Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the largest city in South India. Situated on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, it is a major cultural, economic, and educational hub. Chennai is often called the "Detroit of India" due to its thriving automobile industry — nearly 40% of India's automobiles are manufactured here, with plants by Hyundai, Ford, BMW, and Renault-Nissan. The city is renowned for its classical music and dance scene, particularly during the Margazhi music season in December-January. Marina Beach, the second-longest urban beach in the world, is an iconic landmark. Chennai also has a booming IT sector, with the Tidel Park, SIPCOT IT Park, and the OMR IT corridor hosting major tech companies.