Latanie do Katmandu Powrót według popularnego popytu 8230 (Zaktualizowany na rok 2018) Wydaje się, że powrót do kraju jest bardziej popularny niż myślałem. Otrzymałem e-mail od osoby z Nepalu z pytaniem, czy mógłbym im powiedzieć, jak to jest naprawdę zejść z samolotu i udać się do Nepalu. Otrzymałem również podobną prośbę o napisanie moich przemyśleń na temat narodowej gazety, aby podsumować Nepal8217 w poprzednim roku turystyki. Wygląda na to, że jest to popularny temat, w którym ludzie gromadzą pierwszych myśli cudzoziemców przybywających do ich kraju. I8217m pod presją czasu, więc zapisałem to wszystko jednym szybkim posiedzeniem. Surowy i nieedytowany. Weź to za to, co warte jest, jako kogoś, kto był tu przedtem. Perspektywa turystów przybywających do Nepalu Zdobywszy moje serce dziesięć lat temu za jego urodę, ludzi, jedzenie i kulturę, nie mogłem pomóc, ale chcę wrócić do Nepalu. Ponieważ był to koniec 2017 roku (I8217ve od kiedy wiele razy wracałem), nepalowie błyszczą rokiem chwały, nie myślałem o lepszym czasie na powrót. Zrelaksuj się, póki możesz w powietrzu 8230, a następnie uderz w ziemię, biegnąc za torbami. W ubiegłym roku mgliste plotki o Nepalu oferujące darmowe wizy turystyczne sprawiły, że uśmiechnął mi się na twarz, a pierwsze pojęcia o powrocie. Oni naprawdę próbują. Pomyślałem sobie. Następnie, aby dowiedzieć się, że dotyczyło to tylko tych na szczycie Everestu, oddałem mój czysty stu dolarowy za trzymiesięczną wizę z mniejszym uśmiechem. Pierwszy raz tu chrząknął oficer imigracyjny, nawet nie patrząc na mnie. Westchnąłem, nawet tradycyjne powitanie Namaste. Napisałem na mojej aplikacji wizowej, że nie był to mój pierwszy raz tutaj. Spojrzał w górę, zdezorientowany. Następnie, w końcu przejrzałem gazety, przeczytałem, co kazano mi dokładnie wypełnić podczas zbliżania się do lotniska w Nepalu. Wszystko to, zanim zostałem następnie odbity między licznikami, obok innych turystów w kolejce. Każdy z nas równie zdezorientowany w tej początkowej procedurze różnych formularzy imigracyjnych, aby wypełnić różne liczniki i punkty płatnicze w Nepalu8217s międzynarodowym porcie lotniczym Tribhuvan. To było na scrum rugby, czyli zbieranie bagażu. Mali mężczyźni w podartych płaszczach zstąpili pierwsi, pytając, czy chcę wózek. Przypomniałem sobie potężny ładunek, gdy tylko wyjdziesz na zewnątrz. Brak opłat za znaki wózka są nieistotne w porównaniu do I pchnął twoje opłaty za bagaż. 16 8211 18 ludzi jest często zgniatanych do tych mikrobusowców 8230 nie mój pomysł na świetny sposób, aby dostać się z lotniska Nie, zignorowałem je, a następnie dołączyłem do każdego człowieka za siebie ramię do próby odzyskania tych toreb. Dwadzieścia minut później przyszła moja torba. Nie, dzięki mnóstwu ludzi otaczających każdą torebkę, która wychodzi na przenośnik taśmowy. Każdy mężczyzna wyzywająco podnosi każdego, by sprawdzić, czy jest jego. Bardzo niepokojące, biorąc pod uwagę, że krążą wokół małych drzwi, blokując widok własnego bagażu, jeśli wyjdzie z niego nietknięty. Po prostu nie masz pojęcia, czy ktoś zabrał twoją torbę albo przez pomyłkę, albo w inny sposób. Coś takiego wydarzyło się tuż przed moim przybyciem. Nastąpiło łagodne bójki, a także ponowne sprawdzenie numerów bagażu i wiele krzyków. Przynajmniej spowodowało to pewną niepokojącą rozrywkę dla nowoprzybyłych w Nepalu. Niestety, funkcjonariusze służb bezpieczeństwa nie widzieli potrzeby wtrącania się w to wszystko. Niektórzy bladzi turyści zbliżali się do siebie w defensywnej postawie, z pewnością zastanawiając się, w co się wpakowali. Nieważne, gdy będziesz jeździć na kółkach lub bardziej prawdopodobne, przeciągnij swoje torby do czasami działającego skanera bezpieczeństwa, 007 jak ochroniarz wyjdzie zza kolumny budynku i poprosi o obejrzenie tagów i biletów na torbę. Daj mi trochę pieniędzy Teraz nadszedł czas na licznik FOREX. Czekałem pięć minut, aż pojawi się mężczyzna. Moje dziesięć dolarów patrzyło na mnie jak na zniewagę. Tak, tylko biorę taksówkę. Podniósł wzrok ku niebu, machnął głową i dał typowy zły kurs wymiany. Z pieniędzmi w ręku to było dla wygłodniałych sępów taksówkarzy czekających na zejście na zewnątrz. W oddali zastanawiałem się, czy ktoś jeszcze nie utworzył turystycznego autobusu na lotnisko do Thamel. Miły gest, biorąc pod uwagę rok, w którym jest. Słyszałem, że poza główną bramą znajduje się lokalny mikro-van, naliczane są opłaty za paliwo. Weź taksówkę Rozglądając się, zobaczyłem tylko masę kart z nazwiskami i sprytną grupę taksówkarzy, którzy zaczęli czytać, by rzucić się na nowo przybyłych. Wezwanie tylko tysiąca rupii spotkało się z moimi uszami, gdy jeden po drugim nowi turyści zostali wyrwani wzdłuż ścieżki. Oczywiście wszystko to może być łagodnie załatwione, gdybym po prostu włóczył się po okolicy i próbował zlokalizować 8220official 8221 bilet na taksówkę za 400 8211 losowych opłat za odgadnięcie. O dziwo, widziałem to budki tylko w krajowej sekcji lotów 8230 Tylko pięćset rupii. Jeden z maruderów trzymał mnie i podążał za mną. Nepalskie taksówki 8211 Małe samochody Suzuki, które tak naprawdę są 8220 po 8221 małych 8230 Dwieście pięćdziesiąt, odpuściłem. Śmieje się, w ten sposób, że tak, nie, proszę pana, nie ma paliwa w Katmandu w tym tygodniu. W żadnym tygodniu nie ma paliwa w Katmandu, odpowiadam. Trzysta ostatnich. Spojrzał na malejące tłumy, a potem znów na mnie, zanim skorzystał z szansy i wrócił do pozostałych turystów stojących przed tym atakiem. Rozglądam się. Noc schodziła. Z boku stało kilka taksówek, ale nikt nie był zainteresowany moimi trzystoma rupiami. Gdybym już przekroczył swój cel, zszedłem na główną drogę wyjazdową, obawiając się, że w pudełeczku z zapałkami po furgonetce z Nepalu znikną taksówki. Potem nastąpiła typowa zapora handlu, a ja dostałem się za dwieście pięćdziesiąt, plus obietnica kolejnej pięćdziesiąt póżniej, jeśli dotarliśmy do właściwego miejsca. Witaj w Nepalu Dwadzieścia minut później wracam do mojego starego pensjonatu. Brak energii elektrycznej, zrzucanie ładunków osiąga swój szczyt zimowy, tak jak opuściłem go po raz ostatni. Witaj ponownie w Nepalu, jak dotąd niewiele się zmieniło w roku turystyki. Dobrze, że teraz jest w 2017 roku i możemy iść naprzód. Pisząc to w moim oświetlonym świeczkami pokoju, zadaję sobie pytanie: 8220 raz, naprawdę, naprawdę, więcej niż wystarczająco 8220 Przygoda czeka8221 jest bardziej podobna. Nieważne przyjazdu, I8217m nie jest pierwszym gościem. Wiem, że jutro wyruszę i omijam dzielnicę Thamel w Kathmandu, aby poznać prawdziwych nepalskich ludzi. Ludzie chętnie opowiedzą im o tym, jak postępują sprawy poza tym maleńkim, śródlądowym krajem w ciągu ostatnich kilku lat. Podzielimy się herbatą więcej niż raz. Będą się zastanawiać, dlaczego wróciłem. I zastanawiam się, dlaczego nie wróciłem wcześniej. Szybkie wskazówki, jak przetrwać na lotnisku w Tribhuvanie (aktualizacja 2018 r.) Międzynarodowe przyloty i odloty z lotniska w Katmandu często mogą być bardziej zawiłe niż to konieczne. Podczas gdy wielu pasażerów nie odczuwa tak dużego rozdrażnienia lub frustracji, może się zdarzyć. Najlepiej być przygotowanym w obu przypadkach. Przejazd przez lotniska w Katmandu Kolejki imigracyjne Wypełnij dokumenty przylotu na samolocie po ich wydaniu Po odejściu od samolotu popchnij i pchnij, jak wszyscy, aby wyprzedzić pierwsze. Przybywając do poczekalni imigranckiej, zwróć uwagę na kolejki (nepalijskie paszporty zagranicznych paszportów) ), przejdź do bankomatu, tak jak kioski elektroniczne po lewej stronie Umieść swoją stronę identyfikatora paszportu w czytniku urządzenia na skanerze w lewym dolnym rogu. Upewnij się, że bit kodu kreskowego znajduje się bezpośrednio nad czarną częścią skanera. Niech skan 8230 czekać trochę 8230 spróbuj