Namma Chennai!

I've lived in Chennai all my life and the traffic, the lights and the rush have always been a part of me. And Chennai is a part of my identity.

“What's so special about this city?”, I always ask myself that question. There's no spectacular mountain or an amazing historical story behind it.  It's all self-made.

I've written about so many places in India, and only while searching for topics to write, do I remember that there is this one city I love, with all my heart and soul.  This city is my comfort zone, my guilty pleasure, the place where I go back, at the end of a hard day. This city has remained with me since I was born, and I think will continue with me for a really long time. It offers me so much comfort, that I forget to write about it, to appreciate it. I forget that this city loves me back unconditionally.

You see, Chennai is an emotion, it's NAMMA Chennai, our Chennai, home to many, a city built on a shore.  Whether it's the sparkling water or the hot bajjis, you can find many things in the marina beach, the identity of Chennai. Other cities might have a cafe as their most popular hangout spot, but here in Chennai, you can find all sorts of people in the marina, from young lovers to a few friends running around, to a lone person having a self-realization moment, everyone comes here. 

This buzzing vibe of Chennai might seem hectic to many, but to the young generation that lives here, it gives them an amazing adrenaline rush, even in the most unexpected times. 

Chennai is where I've formed the most amazing friendships, like family, this city has seen me cry, has seen me laugh.  And the most extraordinary thing is, I’m just one of the twenty-five million people that live here. This city provides livelihood for many, many come here to fulfil their dreams, and to me, there’s nothing more special of this city, that I'm forever thankful for.