What used to be a small collection of villages, joined by an elaborate series of inter-connecting roads, Chennai (formerly known as Madras) has grown to be an important city in Southern India. The capital of the Tamil Nadu state, Chennai is now considered to be the gateway to South India’s unique arts, religion, and culinary traditions. In recent times, a new cosmopolitan identity has grown, with a surge in luxury boutiques, chic cafes, clubs and stylish hotels opening; such as the Turyaa Chennai, for instance, a leading business hotel in Chennai.
However, if you have time to explore the city, do visit some of its historical sites. There are plenty of ancient temples and museums to see, all of them equally interesting, but a must see attraction is the Fort St. George. Constructed in 1644, Fort St George was the first fortress to be built by the British in India, and led the way for further colonial settlements and merchant trading in what was then, unoccupied land. Under the rule of the colonialist, the fort soon became the centre for trading in the area, and saw the growth of a new settlement which soon enveloped surrounding villages, leading to the creation of Madras.
Inside the boundary walls are several old buildings, one of which currently houses the Tamil Nadu’s Legislative Assembly & Secretariat. The fort museum displays the details of Chennai’s origin, along with other works from the British era, including military records and artwork from colonial period.
Also within the walls is St Mary’s Church; constructed in 1680, it is the oldest Anglican church in India and is surrounded by the oldest British tombstones in the country. The church was also where the famous Robert Clive (Clive of India) was married. Even if you’re just passing through the city, the Fort is worth a stop, just to take in the old structures and solemn church, and imagine what life was like in old Madras.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+