Population Note: The population as per 2011 census calculated basis pre-expansion city area of 174 sq.km. was 4,646,732.[7] Post expansion of city limits to 426 sq.km.,[4] the population including the new city limits was provided by Government of Tamil Nadu was 6,748,026.[10] The 2011 census data for the urban agglomeration is available and has been provided.[7]
Chennai is a major centre formedical tourism and is termed "India's health capital". Chennai houses a major portion of India's automobile industry, hence the name "Detroit of India". It was the only South Asian city to be ranked amongNational Geographic's "Top 10 food cities" in 2015 and ranked ninth onLonely Planet's best cosmopolitan cities in the world. In October 2017, Chennai was added to theUNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) list. It is a majorfilm production centre and home to theTamil-language film industry.
The nameMadras is of native origin, and has been shown to have been in use before the British established a presence in India.[16][17][18] A Vijayanagara-era inscription found in 2015 was dated to the year 1367 and mentions the port of Mādarasanpattanam, along with other small ports on the east coast, and it was theorized that the aforementioned port is the fishing port ofRoyapuram.[19]Madras might have been derived from Madraspattinam, a fishing village north ofFort St. George.[20]
In July 1996, theGovernment of Tamil Nadu officiallychanged the name from Madras to Chennai.[21] The name "Madras" continues to be used occasionally for the city as well as for places or things named after the city in the past.[22]
Stone Age implements have been found nearPallavaram in Chennai; according to theArchaeological Survey of India (ASI), Pallavaram was amegalithic cultural establishment, and pre-historic communities resided in the settlement.[23] The region around Chennai was an important administrative, military, and economic centre for many centuries. During the 1st centuryCE, aTamil poet namedThiruvalluvar lived in the town ofMylapore, a neighbourhood of present-day Chennai.[24] The region was part of Tondaimandalam which was ruled by theEarly Cholas in the 2nd century CE by subduingKurumbas, the original inhabitants of the region.[25]Pallavas ofKanchi became independent rulers of the region from 3rd to 9th century CE, and the areas ofMahabalipuram and Pallavaram were built during the reign ofMahendravarman I.[26] In 879, Pallavas were defeated by theLater Cholas led byAditya I, andJatavarman Sundara Pandyan later brought the region under thePandya rule in 1264.[25] The region came under the influence ofVijayanagara Empire in the 15th century CE.[27][25]
18th-century print of Fort St. George, the oldest English settlement in India
ThePortuguese arrived in 1522 and built a port named São Tomé after the Christian apostleSt. Thomas, who is believed to have preached in the area between 52 and 70 CE. In 1612, theDutch established themselves nearPulicat, north of Chennai.[28] On 20 August 1639, Francis Day of theBritish East India Company, along with theNayak of Kalahasti Chennappa Nayaka, met with the Vijayanager EmperorPeda Venkata Raya atChandragiri and obtained a grant for land on the Coromandel coast on which the company could build a factory and warehouse for their trading activities.[29] On 22 August, he secured the grant for a strip of land about 9.7 km (6 mi) long and 1.6 km (1 mi) inland in return for a yearly sum of five hundredlakhpagodas.[30][31] The region was then formerly a fishing village known as "Madraspatnam".[28] A year later, the company builtFort St. George, the first major English settlement in India, which became the nucleus of the growing colonial city and urban Chennai.[32][33]
The city became a major naval base and became the central administrative centre for the British in South India.[38] The city was the baseline for theGreat Trigonometrical Survey of India, which was started on 10 April 1802.[39] With the advent ofrailways in India in the 19th century, the city was connected to other major cities such asBombay andCalcutta, promoting increased communication and trade with thehinterland.[40]
In 1965,agitations against theimposition of Hindi and in support of continuing English as a medium of communication arose which marked a major shift in thepolitical dynamics of the city and eventually led to English being retained as an official language of India alongside Hindi.[44][45] On 17 July 1996, the city was officially renamed from Madras to Chennai, in line with then anationwide trend to using less Anglicised names.[46] On 26 December 2004, atsunami lashed the shores of Chennai, killing 206 people in Chennai and permanently altering the coastline.[47] The2015 Chennai Floods submerged major portions of the city, killing 269 people and resulting in damages of₹86.4 billion (US$1 billion).[48]
