Chennai

Chennai, formerly Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Located on the Coromandel Coast facing the Bay of Bengal, it is a major economic, cultural, and educational center with a large metropolitan area.

The city has ancient roots and developed as a port during medieval and colonial times. Fort St. George, established in 1644 by the British East India Company, helped shape its growth. Renamed Chennai in 1996, it remains a hub of maritime trade and industry. Its climate is tropical wet and dry, with hot summers and a long coastline.

Chennai hosts a diversified economy anchored in information technology, manufacturing, and maritime commerce. It is a major IT-services hub, with a sizable automotive and hardware industry in the surrounding districts. The city is home to IIT Madras and the University of Madras, among other higher-education institutions. The Port of Chennai and associated logistics facilities support regional trade.

The city is known for Tamil cinema (Kollywood), classical music and dance, and a long urban beach, Marina Beach. Notable sites include Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St. George, Government Museum, and San Thome Basilica.

It is served by Chennai International Airport and the Port of Chennai, and has a broad railway network, suburban lines, and a growing metro system.

Demographics: Tamil is the official language; English is widely used in education and business. The population includes Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities, reflecting the city’s cultural diversity.