Chennai
India · Country profile
Chennai is the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the great port city of the south-east coast, the historic seat of the British colonial presidency that grew around the fort of the Saint George and the commercial towns of the Gulf. The city spreads its wide beaches, its colonial-era buildings and its busy districts along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, and its temples, its churches and its cultural life anchor one of the most important centres of the classical arts of India. The city is the gateway of the south, the home of the Tamil film industry and a centre of the technology companies of the modern economy, and its spiritual life, from the great Hindu temples of the vicinity to the churches and the shrines of the centre, gives it a deep, layered character. Hot, proud and culturally rich, Chennai is the essential, atmospheric capital of the Tamil south.
About Chennai
Chennai is a city in India. The city's documented population is around 7,090,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Indian Rupee (INR) and Hindi and English are spoken; the dialling code is +91. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Chennai International Airport.
The Gateway of the South and the King of the Bay
Chennai is a vast, warm, culturally rich South Indian metropolis that balances the colonial heritage of the port with the deep spiritual life of the Tamil world. The centre holds the forts, the cathedrals, the museums and the markets, while the great temples of the surrounding towns anchor the pilgrim circuits of the region. The culture of the city, the classical dance and music, the film industry and the coffee house life, runs through everything, and the heat is a constant factor of the days. It is the gateway to the whole south and a city of temples, traditions and a famously proud, warm people.
The Rupee, the Monsoon and the Museum Circuit
The climate of the coast is hot and humid for most of the year, with the monsoon of the north-east bringing the heavy rains of the autumn and the milder, drier winter months of the wedding season the most pleasant window. The fort, the cathedrals, the museum and the great temples of the region are the essential circuit, and the beaches of the city and the coast fill the breezy side. The rupee is the currency, the Tamil and the English are both widely spoken and the metro and the taxis of the ride apps cover the spread. The city is safe in its main areas and the spicy, wonderful food of the region is the great reward of the visit.
The Fort, the Shore Temples and the Filter Coffee Ritual
The fort of the Saint George, the star-shaped seventeenth-century fortress that grew into the colonial city, holds the museum of the history and the church of the garrison, the oldest Anglican church of Asia, and its ramparts tell the story of the foundation of the city. The cathedral of the Saint Thomas, built over the shrine of the apostle, and the temples of the vicinity, from the great shore temple of the heritage site to the towering gopurams of the towns around the city, anchor the deep spiritual life. The museum of the government with its bronze collections and the galleries of the classical art, and the famous filter coffee of the city served in the traditional steel tumblers, complete the essential cultural and culinary circuit.
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- Country
- India
- Population
- 7,090,000
- Coordinates
- 12.9941, 80.1709
- Capital
- New Delhi
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Indian Rupee (INR)
- Languages
- Hindi, English
- Calling code
- +91
- Country code
- IN
Entry requirements for India
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting India for tourism.
Getting to Chennai
Airports we list for Chennai:
Other airports in the area:
- Kempegowda International AirportBLR≈ 268 km from Chennai
- Rajiv Gandhi International AirportHYD≈ 508 km from Chennai
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International AirportBOM≈ 1,033 km from Chennai
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International AirportCCU≈ 1,385 km from Chennai
- Indira Gandhi International AirportDEL≈ 1,759 km from Chennai
Cities in India
Other cities we cover in India:
Frequently asked questions
Is Chennai the capital of India?
No — the capital of India is New Delhi.
What currency do I need in Chennai?
The local currency is the Indian Rupee (INR). Languages spoken in India include Hindi and English.
What is the dialling code for India?
The international dialling code for India is +91.
Which airport should I fly into for Chennai?
Chennai International Airport (MAA) is the airport we list for Chennai.
How far is Chennai from the nearest airport?
Chennai is about 268 km from Kempegowda International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit India?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (e-visa), United Kingdom (e-visa) and United States (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Chennai? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.