This article is strictly for folks looking at relocating to Chennai and knows nothing about the city. You need to understand the culture and some facts about Chennai before you relocate. What brings most people to Chennai, what people do in Chennai in their free time, what do they eat, are some of the questions that comes to mind. Metroplots, a portal committed to help relocating individuals to Chennai by helping them in identifying properties (rental and sale) and help them until they move in.
Located on the south-east coast of India, Chennai is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. The city is divided into four parts: North, Central, South and West. North Chennai is primarily an industrial area. Central Chennai is the commercial heart of the city. South Chennai and West Chennai, previously mostly residential, are fast becoming commercial owing to a growing number of information technology firms, financial companies and call centers.
Chennai's economy is dependent on the automobile, technology, hardware manufacturing, and healthcare sector. The city is India's second largest exporter of software, information technology (IT) and information-technology-enabled services (ITES). A major chunk of India's automobile manufacturing industry is based in and around the city. Chennai accounts for 60 per cent of the country’s automotive exports and is sometimes referred to as "the Detroit of India"
Apart from a thriving economy, Chennai also boasts a vivid culture. The city hosts a large cultural event, the annual Madras Music Season, which includes performances by hundreds of artists. Bharatnatyam is the classical dance form and Carnatic music is highly appreciated and enjoyed by enthusiasts.
Another important factor in Chennai’s lifeline is cinema. Chennai houses a large base for the Tamil movie industry, dubbed Kollywood. The industry makes more than 150 Tamil movies a year, and its soundtracks dominate the city's music. Some of the biggest names in the film fraternity are Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam and A. R. Rahman
Among Chennai's festivals, Pongal, which is celebrated over five days in January, is the most important. South Indian cuisine is well-known across the country and the delicacies include rice-based dishes like pongal, dosa, idli and vadai, served with coconut chutney and sambhar. Steaming hot cup of filter coffee is a must, too.
Chennai often figures in the itinerary of every tourist visiting India. The second largest beach, cultural hot-spots like Mahabalipuram which has inscriptions of major Hindu epics, Dakshin Chitra where model South Indian homes are built — gives every visitor a true flavor of the sights and sounds of South India.