Chennai

Overview

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the largest metropolitan areas in southern India. Located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, the city is a major commercial, cultural, economic, educational, and industrial centre of South India. It is widely regarded as a hub for automobile manufacturing, healthcare, software services, and Carnatic music, and serves as the administrative seat of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Key Facts

Etymology and Names

The name "Chennai" is generally traced to Chennapatnam or Chennapattanam, a settlement that adjoined the British factory established at Madraspatnam. The name "Madras" was used during the colonial period and continued after Independence until the state government formally adopted "Chennai" as the city's name in August 1996.

Geography

Chennai lies on a flat coastal plain along the south-eastern coast of the Indian peninsula. The city is drained by the Cooum and Adyar rivers, with the Buckingham Canal running parallel to the coast. Marina Beach, stretching along the Bay of Bengal, is among the longest urban beaches in India. The climate is tropical wet and dry, with most of the rainfall received from the north-east monsoon between October and December.

History

Early history

The region around present-day Chennai was historically part of the Tondaimandalam area and came under successive South Indian dynasties including the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, and the Vijayanagara Empire. Towns such as Mylapore and Triplicane, now neighbourhoods of Chennai, are referenced in early Tamil literature and were known for their temples and trade.

Colonial period

In 1639, the English East India Company acquired a strip of coastal land from the Vijayanagara viceroy, on which Fort St. George was built. The fort, completed in 1644, became the nucleus of the settlement of Madras and the company's first major foothold on the eastern coast of India. Madras served as the capital of the Madras Presidency, one of the three principal administrative units of British India.

Post-Independence

After Indian independence in 1947, Madras became the capital of Madras State, which was reorganised along linguistic lines and renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969. The city was renamed Chennai in 1996. In December 2004, the coastline was struck by the Indian Ocean tsunami, causing significant damage in coastal areas. The city was severely affected by floods in November–December 2015 and by Cyclone Vardah in 2016.

Government and Administration

Civic administration is handled by the Greater Chennai Corporation, which traces its origins to the Madras Corporation established in 1688, making it one of the oldest municipal corporations in India outside Britain. The city houses the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the Madras High Court (one of the three chartered High Courts of India, established in 1862), and the Secretariat at Fort St. George.

Economy

Chennai is one of India's leading economic centres. Key sectors include:

• Automobile manufacturing: The city is often referred to as the "Detroit of India," with major plants of Hyundai, Ford (historically), Renault-Nissan, BMW, Royal Enfield, Ashok Leyland, TVS Motor, and Daimler in and around the metropolitan area.
• Information technology and BPO: Major IT corridors along the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and the Guindy–Tidel Park area host a large concentration of software and services firms.
• Healthcare: Chennai is a leading destination for medical tourism in India, with hospitals such as Apollo, MIOT, and the Government General Hospital.
• Ports and logistics: The Chennai Port and the Kamarajar Port at Ennore are among the busiest on the east coast of India.
• Banking and finance: The city hosts the headquarters of Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and several other financial institutions.

Demographics and Culture