Chennai Travel Guide

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Chennai, (formerly Madras) the first city of Tamil Nadu, is a comparatively new city. The erstwhile villages of Mylapore, Triplicane, Ezhambur (Egmore) etc. all now a part of Chennai, have a recorded historical past centuries older than Chennai. Chennai, the present gateway to the South of India, is itself, however, only about 350 years old.

Chennai or Madras is the fourth largest metropolis in India. Located on a 17 km stretch of the Coramandel coast, the city is trisected by the waterways of Cooum and Adyar and the Buckingham Canal. Popularly regarded as the 'Gateway to the South', Chennai presents culture that is distinctly different from that of northern India. Music, dance and all other art forms of the South are cherished and nurtured in this city, which though industrialized continues to be traditional and conventional in many ways.

The Legacy of the Chennai's Past
Chennai, one of the four major metropolitan cities of India, is also the capital of Tamilnadu - the exotic state famous for its cutworks in the temples, coconut fringes and silk saris. Well placed on the coastline of the country, it has number of tourist places for the visitor. The Marina beach, where the cerulean blue waters of the Bay of Bengal mingle with the golden sands, or the forts and palaces, which recapitulate the memories of the bygone era, Chennai is the most frequently visited destination of the tourists. The city is the true representative of the Dravidian culture and legacy.

Once a fishing community, the metro city Chennai was made a capital of the British presidency in 1639. It was the bone of contention between the British and the French empires.

Reaching Chennai

By Air
Chennai is an international arrival point and an important domestic airport. The Anna International Airport is well organised and not too heavily used, making Chennai a god entry or exit point. There's rarely more than one plane on the ground at any given time. Right next door is the relatively new Kamarajar Domestic Airport

By Bus
The Chennai city is well connected to all the major cities in Tamil Nadu and other neighboring states through an excellent road network. Interstate buses operate at regular intervals from Chennai. Many private operators are available for domestic and interstate transportation.

By Rail
Chennai is the headquarters of Southern Railway and well connected to all the major cities in India through a wide network of railways. Trains operate from Egmore Junction to different parts of the state while interstate trains originate from Chennai Central Station.

The reservation office (Phone 91-44-8251564/55) is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 2pm and 2.15pm to 8pm: Sunday from 8am to 2pm. At Egmore station, the booking office is in the station itself, and is open the same hours as the office at Central station.

Climate
Chennai is basically a tropical city and humidity prevails normally between 62 to 86%. Proximity to the sea brings in cool breeze much to the relief of the scorched Chennai. Normally Chennai records in a day 36.5 C maximum and 20.8 C minimum. April-May being the summer in Chennai. When the mercury sometimes shoots upto 42 C. Winter spreads over November-January. The monsoon lashes the city at different spells between July-August & September - November. However, the rainy days restricted to a few days to a couple of weeks during these monsoon periods, that makes the situation pleasant for a tourist. Average rainfall is 1215 mm

Accommodation In Chennai

Executives have a wide choice. Most of the popular locations are within a radius of 10 km from the business areas of the cities, which means commuting is not a problem like in many other cities. Hotels and restaurants to cater everyone's budget and taste are available in Chennai ranging from the cheapest to the most luxurious. The budget and mid-range hotels are mainly situated around Egmore. The top range hotels are situated mainly in and around Anna Salai. Advance booking is recommended since demand for rooms will be high. We Have Listed few better known hotels and resorts of Chennai.