ponownie. Jeśli się powiedzie, musisz potwierdzić, naciskając na ekranie dotykowym. Zostaniesz poproszony o podanie danych Twojego hotelu i długości pobytu. Jest tam bardzo denerwujące nepalskie kody 8220Ward8221 i 8220District8221, które należy wypełnić. Przycisnąłem 822000008221 dla wszystkich i zaakceptowałem to. Maszyna spróbuje zrobić ci zdjęcie. Tak, prawdopodobnie będziesz musiał trochę kucnąć i krok. Przytrzymaj przycisk nie reagowania 8220take 8221, aż w końcu stanie się posłuszny i zrobione zostanie twoje zdjęcie. Potwierdź wszystkie swoje dane i odbierz kawałek papieru, który wypluwa. Podejdź do następnego lady, która znajduje się na końcu hali przylotów lub na prawo od automatów paszportowych. Przekaż karteczkę wraz z wymaganymi pieniędzmi (USA, RMB, Sterling lub Euro 8211, abyś był bezpieczniejszy z USD) za dwa lub trzy kolorowe paragony (w przylocie jest bankomat, ale rzadko działa, więc nie licz na to) po prawej stronie i będzie kilka kiosków dla wiz. Niektóre są przez 1530 dni, inne na 90 dni. Don8217w kolejce na niewłaściwy licznik lub zostanie wysłany do innego w dół rzędu. Najpierw sprawdź, a następnie w kolejce. Nad nimi znajdują się małe znaki Przekaż wszystkie pokwitowania i paszport przed potwierdzeniem jakiego rodzaju wizy chcesz. Zdobądź naklejki jak znaczki. Zostaw na lewo Uwaga: powyższe może ulec zmianie w przypadku kaprysu 8230, ale to jest procedura obowiązująca od 2018. Odbierz bagaż na lotnisku Powinieneś mieć mały kod kreskowy i numer przyczepiony do biletu lub paszportu, który powinien pasować do twojego bagażu 8211 don8217t go zgubić Jeśli w grupie jedna osoba powinna zostać z powrotem z bagażem podręcznym, podczas gdy wszyscy inni utworzą krąg ochronny i zbliży się do okna wyjścia przenośnika taśmowego, jeśli to możliwe. Jeśli jesteś sam, upewnij się, że wszystkie twoje rzeczy są zapięte i barka w pierwszej kolejności, aby uzyskać jasny obraz miejsca, w którym powinny pojawić się Twoje torby Wszystkie wózki bagażowe mogą być używane bezpłatnie. Don8217t przyjmuje oferty przewozu bagażu od wszystkich Nie bój się odepchnąć od siebie falującej masy mężczyzn, kobiet i starców przepychających Cię wszędzie, gdzie tylko mogą, czekając na pojawienie się bagażu. Daj cala i natychmiast wepchnij się w plecy Bądź przygotowany na bliską cielesną kontakt z ludźmi o wysokim zapachu wszystkich rodzajów Kiedy pas przenośnika zacznie się poruszać stanie na swoim miejscu Jeśli zobaczysz, że twoja torba się porusza, to powinna dotrzeć do ty. Nie przejmuj się, gdy zobaczysz co najmniej pięć osób, które podniosły go, by sprawdzić, czy jest ich. Nawet jeśli jesteś jedyną osobą na świecie z torbą pokrytą różowymi kropeczkami Chwyć torbę i pozwól tłumowi powoli popychać Cię na plecy. Wyjdź na główną polankę i przygotuj się na manię bezpieczeństwa, aby wyskoczyć. On chce porównać ten numer biletu, który powinien pasować do twojego numeru biletu na torbę. Jeśli tam elektryczność ma swoją torbę prześwietloną w drodze na zewnątrz Zmieniając pieniądze na lotnisku w Kathmandu Tam8217s małą walutę przy drzwiach wyjściowych: poczekaj, aż pojawi się mały człowiek 8211 he8217s dość zrzędliwy, więc nie bój się z nim. Zapytaj go. Zapyta cię, jak bardzo chcesz się zmienić. Jego minimalna zmiana wynosi 50 USD, co da mu złą cenę. You8217ll trochę za taksówkę. Odejdź i spróbuj nie czuć się pokonany przez jego uśmieszek Jak dostać się z lotniska do Thamel lub miasta Kathmandu W 2018 r. Stawka z lotniska do Thamel wynosi 450 rupii. 400, jeśli jesteś naprawdę dobry w targach. 500 jest, jeśli po prostu nie chcesz dużo targować. 600-800 przyniesie Ci mniej kłopotów. Jeśli masz zamiar zapłacić cokolwiek ponad to, proszę po prostu wyślij to do mnie lub kup sobie jeden z moich przewodników po Nepalu, który wyjaśnia to bardzo zwięźle. Kiedy wyjdziesz poza główne drzwi budynku (możesz zabrać ze sobą wózek na bagaż) zignoruj masę taksówek do ciebie i skręć w prawo, nie mów "cześć" ani "Namaste", po prostu chodź Kiedy tłumy chudną, rzucają jeden z nich 8220250 rupii Thamel8221. Nie zatrzymuj się. Powtarzaj, dopóki tylko jeden człowiek nie opuścił twojej głowy na powtarzające się wzmianki o kosztach paliwa. Powiedz, że wiesz, że istnieje niedobór paliwa od kiedy byłeś tutaj w zeszłym tygodniu. Upewnij się, że to rozumie. Rozpocznij proces negocjacji z powtarzającą się taktyką W końcu taksówkarz uzgodni cenę, a następnie zniknie. He8217 wyruszyli w poszukiwaniu innego taksówkarza, aby przekonać cię, czy mogą cię zgnieść z innymi ludźmi lub 8220Friend8221. Nigdy nie należy przyjmować jazdy taksówką z 8220Friend8221, nawet jeśli idą tylko do bramy wyjściowej. Upewnij się i potrójnie potwierdź, że taksówkarz zna dokładny adres Twojego hotelu i zgadza się na cenę. Zdobądź jego imię. Powtórz cenę. Wsiadaj do taksówki i ciesz się jazdą 8211 jesteś prawie tam Uwaga: Wszystkie powyższe mogą ulec zmianie, podobnie jak prawdziwe piękno Nepalu. Nie traktuj niczego zbyt poważnie i nigdy nie krzycz na nikogo ani nie denerwuj się. Większość Nepalczyków musi przejść przez te same problemy, które robisz po przybyciu do kraju, i nie jest pod takim wrażeniem systemu. Prawdziwe braki paliwa występują regularnie, cena taksówki zwykle wzrasta o 100-1000 rupii w zależności od czasu jej trwania. Z bramy lotniska do miasta jest autobus (mikro van). To jest ból, ale będzie kosztować tylko 10 rupii i podrzuci cię do Swayambhunatha. Podczas strajków znajduje się prawdziwy autobus, który zabierze Cię z lotniska. Opuszczając lotnisko w Kathmandu W przypadku, gdy zastanawiałeś się, czy było tak samo przyjemnie, jak wyjeżdżasz, napiszę kilka wskazówek na temat opuszczenia lotniska w Katmandu. Pobierz mój przewodnik po mieście Kathmandu Podobała się ta strona You8217ll love my guidebook It8217s guide8282s lepszy od reszty. Tak naprawdę. Spójrz i przekonaj się sam. Obejmuje wszystko, co musisz wiedzieć, dzięki szczegółowym, łatwym do śledzenia mapom. piesze wycieczki. ostateczne opisy (ze zdjęciami) każdej świątyni. rekomendacje plus osobiście odwiedzane restauracje i recenzje noclegów, dzięki którym możesz odkryć w zasięgu ręki, że nie znajdziesz się nigdzie indziej. Dostępne teraz dla tabletów, telefonów komórkowych, komputerów stacjonarnych i drukarek. Najlepsze gwarantowane stawki internetowe napisałem w komentarzu powyżej szczegółów, dlaczego tak jest. Ale żeby to potwierdzić, taksówka jest łatwiejsza niż autobus z lotniska do Thamel. Wow, musiałem być nieprzytomny, kiedy poszedłem tam kilka lat temu. Było to zaledwie kilka tygodni po tym, jak wszyscy członkowie rodziny królewskiej zostali zamordowani i wszędzie byli strażnicy. Wydaje mi się, że nie wielu turystów sprawiło, że był to bardzo prosty proces w tym czasie. A więc ten opis jest niesamowity, nie zauważyłem żadnej znaczącej różnicy od przyjazdu do Vanuatu lub Fidżi. Opis mini van, z postrzępioną tapicerką, wielorakimi zapachami, falą tłumów, po prostu wydawało się Fidżi lub Vanuatu na większą skalę tho8217 Istnieje pewien element ekscytacji, zabarwiony cieniem 8220osobowego zagrożenia8221 tys. Muszę przyznać, ale zabawa Hi Poppie, tak myślę, że wiele z powyższych będzie zależało od pory roku (poza szczytem lub szczytem sezonu) i szczęścia losowania z kim jesteś, kiedy lecisz. 