Chennai, formerly known as Madras, stands as the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India, nestled along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. As per the 2011 Indian census, it claims the sixth position among India’s most populous cities and forms the fourth-largest urban agglomeration. Established in 1688, the Greater Chennai Corporation holds the distinction of being India’s oldest municipal corporation and the second oldest globally after London.

Historically, the region was under the sway of various kingdoms including the Chola, Pandya, Pallava, and Vijayanagara dynasties. The British East India Company acquired the coastal land housing the fishing village of Madrasapattinam from the Nayak ruler Chennapa Nayaka in the 17th century. The British established the city of Madras and erected Fort St. George, marking the inception of the first British fortress in India. Subsequently, Madras became the winter capital of the Madras Presidency during the colonial era. Following India’s independence in 1947, Madras retained its status as the capital city of the Madras State, later Tamil Nadu. The official renaming of the city to Chennai occurred in 1996.

The city encompasses Chennai district, along with its surrounding suburbs, forming the Chennai Metropolitan Area. This urban sprawl ranks as the 35th largest globally by population and boasts one of India’s largest metropolitan economies. Chennai hosts the fifth-largest urban economy nationwide and once held the distinction of harboring the third-largest expatriate population in India. Serving as a gateway to South India, Chennai attracts a significant influx of visitors, earning the 36th spot among the most-visited cities worldwide in 2019. Its status as a beta-level city in the Global Cities Index underscores its appeal, often recognized among the top cities for living in India and lauded for its safety.

Renowned as “India’s health capital,” Chennai is a prominent hub for medical tourism. Its significance in the automobile industry has earned it the moniker “Detroit of India.” Notably, Chennai was the sole South Asian city to grace National Geographic’s “Top 10 food cities” in 2015 and ranked ninth on Lonely Planet’s list of the best cosmopolitan cities globally. The city’s inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in October 2017 further underscores its cultural significance. Chennai also holds sway as a major center for film production, particularly renowned for its Tamil-language cinema industry.