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History

Chennai (Madras) is the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu. The district is located in the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal and is one of the four largest metropolitan cities in India. The city was originally known as Madras Patnam and was located in the Tondaimandalam Province. We at Toursitplacesinindia.com provide you with all that you want to known about the Indian city of Chennai (Madras).

The city of Chennai covers a total area of about 174 square km with a total population of about 4343645. The city has a large number of tourist destinations which includes temples and other places of interest in and around the city. Important temples in the city include the Kapaleeswarer Temple at Mylapore, Parthasarathy temple at Triplicane, Vadapalini Andavar Temple at Vadapalini, Shrine Velankanni and Shri Devi Astha lakshmi temple. The festivals are mainly based on the agricultural activities and according to the position of the stars and planets. Pongal, celebrated in the month of January, is the most important festival of Chennai. Being a cosmopolitan city, almost all the religious festivals are celebrated here.

Best Season, Climate, and Clothing

The mighty Bay of Bengal borders Chennai has bordering to the east, whereas the state of Andhra Pradesh is on its northwestern part. Since it is located at the tropical zone, Chennai usually has a very hot and humid climate. Winter season would be the best time to visit this city owing to pleasant climatic conditions. Due to the frequent rains, there is no much variation in the temperature all the year round. Cotton clothing is best for a tropical city like Chennai.

Places to Visit

Chennai city is fully loaded with some interesting and amusing places. The metropolitan city houses all sorts of attractions, be it famous South Indian Temples, museums, monuments, parks, beaches or picnic spots. There is no dearth of attractions as such. The accredited mega city does not give any chance for a complaint to a globe trotter. And to add some spice, as is South known for, the place has a number of industrial and commercial hubs.

The popular places of interest in Chennai are the much crafted temples. These famous South Indian temples witness a great number of visitors every year. Next in line are the monuments, most of them built during the British occupancy. The monuments withhold the beauty of the past and some rich memories associated with them. The diverse wildlife of Chennai is featured by several parks and breeding centres. Beaches, likewise, pour in some more life in the city.

Marina Beach

Lining the east of the city is the famous Marina beach, at Kamarajar Road, 3 Km away from Madras. This is supposed to be the second longest beach in the World and runs to a length of 12 Km. On the beach there is the Anna Park, named after the founder of D.M.K (Dravida Munnetta Kazhakam) Anna durai and the tomb of M.G. Ramachandran who was a film star and the charismatic Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Sri Kapaleswarar Temple

Known as a panacea from many troubles, Sri Kapaleswarar Temple is situated near Kutchery Road, Mylapore. Built in the13th century, this ancient Siva temple is a delightful introduction to Dravidian temple sculpture and architecture. The magnificent 37 meter tall gopuram is one of the main attractions of this temple. The crowded cosmogony of Stucco gods, goddesses and saints depict important Puranic legends. The ‘Punnai’ tree in the temple courtyard is one of the oldest trees in Chennai and shades a small shrine depicting the legend that gave Mylapore its name. The goddess Parvati, in the form of a peacock, is shown worshipping Shiva, represented by the traditional Lingam. Parvati is worshipped in this temple as ‘Karpagambal’.

Snake Park

It is located at Sardar Vallabbai Patel Road within the area of the Guindy National Park. Visit : Wednesday to Monday from 0830 to 1730. Tuesday holiday. There are more than 40 species of common snakes of India ranging from the dark deadly ‘King Cobra’, ‘Banded’ Krait’ to Puff adders’, vipers, pythons and alligators. The crocodiles, chameleons, monitor lizards and tortoises can also be seen in their natural setting.

The centre of the country’s cashew trading and processing industry, Kollam also has one of the oldest ports on the Malabar Coast, once the centre of international spice trade. About thirty per cent of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi Lake, making it the gateway to the magnificent backwaters of Kerala.

For an enchanting experience on the backwaters of Kerala, the eight hour boat trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest and amusing one. Kollam has a variety of interesting historic remnants and a number of temples built in the traditional architectural style.

Other interests here are: Thirumullavaram beach, Palaruvi, Picnic Village, Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary Green adventure, Thangasseri, The Cave Temple, Rameshwara Temple, Mayyanad, Ochira Temple, Sasthamkotta fresh water lake, Thenmala, Jatayupara, Kulathupuzha etc.

History

Quilon or Kollam, an old seaport town on the Arabian coast, stands on the Ashtamudi Lake. Kollam, the erstwhile Desinganadu, had a sustained commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians and the Romans. Fed by the Chinese trade, it was regarded by Ibn Batuta, as one of the five ports, which he had seen in the course of his travels during a period of twenty-four years, in the 14th century.