2017 był Nepal8217s Rok turystyki, więc I8217m zgaduje, że było tam więcej ludzi. Jakie są główne różnice między autobusem i taksówką Taxi zabierze Cię bezpośrednio do miejsca docelowego. Autobus to naprawdę mikro-van, który musisz flagować, jechać do parku Ratna, wysiąść, zdobyć inny, a następnie wysiąść na zewnątrz i wejść. Oba są opcjami, różnica w cenie to około 200 rupii w dobry dzień . Bardzo dobre i użyteczne informacje W zeszłym roku dwukrotnie wjechałem do Nepalu i po raz drugi, na podstawie moich doświadczeń, opuściłem Thamel i poszedłem do mojego pensjonatu niedaleko Gwarko w Patan z lokalnym autobusem, czułem się o wiele lepiej niż przy pierwszym wejściu Nepal: nie trzeba negocjować z taksówkarzami, tylko 30 rupii i prawie czułem, że jestem mieszkańcem, częścią lokalnej społeczności. Tak, też unikam Thamla. Użyłem tego jako punktu odniesienia, ponieważ większość osób przybywających może nie być obeznanych z Patanem. Będąc w KTM trzymam się na zewnątrz, zbyt hałaśliwe i denerwujące, planuję pojechać do Nepalu po raz pierwszy tego lata pod koniec lipca. Czy masz jakąkolwiek radę na lato? Słyszę, że jest bardzo mokro i deszczowo. Czy cały czas padał deszcz, czy istniały niebezpieczeństwa związane z osuwiskami itp. Będę głównie w Katmandu, odwiedzając przyjaciela. Nie jestem pewien, czy będę podróżował dużo, bo w całym kraju miałbym tylko 9 lub 10 dni. Wszelkie wskazówki lub porady będą wspaniałe. Dzięki Pod koniec lipca jest rzeczywiście pora monsunowa w Nepalu. It8217s z pewnością nie jest najlepszą porą roku, aby przejść 8220trekking w Nepalu8221, ale do odwiedzenia Kathmandu, nie powinno być żadnych problemów. Pogoda monsunowa w Nepalu zwykle oznacza od 1-3 ciężkich ulew w ciągu dnia. Ulewa trwa zwykle około godziny. Czasami w mieście wylewa się trochę ulicy, ale po upływie godziny nic nie znika. Zmiany klimatyczne wpływają na pewne rzeczy, a czasem także na dzień lub dwa przez cały dzień. Nie ma osuwisk w samym mieście Katmandu. Osuwiska zdarzają się tylko w górach lub na górskich drogach. Więc znowu, jeśli nie planujesz odwiedzić wiosek w górach, powinieneś być w porządku. Przynieś lekką kurtkę przeciwdeszczową, która jest bardzo ciepła o tej porze roku, więc nie musisz niczego ciężkiego. Jest też dużo kurtek przeciwdeszczowych itp. Na sprzedaż w Thamel Kathmandu, więc znowu nie powinno być problemów. Dobry zestaw butów trekkingowych lub przynajmniej coś, co obejmuje kostki to mała wskazówka nawet w mieście, aby uniknąć plam i zabrudzeń na stopach. Jednodniowe wycieczki do miejsc takich jak Patan czy Bhaktapur są obowiązkowe, jeśli masz tylko krótki czas. Z Kathmandu można wypróbować krótką wędrówkę do Nagarkot, jeśli pogoda jest dobra. Podobnie, jeśli chcesz podróżować dalej, możesz udać się do sielankowego miasta Pokhara. Tam jest jezioro, światowa stupa pokojowa (prosta wspinaczka na wzgórze). Poświęć trochę czasu na wypróbowanie Muzeum Climbers w Pokhara, gdzie znajdziesz fantastyczne i ogromne zdjęcia. Sprawdź mój przewodnik turystyczny po Nepalu na tej stronie. Również w ciągu najbliższych kilku tygodni będę publikował listę trekkingów, rzeczy do zrobienia w Nepalu itd. Więc trzymaj się wskazówek, itp. Albo zapisz się do nich przez e-mail i otrzymaj je za darmo, dobry sposób na zachowanie listy rzeczy do zrobienia. Zawsze możesz zrezygnować z subskrypcji zanim wyruszysz w podróż). Mam nadzieję, że to pomaga. Dziękuję bardzo. To prawda, nie będę wędrował trekkingiem, ale więcej wizyt kulturalnych. Chciałem również poinformować, że Twoje zdjęcia są niesamowite - uchwycić prawdziwą istotę miejsca, a także ludzi i kultury. Czy masz już stronę Flickr? Dziękuję za wszystkie wskazówki. Mam nadzieję, że wasza podróż zakończy się sukcesem na wiele sposobów. To brzmi jak Dżakarta 2.0). A może nie w raporcie, który lokalna gazeta miała nadzieję, że godzina dwudziesta jest trochę za późno, by zabrać autobusy turystyczne do Pokhary. Możesz wziąć mini van. O tej porze dnia może to być dość kłopotliwe. A podróż będzie miała wiele przystanków i możliwych transferów po drodze. Lepszą opcją byłoby dostać lot do Pokhary, a także opuścić lotnisko w Tribhuvan. Chociaż na lotnisku w Tribhuvan będzie przybywać osoba, która wyląduje na lotnisku międzynarodowym, a loty krajowe odlatują z drugiej strony tego samego obszaru, który nazywa się Tribhuvan Domestic Airport. Musisz iść na zewnątrz i walczyć z taksówkarzami, aby tam chodzić. Niestety, żadna z krajowych linii lotniczych nie oferuje biletów online. Musisz więc zapłacić na miejscu za bilet i mieć nadzieję, że będzie dostępne miejsce, lub spróbuj zarezerwować lot przez agencję przed przyjazdem. Mam nadzieję że to pomoże. Cześć Dave I8217m z powodu wyjazdu do Nepalu po raz pierwszy pod koniec września. Słyszałem, że lotnisko w Kathmandhu było trochę scrumowe. Bardzo przydatny post i porada - dziękuję Bez problemów, cieszę się, że stanowisko było dla ciebie pomocne. Ciesz się podróżą do Nepalu Annie Johnson mówi: Cześć, pojechaliśmy najpierw do Nepalu w 1990 roku 8211 bez pasów bagażowych. Wydaje się, że jest teraz równie chaotyczny. Wracając do mojej szóstej podróży w październiku 8211 tak zakochałem się w kraju, ludziach itp. 8211 zabranie ze sobą przyjaciela po raz pierwszy, więc twoje informacje są tak przydatne. Mamy już wizę, ale nadal będziemy musieli wypełnić formularze Siedem lat, odkąd tam byłem, i nie pamiętam, że liczę dni, w które jedziemy. Wyobrażam sobie, że nie powinieneś czekać w kolejce, żeby otrzymać pokwitowania wizowe, już go masz. Gdybym był tobą, wejdź do imigracji, weź formularz ze stołu, włóż go pod ramię i udaj się prosto do licznika imigracyjnego z otwartym paszportem pokazującym twoją wizę. Znając nepalską biurokrację, możesz uzyskać zrzędzenie, które mówi, że nadal musisz wypełnić formularz. Ale miejmy nadzieję, że po prostu napiszą cię prosto z przyjemnością, by usłyszeć, że strona była dla ciebie pomocna. Sprawdź linki do strony na pasku bocznym mojego przewodnika po Nepalu. Największą zmianą są wszystkie ceny wejściowe. To świetne informacje, w marcu pójdę do KTM. Przypuszczam, że lotnisko ma wolne wifi Mój samolot przybywa późno w nocy (około 22:30). Czy w tym czasie są jeszcze taksówki? Nie obawiam się bezpłatnej sieci WIFI I8217. Ale tak, taksówki w tym momencie będą w pobliżu. They8217ll starają się pobierać wyższe stawki 8230 zapłacić nie więcej niż 500 do Thamel, najlepiej mniej) Ciesz się To są rzeczywiście przydatne i uwielbiam korzystać z tego, kiedy dostaję msef do Nepalu :) To na mojej liścielista chociaż Bill Leggott mówi: Dzięki za info. Jak długo trwa jazda z lotniska do dzielnicy Thamel. Przybieramy 4 kwietnia i lecimy do Pokhary na 6. Wracamy późnym popołudniem z powrotem do Katmandu po paralotniarstwie. Czy krajowy terminal jest łatwy w obsłudze? Z tego powodu ci ludzie chwytają torby na przenośniku. Dostaję, że oni chcą być opłacani za noszenie torebek, ale dopóki nie zostaną zidentyfikowani. Jak oni dostaną za bezpieczeństwem. Proszę wybaczyć, jeśli wydaje się, że naiwne pytania dotyczą Rachunku Żadnych problemów. It8217s około 30 minut od lotniska do Thamel w taksówce w zależności od ruchu, strajki paliwa itp. Terminal krajowy jest w porządku, trochę chaotycznie czasami. Po prostu trzymaj głowę wokół siebie i wszystko będzie w porządku. O workach. Jest bardziej rzeczą nepalską niż rzeczą kradnącą. Ludzie wyjmą worki z przenośnika, jeśli będą wyglądać tak jak oni, lub jeśli pomyślą, że za nimi jest torba, a nawet, że sądzą, że przyspieszy to. Bezpieczeństwo 8230 You8217ll prawdopodobnie zobaczy je tylko podczas odprawy lub w drodze powrotnej. Wylatując z Nepalu mają tendencję do nadgorliwości w poszukiwaniu torby. Mam nadzieję, że to pomaga Jako Nepalczyk wstydzę się mówić ci o tym, ale międzynarodowe lotnisko Katmandu8217 jest zdecydowanie jednym z najgorszych lotnisk na świecie. Od służb lub ich braku, do całkowicie niegrzecznych urzędników imigracyjnych w średnim wieku, jest wiele rzeczy, które musimy poprawić. Wstydzę się zwłaszcza, że turyści są tak zatłoczeni i wyzyskiwani. 