5 Star Hotel
Welcome Group Chola Sheraton
10 Cathedral Road, Chennai 600 086, India
Tel:+(91)(44) 28278779
Fax:+(91)(44) 28280101

Taj Coromandel
17, Uthamar Gandhi Salai , Chennai 600 034, India
Phone : +(91) (44) 28272827
Fax : +(91) (44) 28257104

Welcome Group Park Sheraton
32 TTK. Road, Chennai 600 018, India
Tel: +(91) (44) 24994191
Fax: +(91) (44) 24997101

Mid Range Hotel
The Residency
49, G.N.Chetty Road , T.Nagar, Chennai 600 017
Tel: +(91) (44) 28253434
Fax: +(91) (44) 28250085

Breeze Hotel
850, Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai 600 010
Tel: +(91) (44) 26413334~37/26428202
Fax: +(91) (44) 26413301

Hotel Kanchi
28, Commander-In-Chief Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 015
Tel: +(91) (44) 28271100/101/102
Fax: +(91) (44) 28272928

Madras Hotel Ashoka
33, Pantheon Road , Egmore, Chennai 600 008
Tel: +(91) (44) 28253377/8/9
Fax: +(91) (44) 28256597 *

The Myriad Attractions of Chennai
Santhome Cathedral
Built over the tomb of apostle St. Thomas, the Santhome Cathedral is an important pilgrimage centre. According to legends, St. Thomas arrived in India from Palestine in AD 52 and died after 26 year. The church was built after a millennium, probably by the Persian Christians, and his remains were moved inside. The church was refurbished in 1606 and made into a cathedral. Again, in 1806, it was rebuilt as a basilica. There is a museum in its premises with a 16th-century map of South Asia.

Guindy National Park & Snake Park
These parks are adjacent to each other. The Guindy National Park is 1 km from the Guindy station. The Snake Park with its lizards, crocodiles and turtles is quite interesting. It is well maintained with generous enclosures. Information boards debunk many myths about reptiles. The parks are open daily, except Tuesday, 8.30 am to 5 pm.

Parthasarthy Temple
The temple of Sri Parthasarathy at Triplicane, is one of the two famous and ancient shrines in Chennai, the Capital city of Tamil Nadu State near the famous Marina Beach. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, is said to have renovated by a king of Pallava Dynasty. "Brindaranya" is the traditional Puranic name of "Thiru-Alli-Keni" now popularly known as "Thiruvallikeni" or Modern "Triplicane", situated on the sea-shore about two miles from Fort Saint George. Some of the other name for this great Kshetra Triplicane include "Kairavini Brindaavanan" and "Thulasivana

National Art Gallery
Built in 1906, the gallery is situated in a splendid Indo-Saracenic edifice. The building was initially known as Victoria Memorial Hall and was designed by Henry Irwin. The eminent historian Tillotson described it as one of /”the proudest expressions of the Indo-Sarcenic movement/”. There is a good collection of old paintings and sculptures including Tanjore paintings on glass; Rajput and Mughal miniature paintings; Deccan paintings from 17th century; and handcrafts, metalware, and ivory carvings from 11th and 12th century.

Vivekananda Illam

Originally called Ice House, this landmark was re-christened Vivekananda Illam in 1963. This was in remembrance of Swami Vivekananda's brief sojourn here. (in 1897 when he delivered seven historic lectures at Chennai).

The building served the Tudor Ice Company, which used it for storage of ice from 1842 to 1874. Its structure was such that Ice could remain without melting for long periods. The Government took over the building in 1930 and it has been renovated recently, with a statue of Swami Vivekananda installed. Today, it houses a Gallery of 150 rare photographs on the life of Swami Vivekananda. It also houses a section on India's cultural heritage and on the history of the building itself.

Beaches of Chennai
One of the Four Metros of the country, is also the Gateway to the South. It is bestowed with a 4.5 Kms. long stretch of Beach, the second longest in the World, called the Marina Beach. Horse riding, an Aquarium, a large swimming pool are the relaxation facilities available here.

Visits to the popular landmarks, Anna and M.G.R. Memorials, jog along the beach in the morning, when the sun rises from the Bay of Bengal or relax in the lawns and watching the sun setting behind the good-old Indo-Saracenic buildings on the West. Or you can start an evening stroll from the Light House or climb atop the light house for a bird's eye view of Chennai.

