Chennai (madras) - South Indian Metro

By Author: Nagma Biswas
Total Articles: 26
Comment this article

Chennai hardly needs any introduction, it is one of the metros in the country and hence one of the largest too. Yet, there is something that makes it different from the rest in the league. It is hardly showy and doesn't even boast of money. The glitz and glam of metros is also less, if not completely missing. Slip into the streets of the city and it is no different from any other small town in India. The few traits that make it a metro are its huge size and the presence of economic and political powerhouse. A closer look of the city would reveal its identity as a cluster of numerous urban villages tightly connected in a maze of roads and flyovers.

An obscure town before the arrival of the British, it was taken up as a favorable spot to build an English fortification. It was around this Fort that this city developed and became Madras. Soon it became the Gateway of South India. Starting from a small strip of land on which Fort Saint George was built, Madras soon engulfed most of the surrounding villages and became a powerful city itself. The distinction can however be seen even today. The villages have now evolved to become ...
... castes and one can loosely see some concentration of particular castes in pockets of Madras.

Industrialization and modernization has steadily changed the face of Madras. While bungalows have been replaced by residential towers, the markets and residential colonies have been replaced by commercial complexes and shopping malls. Continually growing, Chennai has somehow started crumbling under the weight of unbearable pollution, noise and traffic. The placid life of Madras is slightly disturbed by such add-ons. Many of the old roads and place have changed names, yet the most used names are the old ones. However, something that has remained unshakable is the religious spirit of the city.

The city puts up a show of a strange labyrinth of old and new monuments and structures. British monuments, Hindu temples, Portuguese churches, high rising billboards and skyscraping towers all group together and make Chennai an interesting place to explore. The best known attraction here remains the Marina Beach. Holding the honor of being the world's second longest beach, it is a curiosity for most tourists while locals come regularly for leisurely strolls. The Parthasarathy Temple close by is believed to be the oldest temple in Chennai and is revered highly by most. Lying close is the Basilica of Saint Thomas. It is believed to contain the remains of Thomas, one of Disciples of Christ, who was martyred here. A host of other temples and churches are also major attractions for tourists and devotees alike. One can visit the Fort Museum to get a better idea of what Madras was and how it has evolved into the Chennai it is today.

With the best of IT companies and big brands invading the market scene here, also expect modernity and commercialization in the city. In all, Chennai presents a picture that is a concoction of many odds. It is rosy and grim at the same, yet it offers much to anyone who cares to visit it.

Nagma Biswas is an author writing about travel and tourism in India and abroad. To book Hotels in Chennai visit Sarovar hotels.