1000 rupii z lotniska do Thamel to zwykły rabunek, który mówię. I jak zauważyłeś, małe gówniane wymówki samochodu, który nazywamy naszymi taksówkami, są po prostu żałosne. Nie ma prawie żadnej przestrzeni do włożenia bagaży i wiele razy widziałem, jak Nepalczycy i obcokrajowcy muszą wynająć dwa taksówki, które podwajają tylko kwotę. To żałosne, że urzędnicy lotniskowi nie są w stanie zapewnić nawet autobusu turystycznego, nie mówiąc już o instalowaniu udogodnień dla turystów, takich jak liczniki informacji, odpowiednie toalety (nawet nie mówiliście o tym, że Didn8217 chce odstraszyć czytelników od wizyty w Nepalu)? odpowiednie liczniki wymiany pieniędzy, między innymi. Nie wiem, kiedy rząd i urzędnicy lotniska zdają sobie sprawę z tego, że chcemy, aby nasze pierwsze i ostatnie wrażenie było czymś pozytywnym, a nie obecnym powszechnym niesmakiem, nienawiścią i szyderstwem, jakie dostaje lotnisko. Kilka aktualnych informacji, wpadł do KMT o 20, lotnisko było prawie puste, brak linii na 30-dniową wizę, również 90-dniowa wiza była pusta, ale 15-dniowa wiza była bardzo długa i wszyscy tam byli zakłopotani ( wiza 30-dniowa). Z dwóch formularzy należy wypełnić w dniu przyjazdu, jeden był dostępny w samolocie (Air Asia X), a drugi był dostępny na dużym starym brązowym biurku w holu budynku przylotów. Tylko stoisko FOREX PRZED otwarciu sekcji wizowej o tej porze nocy, te znajdujące się na zewnątrz w pobliżu biura taksówek były zamknięte. Znowu może ze względu na późny czas przyjazdu, ale nie było problemów z bagażem, nikt nie zaproponował, że będzie mógł przewozić torby lub wziąć wóz. Wciąż był facet od ochrony lotniska, który chciałby ci przywieźć tagi bagażu do tych na twoich torbach. Zatrzymałem się w miejscu niedaleko brytyjskiego konsulatu, około 20 minut spacerem od Thamel, a cena podana w oficjalnym biurze taksówek na terenie lotniska wynosiła 750nr, wtedy pierwsza linia taksówek tuż przed drzwiami wyjściowymi lotniska powiedziała, że kosztuje to 1000 , trzymałem się z powrotem w kierunku tyłu parkingu, a następny rząd taksówek wynosił 800 (z powodu taksówki będącej nowym samochodem) ostatni rząd taksówek na parkingu na lotnisku powiedział 600, zaoferowałem 400 i spotkaliśmy się w w środku po 500, a to obejmowało telefon do pensjonatu po wskazówki po drodze (tak, że taksówka wyglądała, jakby również miała rozpaść się i zajęło jej kilka kroków, aby zamknąć tylne drzwi HA) I8217m w kierunku Nepalu w następnym tygodniu. Właśnie szukałem tak wielu wskazówek jak dla Kathmandu i Nagarkota. Pod tym linkiem: nepalembassy. myenservicesvisa. html. istnieje formularz wizy do pobrania. Czy to ta sama forma, co te, które rozdawano w hali przylotów, myślałem o przygotowaniu ich z wyprzedzeniem, aby zaoszczędzić w pewnym momencie. We8217ve zorganizowało również odbiór z lotniska przez hostel, w którym zatrzymujemy się na 5). Co byś powiedział, to byłaby średnia dzienna spędzona w KTM. Dzięki za całą twoją pomoc Nie, to nie jest ta sama forma. To wygląda jak formularz wniosku wizowego od Nepalskiej Ambasady w Malezji. Ten po przybyciu jest inny. Tylko upewnij się, że masz przygotowane zdjęcie paszportowe i pióro. Więcej informacji na temat nepalskich wiz tutaj. Tak, 500 USD za odbiór hotelu jest dobre :) Średni budżet zależy od tego, co robisz. Biorąc pod uwagę, że KTM Durbar Square ma 7,50 $, Patan 5 itd., Niski budżet wynosiłby 15-20 punktów procentowych, nie wliczając zakwaterowania na dzień zwiedzania w KTM, który obejmował jedną opłatę wejściową i jedzenie. Bhaktapur ma 15 lat, więc znowu zależy od tego, dokąd chcesz się udać. Opłaty za taksówki wynoszą 200-300 w całym mieście. Podczas Patan jest 4-5, Bhaktapur ponad 10. Ciesz się pobytem Cześć, dziękuję za bardzo przydatne informacje. Mój przyjaciel i ja jedziemy do Nepalu za 2 tygodnie. Zastanawiam się, czy cena taksówki będzie policzona podwójnie, bo będą 2 pasażerowie. Czy wiesz cokolwiek o zakwaterowaniu w Lumbini? I8217słyszało, że koreański klasztor nie zabiera turystów i nie martwimy się, że utknęliśmy tam bez miejsca do spania. Dziękuję Ci. Żadne opłaty za taksówkę nie są za całą taksówkę, a nie za osobę. Od ubiegłego miesiąca koreański klasztor nadal przyjmuje ludzi za niewielkie darowizny. W przeciwnym razie mała droga w wiosce Lumbini ma kilka pensjonatów. Jestem Nepalczykiem. Bardzo kinetyczny opis, śmiałem się oderwać, czytając ten artykuł. Prawdziwe wizualne dyskrecje po przybyciu do TIA. Będąc Nepalczykiem nadal myliłem się z chaosem po przybyciu na lotnisko, naprawdę było mi przykro z powodu wszystkich turystów i gości odwiedzających Nepal. W przyszłym tygodniu udostępniliśmy wszystkie informacje, których potrzebujemy podczas naszej wycieczki po Nepalu. Blog podróżniczy Blog Blog treści. Jest to dziennik blogowy, który nie przypomina reszty strony - więc poznaj resztę strony za pomocą menu głównego, aby znaleźć wszystko, od przydatnych informacji po przewodniki turystyczne Dzienniki bloga nie zawsze są wyświetlane tak, jak się to dzieje. Chcę udokumentować na piśmie fotografowanie tego, co się ze mną dzieje i tej podróży jako całości. Nie mam dostępu do 247 internetu ani nie pracuję za stacjonarnym biurem mediów. I kiedy dostaję online, nie chodzi tu tylko o pisanie tutaj. Twitter jest dobrym miejscem do oglądania moich aktualizacji na żywo. W tej podróży muszę uwzględniać wiele rzeczy, dlatego priorytetem jest czas i finanse potrzebne do przetwarzania zdjęć, lokalizowania Internetu, przesyłania i pisania na drodze. Robię to, kiedy tylko mogę i tak szybko, jak tylko mogę. Proszę wziąć to pod uwagę. Możesz znaleźć ten Travel Blog trochę inny niż większość. Wiele z tego, co tu się dzieje, to surowa rzeczywistość życia. Dużo więcej w mojej sekcji. Wszystko tutaj jest napisane przeze mnie. Wszystko, co tutaj recenzuję, zostało kupione lub opłacone przeze mnie bez wyjątków. Zapewniamy, że to, co tu masz, jest 100 z góry i szczere. Jeśli nie napisałem nic tutaj ani nie zaktualizowałem swojego statusu na twitterze w ciągu ponad dwóch tygodni, ktoś mógłby chcieć zadzwonić na policję w tym kraju. Nie żartuję. To są prawdziwi ludzie i żyję tutaj Jeśli spotkałeś mnie na trasie, proszę nie obrażaj się, jeśli twoje nazwisko nie jest wymienione w moim blogjournal podróży. Jak wspomniano, zaczęło się od osobistego czasopisma i mam nadzieję, że tak dalej będzie. Zmieniam imiona i nie robię osobistych odniesień, tak jak widziałem ludzi, którzy obrażają się w przeszłości. Jeśli tak się stanie, będę musiał wyłączyć dziennik z publicznego oglądania. Zdjęcia, Tekst amp Copyright Zdjęcia w pełnej rozdzielczości są dostępne do sprzedaży, wydruków lub za darmo w zależności od przeznaczenia. Skontaktuj się, aby uzyskać dalsze szczegóły. Wszystkie obrazy i teksty są chronione prawami autorskimi. Aby uzyskać więcej informacji, przeczytaj moje oświadczenie o prawach autorskich Zapisz się do moich darmowych aktualizacji dzienników podróży Kanał RSS pełnej długości jest dostępny dla wszystkich, ALE naprawdę polecam moją darmową subskrypcję e-mail zamiast Mojej subskrypcji e-mail daje o wiele więcej: moja książka z fotografiami, z powrotem szczegóły dotyczące historii nieopublikowane tutaj. To wszystko całkowicie za darmo i świetny sposób na podróż ze mną i na bieżąco. Aby uwolnić moje czasopisma: proszę podać swój adres e-mail tutaj Informacje o lotnisku Międzynarodowy port lotniczy Kota Kinabalu (KKIA) jest drugim najbardziej ruchliwym lotniskiem międzynarodowym w Malajsiach i składa się z dwóch terminali, o odpowiednio nazwie Terminal 1 i Terminal 2. Od 1 grudnia 2018 r. Wszystkie linie będą działać poza Terminal 1, w tym AirAsia. Lotnisko Kota Kinabalus (kod lotniska: BKI) znajduje się wystarczająco blisko do miasta, aby przejść 8211 do sprawiedliwego 7 km jest około 90 minut spacerem, ale wszystko jest w odległości spaceru, gdy masz wystarczająco dużo czasu. Terminale jednak znajdują się na przeciwległych końcach drogi startowej bez żadnego