About Madras

Madras now called Chennai is the fourth largest city in India outranked by Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta. The city, which is divided into two by the Cooum river, sprawls over 68 square miles. The welcome sense of spaciousness is enhanced by Madras's waterfront on the Bay of Bengal, one of the world's largest and most attractive beaches set in the heart of a city, unspoiled and peaceful.

Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu,contributes its fair share of cultural heritage to the world's largest democracy, India. In the Government Museum, you can see the famous bronze of Lord Nataraja in the Cosmic dance pose. This two feet idol dates back to the Chola period, around the tenth century. The Kapaleeswarar temple dedicated to Lord Kapaleeswarar (Shiva) in Mylapore, dates back 300 years ago and is typical of a Dravidian temple. The pyramid of its gopuram is an example of excellent architecture. In contrast to this temple is the San Thome Cathedral Balisca , a neo-Gothic structure with elegant arches and a 180-foot steeple. The body of St. Thomas, the Apostle, is believed to be entomed in the centre of the Cathedral.

A Brief History of Madras

Strictly speaking, the history of Madras began with the history of the British in India. In 1639, twenty five years before the British reached Bombay and 50 years before they arrived in Calcutta, the Rajah of Chandragiri gave Francis Day a lease to open a trading post for the British East India Company on the site of Madras, then known as Madraspatnam. The following year, work began on Fort St. George, that was finished in 1653. From this strong hold, Britain held Madras until India achieved Independence with the exception of a two year period beginning in 1746, when Dupleix captured it for France.

Places of Interest

Fort St. George
Modern Madras has grown around Fort St.George, and the old fortress, which now houses the TamilNadu legislature and other political offices. It was built in 1640 A.D. by Francis Day for the East India Company. Inside Fort St.George is the oldest Anglican Church in India, St.Mary's church consecrated in 1680. You could also look at the Fort St.George Museum, once used as an exchange by the merchants of the East India Company, and now containing many interesting relics from that era.

Marina
South of Fort St.George, along the Bay of Bengal runs the world's second largest beach, the Marina.The South Beach road runs past Madras University, the Senate House and the Chepauk Palace. The Marina has an elegant promenade with flower beds along its lanes and a glistening sand beach. The waters of the Marina are infested with sharks. Hence the Marina is never crowded with swimmers. As a consolation, the Anna swimming pool on the Marina, next to the Madras Aquarium, provides ample scope for swimmers.

Ice House
Another landmark, near the aquarium is the "Ice House". The Ice House was used to store Ice, brought all the way from New England for the sunbaked businessman in the pre-air-conditioned age.

Snake Park
The Madras Snake Park at Guindy, founded by Romulus Whitaker, is a centre of tourist attraction in Madras. It has a good collection of snakes (over 500 species) and reptiles. It is also currently engaged in doing research in those fields aided by the World Wild Life Fund.

Museums Madras has two museums - the Government Museum and the National Art Gallery. The Government Museum has an excellent collection of Bronze statues. The National Art Gallery houses innumerable ancient and modern pieces of art. The Planetarium
The Birla Planetarium, with a seating capacity of 236, was opened in May 1988. It is of immense utility to research scholars on Astronomy, Astro Physics and Space science. Astronomical programmes depicting the star's position, sun, moon, space ships, comets, occurance of Solar and Lunar eclipses etc. are shown to public and students.

The Theosophical Society
The society was formed in 1875 by Madam Blavatsky and her co-worker Col. Olcott in the USA. In 1886, it was decided to shift the headquarters of the society to its present location in Adayar, Madras. The building is a splendid old mansion sorrounded by gardens on the estuary of the river Adayar. There are shrines of all faiths on its grounds. The garden of remembrance is a perfect spot for meditation. The theosophical society library which is over ninety years old has an invaluable collection of oriental manuscripts on palm leaf and parchment.