Madras, India

Madras (also known as Chenai) with the Bay of Bengal on its side had been the British trading post for years. Amongst the must visits in Madras is the second longest beach in the world - Marina Beach. The gorgeous golden sands invite innumerable tourists especially during the evenings. The British East India Company's St. George Forte is a famous landmark of Madras. Another colonial structure in the city of Madras worth visiting is the Santhome Cathedral. For the religious minded people visit to the Kapaleeshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parthsarthy Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is a must. For animal lovers Guindy National Park and Snake Park of Madras offer unforgettable experiences.

Madras is also home to the National Art Gallery that has a good collection of old paintings and sculptures. Within the Serene Garden of Remembrance in Madras is the Theosophical Society. The gorgeous green gardens with different shrines of various faiths attract tourists and pilgrims alike to Madras. The winter months from November to February is ideal for visiting Madras.

Things to see and do

* Garden of Remembrance
* Marina Beach
* Pondy Bazaar and Ranganathan Street
* Temples & Churches

General information

Cruise Season – Oct - April
Currency – Indian Rupee (Rs)
Language – Tamil & English
Land Area - 1,180 km²
Population – 7,600,000
Electricity – 2 pin round pins European style or South African/Indian-style plug with two round metal pins above a large round grounding pin
Time – GMT plus 5.5 hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 91

Port Location - Madras Port is an artificial harbour situated on the Coromandel Coast in South-East India. It is located in downtown Madras.

Transport Links – Madras has an international airport and is the transport hub of South India. All international flights arrive at the Anna Terminal while the domestic flights arrive at the Kamraj terminal. Chennai is also reachable by train from other Indian cities and by bus.
Getting around in Madras is cheaper than most Indian cities, except if you get into the autorickshaw(Three-wheeler). There is a suburban train network and buses throughout the city. These are government-run and extremely cheap. Auto-rickshaw drivers in Madras are notorious for overcharging, rigged meters, and general harrassment of passangers.