Introduction about Chennai
Earlier
known as Madras, Chennai is an important port and economic hub of South
India and is also the fourth largest metropolitan city of India. It is the
capital of the state of Tamil Nadu which has it all, be they temples, forts,
churches, beaches, mosques, parks and monuments. The city celebrates many
festivals such as Pongal and Arubathimoovar Festival and the best time to
visit the city is from November to September.
Tourist Attractions of Chennai
» Theosophical Society : It was founded by H.P.
Blavatsky and Col. H. S. Olcott in 1875 and is a peaceful getaway from the
rest of Chennai. The attractions to be seen within are the Adyar Banyan
tree, a library which also serves as a research centre, a church, mosque,
Buddhist shrine and Hindu temple.
» Velluvar Kottam : Shaped like a temple chariot, it
is a memorial to the poet-saint Thiruvalluvar. A life sized statue of the
saint is also situated in the chariot which is a modern memorial to the
representative of the glorious Tamil heritage.
» Fort St. George : The structure of fort St George,
which once used to be a British bastion, is now the seat of the state's
Legislative Assembly. The other attractions worth a look within the fort are
Fort Museum, St Mary's Church, Town Hall etc.
» Georgetown : Georgetown is a part of the legacy
of the British era and like other such structures, it is also located in the
vicinity of the Chennai port. It is located in the north and west of the
port and the place used to be the habitat of the dockyard workers and the
manual labourers. Today the place has turned into a busy commercial hub. The
architecture of the Georgetown is very different from the nearby buildings
as the constructions of the place are very close to each other and the roads
also are very narrow.
» St Mary's Church : Built mostly with the help of
personal donations, the church is the oldest British building in Chennai. It
is also the first Anglican church constructed in Asia. The construction of
St Mary's church began in the premises of Fort St George and completed in
the year 1679. Today the St Mary's church is treated as a monument and is in
the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India.
» Kapaleeshwarar Temple : It is said to be the most
sacred Lord Shiva Temple in Chennai and is built in the Dravidian style of
architecture. It is a popular pilgrimage spot located in the busy Mylapore
area of the city which has a 120 feet high Gopuram and the 18th century tank
among its highlights.
» Government Museum : It was the first museum to
come up in the country that was sponsored by government. The Government
Museum was established in 1851 and is located in the Pantheon Complex in
Chennai. The place has a huge collection of the Buddhist antiques and
bronzes. Other collections of the museum are divided in various categories
which include the pre historic collection, arms gallery and antique
jewelery.
Introduction
of Kancheepuram
Kancheepuram is renowned as a city of thousand temples and is among the
most sacred pilgrim centres for the Hindus. There are now about 126 temples
here and some more on the periphery of the town. Kancheepuram is also known
for being one of the Saat Dhaam destinations i. e. the 7 pilgrimages that
one must undertake to attain eternal salvation. The place is also known for
producing some of the finest silk sarees that are made in India.
Tourist Attractions Places of Kancheepuram
» Kamakshi Amman Temple : This temple was built by
the Pallavas and was later renovated in fourteenth and seventeth centuries.
The result is a structure which is a combination of many architectural
styles. The temple is dedicated to Shakti and is a very important shrine.
Goddess Kamakshi is a local form of Parvati who is revered for the fact that
she forged the bond of the locals with Lord Shiva.
» Ekambareswarar Temple : It is the largest temple
of the temple city Kancheepuram and is among the most important of shrines
of Lord Shiva. The massive gateways of the temple are easily visible on the
skyline of the city. There are many smaller shrines also around the main
shrine.
» Kailasanathar Temple : It is built in the Pallava
architectural style with soft sandstones and is located in the west of the
town. The temple has simple carvings which make it stand apart in terms of
style from other temples. The temple is a hub of activity during the
celebrations of Mahashivratri.
» Devarajaswamy Temple : Also known as
Vardarajaswamy Temple, this temple has a massive structure. There are two
high towers in the temple – in the east as well as west. The hall which
has 1000 pillars is famous for the intricately carved sculptures here.
» Vaikunta Perumal Temple : It is a highly
significant temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Here he is shown in
reclining and standing poses. The temple was built by the Pallava King
Nandivarman Pallavamalla in the 7th century.
