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Chennai, formerly called Madras, is the capital of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. It is known as the Gateway to South India as it is a significant economic, administrative, and cultural hub of South India. The city has a rich historical background. Some important dynasties like the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, and Vijaynagar empire ruled the region. In the early 16th century, Pallavaram in Chennai became significant when it was believed that St. Thomas was buried there. Many Armenian and Portuguese merchants were attracted to the region. In 1552, the Portuguese built a port named Sao Tome. In 1639, the British East India Company purchased a piece of land from the ruler of the Vijayanagar dynasty, Peda Venkata Raya and built Fort St George, a factory and trading post in the fishing village of Madraspatnam. They shortened the name of the city to Madras. In 1801, Madras became the administrative and commercial centre of the British Raj in South India. After India gained independence, Madras remained the capital of the state of Madras, which was later renamed Tamil Nadu. In 1996, the official name of the city was changed to Chennai. The main festivals celebrated in Chennai are Pongal, Chitthirai, Mahamagam, Navratri, etc. The local dishes of the city include dosa, idli, sambhar, uttapam, rasam, dry curry, kootu, coconut chutney. During the winter season, from November to February, the weather is cool and pleasant. This is an ideal time for travellers to enjoy sightseeing around the historical monuments, watersports at the numerous beaches, and the many festivals and fairs organised during this time. The temperature hovers between 28°C and 32°C in the daytime and the nights see a drop of a few degrees further. Tamil is the main language spoken here. A small percentage of the population speak Telugu and Malayalam. The majority of the population is well-versed in English.