| Ubiquitous for its auto rickshaws and known for its | | | | Mosque, The King Church, the Santhome and St. |
| Marina Beach, Chennai is bound to strike a chord with | | | | George's Cathedrals. Those travelling with the family |
| the tourists for its holding a balance between traditional | | | | and especially children, the Gundy National Park |
| (and) modern living and the hospitable nature of its | | | | (including the snake and children parks) and Anna |
| people. The traffic even today passes through | | | | Zoological Part are also must see destinations. The |
| relatively fast in its Beach Road, a stretch more | | | | Pulicat Lake, about 37.28 mi (60 km) away from |
| prominent from the downtown Parrys Corner and | | | | Chennai is not only an ecologically important spot but |
| beautiful along the Marina when contrasted with its | | | | also the second largest lagoon in India. It is a strip of |
| other modern part, the Tidal Park. The Tidel Park | | | | land separated from the Bay of Bengal, a protected |
| stretches along the Old Mahaballipuram Road, where | | | | wild life sanctuary. It is both a temporary abode for |
| technological giants have put in their aesthetically | | | | migratory birds and permanent dwelling unit for a |
| designed structures. The outskirts sport many other | | | | number of mammals and reptiles, as salt water |
| multinational industrial structures such as Ford, the | | | | crocodiles and fishing cats. The flamingo is the most |
| Hyundai, and the St. Gobin to mention only a few of | | | | prominent migratory bird and about 15,000 of them are |
| them. The city is well connected by rail, road, air and a | | | | estimated to visit the lake every year. The remains of |
| shipping port which caters to the break bulk as well | | | | a Danish Port built in 1609 can be seen in Pulicat Lake |
| containarized cargoes. | | | | and a dilapidated church and shamble of cemetery |
| Chennai is old, at least by 350 years, and is a gateway | | | | bear testimony to the Danish living. During their times, |
| for South India and has the distinction of being both a | | | | they were engaged in the flourishing business of |
| commercial and cultural capital of the Tamil Nadu state. | | | | crafting of woven and printed cotton fabric. |
| It has decent size population of English speaking | | | | The Marina and Elliot's beaches adorn the city but for |
| residents that would make up for the non-Tamil | | | | those who would like to stretch their holidays the Cove |
| speaking tourists who would ordinarily be politely guided | | | | long and Mahabalipuram beaches would be ideal |
| in finding locations. Though hot in summer months and | | | | retreats. Those who are artistically inclined should |
| rainy in monsoon, the ideal period to visit is November | | | | make it a point to visit the Government Museum, the |
| through March when the climate would not be so tiring. | | | | B.M. Birla Planetarium, the National Art Gallery, The |
| From Chennai, Kancheepuram and Mahabalipuram are | | | | Cholamandal Artists Village, the Theosophical Society |
| in driving distances of 47 mi (75 km) and 36 mik (58 | | | | famous for its legendary Banyan Tree and the |
| km) respectively and should not be missed for | | | | Kalakshetra for arts and dance. Finally for those literally |
| witnessing the Chola & Pallava dynasties Architecture. | | | | inclined, there is the Adyar Library which was founded |
| Within Chennai, for those religiously inclined, they can | | | | by Colonel Olcott in 1886. With over 250,000 printed |
| visit the Murugan temple in Vadapalani ( an alternate | | | | volumes and 20,000 palm-leaf manuscripts that include |
| center for those who cannot visit the original deity's | | | | the founder's collections and from across the world, its |
| abode at Palani, 218 mi ( 350 km) away, Parthasarathy | | | | collections cater to diverse religions, philosophies and |
| Temple, Kapalleswara Temple, the Thousand Light | | | | cultures. |