Chennai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chennai
Madras
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       Clockwise from top: Chennai Central railway station; Valluvar Kottam; Kathipara junction; Marina beach; Ripon Building; the Triumph of Labour and Kapaleeswarar Temple
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| Nicknames:
Gateway of South India
Detroit of India Health Capital of India |
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 Chennai
Location in Tamil Nadu
Chennai
Location in India
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| Country |  India |
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| State |  Tamil Nadu |
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| Region | Coromandel | |
| District | Chennai district | |
| Established | 1639 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Municipal Corporation | |
| • Body | Greater Chennai Corporation | |
| Area | ||
| • Megacity | 426 km2 (164 sq mi) | |
| • Metro | 5,904 km2 (2,280 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) | |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Megacity | 6,748,026 | |
| • Rank | 6th | |
| • Density | 15,840/km2 (41,030/sq mi) | |
| • Metro | 8,696,010 | |
| • Metro rank | 4th | |
| Demonym(s) | Chennaiite | |
| Languages | ||
| • Native | Tamil English |
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| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) | |
| Pincode(s) |
600xxx
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| Area code(s) | +91-44 | |
| Vehicle registration | TN-01 to TN-14, TN-18, TN-22, TN-85 | |
| GDP | $143.9 billion | |
| Population Note: The population as per 2011 census calculated basis pre-expansion city area of 174 sq.km. was 4,646,732. Post expansion of city limits to 426 sq.km., the population including the new city limits was provided by Government of Tamil Nadu was 6,748,026. The 2011 census data for the urban agglomeration is available and has been provided. | ||
Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is a very important city in India. It is the capital of Tamil Nadu, a state in the southern part of the country. Chennai is located right on the Coromandel Coast by the Bay of Bengal.
It is one of the biggest cities in India. In fact, it's the sixth most populated city and the fourth largest urban area. Chennai has a long history. The Greater Chennai Corporation, which manages the city, was started in 1688. This makes it the oldest city government in India!
Long ago, different kingdoms like the Chola and Pallava ruled this area. In the 17th century, the British East India Company bought the land where Chennai now stands. They built Fort St. George, which was the first British fort in India. Chennai became a major city during the time of British rule.
After India became independent in 1947, Chennai remained an important capital. The city was officially renamed Chennai in 1996. Today, Chennai is a huge city with a strong economy. It's known as the "Gateway to South India" because it connects the south to the rest of the country.
Chennai is also called "India's health capital" because many people come here for medical treatment. It's also known as the "Detroit of India" due to its large automobile industry. In 2017, UNESCO added Chennai to its Creative Cities Network for its rich musical traditions. It's also a big center for making movies, especially Tamil films.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Chennai comes from Damarla Chennapa Nayaka. He was a ruler from whom the British East India Company bought the land in 1639. The name was first officially used in 1639.
The old name, Madras, was used even before the British arrived. Some old writings from 1367 mention a port called Mādarasanpattanam. This might have been a fishing village north of Fort St. George. In 1996, the government officially changed the name from Madras to Chennai. However, some people still use the name "Madras" sometimes.
Chennai's Past
People have lived in the Chennai area for a very long time. Stone Age tools have been found here! The region was an important center for many centuries. A famous Tamil poet named Thiruvalluvar lived in Mylapore, a part of Chennai, around the 1st century CE.
Different powerful kingdoms ruled this area over time. These included the Chola, Pandya, and Pallava dynasties. The Vijayanagara Empire also had influence here in the 15th century.
The Portuguese arrived in 1522 and built a port. Later, in 1612, the Dutch also set up near Chennai. In 1639, the British East India Company bought land on the coast. They built Fort St. George in 1640. This fort became the main center for the growing British city.
In 1746, the French captured Fort St. George. But the British got it back in 1749. They made the fort stronger to protect it from more attacks. By the 18th century, the British had taken over most of the region. They made Madras the capital of their Madras Presidency.
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Chennai became a big naval base and a key administrative center for the British in South India. When railways started in India in the 19th century, Chennai connected to other major cities. This helped trade and communication grow.
After India became independent in 1947, Chennai became the capital of Madras State. In 1996, the city was officially renamed Chennai. In 2004, a tsunami hit Chennai, causing some damage. The city also experienced major floods in 2015 and 2023.
Chennai's Environment
City Landscape
Chennai is on the southeastern coast of India. It's mostly a flat area, about 7 meters (23 feet) above sea level. The soil in Chennai is mostly clay, shale, and sandstone. Some parts of South Chennai have hard rock. In 2018, about 15% of the city was covered in green spaces like parks and trees.