Chennai is located on thesoutheastern coast of India in the northeastern part of Tamil Nadu on a flat coastal plain known as theEastern Coastal Plains with an average elevation of 6.7 m (22 ft) and highest point at 60 m (200 ft).[49][50] Chennai's soil is mostlyclay,shale andsandstone.[51] Clay underlies most of the city with sandy areas found along the river banks and coasts where rainwaterrunoffpercolates quickly through the soil. Certain areas in South Chennai have a hard rock surface.[52][53] As of 2018, the city had a green cover of 14.9 per cent, with a per capita green cover of 8.5 square metres against theWorld Health Organization recommendation of nine square metres.[54]
As of 2017[update], water bodies cover an estimated 3.2 km2 (1.2 sq mi) area of the city.[55] Two major rivers flow through Chennai, theCooum River (orKoovam) through the centre and theAdyar River to the south.[56] A section of theBuckingham Canal built in 1877–78, runs parallel to the Bay of Bengal coast, linking the two rivers.[57]Kosasthalaiyar River traverses through the northern fringes of the city before draining into the Bay of Bengal, atEnnore Creek.[58] TheOtteri Nullah, an east–west stream, runs through north Chennai and meets the Buckingham Canal atBasin Bridge.[59] Thegroundwater table in Chennai is at 4–5 m (13–16 ft) below ground level on average and is replenished mainly by rainwater.[60] Of the 24.87 km (15.45 mi) coastline of the city, 3.08 km (1.91 mi) experiences erosion, with sand accretion along the shoreline at theMarina beach and the area between theEnnore Port andKosasthalaiyar river.[61]
Geology
Chennai is situated inSeismic Zone III, indicating a moderate risk of damage fromearthquakes.[62] Owing to the tectonic zone the city falls in, the city is considered a potentialgeothermal energy site. Thecrust has old granite rocks dating back nearly a billion years indicating volcanic activities in the past with expected temperatures of 200–300 °C (392–572 °F) at 4–5 km (2.5–3.1 mi) depth.[63]
Climate
Under theKöppen climate classification, Chennai has the dry-summer version of atropical savanna climate (As),[64][65] closely bordering the dry-winter version (Aw) due to a February average rainfall of 4.7 mm (0.19 in). The city lies on thethermal equator and as it is also located on the coast, there is no extreme variation in seasonal temperature.[66] The hottest time of the year is from April to June with an average temperature of 35–40 °C (95–104 °F).[67] The highest recorded temperature was 45 °C (113 °F) on 31 May 2003.[68] The coldest time of the year is in December–January, with average temperature of 19–25 °C (66–77 °F) and the lowest recorded temperature of 13.9 °C (57.0 °F) on 11 December 1895 and 29 January 1905.[69]
Chennai receives most of its rainfall from thenortheast monsoon between October and December while smaller amounts of rain also come from thesouthwest monsoon between June and September. The dry season is between January and May, with March having the least average rainfall at 3.4 mm (0.13 in). The average annual rainfall is about 120 cm (47 in).[70] The highest annual rainfall recorded was 257 cm (101 in) in 2005.[71] Prevailing winds in Chennai are usually southwesterly between April and October and northeasterly during the rest of the year.[72] The city relies on the annual monsoon rains to replenish water reservoirs.[73]Cyclones and depressions are common features during the season.[74] Water inundation and flooding happen in low-lying areas during the season with significant flooding in2015 and2023.[75]
Climate data for Chennai (Nungambakkam; rainfall from Chennai Airport) 1991–2020, extremes 1901–2012
A protectedestuary on the Adyar River forms a natural habitat for several species of birds and animals.[81] Chennai is also apopular city for birding with more than 130 recorded species of birds have been recorded in the city.[82] Marshy wetlands such asPallikaranai and inland lakes also host a number of migratory birds during the monsoon and winter.[83][84] The southern stretch of Chennai's coast from Tiruvanmiyur to Neelangarai are favoured by the endangeredolive ridley sea turtles to lay eggs every winter.[85]Guindy National Park is a protected area within the city limits and wildlife conservation and research activities take place atArignar Anna Zoological Park.[86]Madras Crocodile Bank Trust is aherpetology research station, located 40 km (25 mi) south of Chennai.[87][88] The city's tree cover is estimated to be around 64.06 km2 (24.73 sq mi) with 121 recorded species belonging to 94 genera and 42 families. Major species includeCopper pod,Indian beech,Gulmohar,Raintree,Neem, andTropical Almond.[89] The city's marine and inland water bodies house a number of fresh water and salt water fishes, and marine organisms.[90][91]