Marina Beach
Marina beach lies to the east of Chennai (Madras) at Kamarajar Road, 3 Km from the city centre. The fine sandy beach said to be the longest beach in India and one of the longest in Asia, extends to a length of 13 Km, from Fort St. George all the way to Mahabalipuram. There is a drive along the beach fringed with palms and casuarinas running the whole length of Chennai.

Theosophical Society
The Theosophical society, is set in a tranquil spot on the banks of the Adyar river. There is a huge banyan tree, with its branches spreading over an area of 40,000 sq. ft, where discourses are conducted. Visitors can look around between 8 am –11 am and 2 pm – 5 pm, on all days (Monday to Friday). Saturdays 8 am – 11 am. Sunday closed.

Shopping in Chennai
Chennai leads the rest of the country when it come to the retail experience with some of the swankiest and largest retail stores setting up shop here first. These stores sell western and ethnic wear. For traditional arts and crafts visit Cottage Emporium, Poompuhar Emporium and Victoria Technical Institute all of which are at Anna Salai. For exotic Kanjeevaram silk sarees Nalli's Rasi and Kumaran silks at T Nagar are a delight.Both plastic and paper currencies are widely accepted.

Excursions
The Crocodile Bank
The Crocodile Bank is about 35 km south of Chennai (Madras) city on the scenic East Coast Highway, en route to Mamallapuram (aka Mahabalipuram). Coming from Chennai, it is about 5 km beyond Kovalam and 14 km before Mamallapuram. There are regular buses to and from the city.

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
This waterbird sanctuary attracts over 30,000 species of birds from near and far which nest and breed in a lake spread over 30 hectares. This bird sanctuary is home to egrets, herons, cormorants, spoonbills, grebes, pelicans, stroks, ibies and many more The best season for a visit is from November to February.

Tirupati
The temple of Sri Venkateswara or Balaji is situated in the hill top town of Tirumala above Tirupati. There are steep stairs up the hill to Tirumala. Thousands of devotees make the pilgrimage by foot. The temple is situated on top of seven hills. It is one of the most important Vishnu temple in India and also the richest. Over 25000 people visit the temple daily and on festival days the number can go up 100000. The average income of the temple 10 lakhs a day. The temple has a staff of over 600 people.

Around the temple are the Varahswami temple and the Swami Pushkarani tank. The Brahmotsava which lasts for eleven days in the main festival of the temple. The Float festival and the Chariot festival are other festivals.

Kanchipuram (75 kms.):
Along with Chennai and Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram forms the famous Golden Triangle of the Coromandel Coast. Almost all tourists visit Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram finds place on the global map because of the wonderful craftsmanship of the Kanchi weavers, the makers of what is perhaps the finest silk fabric in the world. This spectacular temple city is one of the seven sacred cities of India. It was, successively, capital of the kingdoms of the Pallavas, Cholas and rajas of Vijayanagar. The temples and gopurams are exquisite reminders of the beauty of Dravidian architecture, from the freshness and simplicity of the Pallavas' 7th-century Kailasanatha Temple through to the Vijayanagar Empire's 16th-century Ekambareshwara Temple. The latter covers nine hectares, has a 59-metre-high gopuram, a 1000-pillared hall and a sacred mango tree said to be 3500 years old. Kanchipuram is also famous for its hand-woven silk fabrics

Festivals of Chennai
Arubathimoovar Festival March/April
Arubathimoovar' refers to the 63 saints of Shiva canonised for leading exemplary lives of devotion and penance. Bronze figures of these 63 saints adorn the magnificent Kapaliswar Temple at Mylapore, Chennai. Once, every year, they are carried in a colourful procession through the streets of Mylapore.

Pongal
Pongal, the four-day Harvest Festival, is celebrated all over the state in January. The festival begins on the last day of the Tamil month. On the second day Chakkara Pongal, a delicacy made of harvested rice cooked with jaggery, ghee and cashew nuts is offered to the Gods. Pongal ends on the fourth day with a bullfight.