Senate House

In Chennai the historical place that any visitors should travel is the famous Senate House. The Senate House is situated on the Chennai University Campus near Marina. It is a popular university all-over the metro city so travelling to the Madras Senate house is not much of a problem. If you are staying nearby then you can either hire an auto rickshaw or cycle rickshaw and visit the place. The Senate house in Chennai was built under the direction of the skilled architect of 19th century Robert Fellowes Chisholm. The structure of the building is a live example of the Indo-Saracenic style with a harmonious blend of Byzantine architectural features.

The Senate House in Chennai comprises of a central hall with corridors, which is on the ground floor. These corridors stand on six firm pillars standing on either side. Also the four sky-touching towers standing at each of the corners of the building are heaped with an exquisitely shaped vibrantly -colored domes gives a dazzling look to any outsider traveling to Chennai. The Senate House in Chennai has seen for over 125 years many meetings, functions and also convocations. The convocations were held in the central hall under the bright illuminated lamps and the pedestal fan standing everywhere after every inch. These convocations were held in the central hall of the Senate house till 1965 and later on shifted to Centenary Convocation Auditorium. The senate house also had some offices of the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar and the University Departments of study and Research. Though this glorious piece of architecture is not quite used now but still it has maintained its unmatched stature.

Fascinating monument!

Fort St. George:

The British East India Company under the direct supervision of Francis Day and Andrew Cogon built it in 1640 AD. This place achieved its name from Saint George, the patron saint of England. The fort houses Saint Mary's Church and fort museum. Saint Mary's Church the oldest Anglican Church built in 1680 and the tombstones in its courtyard are the oldest British tombstones in India. It presently house the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly. The 46 m high flagstaff at the front is a mast salvaged from the 17th century shipwreck. The Fort Museum has a fascinating collection of memorabilia from the British and French East India companies as well as the Raj and Muslim period.

Chennai Airport

Chennai International Airport is located in Meenambakkam, 7 km south of Chennai, India. It is the third largest international gateway into the country and the third busiest airport in India after Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Mumbai) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi), and the main air hub for South India, handling over 10 million passengers (domestic and international combined) in 2007 and serving more than 50 different airlines. It is also an important cargo terminus for the country, after Mumbai. Chennai is also a hub airport for Jet Airways, Deccan and Air India.

The airport at Meenambakkam has been slated for modernisation and expansion. The works are to be carried out by the Airports Authority of India and include the creation of a parallel runway, taxiways, aprons and new passenger handling buildings.

Happy Bda Chennai!!

Fast turning out to be the Detroit of India, for its rapid expansion of automobile manufacturing units and growing reputation of being the cultural capital of the south, Chennai, the erstwhile Madras, turned 369 on Friday.

Befitting the historic occasion, Chennaities have drawn up a week-long birthday bash to celebrate the event.

On this day in 1639, British Administrator Francis Day is believed to have received the grant for construction of Madraspatam as it was referred then by the British. The deal was struck by Francis Day, his 'dubash' Beri Thimmappa and their superior Andrew Cogan, with the local Nayak rulers.
  

                    So here goes my wish............. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHENNAI!!!!

Chennai Connemara Library

In 1861, Chennai saw a new landmark - The Connemara library, a treasure trove of books, periodicals and newspapers. This library was named after the then Governor of Madras Lord Connemara. Boasting a collection of over 600000 books, the Connemara Library houses a hall for periodicals, reference room, IAS study centre, books in Indian languages and a Braille library.


Chennai Connemara Library holds pride of place as one of India's four national depository libraries. The Connemara Library was conceived on the lines of the British Museum Library. With its stained glass panels and ornate wooden carvings, this building stands testimony to old British architecture.


Some of the historical collections of the library include The Bible (1608), The German Copy of 'Anthony and Cleopatra' and many more. Old volumes are painstakingly covered with chiffon cloth. The library automation is under progress and would be ready for use.