Chennai had many lakes spread across the city, buturbanization has led to the shrinkage of water bodies and wetlands.[92][93] The water bodies have shrunk from an estimated 12.6 km2 (4.9 sq mi) in 1893 to 3.2 km2 (1.2 sq mi) in 2017.[55] The number of wetlands in the city has decreased from 650 in 1970 to 27 in 2015.[94] Nearly half of the native plant species in the city's wetlands have disappeared with only 25 per cent of the erstwhile area covered with aquatic plants still viable.[95] The major water bodies including the Adyar, Cooum and Kosathaliyar rivers, and the Buckingham canal are heavily polluted with effluents and waste from domestic and commercial sources.[96][97][56] The encroachment of urban development on wetlands has hampered the sustainability of water bodies and was a major contributor to the floods in 2015 and2023 andwater scarcity crisis in 2019.[98][99]
The Chennai River Restoration Trust set up by the government of Tamil Nadu is working on the restoration of the Adyar River.[100] TheEnvironmentalist Foundation of India is a volunteering group working towards wildlife conservation and habitat restoration.[101][102]
A resident of Chennai is called aChennaite.[110][111] According to2011 census, the city had a population of 4,646,732, within an area of 174 km2 (67 sq mi).[112] Post expansion of the city to 426 km2 (164 sq mi), the Chennai Municipal Corporation was renamed asGreater Chennai Corporation and the population including the new city limits as per the 2011 census was 6,748,026.[10][4][113] As of 2019[update], 40 per cent of the 1.788 million families in the city live below thepoverty line.[114] As of 2017[update], the city had 2.2 million households, with 40 per cent of the residents not owning a house.[115] There are about 1,131slums in the city housing more than 300,000 households.[116]
The city is governed by the Greater Chennai Corporation (formerly "Corporation of Madras"), which was established on 29 September 1688. It is the oldest survivingmunicipal corporation in India and the second oldest surviving corporation in the world.[117] In 2011, the jurisdiction of the Chennai Corporation was expanded from 174 km2 (67 sq mi) to an area of 426 km2 (164 sq mi), divided into three regions North, South and Central covering200 wards.[118][119] The corporation is headed by amayor, elected by thecouncillors, who are elected through a popular vote by the residents.[120][121]
As the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, the city houses the state executive andlegislative headquarters primarily in the secretariat buildings in Fort St George.[124]Madras High Court is the highestjudicial authority in the state, whose jurisdiction extends across Tamil Nadu andPuducherry.[125]
As of 2021[update], Greater Chennai had 135 police stations across four zones with 20,000 police personnel.[131][132] As of 2021[update], the crime rate in the city was 101.2 per hundred thousand people.[133] It was ranked as the second most safest city in India byNational Crime Records Bureau in 2023.[134] In 2009,Madras Central Prison, the major prison and one of the oldest in India was demolished with the prisoners moved to the newly constructedPuzhal Central Prison.[135]
While the major part of the city falls under threeparliamentary constituencies (Chennai North,Chennai Central andChennai South), the Chennai metropolitan area is spread across five constituencies. It elects 28MLAs to the state legislature.[136][137] Being the capital of theMadras Province that covered a large area of theDeccan region, Chennai remained the centre of politics during the British colonial era. Chennai is the birthplace of the idea of theIndian National Congress, which was founded by the members of theTheosophical Society movement based on the idea conceived in a private meeting after a Theosophical convention held in the city in December 1884.[138][139] The city has hosted yearly conferences of the Congress seven times, playing a major part in theIndian independence movement.[140] Chennai is also the birthplace of regional political parties such as the South Indian Welfare Association in 1916 which later became theJustice Party andDravidar Kazhagam.[141][142]
