Chennai was the new name decreed by popular consent in 1993 thus changing it from Madras, the name that was used by the British when they set up the East India Trading Company in a tiny village called Madras Patnam around 1700. Over the years the City grew tremendously through its location on the trade routes and for having a deep water port. When the British Empire took over from the East India Company after the Mutiny of 1857, Chennai was no longer a fishing hamlet but a thriving city.
Amusingly, the British administration for South India though based in Chennai couldn’t cope with the summer heat and would pack up everything from the government and corporation buildings at the start of summer. They then transported everything, desks, files and employees up to the hill stations of the Nilgiris, 2 days travel away for the whole 6 months of the summer season! The hill stations have much more clement weather, much like a good English summer’s day.
There is still visible evidence across the city of British colonization, with some lovely buildings dotted around the City including the main administration centre of
Fort St. George. However, unfortunately many are just crumbling away or being demolished in favor of concrete high rise apartments to house the growing population - now numbering almost 7 million!