Chennai, formerly Madras, city (1991 pop. 5,421,985), capital of Tamil Nadu state, SE India, on the Bay of Bengal. A commercial, railway, and manufacturing center, Chennai has large textile mills, chemical and automobile plants, and tanneries. Providing offshore and back-office services to foreign corporations is also an important industry. Together with docks and warehouses, its harbor provides modern transportation linkages to peninsular India. A cultural center, the city is the seat of the Univ. of Madras (1857), institutes of dance and music, and a number of museums. There are many large public buildings; a famous shore drive, the Marina; and Guindy National Park. Near Chennai is Mt. St. Thomas, the traditional site of the martyrdom (A.D. 68) of St. Thomas, the apostle.
Population: 6.4 Million
State: Tamil Nadu
Area: 174 sq. km
Latitudinal parallels: 13 deg North
Longitudinal meridians: 80 deg East
Temperature
Summer: 37ºC (Max) 21.10ºC (Min)
Winter: 32ºC (Max) 19.81ºC (Min)
Rainfall: 1,272 mm
Monsoon: Chennai monsoon period is from October to mid-December.
Season: Tropical throughout the year.
Altitude: 60 m above sea level
Languages Spoken: Tamil, English, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam are widely spoken and understood.
Main Attractions: Marina Beach, Snake Park, St. George Fort, Kapaleeshwar Temple, Santhome Cathedral, National Art Gallery, etc
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