With the history of Chennai dating back centuries, the architecture of Chennai ranges in a wide chronology. The oldest buildings in the city date from the 6th to 8th centuries CE, which include theKapaleeshwarar Temple inMylapore and theParthasarathy Temple inTriplicane, built in theDravidian architecture encompassing various styles developed during the reigns of different empires.[177] InDravidian architecture, theHindu temples consisted of largemantapas with gate-pyramids calledgopurams in quadrangular enclosures that surround the temple.[178][179] The Gopuram, a monumental tower usually ornate at the entrance of the temple forms a prominent feature ofKoils and whose origins can be traced back to thePallavas who built the group of monuments inMamallapuram.[180][181] The associatedAgraharam architecture, which consists of traditional row houses can still be seen in the areas surrounding the temples.[182] Chennai has the second highest number of heritage buildings in the country.[183]
LIC Building was the tallest building in the country when completed in 1959
Gothic revival-style buildings include theChennai Central andChennai Egmore railway stations. TheSanthome Church, which was originally built by the Portuguese in 1523 and is believed to house the remains of theapostleSt. Thomas, was rebuilt in 1893, inneo-Gothic style.[187] By the early 20th century, theart deco made its entry upon the city's urban landscape with buildings inGeorge Town including the United India building (presently housingLIC) and the Burma Shell building (presently the Chennai House), both built in the 1930s, and the Dare House built in 1940 examples of this architecture.[188] AfterIndependence, the city witnessed a rise inModernism, and the completion of theLIC Building in 1959, the tallest building in the country at that time, marked the transition from lime-and-brick construction to concrete columns.[189]
The presence of theweather radar at theChennai Port prohibited the construction of buildings taller than 60 m around a radius of 10 km till 2009.[190][189] This resulted in the central business district expanding horizontally, unlike other metropolitan cities, while the peripheral regions began experiencing vertical growth with the construction of taller buildings with the tallest building at 161 metres (528 ft).[191]
Chennai is a major centre for music, art and dance in India.[192] The city is called the Cultural Capital of South India.[193]Madras Music Season, initiated byMadras Music Academy in 1927, is celebrated every year during the month of December and features performances of traditionalCarnatic music by artists from the city.[194]Madras University introduced a course of music, as part of theBachelor of Arts curriculum in 1930.[195]Gaana, a combination of various folk music, is sung mainly in the working-class area of North Chennai.[196]Chennai Sangamam, an art festival showcasing various arts ofSouth India is held every year.[197] Chennai has been featured inUNESCO Creative Cities Network list since October 2017 for its old musical tradition.[198]
Chennai has a diverse theatre scene and is a prominent centre for Bharata Natyam, a classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu and the oldest dance form in India.[199] Cultural centres in the city includeKalakshetra and Government Music College.[200] Chennai is also home to some choirs, who during the Christmas season stage various carol performances across the city in Tamil and English.[201]
Chennai is home to many museums, galleries, and other institutions that engage in arts research and are major tourist attractions.[202] Established in the early 18th century, theGovernment Museum and theNational Art Gallery are amongst the oldest in the country.[203] The museum inside the premises of Fort St. George maintains a collection of objects of the British era.[204] The museum is managed by theArchaeological Survey of India and has in its possession, the firstFlag of India hoisted atFort St George after the declaration of India's Independence on15 August 1947.[205]
Chennai is the base forTamil cinema, nicknamed Kollywood, alluding to the neighbourhood ofKodambakkam where several film studios are located.[206] The history of cinema in South India started in 1897 when a European exhibitor first screened a selection of silent short films at theVictoria Public Hall in the city.[207]Swamikannu Vincent purchased afilm projector and erected tents for screening films which became popular in the early 20th century.[208]Keechaka Vadham, the first film in South India, was produced in the city and released in 1917.[209]Gemini andVijaya Vauhini studios, established in the 1940s, were amongst the largest and earliest in the country.[210] Chennai hosts many major film studios, includingAVM Productions, the oldest surviving studio in India.[211]