wbudowanego połączenia, co nie stanowi już problemu, ponieważ terminal 2 będzie tylko ładunkiem. Kliknij zakładki, aby dowiedzieć się więcej o obiektach i usługach oferowanych w różnych terminalach, jak ostatnio widziano w styczniu 2018 r. Terminal 1 to główny terminal lotniska Kota Kinabalu8217s, podzielony na 3 poziomy i jest obecnie używany przez wszystkie linie lotnicze, w tym AirAsię. Poziom 1 w przypadku przylotów, Poziom 2 - głównie w biurach linii lotniczych i w obrębie Sabahu oraz odloty na poziomie 3 w przypadku lotów międzynarodowych i w Sarawak West Malaysia. Transport publiczny Taksówki i stosunkowo nowy autobus na lotnisko (RM5 do miasta) to wybór transportu z Terminalu 1 (oba mogą być używane do transferu między terminalami). Stawka standardowa z lotniska do centrum miasta wynosi 30 RM za taksówkę (do 4 osoby, więcej za 7 uczestników) Kup kupon z kiosku na poziomie 1 (obok wyjścia z hali przylotu 2), zanim przejdziesz do postoju taksówek na zewnątrz. Jeśli chcesz jeszcze taniej, wyjdź na główną drogę i złap publiczną minibus za około 1,50 RM do miasta. Musisz jednak przejść około 500 m od terminalu do głównej drogi. Przeciąć prosto przez parking i podążać ścieżką do głównej drogi (zejdź z trawy, przemoczona it8217s) Bez przekraczania drogi, oznacz flagami wszystkie autobusy 8211 wszyscy jeżdżą do miasta Dużo bagażu może być problemem, ale jeśli to zrobisz, ufam, że sprawisz, że zadziała Kota Kinabalu Terminal 1 międzynarodowego lotniska ma 4 wypożyczalnie samochodów, wszystkie zlokalizowane na poziomie 1, wynajmują samochody o pojemności od 660 cm od około 90 RM za dzień, aż do furgonetek i minibusów. Duty free shopping is available inside the terminal before clearing customs, but can only be utilised by passengers arriving on international flights (everyone, even west Malaysians, entering Sabah has to clear Immigration, but International equals 8220a country other than Malaysia8221). Malaysias Duty free allowances include 1 litre of spirits or wine and 200 cigarettes per person. Forex and ATMs There are 3 sets of Forex and ATMs at KKIAs Terminal 1 On Level 1, the arrival hall, there are both a Maybank and a CIMB Bank currency exchange counters with ATMs On Level 3 there is another Maybank currency exchange with an ATM ATMs accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express and JCB cards. As you might expect, currency exchanges at the airport gives the least competitive rates, similar to hotel lobbies. Best rates are from non-bank currency exchanges is in Centre Point, Wisma Merdeka and, to a lesser extent, Suria Sabah. Left Luggage Facilities Located on Level 3 around the corner from the frozen seafood shop, in front of the entrance to the departure hall (currently the seafood shop provides services when the left-luggage is closed) Open from 7:30am 8:30pm RM5 per bag for 3 hours and then RM2 extra per luggage item for every 3 hours thereafter 12 24 hours storage are RM15 per luggage item Over sized bags, golf sets and other sports equipment are RM30 per day per item Locker storage is available at RM5 for every 2 hours Baggage wrapping at RM8 per bag Baggage Strapping at RM6 per bag Or, leave your luggage at Rustic Borneo in the centre of town Internet Access The airport has some sort of publicly accessible WiFi, but success of connecting varies There are plenty of other options though, McDonald8217s on level 3, for instance, has free WiFi The Malaysia Airlines Executive Departure lounge, after clearing customs, has protected Wifi Starbucks, in the departure lounger after clearing customs, has Wifi Medical Facility There is a clinic on Level 1 in the hallway under the escalator that leads up to McDonalds Airline Representative Offices Level 2 is home to representative offices of the following airlines: Royal Brunei Airlines, DragonAir, Asiana Airlines, KoreanAir, MAS Wings and a Malaysia Airlines Ticketing office. On the far-right of this level you will also find the security entrance for state-wide domestic flights, like those to Sandakan, Tawau, etc. Restaurants McDonalds amp Asian Delights (Level 3) KFC, Old Town White Coffee, Dunkin8217 Donuts (Level 1) Other Shops Located on the publicly accessible side of the departure hall on Level 3: Sabah handicrafts shop, perfumecosmeticschocolate, Body Shop, Diamoney (jewellery store), a bookshop, frozen seafood amp bird nest shop Kota Kinabalu International Airports Terminal 2 was the Low Cost Carrier Terminal built specifically to facilitate first AirAsia and later other low cost airlines such as TigerAir, JetStar and Cebu Pacific. The no frills terminal has quickly outgrown its capacity and at last count handled over 3 million passengers in increasingly crowded and dilapidated conditions. Since the completion of upgrades at Terminal 1, there has been a push by the airport company for AirAsia to move there, where more than 6 million passengers can be accommodated. During the demand-and-refusal process the terminal was barely maintained while passenger numbers grew. But finally the differences have been solved and on 1 December 2018 AirAsia will start operating from Terminal 1, and Terminal 2 will be relegated to a cargo-and-vip terminal only. From 1 December 2018 AirAsia will operate from Terminal 1 The rest of the information about Terminal 2 remains for reference purposes only. Public Transport Ever present taxis and the new RM5-per-trip airport bus are options from T2 (both can be used for transfers between terminals as well). You could also still walk out the roughly 800m to the main road and catch a normal, purple-bottomed, public bus to town for roughly RM2, but honestly, for RM3 extra the airport bus is the way to go. Standard taxi rate from the airport to the town centre is RM35 (up to 4 people) Buy a coupon from the kiosk at the terminals exit before proceeding to the taxi rank outside. For destinations other than the centre of town, refer to our Transport section . The RM5 bus is pretty regular at 1-hour intervals ask the Information Kiosk for8230 you guessed it: Information Alternatively, you can walk from the terminal out to the main road (5 8211 10 mins) and flag reasonably regular buses from there for a wee bit less To the left of the arrivals exit there are 3 car rental desks next to each other with similar offers at similar prices A small duty free shop in the departure lounge offers duty free to those departing to international destinations The arrival area has an even smaller duty free shop for those arriving from destinations outside of Malaysia, but closes quite early Forex and ATMs A Maybank currency exchange counter and ATM are located near the departure security check-point HSCBC now has an exchange desk and ATM immediately right when you exit the arrivals area The ATMs accepts Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express and JCB cards Maybank ATMs are usually offline from midnight until anything up to 6am and the forex counte r closes early Currency exchanges at the airport gives the worst rates, same as hotel lobbies. Best rates are from non-bank currency exchanges in Centre Point, Wisma Merdeka and Suria Sabah. Left Luggage Facilities Located opposite the AirAsia ticketing booth Open from 7:30am 8:30pm RM5 per bag for 3 hours and then RM2 extra per luggage item for every 3 hours thereafter 12 24 hours storage are RM15 per luggage item Oversized bags, golf sets and other sports equipment are RM30 per day per item Locker storage is available at RM5 for every 2 hours Baggage wrapping at RM8 per bag Baggage Strapping at RM6 per bag Or, leave your luggage at Rustic Borneo in the centre of town Internet Access Terminal 2 does not have blanket Wifi Internet Access There