Chennai is the largest city in Tamil Nadu and is located on the southeastern coast of India. The city was formerly known as Madras and was established by the British. Chennai was once a group of villages set amidst palmfringed paddy fields, until two English East India Company merchants, Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, established a trading post here. Completed on St George's Day, 23 April 1640, this fortified settlement came to be known as Fort St George. Outside its walls was George Town, the so-called "native town", whose crowded lanes, each devoted to a particular trade, serviced the British colonists. Colonial rule linked the various villages, including the settlement founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese at San Thome, the sacred site associated with St Thomas the Apostle.

The weather and climate of Chennai reflect the geographical location and relief of the Chennai city. Chennai lies near the thermal equator and the Sea, that is why there is very less variation in seasonal temperature. For most parts of the year, the weather of Chennai is hot and humid. Chennai city gets most of its rainfall from the northeast Monsoon winds (mid-September to mid-December). The average annual rainfall in the Chennai city is about 1,300 mm (51 inches). At times, the cyclonic disturbances in the Bay of Bengal affect the Chennai city.

The industrial hub of South India, Chennai, has a diversified economic base. The city’s economy largely depends on trade and industry. The main industries are automobile, software services, hardware manufacturing and financial services. The automobile industry of Chennai is huge, about 45% of India's auto components and 27% of the vehicle industry are located in Chennai. Chennai is also home to three large national banks and many state level co-operative banks. Several large financial and insurance companies have their headquarters in Chennai. Back office operations of many major banks are located in the city. Chennai is called the textile hub of South India with large number of garment manufacture industries located in the Ambattur-Padi industrial zone in the northern suburbs of the city.

With its vantage location in the south of the country and proximity to economical hubs of South-East Asia, Chennai airport is a vital link in the air routes of the region. The domestic and international airports at Meenambakkam are host to several flights within the country as well as international destinations. Chennai is connected to all major cities in India by air and its rail and road network make the tiniest village easily accessible by comfortable trains and deluxe buses. Chennai Central and Egmore serve as important railway termini for broad gauge and meter gauge trains. Prepaid taxis and auto-rickshaws can be booked at kiosks in the arrivals area of both terminals, and are unquestionably the best transport option. Renting a car to get around is not always the best idea in India. Roads can be a bit dodgy and during the rainy season conditions get quite nasty.

Schooling begins at the age of three with two years of kindergarten followed by ten years of primary and secondary education. Schools in Chennai are either run publicly by the Tamil Nadu government or privately, some with financial aid from the government. The medium of education is either English or Tamil. Most schools are affiliated with the Tamil Nadu State Board, the Matriculation Board or the Central Board of Secondary Education. Students then need to complete two years of higher secondary education in either science or commerce before being eligible for college education in a general or professional field of study. The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University, founded in 1794 are two well known centres for engineering education in the city, most city colleges that offer engineering programs.

The Murugan temple at Tirupporur is one of the major temples dedicated to Lord Muruga in Tamilnadu. The Murugan temple is situated at a distance of about 45 km from Chennai. It is an ancient temple, which was built during the reign of the Pallava rulers. The Murugan temple is associated with many legends. According to one legend, Lord Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi were subjected to the curse of saint Kanva. Lord Shiva came to Tirupporur and relieved them from this curse.

Fort St. Geroge was built in 1640 AD, by the British East India Company under the direct supervision of Francis Day and Andrew Cogon. This place achieved its name from Saint George, the patron saint of England. The fort houses Saint Mary's Church and fort museum. Saint Mary's Church the oldest Anglican Church built in 1680 and the tombstones in its courtyard are the oldest British tombstones in India.

Thousand Lights Mosque is a well-known worship place for the Muslims in the Chennai city of Tamil Nadu. It is situated at the Anna Salai Road in the city. The mosque is popular for a number of reasons, such as its name, its architecture and its historical and religious importance. In early 19th century, the place where the mosque presently stands used to be the assembly place of the Shiite Muslims, during the month of Muharram. Later, the assembly hall was built, following which the mosque was constructed.

Chennai is a hustling and bustling metropolitan city, swirling on the tunes of daily activities. To acquire respite from the hum drum of the city, a number of festivals and fairs are celebrated here. These festivals are a part of the cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu and are looked forward to, by both the residents as well as the tourists. Besides, these fairs and festivals are a mirror of the social and religious lives and beliefs of the people of South India.