Chennai cuisine is predominantlySouth Indian with rice as its base. Most local restaurants still retain their rural flavour, with many restaurants serving food over a banana leaf.[212] Eating on a banana leaf is an old custom and imparts a unique flavour to the food and is considered healthy.[213]Idly anddosa are popularbreakfast dishes.[214][215] Chennai has an active street food culture and various cuisine options for dining includingNorth Indian,Chinese andcontinental.[216][217] The influx of industries in the early 21st century also bought distinct cuisines from other countries such asJapanese andKorean to the city.[218] Chennai was the only South Asian city to be ranked amongNational Geographic's "Top 10 food cities" in 2015.[219] Chennai was named as the mostvegan friendly city in India in 2018.[220]
Dare House, the corporate headquarters ofMurugappa Group in Chennai
The economy of Chennai consistently exceeded national average growth rates due toreform-oriented economic policies in the 1970s.[221] With the presence of two major ports, an international airport, and a converging road and rail networks, Chennai is often referred to as the "Gateway to South India".[1][222] According to theGlobalization and World Cities Research Network, Chennai is amongst the cities most integrated with the global economy, classified as abeta-city.[223] As of 31 March 2023[update], Chennai had an estimatedGDP of $143.9 billion, ranking it among themost productive metro areas in India.[8][9] Chennai has a diversified industrial base anchored by different sectors includingautomobiles,software services,hardware,healthcare andfinancial services.[224][225] As of 2021[update], Chennai is amongst the top export districts in the country, with more than US$2563 billion in exports.[226]
The city has a permanent exhibition complexChennai Trade Centre atNandambakkam.[227] The city hosts theTamil Nadu Global Investors Meet, a business summit organized by the Government of Tamil Nadu.[228] With about 62% of the population classified as affluent with less than 1% asset-poor, Chennai has the fifth highest number of millionaires.[229][230][231]
Headquarters of major automobile producerAshok Leyland in Chennai
Chennai is among the majorinformation technology (IT) hubs of India.[232]Tidel Park, established in 2000, was amongst the first and largest IT parks in Asia.[233] The presence ofSEZs and government policies have contributed to the growth of the sector, which has attracted foreign investments and job seekers from other parts of the country.[234][235] In the 2020s, the city has become a major provider ofSaaS and has been dubbed the "SaaS Capital of India".[236][237]
Theautomotive industry in Chennai accounts for more than 35% of India's overall automotive components and automobile output, earning the nickname "Detroit of India".[238][239] A large number of automotive companies have their manufacturing bases in the city.[240]Integral Coach Factory in Chennai manufactures railway coaches and other rolling stock for theIndian Railways.[241]Ambattur Industrial Estate housing various manufacturing units is among the largest small-scale industrial estates in the country.[242] Chennai contributes more than 50 per cent of India's leather exports.[243] Chennai is a major electronics hardware exporter.[244]
DRDO, India's premier defence research agency, operates various facilities in Chennai.[255]Heavy Vehicles Factory of theAVANI, headquartered in Chennai, manufacturesArmoured fighting vehicles,Main battle tanks, tank engines and armoured clothing for the use of theIndian Armed Forces.[256][257]ISRO, the premier Indian space agency primarily responsible for performing tasks related tospace exploration, operates research facilities in the city.[258] As perEuromonitor, Chennai is the fourth-most visited city in India by international tourists and 36th internationally in 2019.[259][260]Medical tourism forms an important part of the city's economy, with more than 40% of total medical tourists visiting India making it to Chennai.[261]