Any person above 17 years and a resident of Chennai or its immediate vicinity can become a member of the Connemara library. The library lends a maximum of six books by depositing Rs.50 per book. In addition, an annual subscription of Rs.50 is collected for each financial year. The following procedures are to be followed by the applicant to be a member of the library:

Duly filled application form provided by the library.

Attach a Xerox copy of the applicant's photo identification proof.

The form must be attested by level A or B grade officer of the Government of Tamil Nadu / India.

Kapaleeswarar Temple

'Where the ancient coexists with the modern' would be the best phrase to describe the manner in which the Kapaleeswarar Temple (Tirumayilai Shivastalam) fits into the life of Chennai, the sprawling meteropolis. The recently built Rapid Transport System, proudly bears the name Tirumayilai, on its station at Mylapore. A well known landmark in the heart of Mylapore, Chennai this temple is visited by thousands, especially during the famed 'Arupattu Moovar' festival in the month of Pisces.This is the 24th of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of South India.


The current temple is a modern structure, built based on the descriptions in the Puranams and the Tevaram; the huge temple tank is the site of the popular Teppam festival in the month of Thai (Capricorn). The Karpakambal shrine in this temple attracts huge crowds on Fridays and on all special occasions.


Six worship services are offered each day here. In terms of a tradition of festivals and celebrations, Tirumayilai is second to none. More will be said about the Kapaleeswarar temple in a Templenet special feature on Temple festivals.

Run Chennai Run!!!

The stage is set for the GiveLife Chennai Marathon, organized for the benefit of underpriviledged children. The marathon, to be held on August 31st, 2008, will be flagged off from War Memorial, Island Grounds.

Since the marathon was announced on June 4th 2008, many prominent citizens of Chennai have extended their support and consented to participate in this event. It is time that all of us joined this effort and make a difference to society. Each and every one can participate in this run.

Let us all join this 'Human Race' - a race for hope, a race for change, a race for new beginnings, a race for a better future!

For registration and all other information, log on to www.givelife-chennaimarathon.com or call 24994344, 24990201.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Hey Happy Independence day to one and all..... Lets just not celebrate this day by pinning the Indian flag on our dresses...... This Independence was not got easily. Many sacrifices was made for us to celebrate this very special day. On this day lets think about those who sacrificed themselves, and also the jawans who still are sacrificing their lives by protecting the whole country at the border..........

                                                 JAI HIND!!! Proud to be an INDIAN.........

The Flyover!!!

The most awaited flyover completed!!! Ya.... The North Usman Road Flyover is finally completed and it was inaugrated by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr. M. Karunanidhi. This day was a dream come true for all the residents of T.Nagar. It has been said that this Flyover would reduce the traffic snarls which werea big challenge for the Police department to clear!!

A day out!

Anna Zoological Park

Situated at Vandalur, in the outskirts of Chennai, the Anna zoological park is one of the modern zoos of India and the biggest in South East Asia. The zoological Park spreads over an area of about 510 hectares of dry evergreen forests. The terrain is gently undulating and the specially created open island type enclosures make the animals inside the zoo, feel in their natural habitat.

Inside the zoological park, more than 170 species of mammals, aviaries and reptiles are exhibited. Some of the prominent animals inside the zoo are Barking Deer, Blackbuck, Sambar, Sangai, Nilgai, Wolf, Hog Deer, Jackal, Hyena, Otter, Llama, a number of Monkey species like Nilgiri Langur, Lion-tailed Macaque, Baboon, Hanuman Langur and Leaf-capped Langur. Besides the above-mentioned animals, there are tiger, Panther, Lion, Jaguar, Elephants, Giraffes and Camels. Elephant ride; Lion safari vehicle and battery-operated vehicles are some of the facilities available inside the zoological Park.

How to Reach the Anna Zoological Park


Air
Regular flights connect Chennai with the major cities within India and also with countries like USA, Singapore, U.K etc.

Rail
Chennai is well connected by rail with the important towns and cities of Tamilnadu and India.

Road
State transport buses and private buses connect Chennai with the major towns and cities of Tamilnadu and neighboring states. Local trains, city buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are available for local transportation.

