Chennai

Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India, and is the country’s fourth-largest city. It is located on the Coromandel coast of the Bay of Bengal. With an estimated population of 7.60 million (2006), the 368 year old city is the 31st largest metropolitan area in the world and is India’s fourth largest metropolitan city.

The 12-kilometre long Marina Beach forms the city’s east coast and is one of the longest beaches in the world. The city is known for its sport venues and hosts India’s only ATP tennis event, the Chennai Open.

The main problem Chennai faces is overpopulation and resulting water scarcity. The majority of residents in Chennai are native Tamilians and speak Tamil. English is widely spoken, and is used almost exclusively in business, education and other white collar professions.

Chennai also has a growing expatriate population who work in the industries and IT centres. Chennai is also known for the classical Indian dance, the Bharatanatyam, which is also the official dance of Tamil Nadu.