| |
The largest city
in southern india
located on the coromandel
coast of the bay
of bengal, developed
after 1639 when
the British East
India company established
a fort and trading
port at the small
fishing village
of Chennai. Therefore
Madras is again
renamed as Chennai.
besides the modern
city itself, there
are several interesting
towns like Mamallapuram
and Kanchipuram,
each with a rich
collection of ancient
temples and an array
of traditional handicrafts
which are very much
their own.
Fort St.
George: Built
by the East India
company in 1639-1640,
the fort marks the
beginning of Madras
as a modern city.
Built around 1653
by the British East
India company, the
fort has undergone
much alteration.
Presently houses
the secretariat
and legislative
assembly.
Fort Museum:
This museum contains
many relics pertaining
to the tenure of
the East India company
and British India.
Included is a picture
of Sir Arthur Havelock
(Governor of Madras
in 1896) painted
by Ravi Varma. This
self taught artist
produced many paintings,
often on mythological
themes.
St. Mary's
Church:
This is the oldest
anglican church
in Asia. Built in
1678 - 80, was the
first English church
in Madras and is
the oldest surviving
British church in
India.
National
Art Gallery and
Government Museum:
Well worth a visit
the buildings originally
belonged to a group
of eminent British
citizens, known
as the pantheon
committee. the main
building has an
excellent archaeological
section also houses
a good ethnology
collection. Has
a superb collection
of Chola Bronze.
Film Studios:
The film industry
in Chennai is now
bigger than the
Bolywood (Mumbai).
The Marina Beach
: This
is supposed to be
the Second Longest
Beach in the world
and runs to a length
of 12 km.
Kapaleeswarar
Temple:
This ancient Shiva
temple, was constructed
in pure Dravidian
style and displays
the same architectural
elements - Gopuram,
Mandapam, a tank.
Santhome
Cathedral :
Roman Catholic church
is said to house
the remains of St.
Thomas the apostle
(doubting thomas).
St. Thomas
Mount: The
small hillock is
believed to be the
place where the
apostle was killed
by his assassins.
The Snake Park and
Children's Park:
The Snake Park will
intereuarters.
Elliots
Beach:
This Beach is comparatively
quieter.
Valluvar
Kottam:
Erected in memory
of the poet saint
Thiruvalluvar, the
shrine constructed
after the temple
car of Thiruvarur.
Cholamandal
Artists :
This an Independent
Community about
30 artisans dedicated
to the practice
and development
of contemporary
art.
Dakshinchitra
: The Village
is a showcase of
traditional art,
craft, architecture
and lifestyle from
the four states
of south india.
Muthukadu
: The boat
house.
Kovalam:
Also known as Covelong
is a fishing settlement
with a fine beach.
Crocodile
Bank: Can
see crocs and alligators
of all sizes as
well as turtles.
cted by Emperor
Shah jahan in memory
of his wife Mumtaz
Mahal, the 'lady
of the Taj'. It
has been described
as the most extravagant
monument ever build
for love for the
emperor was heartbroken
when Mumtaz, to
whom he had been
married for 17 years,
died in 1629 in
childbirth, after
producing 14 children.
Agra fort:
Construction of
the massive Agra
Fort was begun by
Emperor Akbar in
1565, and additions
were made up until
the time of his
grandson, Shah Jahan.
While in Akbar's
time the fort was
principally a military
structure, by Shah
jahan's time it
had become partially
a palace,. A visit
to the fort is an
Agra must since
so many of the events
which let to the
construction of
the Taj took place
here. There are
many fascinating
buildings inside
the massive walls
which stretch for
21/2 km, surrounded
by a moat over 10
meters wide. The
fort is on the banks
of the Yamuna River
and only the amar
singh Gate to the
south is open. Inside,
the fort is really
a city within the
city.
|
|
