Location
The capital city of Tamil Nadu in South India, Chennai lies on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.
Geographic coordinates
13.09° N 80.27° E
Population
Eight million
Linguistic groups
Tamilians constitute a majority of Chennai’s population, while Telugu and Malayalee communities are sizeable. The city’s steady development has drawn people from across the country, making the population quite cosmopolitan.
Religions
Hinduism is practiced by 80 percent of Chennaiites, 8 percent of the population is Muslim, Christians comprise another 8 percent, and Jains, Parsis and Buddhists constitute the remaining 4 percent.
Languages
Tamil is preferred, though English is widely known. Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Urdu are also spoken.
Governing body
The democratically elected Corporation of Chennai governs the city’s 155 wards; the government comprises a legislature (Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly), the executive and judiciary headed by the Madras High Court, whose jurisdiction extends across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Political parties and leaders
M Karunanidhi heads Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), while J Jayalalithaa heads all India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Marumalarchi DMK, Dravida Kazhagam (DK), Tamil Manila Congress (TMC) and Rajiv Tamil Nadu Congress are the other parties.
Pioneering industrialists
Dewan Bahadur AM Murugappa Chettiar of the Murugappa Group, Raghunandan Saran of the erstwhile Ashok Motors and K M Mammen Mappillai of MRF.
Natural hazards
The tsunami in December 2004 altered Chennai’s coastline. The city is also prone to cyclones in the monsoon season.
Climate
Chennai enjoys a tropical climate; monsoons extend from June to September, winters are from November to February and summer occurs between March and June, when temperatures can soar between 38°C (100.4°F) and 45°C (113°F).
Clothing
Light cottons and linen are recommended for the hot and humid climate.
Business days
Mondays to Saturdays
Country dialing code
+91 44
Internet Code
.in
Currency
Indian Rupees
Exchange Rates
Rs 51.6 for US $1 (as on March 10, 2009)
Electricity
9000 MW in Tamil Nadu
Major Annual Events
January:
Arudra Darisanam
Pongal
February:
India International Leather Fair at the
Chennai Trade Centre
April:
Tamil New Year celebrations
December:
Chennai Open at SDAT Tennis Stadium
The Chennai Dance and Music Festival
Medical facilities
Chennai has been pegged as an important centre for medical tourism. It has a strong medical infrastructure with 34 general hospitals and several specialty hospitals.
Banks
Over 60 national and international banks have a presence in Chennai. Working hours are usually between 9.30 am and 3.30 pm on weekdays and 9.30 am to 12.30 pm on Saturdays.
Media
Chennai’s print media comprises eight major newspapers in English and Tamil and over 30 magazines. Television is dominated by privately owned regional channels, of which Sun Network commands the second-highest viewership share in the country.
Local time
IST. Chennai is five and a half hours ahead of GMT.