is, however, Wifi Internet access for those dining at KFC located on Level 1 Also on Level 1 theres an Internet kiosk that charges RM 5 per hour of Internet access in addition to other services such as faxing, printing and CD burning Restaurants Other Shops Located on the publicly accessible side of the departure hall across both levels: Malaysia Tourism information desk, convenience stores on either side, Sabah handicraft shop, ge neral gift shop and frozen seafood shop. The prices below can be found at taxi counter at the Airports Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 8211 last sighted on 6 January 2018, but can change without notice. Zone 1 RM25 Prince Philips Park, Tg. Aru Beach, KK Yacht Club, Tg. Aru Town, Sembulan Town Zone 2 RM30 Kota Kinabalu town, Winner Hotel, Jesselton Hotel, Sutera Harbour, Api Api Centre, Asia City, Centre Point, Karamunsing, Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, HSBC Bank, Taman Fortuna, Sabah Muzium, Colonade Condo Zone 3 RM35 Likas Sport Complex, Signal Hill, Putatan Town, Likas Square, Taman Hilltop, Damai Centre, Lintas Ssquare, Foh Sang Zone 4 RM40 Beverly Hill Apartments, Pekan Donggongon, Bukit Padang, Sabah Golf amp Country Club, Inanam Town, Yayasan Sabah, Sabah Medical Clinic, King Fisher Park, Kolombong Zone 5 RM45 Menggatal, University Malaysia Zone 6 RM50 Pekan Kinarut, Kinarut Beach Resort Zone 7 RM55 Telipok, Putera Jaya, Bukit Setia Zone 8 RM60 Sepanggar Bay, ILP, Telipok Jaya Prices sighted at the airport on 6 January 2018This article or section does not match our manual of style or needs other editing. Please plunge forward. give it your attention and help it improve. Suggested fixes . None specified. Please use the articles talk page to ask questions if you are not sure why this tag was added and whether it is safe to remove it. Chennai (Tamil:) 1. formerly known as Madras . this 369-year-old city is the capital of the southern state of Tamilnadu and is India s sixth-largest city in terms of population with an estimated population of 7.45 million (2005). It serves as one of the main gateways to South India and has a thriving local culture and art scene and is one of the major destinations for medical tourism. It is considered as one of the worlds fastest growing cities although ranks 13th in terms of cleanliness. It is on the Coromandel coast of the Bay of Bengal and has the second longest beachfront of any municipality in the world. The Horse and rider, Anna Salai. Understand edit History edit Long the site of earlier coastal settlements, Madras was founded in 1639 when the British East India Company (represented by Francis Day and Andrew Cogan and aided by a local translator Beri Thimappa) was granted land to build a trading settlement by the local Telugu ruler (Nayak) of the suburb of Vandavasi, Damerla Venkatapathy Naidu on his fathers name Damerla Chennappa Naidu. The document of the land grant is dated 22 August 1639, and hence Madras celebrates its birthday on 22 August each year as Madras day. Madras was one of the first outposts of British East India Company. Colonel William Lambton, superintendent of the great Trigonometrical Survey of India, started his journey of triangulating India from St. Thomas Mount. The British built Fort St. George (today the legislative and administrative seat of the state). Fort St George was completed on St Georges day in 1640 (23 April) and hence was named after the patron saint. George Town then developed becoming the modern city of Madras, absorbing several nearby boroughs. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, is associated with Chennai. He is said to have come to India as an evangelist and died in what is now Chennai. Two suburbs, Santhome and St. Thomas Mount, are named in his memory. In 1996, the Tamilnadu government renamed Madras to Chennai providing the reason that Chennai was the citys traditional name while Madras was one derived during colonial rule. Madras is derived from Madraspatnam . a name given to the area when the British negotiated settling there with Damerla Venkatapathy Nayakudu. The origin of the name is from Muthuraja Chennappa Nayakudu as Chennapatnam. Chennappa served under Sriranga Deva Raya assisting him against the Golkonda forces of Ibrahim Qutb Shah in several battles, notably in 1576 when Penukonda was captured by Ali Adil Shah and in 1579 when he captured the Golkonda Commander Murari Rao. In 1580, Ibrahim Qutb Shah of Golkonda invaded Kondavidu. Later he took the Udayagiri Fort and began to massacre the locals. However he was defeated after a brief fight with the Rayas army. Qutb Shah later took the fort of Vinukonda. Sriranga defeated the Sultans forces with the assistance of his generals muthuraja Chennappadamarla was his surname and Kasturiranga. During this fight, Chennappa lost his life. He was succeeded by Kasturiranga. When East India Company was established the St. George fort in the present day Chennai, for which the permission was granted by Damarla Venkatadri Nayakudu, the local palegar of that area, under the condition that area is to be named in the honour of his father Muthuraja chennapa nayakudu as muthuraja chennapatanam. The East India Company in brief named the area as madrasmadras is a corrupt form of muthuraj. In earlier days this area was called as madraspattanam and also chennapatnam. Later Govt. of Tamil Nadu renamed it as Chennai. Some elder population still refer to the city as Madras but the name Chennai has caught up with much of the population. Under the British, the then city of Madras grew to be a major city, It was the capital of the Madras presidency, a province that covered the parts of Southern India that were not governed by any of the other princely states. After independence, it became the capital of the Madras state, and when the states were reorganized on a linguistic basis, it became the capital of Tamil Nadu. Chennai boasts of many well known people including Elihu Yale, whose liberal gift funded the construction of Yale University in 1718 Indira Nooyi CEO of Pepsi International A. R. Rahman, the musical genius of Slumdog Millionaire, Manirathnam the ace film Director, Vijay Armirthraj, Ramesh Krishnan and his father Ramanathan Krishnanm tennis stars and World chess champion Vishwanathan Anand among many others. Culture edit Chennai is gateway to the South, and its culture is distinctly different from that of any other city in India. Tamil tradition and culture are indigenous to this region and is essentially the celebration of the beauty, which is exemplified through dance, clothing, and sculptures. Chennai is both an orthodox and a modern cosmopolitan city the culture of the city reflects its diverse population. The traditional arts, music, dance and all other art forms of Tamilnadu grow and flourish here. The food is a unique blend of traditional, to fast foods and filter kaapi. Its a land of temples and priests. The architecture ranges from ancient temples to modern high-rises. Music is classical and western, to the growing nightlife in the city. You can find a school for traditional Bharatanatyam or Salsa dance and for music a veena violin or for Guitardrums school in almost every neighborhood of the city. Chennai checks reflects its traditionalism every December when the music season is in full swing. Clothes are generally conservative but young people are contemporary. Traditional Tamil Clothing - Tamil women traditionally wear the Saree or Sari while the men wear veshti . which could be either a white pancha or a colourful lungi with typical South Indian patterns. The saree, being an un-stitched wrap, enhances the shape of the wearer while only partially covering the