Two main rivers flow through Chennai: the Cooum River and the Adyar River. The Buckingham Canal runs next to the coast, connecting these two rivers. The Kosasthalaiyar River flows through the northern part of the city. Chennai gets its underground water mainly from rainwater.
Weather in Chennai
Chennai has a tropical climate. This means it's usually warm all year round. The hottest months are from April to June, with temperatures often reaching 35–40°C (95–104°F). The coolest months are December and January, with temperatures around 19–25°C (66–77°F).
Most of Chennai's rain comes from the northeast monsoon between October and December. Some rain also falls from the southwest monsoon between June and September. The city relies on these monsoon rains to fill its water reservoirs. Sometimes, strong storms called cyclones can happen during the monsoon season, causing floods in low-lying areas.
Animals and Plants
The Adyar River estuary is a protected area. It's a natural home for many birds and animals. Chennai is a great place for birdwatching, with over 130 types of birds recorded. Wetlands like Pallikaranai also host many migratory birds in winter.
Endangered olive ridley sea turtles come to the southern coast of Chennai to lay their eggs every winter. Guindy National Park is a protected area right inside the city. You can also find wildlife conservation efforts at Arignar Anna Zoological Park. The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust is a research center for reptiles, located south of Chennai.
The city has many trees, including Copper pod, Indian beech, and Neem. The rivers and coastal waters are home to many types of fish and marine creatures.
Environmental Challenges
Over time, many of Chennai's lakes and wetlands have shrunk due to city growth. Water bodies have decreased significantly. This has affected the city's water supply and contributed to floods.
The major rivers and canals in Chennai are polluted by waste from homes and businesses. This pollution harms the environment. However, groups like the Chennai River Restoration Trust and the Environmentalist Foundation of India are working to clean up the rivers and restore natural habitats.
People of Chennai
A person from Chennai is called a Chennaite. In 2011, the city had a population of about 6.7 million people. Chennai is a very diverse city. Many families have less money, and some areas have simpler homes.
Languages Spoken
Tamil is the main language spoken by most people in Chennai. English is also widely used, especially by people working in offices. Other languages like Telugu, Urdu, Hindi, and Malayalam are also spoken. There's even a special way of speaking Tamil in Chennai called Madras Bashai, which mixes in words from English and Telugu. Many foreign visitors and residents also speak languages like Korean, Japanese, French, and German.
Religions and Communities
| Religions in Chennai City (2011) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Religion | Percent | |||
| Hinduism | 80.73% | |||
| Islam | 9.45% | |||
| Christianity | 7.72% | |||
| Others | 2.10% | |||
Chennai is home to people from many different religions and backgrounds. Most people in Chennai are Hindu. There are also many Muslims and Christians. The majority of the population are Tamils. However, there are also many other groups like Telugus, Marwaris, Gujaratis, and Malayalees. Chennai also has a good number of people from other countries living there.
Chennai's Style and Art
Buildings and Design
Chennai's buildings show its long history. The oldest buildings, like the Kapaleeshwarar Temple and the Parthasarathy Temple, are from the 6th to 8th centuries CE. They are built in the Dravidian architecture style, which features large temples with tall, decorated towers called gopurams. Chennai has the second-highest number of historic buildings in India.
Later, with the influence of the British, Chennai saw a mix of Indian and European building styles. This led to the unique Indo-Saracenic architecture. Famous buildings like Fort St. George, Ripon Building, and the Madras High Court show this style.
Some buildings, like the Chennai Central railway station, are in the Gothic revival style. In the 20th century, the art deco style also became popular. After India's independence, modern buildings started to appear. The LIC Building, built in 1959, was once the tallest building in India.
Arts and Culture
Chennai is a big center for music, art, and dance in India. It's often called the Cultural Capital of South India. Every December, the Madras Music Season celebrates traditional Carnatic music. Chennai is also known for Bharata Natyam, a classical dance form from Tamil Nadu.
The city has many museums and art galleries. The Government Museum and the National Art Gallery are among the oldest in the country. The museum at Fort St. George has items from the British era. It even has the first Flag of India hoisted after India became independent!
Chennai is also the home of Tamil cinema, often called Kollywood. The first film in South India, Keechaka Vadham, was made here in 1917. Many major film studios, like AVM Productions, are located in Chennai.
Delicious Food
Chennai's food is mostly South Indian, with rice as the main ingredient. Many local restaurants serve food on a banana leaf, which is a traditional and healthy way to eat. Popular breakfast dishes include Idly and dosa.