The rulers of kollam (Desinganadu) and China, exchange embassies and there was flourishing Chinese settlement at Kollam. Merchant Sulaiman of Siraf in Persia (9th Century) found Kollam to be the only port in India, touched by the huge Chinese junks, on his way from Carton of Persian Gulf. Marco Polo, the great Venician traveller, who was in Chinese service under Kublahan in 1275, visited Kollam and other towns on the west coast, in his capacity as a Chinese mandarin.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading center at Kollam in 1502. Then came the Dutch followed by the British in 1795. A British garrison was stationed at Kollam in pursuance of a treaty between Travancore and the British.

Toursit Places

Kollam was an international emporium of trade and even now it is a prosperous commercial centre. Kollam edges with the famous Astamudi lake. Many a foreign traveller has visited Kollam in the early midieval period. Kollam was one of the early centres of Christian activity in Kerala. The popularity of Kollam has been established by the time-honoured proverb once you see Kollam, you will not need your home any more. Kollam has several tourist attractions.

The 144 ft. Thangassery Light house, built in 1902, is a centre of attraction in Kollam. The Ananda Valleeswaram Temple of Kollam attracts people on almost all days. There are several Churches and Mosques around Kollam. The Pullichira Church was established in 1700 A.D. One of the oldest and most important Mosques in Kollam is the Chinnakkada Palli. The Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering, the first of its king in the state, is at Kilikolloor, about 7 kms. east of Kollam town.

Mahatma Gandhi beach & park at Kochupilamoodu, Thirumullavaram beach and Ashramam picnic village, are some of the important spots of local sight seeing. Mahatma Gandhi beach lies just 2 kms. from Kollam. It is fascinating place for an evening. Thirumullavaram Beach is 5 kms. from Kollam. The sea here is ideal for swimming and bathing. Ashramam picnic village is located in the 48-acre Guest House Complex.

One of the calm and cool seaside resort having a rare phenomenon the sea water here recede and proceed 5km everyday in front of your eyes it go back and come out again. Chandipur beach is backed by the magnificent swing of casuarina trees and brushed sand dunes, make the beach a site to watch.

16 kms from Balasore, Chandipur is a quiet beach resort in orissa. At first sight there seems to be nothing that would differentiate it from rest of the beaches in world except for its flatness that also makes it one of the widest beaches in the entire country. However as time fleets across, one can notice the strangest phenomena of the nature which is peculiar only to Chandipur beach in the world.

As the day progresses, sea water recedes about 5 kms during low tide and advances to the shore line again during high tide in the evening. Elsewhere, the waves dash on the shore shouting madly, but here they are like a musical fountain, soothing to the ears. Elsewhere, the waters wait for the visitors but here the visitors have to wait for the waters. Elsewhere, the waves go wild and the visitors calm but here the ecstasy of tourists on touring orissa will go wild while the waves remain calm.

This marvel of Nature gives the bathers an unexpected pleasure of fearlessly walking into the sea and happily playing with the waves. When the waters disappear, you can even take jeep ride on, the widest beach. The beauty of the exposed bosom of the beach is further enhanced by the small red crabs. If a beach comber, you will be delighted with its abundant wealth of sea shells and drift wood.

How To Reach

Road : Chandipur is well connected by an excellent all-Weather road. 16 km from Balasore on N.H. 5, 230 km from Bhubaneswar and 314 km from Kolkata. Regular bus services are available. Taxis and Auto rickshaws are also available from Balasore.

Rail : Nearest railhead is Balasore (16 km) on the S.E. Railway served by a number of fast trains from Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Puri, Tirupati, Bhubaneswar etc.

Air : Nearest airport is Bhubaneswar (230 km) and Kolkata (314 km).

Area : 480 sq. km.

Population : 973,829

Regional Language : English, Malayalam, Tamil, telugu

Relative Humidity : 70% to 85%

Altitude : Sea Level

Special Things :

For those coming to Pondicherry expecting a Goa-like place there is likely to be a great deal of disappointment. Unlike Goa, Pondicherry does not have a commercial infrastructure to entertain tourists. Pondicherry is a great place to look around, take a walk by the sea, attend a cultural program.

The Pondicherry tourism department uses the punch-line “Give time a break” for their advertisement campaign. And that is indeed one of the more attractive features of this city. So relax, put your feet up, switch off your cell phone, and forget all about returning to work on Monday morning. Enjoy a fine meal with a glass of wine, rent a bicycle and take a ride at the promenade, take a walk in the park. Do something new an interesting that you wouldn’t do in the city you live in. Learn some pottery at the Golden Bridge Pottery.

