What is it about Chennai that makes it so extraordinary? Is it the ancient temples hosting exquisite sculptures? Or the state-of-the-art malls housing international brands? Or the whirring sounds of a typical auto-rickshaw, in the early hours of the morning?
Situated in the south of India, Chennai’s architecture wows
its visitors. Its beach clubs and five star hotels are luxury resorts, with
magnificent marble columns and slick, glistening floors. The tycoons’
farmhouses span acres of land, with stupendous canvases and tranquil lakes
accommodating gliding silvery-orange fish, which shimmer in the faint glow of
sunset. Twinkling lights emanate a warm welcome to gaping visitors who cannot
help but be fascinated by the remarkable yet peculiar furniture that decorates
the interior. For art-lovers, clearly Chennai is the place to be. In fact, on
the other side of town, we find ‘Satguru’s’, a boutique displaying the new
upcoming artists, exhibiting both modern art as well as traditional statues of
Hindu deities. The fashion industry is equally impressive, with designs ranging
from embroidered bridal saris to flowing sequinned skirts with exciting colour
combinations, unheard of in the West.
On the other hand, life in the streets is just as
interesting to the eye. Exotic sights and smells radiate from the roadside
sellers displaying fresh fruits and bright flowers. Your heart breaks a little
as a small boy tugs at your trousers asking for food, but your smile returns as
he runs off laughing with the other street boys, content with your small
donation, which actually means the world to him. In fact, empathy dominates
this city, as citizens are always ready to support those in need, such as by
handing out packets of biscuits to the old beggars, with scrawny bodies,
wrinkled skin and toothy smiles.
Being home to the third largest beach in the world, Chennai
flaunts her Marina Beach, complete with a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, which
instils a sense of pride in the locals. Everyday, hundreds flock to the bay, to
watch the waves crash in, or stroll along the coast, or treat themselves to a
snack from one of the several stalls. In my opinion, nothing can compare to the
local street food, whether it is crispy ‘poppadums’ or buttery corn, or ‘butta’
as the locals call it, whose mouth-watering smell wafts through the crowds,
tempting almost every soul it touches.
All in all, Chennai is an incredibly
happening city, presenting a wide array of opportunities, and blending the past
with the present whilst linking several cultures together. It is truly what I
would call ‘a feast for your senses’.
