Chennai - Travel / Tourist Information

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Chennai - Travel / Tourist Information

Places of Interest

Fort St. George

The Fort stands as a symbol of the British Raj, amid state offices, facing the sea in the east of the city, just south of George Town. It is the first British fort build around1653 by the British East India Company. The structure of the fort is a fine example of 17th century British military architecture, and was mostly built in 1966. It has a 20 feet thick wall. The country's tallest flagstaff is here, thought to be over 300 years old. The 24 black Charnockite pillars are those reclaimed by the British in 1762 of the original 32 which once formed the colonade of the present Secretariat building. Within the fort, a number of other early buildings still stand of which St. Mary's Church.

The first building to be seen on entering the Fort through the sea Gate is the Neo Classical Secretariat, which is today the seat of the Government of Tamilnadu. Behind it lies the Legislative Council Chambers. With their handsome Classical Secretiat, which is today the seat of the Government of Tamilnadu. Behind it lies the Legislative Council Chambers. With their handsome Classical lines and facades embelished with gleaming black pillars, these impressive buildings, built between 1694 and 1732, are said to be among the oldest surviving British Constructions in India. The 45-m (148-ft) tall flagstaff was erected by Governor Elihu Yale in 1687 to hoist the Union Jack for first time in India.

Founded in 1875, The Theosophical Society is a worldwide body whose primary object is Universal Brotherhood based on the belief that life, and all its diverse forms, human and non-human, is indivisibly One. It offers discourse and meditation sessions as well as lectures on positive health and spirituality. It is famous for its legendary 5000 years old Banyan tree spreading over 40,000 sq ft in the campus. Closed on Sundays.

Marina Beach

Chennai's seashore hosts one of India's largest urban beaches, stretching for 13km (8miles) along the city's eastern flank. The marina, connecing Fort St George with San Thome Basilica almost 5 kms away, was built by Mounstuart Elphinstone grant-Duff, the governor between 1881 and 1886. Described by architectural historian Philp Davies as " One of the most beautiful marine Promenads in the World". it is a favourite place for chennai's citizens to escape the humid heat of the city and enjoy the sea breeeze. The walk along Kamarajar Salai ( earlier known as south beach Road) takes in parks, tree-lined cobbled streets, spectacular colonical and Indo-Saracenic Buildings.

High Court Building

It is situated at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Road, just north of St.George fort. It is an example of Indo Saracenic architecture. It is one of the largest judicial complex in the world. The red sand stone construction, ornamental decorations on the walls and minarets add beauty to this building. The compound has a pyramid shape tomb which belongs to the only son of Elihu Yale, who died in infancy.

Valluvar Kottam

Valluvar Kottam, the famous memorial of saint-poet Thiruvalluvar, at Nungambakkam, established in 1976. Shaped like a Chariot, this huge memorial hall is situated on the corner of Kodambakkam High Rd and Village Rd. The auditorium at Valluvar Kottam which can accommodation 4000 people is said to the largest in Asia. Valluvar Kottam replicates ancient Tamil architecture with the 1330 verse Kural inscribed on the granite pillars that surround this grand auditorium. Over 3,000 blocks of stone were used to create this memorial to Tamil culture. A life-size statue of the saint has been installed in the 39 metre tall chariot.

Birla Planetarium

Planetarium is considered to be the most modern in the country. It houses eight galleries - Physical Science, Electronics and Communication, Energy, Life Science, Innovation, Transport, International Dolls and Children and Materials Science. The Planetarium has a 236-seater hemispherical theatre which houses a computerised project to depict the skies and heavenly bodies on a hemispherical dome. This centrally air-conditioned complex also houses a sound studio, classroom and seminar hall. Adjoining the planetarium is the Periyar Science and Technology Museum which will be of interest to students and other science scholars. The Planetarium regularly conducts shows and there are seminars and workshops on astronomy which are held from time to time. It is located at Kotturpuram near Adyar.

The Science and Technology Centre is open on all days except on national holidays, from 10 a.m. to 5.45 p.m. Timings for cosmic shows in the planetarium (English) are 10.45 a.m., 1.15 p.m. and 3.45 p.m. In Tamil, the show timings are 12 noon and 2.30 p.m.

Tamilnadu Science & Technology Centre
Gandhi Mandapam Road (Behind CLRI)
Chennai- 600 025
Phone: 91-44 - 24410025 / 24416751 / 24915250

Kalakshetra

This Pioneering Institution for classical dance, music and the fine arts, established in 1936, was the brainchild of Rukmini Devi. A Proteges of Annie Besant, was deeply influenced by the progressive views of the Theosophical Society. She scandalized conservative society by marrying George Sydney Arundale, the 40-year - old Australian principal of the Society's School. The Couple's extensive travels around the world exposed Rukmini to the world of Western culture, especially dance, inspiring her to study ballet under the great Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova. Back in Chennai, She again defied tradition by learning and performing the classical dasi attam, hitherto the domain of devadasis

Chennai - Travel / Tourist Information

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