A Traveler's Guide to Chennai

Chennai is the fifth largest city in India by population. It is also the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal in the extreme southeastern region of India.

Chennai is home to the Madras Music Season, which is an annual music celebration. This celebration lasts for several days and includes performances by hundreds of musical performers. Chennai is also home to one of the largest film industries in India. The most popular form of performance dancing in Chennai is the Bharatanatyam, a traditional Indian form of dancing.

The economy of Chennai is comprised of businesses in the healthcare, computer, and car industries. India's car industry is one of the fastest growing car industry's in the world. Recently Indian car exports increased 500% percent, and most of India's car manufacturing takes place in Chennai.

Temperatures in Chennai are hot in the summer and mild in the winter. Summer temperatures are usually in the 90's Fahrenheit and winter temperatures usually stay in the 60's and 70's Fahrenheit. The summer months are the rainy monsoon seasons, with several inches of rain falling each month.

As with most other cities in India, cricket is the most popular sport in Chennai. M.A. Chidambaram Stadium is one of the oldest cricket stadiums anywhere in India. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is home to football and tennis matches. Hockey, boating, and chess are other popular pastimes in Chennai.

The city is service by the Chennai International Airport which is the third busiest airport in India. Over 25 domestic and international airlines use the airport. Expansions are planned for the airport to make it able to handle even more international carriers. Ennore Port and Chennai Port offer access to the sea. These ports are used by commercial ships as well as fishing vessels and pleasure vessels. India's southern railway is headquartered in Chennai. Chennai Central Station is the city's largest rail depot and provides access to other major cities in southern India. The MTC supplies bus lines throughout the city and makes travel through Chennai easy and efficient.