Chennai Holiday - India Vacation Packages

Earlier known as Madras, Chennai is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and the fourth largest metropolitan city of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. The city knows no borders when it comes to the popularity of its temples, silk sarees, coconut fringes and its cultural heritage. Chennai was once the community of the fishers which was later taken over by the British and was transformed into the capital of the British Presidency. Today the city has become the third largest commercial and Industrial centre in India.

Major Attractions
Chennai offers a number of sites for the tourists to see and appreciate. Have a glance:

Parthsarthy Temple – Pallava Kings of South India were the founder of the Parthsarthy Temple. This temple was renovated by the great Kings of the Vijainagar Empire in the 16th century. The temple is very popular and is revered for its magnificent architecture.

Kapaleeshwar Temple – The Dravidians were great architecture and their architectural skills can be witnessed in Kapaleeshwar Temple. This temple was built by the Dravidians in the 13th century and is located in the Malaypore area of Chennai. The Puranic legends are sculpted on the sanctum sanctorum.
Fort St. George – This fort is a true symbol of the powerful days of the British empire in India. Sir Day was the founder of this Fort. He chose the picturesque location of Chennai to construct this majestic fort. The fort has a beautiful grey granite structure which is very much different to the architectural styles of the Mughals who went after lavish ornamentation and luxury. Still one can find barracks for the British army, a parade ground one of the oldest churches of Chennai- St. Mary's Church.

Marina Beach – This is one of the most popular beaches of Chennai that turns the tourists crazy. The beach looks spectacular at dawn. The beach area is surrounded by peddlers who sell everything from ice creams to peanuts to balloons. The beach area also serves the purpose of those who have a keen interest in finding what their future has in store for them can avail the services of the fortune tellers and palm readers. And swimmers.there is no looking back for you all.

National Art Gallery – The National Art Gallery was earlier famous as 'Victoria Memorial Hall'. It was built in 1906 and was designed by Henry Irwin. The gallery boasts of a good collection of old paintings and sculptures including Tanjore paintings on glass, Rajput and Mughal miniature paintings, Deccan paintings and handcrafts. One can also check out the metal ware and ivory carvings from 11th and 12th century.

Dining
All the food lovers are welcomed by the quality restaurants of Chennai:

• Woodlands Mathura Restaurant
• Kabul Restaurant
• Ivy League
• Bikes and Bakeries
• Wangs Kitchen

Accommodation

• 5 Star Deluxe Hotels
• Taj Coromandel
• The Park
• Park Sheraton & Towers
• Le Royal Meridien
• 5 Star Hotels
• Chola Sheraton
• Trident Hilton
• Radisson GRT
• 4 Star Hotels
• Benz Park Tulip
• Hotel President
• 3 Star Hotels
• Radha Park Inn

Shopping
Chennai in the truest sense is a shopper's hub. One can check out the art and crafts, contemporary and traditional artwork, antiques and jewellery when in Chennai. Many traditional items can also been bought from the various shops at Chennai like Pattamara Mats, palmyra-fibre handicrafts, bronze and brass castings and traditional jewellery. Kanchipuram silk is famous world wide and occupies the top position in the shopping list of an individual.

How To Reach
By Air : Two International Airports Kamaraj National and Anna are located at Tirusulam, which is about 20 kms from the city. However the city has both domestic and International airports connecting to major cities and countries of the world.

By Rail : The city of Chennai is well connected by rail with all the major towns and cities of India.

By Road : The city of Chennai is well connected by a network of good roads with all other parts of India as well as major places of Tamil Nadu.