36 Striking Revelations About The City of Chennai

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Chennai, typically known as Madras and the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, a 400-year-old city is the world's 31st largest metropolitan region, with an estimated population of 8.9 million in 2014.

Madarasapattinam is a fantastic film that depicts the entire city of Madras during the British rule In the first century the city was ruled by early Cholas. The Original Name of Madras was Puliyur Kottam and it was found that this name is a 2000 year old ancient Tamil name. 

The contemporary city of "Chennai" developed from the British settlement of Fort St. George and its subsequent expansion through the merging of various native communities and European colonies in the area surrounding Fort St. George. 

Madras became the capital of Madras state after independence, which was renamed Tamilnadu in 1968.

The city of Madras was renamed Chennai in 1998. Madras day is celebrated on August 22.

Striking facts about Chennai

1. South India’s gateway is located in Chennai. 

2. World’s oldest medical and engineering institutions are considered to be few in number, three institutes are situated in Chennai.

3. The C.N Annadurai library in Chennai, which was established on September 15, 2010, is Asia's largest library.

4. In 1794, engineering college was established in Guindy, Chennai and it was considered to be very early to have an engineering college at that time. 

5. Asia’s first physical education college, YMCA is in Chennai.

6. LIC Building was the tallest building in Chennai, India when it was inaugurated five decades back. 

7. In 1846, the cricket club was started in Chennai. 

8. India’s first bookstore named Higginbotham's was inaugurated in Chennai. 

9. Chennai has thrice been declared as India's safest city. 

10. India’s first shopping mall was established in Chennai named Spencer Plaza in the year 1863.

11. Chicken 65 is a delectable dish for everyone these days, and it was discovered in Chennai 's Buhari hotel.

12. There were around 400 ancient temples in Chennai.

13. India’s first Anglica Church was established in Chennai.. Initially, There were 200 churches in Chennai.

14. The Kapaleeswarar temple and the Santhom Church are relatively close together, allowing people to worship without regard for faith. 

15. Around 35000 people are getting employed in the city each year regardless of their place and position. 

16.  India’s highest number of two-wheelers were in Chennai. Even though Chennai rates lowest polluted city among other metropolitan cities.

17. When books and papers are published in India, they appear in four libraries in the country, one of the library is in Chennai which is the largest library, known as Kanimara. 

18. India’s oldest railway station is Royapuram station in Chennai. 

19. India’s largest tourists from abroad is said to arrive at Chennai every year in India especially medical tourists, In Chennai, there has been a Cancer Institute since 1920.

20. Chennai has been bagged the award of  best medical medical facility in India, four times. 

21. India’s first public zoo is announced as Vandalur zoo. It was set up in 1855 in Chennai

22. Chennai manufactures 170 different rail compartment classes and being exported to thirteen countries in the world.

23. Asia's biggest IT park named Tidel park is in Chennai

24. The New York Times published an article about the best places to go in South Asia, and t he only city included from India was Chennai. 

25. Chennai was the only city from India to get listed under top 10 fastest growing cities in the world which was announced by Forbes(an American business magazine)

26. India’s world bank office is established in Chennai.

27. Because chennai was worth attacking and capturing among other cities in India, World War 1 passively took place in Chennai, the sole city in India.

28. Worlds first corporation was started in London. Secondly, in Chennai and these two were considered to be the notable ones.

29. The koyabedu bus stand in Chennai is Asia's largest bus station.

30. Chennai is the only city that holds Asia's first and world's second longest beach, respectively and called as Marina. As It’s 12 km stretch runs from Fort St. George to Besant Nagar.

31. In the year 1930, The Madras University introduced Bachelor’s degree course for the first time in India. 

32. The Madras High Court building is world's second largest judicial facility. The building in London has the number one position

33. Chennai has the biggest artificial seaport in India and the biggest port in the Bay of Bengal region. 

34. BMW's first manufacturing plant was set up in Chennai. 

35. The Madras Telescope is a 15-foot-tall, ten ton granite pillar encircled by lesser structures. These are the ruins of India's first modern public observatory, which was built in 1792. The British East India Company established the Madras Observatory in 1786. 

36. The legendary Madras light house is located on Chennai's Marina beach is the landmark of one of the few lighthouses in the world and is absolutely note worthy. 

These are the remarkable facts of Chennai that have accounted for the city's uniqueness and makes you proud if you are a Chennaite reading it. However, even if you belong to any part of India, these striking revelations about the city are bound to instill a sense of patriotism. 


Written By - Pratthiksha shree A

Edited By - Tushna Choksey