Chennai is the largest city in Tamil Nadu and is
located on the southeastern coast of India. The city was formerly known
as Madras and was established by the British. They developed it into a
significant urban center and naval base. Around 20th century, Chennai
became an important administrative headquarter and the capital of Madras
Presidency. The growth and expansion of British Empire led to
development of the city. It has been endowed with the rich heritage of
art and culture.
It is for this reason that Chennai is also called as the 'Gateway to
South India'. The city been blessed with the wealth of arts and
literature. It is famous for its various cultural events, showcasing the
performing arts such as Dance, Music and Drama at its best. Tamil
literature is very rich in content and preaches ancient morals and
values. Chennai is also popular for the glitz and glamour of Kollywood,
the 'Tamil film industry'. Many Tamil films have won acclaim in the
international film festivals and have brought fame to India.
Today, the city has gone through a tremendous change and is developing
rapidly. There are a number of industries here such as automobile,
technology, hardware manufacturing, and healthcare industries. The
Automobile industry in Madras is one of the leading industries in the
country. It is also the second largest exporter of Information
Technology, after Bangalore. Apart from this, the city is a leading
player in the fields of education and sports. There are a number of
reputed educational institutions and stadiums here which mark the
significance of the two in Chennai.
