|
The British East India Company required a convenient location where they could make a fortified compound in the region and so Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, two agents of the British East India Company leased the village of Chennaipatnam from the Raja of Chandragiri, the last ruler of what was left of the great Vijayanagar Kingdom in 1639. Fort St George was built on this location and as trade and commerce grew, the village of Chennaipatnam attracted more residents and grew in size, absorbing nearby settlements such as Triplicane, Chetput, Purasawalkarn and King Egmore. James II of England granted the town a municipal charter in 1688 and Chennai is therefore the earliest municipal corporation in India.
During the years of the Anglo-French Wars in the 18th and 19th centuries, British and French forces fought over the town of Chennai. The French were able to occupy it for a while but later withdrew to their settlement in Pondicherry, leaving the British with full control over Chennai. Known as Madras the town was the administrative capital of one of the four regions of British imperial rule. Madras Presidency extended to parts of present day North Kerala. After India gained independence, Madras became the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and the center of the Dravidian movement, which asserts its pride in Tamil culture. The ruling party in Tamil Nadu changed the name of the city to Chennai in 1997. Chennai is a busy city, known for its sandy beaches, Tamil film industry, as a center of the Carnatic classical music and Bharatanatyam dance traditions and as an information technology and manufacturing center in India.
There are many historic temples, churches, memorials and heritage sites to see when you travel to Chennai. Other popular attractions include the Snake Park and the Adayar Banyan Tree. Chennai is also a great place to shop for fine silk saris, which are made by traditional weavers. Enjoy seeing the history of Chennai come alive on tours to Chennai with 123 India Travel.
| 
