Chennai is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal, it is a major commercial, cultural, economic and educational center in South India. It is also known as the "Cultural Capital of South India" and was declared as the most liveable city in India by the Institute of Competitiveness on account of economic, social, security and medical conditions as parameters.
The area around Chennai had been part of successive South Indian kingdoms through centuries. The recorded history of the city began in the colonial times, specifically with the arrival of British East India Company and the establishment of Fort St. George in 1644. The British defended several attacks from the French colonial forces, and from the kingdom of Mysore, on Chennai's way to becoming a major naval port and presidency city by the late eighteenth century. Following the independence of India, Chennai became the capital of Tamil Nadu and an important centre of regional politics that tended to bank on the Dravidian identity of the populace.
Climate
Chennai has a tropical wet and dry climate. The city lies on the thermal equator and is also on the coast, which prevents extreme variation in seasonal temperature. The weather is hot and humid for most of the year. The hottest part of the year is late May to early June, known regionally as Agni Nakshatram or as Kathiri Veyyil, with maximum temperatures around 35–40 °C. The coolest part of the year is January, with minimum temperatures around 15–22 °C. The lowest temperature recorded is 13.8 °C and the highest recorded temperature is 45 °C The average annual rainfall is about 140 cm.
The city gets most of its seasonal rainfall from the north–east monsoon winds, from mid–October to mid–December. Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal sometimes hit the city. The highest annual rainfall recorded is 257 cm in 2005. Prevailing winds in Chennai are usually southwesterly between April and October and northeasterly during the rest of the year. Historically, Chennai has relied on annual monsoon rains to replenish water reservoirs, as no major rivers flow through the area. Chennai has a water table at 2 metres for 60 percent of the year.
Beaches and parks
The old corporation limit of Chennai has a total coast length of about 19 km, which has more than doubled with the expanded corporation limits. Marina Beach runs for 6 km, spanning along the shoreline of the city between the deltas of Cooum and Adyar, and is the second longest urban beach in the world. Elliot's Beach lies south of the Adyar delta.
Chennai is one of the few cities in the world that accommodates a national park, the Guindy National Park, within its limits. The city has an estimated 4.5 percent of its area under green cover. This enables Chennai residents to go birding in Chennai. The seven zones of the old corporation limits has about 260 parks, many of which suffer poor maintenance.
If you are staying in Chennai than please pay a visit to New Delhi, its a beautiful place where you find some old culture that you must see!
Famous Beaches
o Marina Beach, is 12 km long and offers excellent opportunities for walks and has a very wide sandy foreshore. Its width is up to 300 m (985 ft).
o Edward Elliot's beach, is spread along the coast down south from Marina. It is also the night beach for Chennai youth.
o Breezy Beach is located in the quiet neighborhood of Valmiki Nagar (Thiruvanmiyur) in Chennai. It is smaller and less popular than the Elliot's beach.
o Covelong as it was known earlier is a small fishing village located 40 km (25 mi) from Chennai on the way to Mahabalipuram. Now it is a luxury beach resort.
Chennai nightlife
Chennai’s club life offers numerable options to choose from. Strict Law and order system restricts the after dark party scene in Chennai. Bars & Nightclubs are prohibited from operating beyond midnight but still few of them manage to stay open a little longer than the stipulated time. Most of the Night clubs demand a cover charge especially on the weekends. The dress code is to dress neatly and not in shorts, singlet tops or scruffy attire, also many of them allow only couples which means singles are not allowed. For meeting Indian girls you should definitely go out! go and have some fun in a local bar where you find lots of Indian women!
Bars Chennai
o 10 Downing Street: 50, North Boag Road, T Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017. Tel: +91 44 2815 2152
o The Park Hotel: Anna Salai, Chennai. Tel: +91 44 4267 6000
o Zara The Tapas Bar: 71, Cathedral Rd, Gopalapuram, Chennai.
o BIKE & BARREL: 115,The Residency Towers,Thyagaraya Rd,T Nagar, Chennai. Tel: +91 44 2815 6363
o Bamboo Bar: 146, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Tel: +91 44 2811 4700
o Gymkhana Club: Anna Salai Mt Rd, Chintadripet, Chennai. Tel: +91 44 2536 8160
o The B Bar: 94 Sommerset Greenways, Sathyadev Avenue, Chennai, India. Tel: 044 49001010
o Pasha Nightclub: 601, Anna Salai | The Park, Chennai (Madras), India. Tel: +91 (0)44 4267 6000
o Durrant's: 10 Cathedral Road, Sheraton Chola, Chennai.
o Dublin: 132 TTK Road, ITC Hotel Park Sheraton & Towers, Chennai
