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Chennai, previously known as Madras, is counted as the fourth largest metropolitan area of India and the capital city of the Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast in the Bay of Bengal, Chennai had a population of 4.2 million according to 2001 census, essentially within its municipal area. The urban assemblage of Chennai has an approximated population above 7 million, making it one of the largest urban assemblages in India.
Chennai was established during the 17th century by the British, who were key to develop the city into a major urban centre and naval base. By the 20th century, it had become a crucial administrative centre, as the capital of the Madras Presidency. The city grew up around the English settlement of Fort Saint George and slowly absorbed the surrounding towns and villages. However, in spite of the strong British influence, Chennai has retained its traditional Tamil Hindu culture and effectively blended it with foreign influence.
Chennai`s economy is equipped with a panoptic industrial base in the automobile, technology, hardware, manufacturing and healthcare sectors. The city is home to major India`s automobile industry and is the country`s second-largest exporter of software, information technology (IT) and information-technology-enabled services (ITES), just behind Bangalore. Chennai Zone contributes 39 per cent of the State`s GDP (gross domestic product). The city is responsible for 60 per cent of the country`s automotive exports and is sometimes lovingly referred to as "the Detroit of India".
The city is host to an international airport and two foremost ports; it is linked to the rest of the country by five national highways and two railway terminals. Chennai is also home to thirty-five consulates. Chennai is far less crowded and polluted compared to the other metropolitan cities of India. Chennai is a journey into changeless India, a kaleidoscope of moods. Its riches include temples and shrines to forts and palaces; the landscape of the past lives easily with the present.
Chennai hosts a magnum opus cultural event, the annual Madras Music Season, which comprehends performances by hundreds of artists. The city owns a pulsating theatrical scene and is a key centre for Bharatnatyam, a classical dance form. The thriving Tamil film industry, lovingly known as Kollywood, is based in the city. Chennai is known for its sports venues and hosts an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) event, the Chennai Open. The city however is barraged with problems of water shortages, traffic congestion and air pollution. State and local governments have undertaken honest enterprises like the Veeranam project, rainwater harvesting and the construction of mini-flyovers to deal with these troubles.