Anna University

Anna University is one of India's premier engineering universities. Established in 1978, it offers higher education in Engineering, Technology and Allied Sciences.

Anna University was formed on September 4, 1978 as a unitary type of university. It integrated 4 well-known technical institutions in the city of Chennai (previously known as Madras), the oldest of which was the College of Engineering, Guindy, started in 1794. Perarignar Anna University of Technology (PAUT) was the original name used in 1978. In 1982 the current name of Anna University was coined removing the words "Perarignar" and "Technology". In December 2001, it was converted into an affiliating university, with almost all engineering colleges in the state of Tamil Nadu under its fold and also absorbing all the 6 government engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu as its constituent colleges.

CAMPUS

The University's main campus is situated in the southern part of Chennai and extends over 100 acres (400,000 m²) adjoining the Adyar River and the Raj Bhavan. It contains the College of Engineering,the Alagappa College of Technology, and the School of Architecture and Planning. The campus also houses three technical departments of the University of Madras. The Madras Institute Of Technology at Chromepet constitutes the second campus and extends over 200,000 m². The third campus of the University is located at Taramani near the Instronic campus, Adyar.

IIT Madras

Indian Institute of Technology Madras, is one among the foremost institutes of national importance in higher technological education, basic and applied research. In 1956, the German Government offered technical assistance for establishing an institute of higher education in engineering in India. The first Indo-German agreement in Bonn, West Germany for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology at Madras was signed in 1959.

The Institute was formally inaugurated in 1959 by Prof. Humayun Kabir, Union Minister for Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs. The IIT system has seven Institutes of Technology located at Kharagpur (estb. 1951), Mumbai (estb. 1958), Chennai (estb. 1959), Kanpur (estb. 1959), Delhi (estb. 1961), Guwahati (estb. 1994) and Roorkee (estb. 1847, joined IITs in 2001).

IIT Madras is a residential institute with nearly 460 faculty, 4500 students and 1250 administrative & supporting staff and is a self-contained campus located in a beautiful wooded land of about 250 hectares. It has established itself as a premier centre for teaching, research and industrial consultancy in the country.


IIT Madras recently celebrated its 50th anniversary which was inaugrated by the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr. M. Karunanidhi.

Academic scopes in de city

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Anna University are two well known centres for engineering education in the city; most city colleges that offer engineering programs are affiliated with Anna University. Madras Medical College (MMC), Stanley Medical College (SMC), Kilpauk Medical College and Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (SRMC) are the notable medical colleges in Chennai.


Colleges for science, arts and commerce degrees are typically affiliated with the University of Madras, which has three campuses in the city; some colleges such as Madras Christian College, Loyola College and The New College are autonomous. Research institutions like the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), the Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI) and the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) are in the city. The Connemara Public Library is one of four National Depository Centres in India that receive a copy of all newspapers and books published in India. It has been declared a UNESCO information centre.

Marina after tsunami

On December 26, 2004, a tsunami caused by an earthquake struck the shores of Chennai at around 8:30 AM. The entire coastline of Chennai, including Marina beach, was affected. Sea waters engulfed the entire Marina beach, whose width is quite large. Morning joggers, children playing cricket were among those affected. The worst hit was the fishing community settled nearby the beaches. In all, the tsunami left behind 206 dead in Chennai and caused destruction to the properties of the people in the city. While recovery has been difficult, the fishing community has been hard at work rebuilding their treasured coastline to boost their morale and make the area attractive to vacationers. It was held that since it was a Sunday morning, casualties were actually lesser, given the fact that people throng the beach on evenings.

Marina oh Marina!!!

The Marina Beach is a beach situated along a 12 km shoreline in the city of Chennai, India along the Bay of Bengal, part of the Indian Ocean.The beach begins near Fort St. George in the north to Besant Nagar in the south, a distance of about 12km. A famous characteristic of the beach is the set of stone statues that adorn the roadside area of the beach.