The city's water supply and sewage treatment are managed by theChennai MetroWater Supply and Sewage Board. Water is drawn fromRed Hills Lake andChembarambakkam Lake, the major water reservoirs in the city and treated at water treatment plants located atKilpauk,Puzhal,Chembarambakkam and supplied to the city through 27 water distribution stations.[262][263] The city receives 530 million litres per day (mld) of water fromKrishna River throughTelugu Ganga project and 180 mld of water from theVeeranam lake project.[264] 100 million litres of treated water per day is produced from the Minjurdesalination plant, the country's largest seawater desalination plant.[265] Chennai is predicted to face a deficit of 713 mld of water by 2026 as the demand is projected at 2,248 mld and supply estimated at 1,535 mld.[266] The city's sewer system was designed in 1910, with some modifications in 1958.[267]
Waste management
Chennai generates 4,500 tonnes of garbage every day, of which 429 tonnes are plastic waste.[268] The Greater Chennai Corporation undertakes garbage collection and processing with collection in some of the wards contracted to private companies.[269][270] As of 2023[update], an average of 150 tonnes of garbage disposal is done in two landfill sites atKodungaiyur andPallikaranai daily.[271][272] In market and business areas, the conservancy work is done during the night.[273] As of 2022[update], there are public toilets in 943 locations, managed by the city corporation.[274]
Headquarters ofSun Network, India's largest private TV broadcaster
Newspaper publishing started in Chennai with the launch of the weeklyThe Madras Courier in 1785.[293] It was followed by the weekliesThe Madras Gazette andThe Government Gazette in 1795.[294][295]The Spectator, founded in 1836 was the first English newspaper in Chennai to be owned by an Indian and became the city's first daily newspaper in 1853.[296] The first Telugu journal printed from Madras was Satya Doota in 1835, and the first Tamil newspaper, Swadesamitran, was launched in 1899.[297][298] Chennai has several newspapers and magazines published in various languages including Tamil, English and Telugu.[299] The major dailies with a circulation of more than 100,000 copies per day includeThe Hindu,Dina Thanthi,Dinakaran,The Times of India,Dina Malar andThe Deccan Chronicle.[300] Several periodicals and local newspapers prevalent in select localities also bring out editions from the city.[301]
Fire services are handled by theTamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services, which operates 33 operating fire stations.[310] The corporation also owns 52 community halls across the city.[311] Postal services are handled byIndia Post, which operates 568 post offices, of which nearly 460 operate from rented premises.[312] The first post office was established on 1 June 1786 at Fort St. George on 1 June 1786.[313]
The aviation history of Chennai began in 1910, whenGiacomo D'Angelis built the first powered flight in Asia and tested it inIsland Grounds.[314] In 1915,Tata Air Mail started an airmail service between Karachi and Madras marking the beginning of civil aviation in India.[315] In March 1930, a discussion initiated by pilot G. Vlasto led to the founding ofMadras Flying Club.[316][317] On 15 October 1932,J. R. D. Tata flew aPuss Moth aircraft carrying air mail from Karachi toBombay'sJuhu Airstrip and the flight was continued to Madras piloted by aviatorNevill Vintcent marking the first scheduled commercial flight.[318][319] The city is served byChennai International Airport located inTirusulam, around 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of the city centre.[320] It is thefourth-busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic and cargo handled.[321] While the existing airport is undergoing expansion with an addition of 1,069.99 acres (433.01 ha), a newgreenfield airport has been proposed to handle additional traffic.[322]
The history of railway in Chennai began in 1832, when the first railway line in India was proposed between Little Mount and Chintadripet in the city which became operational in 1837.[326] TheMadras Railway was established later in 1845 and the construction on the first main line between Madras andArcot started in 1853, which became operational in 1856.[327] In 1944, all the railway companies operating inBritish India were taken over by the Government.[328] In December 1950, the Central Advisory Committee for Railways approved the plan for Indian Railways into six zonal systems and the Southern Railway zone was created on 14 April 1951 by merging three state railways, namely, theMadras and Southern Mahratta Railway, theSouth Indian Railway Company, and theMysore State Railway with Chennai as theheadquarters.[329] The city has four major railway terminals atChennai Central,Egmore,Beach andTambaram.[330] Chennai Central, city's largest station provides access to other major stations nationally and is amongst the busiest stations in the country.[331]
