Held at various places in Chennai, the Chennai Dance and Music Festival is an ultimate blend of cultural and traditional diversity. For all art lovers, this is something that cannot be missed out upon at any cost. As it falls in the month of Margazhi as per the Tamil Calendar, this was also the reason it was earlier known as the Margazhi Festival. Interestingly, this festival is commemorated by the people as a way to connect to the divine within. The artsy and classical performances by the artists do make the whole atmosphere light up with grace, happiness, and all things good. So, if you are up for something cool, then immerse yourself in this interesting combination of music and dance; let yourself soak up in the blissful ecstasy of these great performances and talent showcased by the immensely brilliant performers.
Best Time to Visit Chennai Dance and Music Festival
The festival is organized in December and January and is a month-long event. This festival in the city of Chennai attracts many tourists and travel aficionados every year. The Chennai Dance and Music Festival is the best way to experience the rich cultural extravaganza of South India.
History Of Chennai Dance And Music Festival
The historic roots of Chennai Dance and Music Festival date back to the year 1927 as the Margazhi Festival, and since then, it has been celebrated to pay homage to the Madras Music Academy. However, over the years, the name of this music festival was changed to Music and Dance Festival. It is believed that it was this academy that brought the dance form of Bharatnatyam into the limelight. The soul-stirring tunes played on various musical instruments keep the audience spellbound by its sheer melody. It seems as if the listeners are in a trance listening to these musical tunes.
Major Attractions Of Chennai Dance And Music Festival
1. Powerhouse of Talent and Grand Performances
The Chennai Music and Dance Festival don’t fail to create an impressive crescendo of music, light, and happiness for the audiences. Dancers, vocalists, and all kinds of musicians and artists come together to make this whole affair of art an unforgettable experience. Talking about the music, it ranges from Tamil, Telugu, and several other regional languages.
2. A String of Events
As this festival goes on for about a whole month, these performances can be witnessed at several places locally. Normally more than 300 concerts happen wherein all kinds of senior and junior artists collaborate to deliver some of the most iconic performances spreading their charm.
Places to Visit When Attending Chennai Dance and Music Festival
Chennai has some amazing places of interest, attracting tourists from all over the world. The city is featured in Lonely Planet’s top ten cities to visit.
Marina Beach. One of India’s most popular beaches, Marina is also the largest beach in the country. The iconic old lighthouse standing tall at one end of the beach cannot be missed. Besides, the place is ideal for catching the first glimpse of the sun in the morning. A top-view from the Lighthouse at Marina Beach is a must activity where one goes up to the ninth floor to catch a bird’s eye view of the city of Chennai.
Elliot’s Beach. Smaller in size than Marina, the beach was recently renamed Besant Nagar Beach. The Schmidt Memorial built-in memory of Karl Schmidt, a Dutch sailor, is a popular landmark. There is also an AshtaLakshmi Temple on the beach.
San Thome Church. The church was constructed near the tomb of St. Thomas. With colonial architecture, the white structure is a dominating piece from ancient times located in the centre of the city.
Thousand Lights Mosque. One of the largest mosques in India, the unique feature of this mosque is the 1000 oil lamps that lit up the place that adds charm to the place.
Fort St. George. The Fort is a classic example of British rule in India. The Fort was at the centre of all official activities in the South under the East India company. Today, it is a museum. It also houses the St. Mary’s Church and the tallest Flagstaff in India.
Guindy National Park. This national park is located right in the heart of the city. It is famous for blackbucks, cobras, pythons, quail, partridge, buzzards, and flycatcher birds.
Kapaleeshwarar Temple. Made in the typical Dravidian style, the temple houses idols of Lord Shiva and Karpagambal.
Madras Music Academy. It is for people who are into Carnatic Music and dance. Tourists can catch some great recitals and dance programs that are organized here almost daily.
Birla Planetarium. Constructed in 1988, visitors can have an amazing time getting to see stars and other heavenly bodies in the sky from the Planetarium.
How To Reach Chennai
One of the most popular events in Chennai, the Chennai Dance, and Music Festival, is everything magical that you can imagine. To reach Chennai, you will need to cover an approximate distance of about 2,201, 1,346, 1,674, 347 km from Indian metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, respectively. Here are the details on how you can visit Chennai via the below-mentioned means of public transportation.
· Nearest Airport to Chennai. Chennai International Airport (MAA)
By Air. Deboard at the Chennai International Airport (MAA) and take some means of public transportation to reach your destination. The airport is well-connected with other Indian cities via regular direct and connecting flights. From the airport, you will need to take some means of public transport to reach your destination. Hire a prepaid taxi or a cab to reach the venue of the Chennai Dance and Music Festival.
By Train
If you plan to travel to Chennai, you can deboard at either Chennai Central station, Chennai Egmore, or Tambaram station. All of these stations have excellent overall connectivity with these stations. Once you deboard, continue your journey further via public transport, private taxi, or cab to your respective destination.
· Nearest Railway Station. Chennai Central Station, Chennai Egmore, Tambaram Station
By Road. You can also plan your trip via road to reach Chennai. The national highways and roads connecting Chennai to other neighboring cities are well-maintained with overall good connectivity. From the nearby regions, one can easily book a bus (private and interstate) or book a private cab at affordable pricing. Otherwise, to reach here, you can also consider self-drive here.
- Distance From Pudducherry - 166 km via NH32
- Distance From Vellore - 137 km via Vellore-Chennai Road
- Distance From Madanapalle - 249 km via Vellore-Chennai Road
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner.