The Marina used to be famed for its pristine beauty, jolly ambiance, and rich ecosystems. However, since the middle of the 20th century, the beach and water has become polluted. A proliferation of plastic bags, human waste and other pollutants have rendered many parts of the beach unusable. In recent years, many voluntary organizations have taken up the task of cleaning up the Marina and protecting the ecosystem. Particular efforts include protection of Olive Ridley turtle nests along the Neelangarai section of the beach.

EQ Unlimited!

Though Chennai is one of the four metropolitan cities of India, it is quiet and relaxed, as compared to the lifestyles of all the other three. People are more content and composed, leading a hassle free life. However, that does not mean that the city is devoid of any action and entertainment. People here sincerely believe in, 'all work and no play make Jack a dull boy'. Therefore, the former city of Madras offers you all the means of entertainment for partying hard. Entertainment is the key, especially when it comes to weekends. People throng the amusement parks, cinema halls, discotheques and malls in order to take a break from the daily routine. So, in case you are in Chennai, get set to rock.

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Amusement Parks

Dash-N-Splash
It is situated at a distance of 30 km from Chennai and has a sprawling 3 acre campus. The park is beautifully landscaped and has ample shaded seating area. It is a huge hit amongst the kids, because of different exciting rides, and is a great place for a picnic.

Dolphin City
Dolphin City is situated at a distance of 46 km from Chennai. The park offers a host of unique activities, such as the American Sea Lion performance, which is the first of its kind in the country.


Kishkintha
It is one of the most popular theme parks near Chennai. It offers an array of hi-tech adventurous activities like space shuttle, wave pool, white water and Kiddies Kingdom. This makes it appealing for kids as well as adults.


Little Folks
It is situated at about 46 km from Chennai. It mainly caters to children and has many rides to lure them, like Giant-Piano, Toy Train, Rainbow Fountain, Slide-into-Pool, Cartoon Show and Paddle Pool.


MGM "Dizzee World" Beach Resort
At a distance of about 24 km from Chennai, Dizzee World is a beach resort. It has a number of slides and rides for both kids and adults. The main attraction here is the water sports, which are a huge hit amongst the visitors.

'LiGhTs OuT" CHENNAI!!!

After Sydney, London and more recently Mumbai, the Lights Out campaign aimed at creating awareness about the dangers of global warming has arrived in Chennai and the campaign is gaining momentum ahead of the D-day on August 8.

In Chennai the campaign has been christened '88888 Lights Out' as citizens are expected to turn off their lights for 8 minutes at the 8th hour in 8th month of the 8th year of the millennium.


                       Come on mates!!!! Letz be a part of it............. Lights out......

BuZi BuzineZZ BuZZ

Chennai has a diversified economic base anchored by the automobile, software services, hardware manufacturing, healthcare and financial services industries.[47] As of 2000, the city's total personal income was Rs. 12,488.83 crores, making up 10.9% of the total income of Tamil Nadu.

Lets know de History

The name Chennai is an eponym, etymologically derived from Chennapattinam or Chennapattanam, the name of the town that grew up around Fort St. George, built by the British in 1640. There are different versions about the origin of the name. When the British landed here in 1639 A.D. it was said to be part of the empire of the Raja of Chandragiri. The British named it Chennapatnam after they acquired it from Chennappa Nayaka, a Vijayanagar chieftain. Gradually, the name was shortened to Chennai. The first instance of the use of the name Chennai is said to be in a sale deed dated August 1639 to Francis Day, an agent for the British where there is a reference to Chennaipattinam.


The former name, Madras, is derived from Madraspattinam, a fishing village that lay to the north of Fort St. George. The origin of the name Madraspattinam is a subject of disagreement. One theory holds that the Portuguese, who arrived in the area in the 16th century, may have named the village Madre de Deus.


The city was officially renamed Chennai in 1996, about the same time that many Indian cities were undergoing name changes. Madras was seen as a Portuguese name.

De Busiest Metropolitan!

Chennai formerly known as Madras , is the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai has an estimated population of 7.5 million , making it the fourth largest metropolitan city in India.