History of Chennai

INTRODUCTION• Chennai (formerly known as Madras), is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is India's fourth largest city,

and is the knowledge hub of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.

• With an estimated population of 7.60 million (2006), the 368-year-old city is the 36th largest metropolitan area in the world.

• Chennai boasts of a long history from ancient South Indian empires through colonialism to its evolution in the 20th century as a services and manufacturing hub.

• The name Madras is derived from Madraspatnam, the site chosen by the British East India Company for a permanent settlement in 1639.

• The Madrasa or the Islam's religious schools patronized by the Arcot Nawabs gave the city Madras its name.

• The city was renamed Chennai in August 1996.

• August 22 is celebrated as Madras day or Chennai Day

Ancient Times• Chennai, originally known as Madras Patnam, was located in the province of Tondaimandalam, an area lying

between Pennar river of Nellore and the Pennar river of Cuddalore.

• The capital of the province was Kancheepuram. Tondaimandalam was ruled in the 2nd century A.D. by Tondaiman Ilam Tiraiyan, who was a representative of the Chola family at Kanchipuram.

• Chennai is city which has grown by merging numerous villages which are really ancient. The temples of Thiruvanmiyur, Thiruvotriyur, Thirvallikeni(Triplicane), Thirumyilai(Mylapore) have existed for more than 2000 years. Thiruvanmiyur, Thiruvotiryur and Thirumyilai are mentioned in Thevarams of Moovar (of the Nayanmars).

(A)Kapaleeshwar Temple (Thiru Mailai ) (B)Parthasarathy Temple (Thiruvalli keni )

Arrival Of the British• In the seventeenth century the British East India Company decided to build a factory on the east coast.

• Francis Day, one of the officers of the company, who was then a Member of the Masulipatam Council and the Chief of the Armagon Factory, made a voyage of exploration in 1637 down the coast as far as Pondicherry with a view to choose a new settlement. They chose Chennai.

A map of Chennai during 17A map of Chennai during 17thth century century

Post Independence

• After India became independent, the city became the administrative and legislative capital of Madras State which was renamed as Tamil Nadu in 1968.

• Modern Chennai is a large commercial and industrial centre, and is known for its cultural heritage and temple architecture.

• Chennai is the automobile capital of India, with around forty percent of the automobile industry having a base there and with a major portion of the nation's vehicles being produced there.

• Chennai has also become a major centre for outsourced IT and financial services from the Western world.

Landmarks of Chennai

Marina Beach• The Marina Beach is a beach situated along a 12 km shoreline in

the city of Chennai along the Bay of Bengal, part of the Indian Ocean.

Panoramic view of a stretch of the sandy Marina beach

Landmarks of Chennai

Fort St. George• Fort St George is the name of the first British fortress in India, founded in

1639 at the coastal city of Madras

• Today, the Fort serves as the administrative headquarters for the legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu state

Fort St. George

Landmarks of Chennai

Guindy Park• Guindy National Park, A 2.82 km² (1 sq mi) Protected area of Tamil Nadu,

located in Chennai, South India, is the 8th smallest National Park of India.

Blackbuck, Guindy's flagship species

Landmarks of Chennai

Government Museum• Government Museum, established in 1851, is located in Egmore, Chennai,

South India.• The objects displayed in the museum cover a variety of artifacts and objects

covering diverse fields including archeology, numismatics, zoology, natural history, sculptures, palm-leaf manuscripts and Amravati paintings.

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