Chennai

The Cultural Capital of South India
This painting captures the essence of Chennai, blending its rich
heritage, vibrant cultural landscape, and enduring icons. Anchoring
the composition is an outline of Chennai’s coastline along the Bay of
Bengal, paired with a traditional Kollam pattern, a nod to the city’s
deep-rooted Tamil traditions.
Home to India’s second-largest collection of heritage buildings,
Chennai’s architecture reflects the British-era Indo-Saracenic style
seen in landmarks like the Madras High Court and Ripon Building. The
city’s religious diversity comes alive through temples and iconic
places of worship, including Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Triplicane Big
Mosque, and Santhome Basilica among others.
Chennai’s modern evolution is symbolized by the Kathipara Flyover,
South Asia’s largest cloverleaf interchange, while cultural icons
include a Thirukkural verse against the backdrop of Valluvar Kottam,
Bharatanatyam dancer, Carnatic music, and the beloved “Thalaiva,”
Rajinikanth. Cricket has a stronghold here too, embodied by
Chepauk Stadium with the Chennai Super Kings logo.
Marina Beach, India’s longest urban beach, graces the coastline with
its golden sands, lighthouse, nostalgic carousels and beach Sundal
stalls. Rounding out the city’s icons are the green Pallavan buses,
Madras cloth — a lightweight, tartan cotton fabric iconic in summer
wear, including the popular lungi — and the Royapuram railway
station, one of India’s oldest operational stations. North Chennai’s
thriving automotive industry further cements the city’s industrial
prominence.
Completing the city’s portrait are Tamil Nadu’s state flower, the
flame lily, and its state bird, the Emerald dove, alongside water birds
frequenting Puzhal Lake, grounding Chennai in both natural beauty
and urban energy.