midriff. In Indian philosophy, the navel of the Supreme Being is considered as the source of life and creativity. Therefore by tradition, the stomach and the navel is to be left unconcealed, though the philosophy behind the costume has largely been forgotten. This makes the realization of sharira-mandala (the body), where in Angikam bhuvanam yasya (the body is your world) unites with the shaarira-mandala (the whole universe), as expressed in the Natyashastra. These principles of the saree, also hold for other forms of wraps, like the lungi or worn by men. The lungi can be wrapped over clockwise or anti-clockwise and can be tied at the back or fixed just along the waist line. Its sometimes lifted till knee and tied at the waist leisurely or just held in hand to speed up walking. In tradition Brahmin homes men wear panchey kachche where it is tied at back by taking it between legs. Similar pattern is seen in women. Tamil Nadu Cuisine - Rice is the staple diet in Chennai, Dosa, Idli and Uttapam are popular in Chennai. The state of Tamil Nadu has a distinct place in culinary map of the country. Chennai has a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies to offer. The food here gets its flavor from a host of spices and condiments used in Tamil Nadu. Coconut, tamarind and asafetida are a must for almost all vegetarian recipes. Garam masala is avoided in Tamil cuisine. Gingelly oil(made from Sesame seeds) is normally used giving it a distinct flavor. Olive oil is usually not popular. Chutneys and mixed spice are served in the lunch and enhance the taste of the meal. The South India lunch (also called meals) in Chennai consists of cooked rice served with different kinds of vegetable dishes, Sambar, chutneys, Rasam (a hot broth made with tamarind juice and pepper) and curd (yogurt). The non-vegetarian lunch includes curries or dishes cooked with mutton, chicken or fish. Tamil meals are incomplete without crisp Papads or Appalam. In Chennai, Chettinad cuisine of Tamil Nadu is particularly famous. This cuisine is hot and spicy and provides delectable variety in mutton, chicken and fish dishes. Chettinad Pepper Chicken is one of the most famous dishes in Tamil Nadu. The Chennai style of Mughalai food can be tasted in the Biryani and Paya. Paya is a type of spiced trotters broth and is eaten with either Parathas or Appam. Breakfast or tiffin in Chennai includes idly (steamed rice cakes), dosai (a pancake made from a batter of rice) and lentils crisp fried on a pan, vadai (deep fried doughnuts made from a batter of lentils), pongal (a mash of rice and lentils boiled together and seasoned with ghee, cashew nuts, pepper and cumin seed), uppuma (cooked semolina seasoned in oil with mustard, pepper, cumin seed and dry lentils). Most of the breakfast dishes in Chennai are eaten with coconut chutney, sambar (seasoned lentil broth) and milagai podi (a powdered mix of several dried lentils eaten with oil). Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai, is famous for its filter coffee . Most Tamils have a subtle disliking for instant coffee therefore filter coffee is more popular. The preparation of filter coffee is almost like a daily chore, the coffee beans have to be first roasted and then ground. The coffee powder is then put into a filter set and hot boiled water is added to prepare the boiling and allowed to set for about 15 minutes. The decoction is then added to milk with sugar to taste. The drink thus prepared is then poured from one container to another in rapid succession to make the perfect frothy cup of filter coffee. An exotic drink that refreshes you and the taste that lingers, served best in Dabarah set which includes a steel tumbler and saucer with a rim. Music - There are many composers in Carnatic music. Purandara Dasa (1480-1564) is known as the father (Pitamaha) of Carnatic music due to his pioneering contributions to Carnatic music. Purandara Dasa is renowned for formulating the basic lessons of Carnatic music. The contemporaries Tyagaraja (1759-1847), Muthuswami Dikshitar, (1776-1827) and Syama Sastri (1762-1827), are regarded as the Trinity of Carnatic music due to the quality of Syama Sastris compositions, the varieties of compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar and Tyagarajas prolific output in composing kritis. The compositions of these composers are rendered frequently by artists of today during the music festival season. Chennai Music Festival or December Season is a celebration of classical music and dance of South India held during mid December to mid January in the capital city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The festival is held at a number of venues around the city by various sabhas or organizations. Besides the auditoriums, well-known temple premises and heritage bungalows are being used as venues. The month long dance and music extravaganza will have performances of eminent artistes from various parts of India. The Margazhi festival of Dance and Music started early back in 1927, to commemorate the anniversary of Madras Music Academy every December, was later adopted by various organizations which held art festivals in different parts of the city. The Tamil month of Margazhi (December) is a sacred month of the Hindus. South Indian classical music (Carnatic Music) which has its roots in devotion to the gods, has been a traditional form of worship from time immemorial. The city comes alive with the festival which has now developed into a cultural extravaganza with more than 2,000 artists participating in over 300 concerts. The festival also known as December Season attracts expatriate Indians and scholars from around the world as well. Performances include Vocal and Instrumental music, Dance - solo and group, both by junior and senior artistes. Even upcoming artists get a chance to perform along with well-established artists. The music include classical vocal renditions in various South Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu and Kannada and instruments like Flute, Veena (a large string instrument), Goottuvadyam (similar to Veena but without frets), Nagaswaram (pipe), Thavil (percussion instrument), Mridangam (drum), and even Ghatam (a mud pot). The season goes on till mid January when the scene shifts to Tiruvaiyaru, near Tanjore, where Thyagaraja Aradhana a week long music festival is held to celebrate the birth of one of the greatest Carnatic composers and one among the trinity of music - Thyagaraja. Information about the tickets and the venues can be had from the tourist office, Chennai. The weather is cool and pleasant at this time of the year. November - December is the best season to visit the city. Now the music in the motion picture industry has emerged as an important entertainment platform in Chennai, over the years portraying the cultural changes, trends, aspirations and developments experienced by its people. Dance - Chennai is home to the distinct dance form - the Bharat Natyam. Bharatanatyam is the celebration of the eternal universe through the celebration of the beauty of the body. This is done through its tenets of having a perfectly erect posture, a straight and pout curving stomach, a well rounded and proportionate body mass - to the body structure, very long hair and curvaceous hips. These tenets bring to life the philosophy of Natyashastra, Angikam bhuvanam yasya (The body is your world). This is elaborated in the araimandi posture, wherein the performer assumes a half sitting position with the knees turned sideways, with a very erect posture. In this fundamental posture of the Bharatanatyam dance, the distance between the head and the navel becomes equal to that between the earth