You can also do some serious meditation at the Auroville, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Or you could visit Aurovilleto watch a cultural event such as a dance organized there by the Auroville Cultural Exchange. You can also go fishing in a Kattaraman- fishing raft of sorts.

Places To Visit :

Statue of Mahatma Gandhi

A statue of Mahatma Gandhi, 13 ft height stands on the beach front, surrounded by carved monolithic pillars built by the famous sculptor Roy Choudhary from Madras School of Art and Crafts. There is also the “French War Memorial” commemorating the sacrifice of the soldiers in the First World War.

Jawahar Toy Museum

The Jawahar Toy Museum is located in the old Light House building near Gandhi Maidan. Here toys and puppets from different parts of India are on display.

Tiruvakkarai

It is about 30 km from Pondicherry town. Large fossil bearing areas fenced in to create the country’s first National Fossil-Wood Park here. These petrified trees lying scattered on low mounds and stream sections, date from the Cretaceous Age (100 million years ago). The Chandramouliswara Temple, a monument of great architectural grandeur dating back to the Chola period, is an added attraction. Every Pournami (Full Moon Day), people gather here to worship Goddess Kali.

Pondicherry Beach

Pondicherry has a lovely beach, 1.5 kms long, where one can relax, sunbathe, swim or take a stroll along the promenade. On the sea-front are two important monuments – Statue of Mahatma Gandhi set amidst eight exquisitely sculptured monolithic pillars and the War Memorial raised by the French to honour the soldiers who died in World War I. The Goubert Salai along the Bay of Bengal is lined with grand colonial buildings.

Digha is an ideal beach destination for a fun-filled holiday. The sun, sea and sand a potent combination at all times – is made all the more pleasant in Digha because it is neither too crowded nor too commercial a beach resort. Called the Brighton of the East by Warren Hastings, Digha makes for a great weekend or honeymoon destination. Dighas serene beauty and her beautiful beach will have you coming back for more vacations here. Honeymoon couples beware! You may never want to go back from this secluded paradise.

Digha is a town that is situated in the state of West Bengal, in the district of East Mindapore. It is a popular beach town and there are different activities that you can engage in the area. Many tourists from nearby areas flock to the place during the peak tourist season. The entire stretch of the Digha Beach is lined with casuarina trees and the whole area is extremely scenic. There are a few beaches that are located nearby as well and these are relatively untouched and clean. The Udaipur Beach and the Shankarpur Beach are located in close proximity and these are worth visiting as they have not yet been affected by tourism.

If you are interested in activities such as fishing and angling you can travel to the town of Junpat, which is situated 40 kilometers away. There are several fishing spots, which are located in the area. It is also worth visiting the Marine Aquarium and Research Center. Some of the other tourist places in the region include Subarnareskha River, Talsari, and Lord Shiva Temple. Mandarmani Beach is a small stretch that is an up and coming tourist destination. The Subarnareskha Delta is a good place for picnics and the river drains into the sea at this point.

Puri beach, 60 km from Bhubaneswar, is one of the most sought after beaches in India and is an indispensable part of the city. The abode of Lord Jagannath attracts millions of tourists round the year who come here to take a holy bath, which they believe is a golden path to Moksha or Eternal salvation. Stretching on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, this beach is crowded with vendors, acrobats, food stalls and merry-go-rounds round the year. The major attraction is obviously the sea. As compared to the western ghats, Puri enjoys a relatively higher amplitude of bustling waves eager to rush and blot out the city. It is true that you cannot resist a leisure walk on the shore on the first day of your visit.

Puri situated on the eastern sea-bed of India, is the only most popular sea-side resort where the beauty of the sky in radiant colours, the roaring waves and the golden beach can be experienced. The long sandy beach draws large numbers of western travellers and Indians. According to Hindu belief, there are five great holy spots(Pancha Tirthas) at Puri out of which sea is the greatest and holiest for tourists and travellers.

Puri sea beach is the best in India. In Mumbai, Goa, Cochin and Chennai as well as other sea beaches, taking bath in sea is a risk due to tides, under current and deepness. But in Puri to take sea bath is a pleasure and enjoyable experience. The beach is very wide and exposed and there’s not a scrap of shade to be found.