Chennai has a lively street food scene. You can also find many other types of food, like North Indian, Chinese, and continental. With more international businesses coming to Chennai, you can even find Japanese and Korean food. In 2015, National Geographic named Chennai one of the "Top 10 food cities" in the world!
Chennai's Economy
Chennai's economy has grown very fast. It's called the "Gateway of South India" because it has two major ports, an international airport, and good road and rail connections. Chennai is one of the most productive cities in India. It has many different industries, including cars, software, healthcare, and financial services.
Chennai is a big hub for information technology (IT) in India. Tidel Park, built in 2000, was one of the first and largest IT parks in Asia. The city has also become a major center for "Software as a Service" (SaaS) companies.
The automotive industry in Chennai is huge. More than 35% of India's car parts and cars are made here. This is why Chennai is known as the "Detroit of India". Many big car companies have factories in the city. Chennai also makes railway coaches at the Integral Coach Factory. It's also a major exporter of leather goods and electronics.
Chennai is also important for finance. The Madras Stock Exchange is India's third-largest stock exchange. Many banks have their headquarters or offices in Chennai, including the Reserve Bank of India's south zonal office and a World Bank office.
The DRDO, India's main defense research agency, has facilities in Chennai. The Heavy Vehicles Factory here makes armored vehicles and tanks for the Indian Armed Forces. ISRO, India's space agency, also has research facilities in the city.
Chennai is a very popular city for tourists, especially international visitors. Many people also come to Chennai for medical tourism, making it "India's health capital."
City Services
Water and Waste
The Chennai MetroWater Supply and Sewage Board manages the city's water supply and sewage. Water comes from large reservoirs like Red Hills Lake and Chembarambakkam Lake. Chennai also gets water from the Krishna River and the Veeranam lake project. There's even a desalination plant in Minjur that turns seawater into drinking water.
Chennai produces a lot of garbage every day. The city government handles garbage collection and disposal. There are two main landfill sites. The city also has many public toilets.
Staying Connected
Chennai is one of only four Indian cities connected by special undersea fiber-optic cables. These cables connect Chennai to places like Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, making internet and communication very fast.
Many mobile phone companies offer 4G and 5G services in Chennai. The city has high internet usage and fast broadband speeds.
Powering the City
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Electricity in Chennai is managed by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. The city uses a lot of power every day. There are many power plants in and around Chennai, including thermal power stations and the Madras Atomic Power Station at Kalpakkam. This nuclear power station is the first fully Indian-built one.
News and Entertainment
Newspapers have been published in Chennai since 1785. Today, many newspapers and magazines are published in Tamil, English, and Telugu. Some major daily newspapers include The Hindu and Dina Thanthi.
The government-run Doordarshan broadcasts TV channels from Chennai. Many private TV networks, like Sun Network, are also based here. Radio broadcasting started in Chennai in 1924. The city has many AM and FM radio stations.
Getting Around Chennai
By Air
Chennai's aviation history began in 1910 with the first powered flight in Asia. In 1915, airmail service started between Karachi and Madras. The Chennai International Airport is located about 20 km (12 miles) southwest of the city center. It's the fourth-busiest airport in India for passengers and cargo. A new airport is also being planned to handle more travelers.
The Indian Air Force and Indian Navy also have air bases near Chennai.
By Train
The first railway line in India was proposed in Chennai in 1832. The Madras Railway was set up in 1845. The first main line between Madras and Arcot opened in 1856. Today, Chennai is the headquarters of the Southern Railway zone. The city has four main railway stations: Chennai Central, Egmore, Beach, and Tambaram. Chennai Central is one of the busiest stations in the country.
- Local Trains
Chennai has a good suburban railway network. The MRTS is an elevated train system that started in 1995. It runs from Chennai Beach to Velachery.
| System | Lines | Stations | Length | Opened |
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| Chennai Suburban | 3 | 53 | 212 km (132 mi) | 1928 |
| Chennai MRTS | 1 | 17 | 19.715 km (12.250 mi) | 1995 |
- Metro System
The Chennai Metro is a modern train system that opened in 2015. It has two lines and 41 stations. The metro system is still growing, with plans for more lines and extensions.
| Line | Terminal | Opened | Length (km) |
Stations | |
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| Blue Line | Wimco Nagar | Chennai Airport | 21 September 2016 | 32.65 | 26 |
| Green Line | Chennai Central | St. Thomas Mount | 29 June 2015 | 22 | 17 |
| Total | 54.65 | 41 | |||
By Road
Chennai has a large network of roads. It's connected to other major Indian cities by National Highways. The city also has flyovers and ring roads to help traffic flow.