Chennai has a well-established suburban railway network operated by Southern railway, which was established in 1928.[332] TheMass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is an elevated urban mass transit system established in 1995 operating on a single line fromChennai Beach toVelachery.[332]
Chennai Metro is arapid transit rail system in Chennai that was opened in 2015. As of 2023, the metro system consists of two operational lines operating across 54.1 km (33.6 mi) with41 stations.[335] The Chennai metro system is being expanded with a proposed addition of three more lines and an extension of 116.1 km (72.1 mi).[336]
Chennai is a major educational hub and home to some of the premium educational institutions in the country.[356] The city has a 90.33% literacy rate and ranks second among the major Indian metropolitan city centres.[357] Chennai has a mix of public and private schools with the public school system managed by the school education department of Government of Tamil Nadu. As of 2023[update], there are 420public schools run by Greater Chennai Corporation.[358] Public schools run by the Chennai Corporation are all affiliated with theTamil Nadu State Board, while private schools may be affiliated with either of Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education,Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE),Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ICSE) orNational Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).[359] School education starts with two years of Kindergarten from age three onwards and then follows the Indian10+2 plan, ten years of school and two years of higher secondary education.[360]
Officers Training Academy of theIndian Army is headquartered in the city.[364] There are eight government-run medical colleges in the city including one dental college, three for traditional medicine and four for modern medicine apart from multiple private colleges operating under the purview ofTamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in Chennai.[365]Madras Medical College was established in 1835 and is one of the oldest medical colleges in India.[366]
With temples, beaches and centres of historical and cultural significance including theUNESCO Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram, Chennai is one of the most-visited cities in India with 11 million domestic and 630,000 foreign tourists visiting in 2020.[372] The gateway to thesouthern part of India,[373] Chennai was ranked among the top hundred destinations byEuromonitor.[374][375] As of 2018[update], the city has about7,000 luxury rooms across four- and five-star categories, with 85 per cent of the room demand coming from business travellers.[376][377] Chennai has a 19 km (12 mi) coastline with many beaches including theMarina spanning 13 km (8.1 mi) which is the second-longest urban beach in the world andElliot's Beach south of the Adyar delta.[378][379]
As of 2023[update], Chennai has 835 public parks maintained by the corporation.[380] The largest park is the 358-acreTholkappia Poonga, developed to restore the fragile ecosystem of the Adyar estuary.[381]Semmozhi Poonga is a 20 acres (8.1 ha)botanical garden maintained by the horticulture department.[382]Madras Crocodile Bank is areptilezoo located 40 km (25 mi) south of the city and has one of the largest collections of reptiles in the country.[383] Arignar Anna zoological park is a large urban zoo with more than two million visitors annually.[384] Guindy National Park is a protected area within the city limits and has a children's park and asnake park associated with it.[385] Chennai also houses several theme parks and amusement parks.[386]
As of 2012[update], there are 120 cinema screens and multiplexes.[387] Stage plays and dramas of different genres and languages are enacted in theatres across the city.[388] Chennai is also home toseveral malls.[389] The city is an important market forjewellery.[390]Anna Nagar andNungambakkam are amongst the expensive retail zones in the country.[391]
The consular presence in the city dates back to 1794, when William Abbott was appointed US consular agent forSouth India.[428][429] As of 2022[update], there are 60 foreign representations in Chennai, including 16 consulates general and 28 honorary consulates.[430][431]American Consulate in Chennai is amongst the top employment-based visa processing centres.[432] The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) is in charge of immigration and registration activities in the city.[433]
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