Sand Art

If you are lucky, you can even spot a professional artist indulged in making the best sculpture of his lifetime. Although not historically proved, an interesting story regarding the origin of sand sculptures, in the Oriya myth goes as… “Poet Balaram Das, renowned for his famous work Dandi Ramayana, was a great devotee of Lord Jagannath. Once during the Chariot Festival, he was insulted and was not allowed to climb the chariot. Tormented, he went to the beach and carved the statues of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra with the golden sand. Thanks to his devotion, the original deities from the chariot vanished and appeared at that place where Balaram Das was worshipping.” Although the legend does not have a strong historical backup, but it is evident that sand art isn’t a new episode, but dates back to 13th century B.C., at the time of Balaram Das and people of Puri are well acquainted with sand sculpture since then.

Numerous people try their hands in this activity while sitting on the shore, enjoying “Jhaalmoori”, burgers and ice candies. One can also find dancing monkeys, fortune tellers and mobile vendors selling fragrance sticks, toys and items made up of sea shells.

The golden sands, azure waters and an eternal bliss have always been a cause of enticement for the beach lovers who come to explore the Anjuna Beach from various parts of the world. Just laze and luxuriate at the beach which is solely meant for the purpose of unwinding. This beach occupies a reputed position among the various other beaches of Goa simply because of its unrivalled charm.

Location of the Colva Beach :

Colva beach lies in the south of Goa at the distance of 6 km from the city of Margao. It is the longest beach in Goa. The best time to visit the beach lies between November to February. Colva is a small village which is located in the south of Goa right on the shores of the Arabian Sea and it is at a distance of 39 km from Panaji.

Climate of Colva Beach :

Goa enjoys the pleasant climate throughout the year. The climate basically remains consistent throughout the year. Summers stats from mid March and remains till June. The maximum temperature in summers reaches up to 32.7°C and the minimum temperature is 24°C. Monsoon period in Goa rests from June to September. Winters starts at the end of November and remains till February. The maximum temperature in winters reaches 32.2°C and the minimum temperature is 21°C . There is no drastic rise during the summers and no drastic fall during the winters.

Key Attractions:

On the tour to the Colva Beach the tourists can make a visit to a very simple Church called The Church of Lady of Mercy. The church houses the wonderful statue of Menino Jesuse. It was built in the 17 century and is quite famous for the annual religious festival called ‘Fama of Menino Jesuse’. Tourists can go for the leisure walk to the nearby Colva village. There you can converse with the local fisherman and know about their lifestyle and livelihood. Than you can spend time at The Church of St John, located just 2 km from the beach. Tourists can even enjoy the bull’s fight from 4 pm onwards between the month of October to May. The fight is held in the rice field on the beats of the Konkani music. Other than these do not forget to make a visit to the pristine Benaulim beach near to the Colva beach. Benaulim provides you the completely friendly environment as well as relaxing gateway.

Food :

While on the beach you can try out the exotic sea food. Do not forget to taste the most famous drink of Goa called Feni. It is also known as Fenny. You can either try out the Cashew feni or the coconut feni. Both the drinks are equally delicious. You can even try out the cuisines from the nearby stalls.

How To Reach:

By Air: You can reach Colva beach by the air transport as the nearest airport is Dabolim which is at a distance of 29 km from Panaji and 68 km from Colva.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Karmali which is at a distance of 11 km from Panaji.

Digha is located about 185 kms away from the city on the south east of Calcutta. In the list of must visit Kolkata excursions, Digha beach is on the top. It is a splendid beach resort consisting of a 6 km long beach. Shankarpur is the twin beach of Digha, Calcutta that is about 10 kms away. Digha, India is very well connected with Kolkata by road. Infact, its about five hours drive from there. Digha beach is worth visiting, as its shallow water will help in rejuvenating you. The whole atmosphere over there is very soothing and serene.

Digha Beach Travel – The casuarinas plantations along the coast are so captivating! The calm sea is so charming! The dream destination of Digha on the eastern coast of India is renowned the world over for its flat and hard beaches.The beauty of the Digha beach has attracted tourists since the days of Warren Hastings! Then it was referred to as Beercool! Indeed Digha is seven long kilometers of fun and frolic! While at the Digha beach unwind yourself in the sun, sea, surf and the sand. The sea is safe for swimming so you may take a plunge!

Digha Beach Travel, Close to Digha are the other tourist attractions too. Digha is a perfect getaway in the lap of nature.Digha Beach in West Bengal, There is Chandaneswar at a distance of 8 kms were you pray to Lord Shiva in the renowned ancient temple.While shopping at Digha you just cannot skip the so very famous cashew nuts.Digha Beach in Bengal India, Accommodation is easily available at Digha there are tourist lodges, deluxe hotels, budget hotels et al where is advisable to book before the holiday season.