metropolis

Kissing the shores of the Coromandel Coast, the beautiful city of Chennai is a melting pot of the traditional and the urban elements. Chennai boasts of its rich heritage, which is intricately intertwined with the traditional lifestyle of the city residents. Of late, a distinct urban and metropolitan flavour is now slowly but surely creeping in the lives of Chennai’s residents.

One of the most well laid out metropolises of the country, Chennai brings together the sheer grace of the past with the vibrancy of modernism. Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is now rightfully called ‘Gateway to the South India’. With landmarks and buildings dating back to centuries, sandy and sun-kissed beaches, glorious temples, and a number of cultural and art centres, Chennai has a lot in store for the visitor.

Beaches

Think Chennai and the first thing which comes to the mind is, the Marina Beach. Its long, sandy expanse enthralls the visitors who come to relax on the beach. This 15 km long and 400 to 500 meter wide beach has the Light House, memorials, statues, walkways, gardens and drives alongside the beach front. As you travel down south, you come across the Elliot’s Beach in Besant Nagar at which a promenade comprising restaurants and coffee shops has been constructed. This beach is frequented by the young, urban Chennaiites.  A number of beaches and resorts bare lined up  between Elliot’s Beach and Mahabalipuram, along East Coast Road.  Covelong Beach stands out among them, it is a venue to the fort built by the Nawab of the Carnatic and has a cove.

Religious Tourism

Chennai is home to the people subscribing to different faiths and there are a number of distinct places of worships. The most famous temples in Chennai are the Kapaleeshwarar temple in Mylapore and Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane. Then there is the Vadapalani Temple which is another important religious seat for the Hindus. St. Thomas Mount is the site which is believed to be the place where St. Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus, is believed to be martyred. The Santhome Basilica, supposedly built atop the tomb of St. Thomas, is held in great reverence by the Roman Catholics in the city. The Wallajah Masjid in Triplicane is one of the largest mosques and is a revered place of worship for Muslims.

Medical Tourism in Chennai

During the last few years, the city of Chennai has emerged as the most-preferred destination for medical tourists who come to India from different parts of the world. Chennai draws 40% of the medical tourists coming the country and more than six lakh of them visit it every year as elaborated in a report prepared by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

The present day Chennai is a vibrant city which strikes the balance between traditional and the modern. It is also one of the major economic engines of South India and the IT industry in the city is flourishing, offering jobs to thousands. The society appreciates its ancient values and traditions and at the same time is progressive in nature. Chennai is also home to the colorful Tamil film industry and during the last few years a number of malls and multiplexes have been setup in the city.