There are over six million registered vehicles in Chennai. Public buses are run by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation. This company started in 1947 and has many buses. Long-distance buses connect Chennai to other cities and states. The Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus is one of the largest bus stations in Asia. You can also find auto rickshaws and taxis for transport.
By Water
Chennai has two major ports, Chennai and Ennore. These ports are managed by the Indian government. There are also three smaller ports. The Royapuram fishing harbour is used by fishing boats. The Indian Navy also has a major base in Chennai.
Learning in Chennai
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Chennai is a big center for education. It has a high literacy rate, meaning most people can read and write. The city has both public and private schools. Public schools are managed by the state government.
School education in India usually starts with two years of Kindergarten, followed by ten years of school and two years of higher secondary education.
The University of Madras was founded in 1857 and is one of India's first modern universities. For engineering, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras is a top institute. The College of Engineering, Guindy, founded in 1794, is the oldest engineering college in India.
The Officers Training Academy of the Indian Army is in Chennai. There are also many medical colleges, including the Madras Medical College, which is one of the oldest in India.
Chennai has many libraries. The Connemara Public Library is one of the oldest and receives a copy of all newspapers and books published in India. The Anna Centenary Library is the largest library in Asia. Chennai also hosts an annual book fair.
Fun and Recreation
Chennai is a popular city for tourists. It has temples, beaches, and historical sites. The Marina Beach is one of the longest urban beaches in the world.
Chennai has many public parks. The Tholkappia Poonga is a large park developed to restore the Adyar estuary. Semmoli Poonga is a beautiful botanical garden. The Madras Crocodile Bank is a zoo for reptiles. The Arignar Anna Zoological Park is a large urban zoo. Guindy National Park is a protected area with a children's park and a snake park. Chennai also has several theme parks for fun.
The city has many movie theaters and multiplexes. You can also find live plays and dramas. Chennai is a great place for shopping, with many malls and jewelry stores.
Sports in Chennai
Cricket is the most popular sport in Chennai. The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, built in 1916, is one of the oldest cricket stadiums in India. It has hosted many international matches. Famous cricketers like Kris Srikkanth are from Chennai. The city is home to the successful Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team, Chennai Super Kings.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is a large stadium for football and athletics. It also has indoor facilities for sports like volleyball and basketball. The football club Chennaiyin FC plays its home matches here. The Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium is used for hockey.
Chennai has hosted international tennis tournaments like the Chennai Open. Famous tennis players like Vijay Amritraj are from Chennai. The city is also home to the Chennai Slam basketball team.
The Madras Motor Race Track was the first permanent racing circuit in India. It hosts car racing events. Chennai is known as "India's chess capital" because many chess grandmasters, including former world champion Viswanathan Anand, are from here. The city hosted the World Chess Championship 2013 and the 44th Chess Olympiad in 2022.
City Sports Teams
| Club | Sport | League | Home Stadium | Founded | Ref |
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| Chennai Super Kings | Cricket | Indian Premier League | M.A. Chidambaram Stadium | 2008 | |
| Chennaiyin FC | Football | Indian Super League | Marina Arena | 2013 | |
| Chennai Slam | Basketball | UBA Pro Basketball League | Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium | 2015 | |
| Chennai Superstarz | Badminton | Premier Badminton League | Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium | 2015 | |
| Chepauk Super Gillies | Cricket | Tamil Nadu Premier League | M.A. Chidambaram Stadium | 2016 | |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Kabaddi | Pro Kabaddi League | Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium | 2017 | |
| Chennai Lions | Table tennis | Ultimate Table Tennis | Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium | 2019 | |
| Chennai Blitz | Volleyball | Prime Volleyball League | Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium | 2021 |
Chennai's Global Connections
Foreign Offices
Many countries have their offices in Chennai. These are called consulates. For example, the American Consulate in Chennai is one of the busiest places for processing work visas.
Sister Cities
Chennai has special "sister city" relationships with other cities around the world. This means they share cultural and economic ties.
| City | Country | State/Region | Since | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volgograd |  Russia |
Volgograd Oblast | 1966 | |
| Denver |  United States |
Colorado | 1984 | |
| San Antonio | United States |
Texas | 2008 | |
| Kuala Lumpur |  Malaysia |
Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur | 2010 | |
| Chongqing |  People's Republic of China |
Municipality of Chongqing | 2015 | |
| Ulsan |  South Korea |
Ulsan Metropolitan City | 2016 |
Images for kids
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Chitlapakkam Lake in the southern part of the city
See also
In Spanish: Chennai para niños