and the navel. In a similar way the distance between the outstretched right arm to the outstretched left arm becomes equal to the distance between the head and the feet, thus representing the Natyapurusha, the embodiment of life and creation. Climate edit Climate of Chennai is Tropical. Chennai is situated in the Thermal Equator zone which prevents extreme changes in temperature. Chennai has mainly two seasons - summer (35-42176C 95-108176F) Apr-Jun (Highest temperature ever recorded is 45176C 113176F on 30 May 2003) and monsoon (Oct-Dec). It receives scanty rainfall from the south-west monsoon (Jun-Sep) while rest of India is lashed by heavy rains, but gets its bountiful rains from the north-east monsoon from October through December, thus amounting to about 125-150 cm (49-59 in) of rainfall annually. Rainfalls occur usually from October to December and dried up scrub lands bloom with greenery during this period. December to February are the mildest months temperature - (19-28176C 66-82176F). December to March is probably the best time to visit Chennai: the temperatures rarely exceed 30176C during midday and evenings are pleasant. Climate is humid pretty much throughout the year because the city is on the coast. Summers are very hot and humid. Be sure take along light (not flimsy) clothing. Winter fashion has never been of any use in Chennai, wearing a sweater will leave you drenched in sweat in less than five minutes. Read edit Books about Chennai . Madras Discovered, Tales of Old and New Madras, Madras (1992) by S. Muthiah Madras its Past and its Present (1995) by S. Muthiah Madras its Yesterdays and Todays and Tomorrows by S. Muthiah At Home in Madras (1989) by S. Muthiah Madras Then Chennai Now (2017) by Nanditha Krishna and Tishani Doshi Politics of Heritage from Madras to Chennai (2008) by Mary E. Hancock Chennai (2000) by Rina Kamath Chennai Not Madras: Perspectives on the City (2006) by Ira Venkatachalapathi The Story Of Madras by Glyn Barlow Books with plots set in Chennai Kalyanis Husband by S. Y. Krishnaswamy Chasing Rainbows in Chennai . 2 (2003) by Colin Todhunter Tamarind City . 3 (2017) by Bishwanath Ghosh In Old Madras (1913) by Mary Bithia Croker Talk edit Tamil is the official language in Chennai, and also the first language of most locals. Almost all people speak Tamil, a classical language. Picking up some knowledge of the local language is useful to get by in Chennai as in every city in the world. However, knowledge of English is sufficient for the average visitor to the city. English education is widespread in Chennai. All educated people in Chennai can speak English while few understand simple English and can speak a few words. All important signboards are in English. All transactions with commercial establishments are in English. The English accent is different, there is a tendency to end sentences and words with - uh (Eg: Im going there-uh.) and interrogative sentences with - ah (Eg: You are going there-ah). Unlike other major cities in Northern India, Hindi is not widely understood. While there has been a significant increase in Hindi speakers in recent years, most locals will find it difficult to understand when you try to speak to them in Hindi. You are better off speaking English than Hindi in most southern cities except Bangalore and Hyderabad. Those native to Chennai and its suburbs speak the language of Tamil with a characteristic accent. Due to the proximity of the city to the State of Andhra Pradesh (where the official language is Telugu) and the presence of a sizable quasi Telugu speaking population in the city, there is heavy borrowing of Telugu words into the vocabulary of Chennai Tamil. Chennai Tamil is popularly known as Madras Bashai . Another characteristic of Chennai Tamil is that the words are spoken fast, possibly in line with the fast-paced life in Chennai when compared with the rest of the state. Nevertheless, all educated people are taught standard Tamil in school, and standard Tamil is still used in more formal settings as well as in the news. Get in edit By plane edit Chennai International Airport (IATA. MAA ) is the fourth busiest in India (after Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore ). All international flights arrive at Anna Terminal, while the domestic flights arrive at Kamraj Terminal. The two terminals are on the same road and are 150 m (492 ft) away from each other. Chennai is well connected to London, Frankfurt, Singapore, Malaysia, Middle east, New York, Hong Kong, etc. It is in the process of being upgraded to a world class airport with direct Metro rail connection to the city. Europe and North America . Lufthansa (Frankfurt) and British Airways (London-Heathrow), fly nonstop to Chennai with connecting service from their European hubs to points in the United States and Canada. South-East Asia . Thai Airways offers nonstop service to Bangkok. Silk Air, Singapore Airlines and Tiger Airways connects you to Singapore along with many Indian carriers like Indian Airlines and Air India Express. AirAsia 4 connects passengers to Kuala Lumpur, Penang with affordable fares while Malaysia Airlines offers nonstop service to Malaysia. Indias very own Jet Airways flies non-stop to both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Cathay Pacific flies non-stop to Hongkong. Africa . Air Mauritius flies non-stop to Mauritius. Air Austral flies non-stop twice a week to Reunion. Air Seychelles flies nonstop to Seychelles. Middle East . Nonstop services are available from Chennai to Abu Dhabi. Bahrain. Dubai. Dammam. Doha. Jeddah. Kuwait. Muscat. Riyadh and Sharjah on Air Arabia, Indian Airlines, Air India Express, Oman Air, Emirates, Ethihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian and Gulf Air. Sri-Lanka . Chennai is a hub for flights to Colombo with Srilankan Airlines, Mihin Lanka (low-cost carrier operated by Srilankan Airlines), Jet Airways, Air India Express, SpiceJet. Chennai is the traveling hub for Colombo. Domestic . All the major Indian domestic carriers (Jet Airways, Spice, Go Air, Indigo) connect Chennai with multiple flights to points all over India and most use Chennai as a hub for flights to smaller cities in South India. Paramount Airways is a low cost all business class airline that offers flights from Chennai to points in South India. Chennai is also a staging point for flights to Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. Airport to City connection edit The cheapest way to the city is by taking the suburban train into the city which only costs 5 (0.08, 0.07). The suburban train connects you to Chennai Park and Egmore, the two main passenger train stations. Note this train does not go through Chennai Central station but Chennai Park station is within the walking distance. This is best if you dont have large amounts of baggage. You have to exit the airport and walk a considerable distance ( 500m) to reach the station Tirusulam. Tickets bought dont have to be validated but save the ticket in case there is an inspection. It is advisable to take a first class ticket in the train if you happen to reach the airport during peak hours. The general compartments are often over-crowded as they transport regular commuters to work. In peak hours even the first class compartments may also be crowded. Tickets are priced around 70 (1.27,0.96). The Chennai metro is also now connected to the airport and the airport metro station is just outside the exit, after crossing the taxi parking. Currently this (blue) line is operational only till Little Mount, halfway to the city center. However, you can interchange at Alandur (for the Green line, to go to either St. Thomas mount railway station or CMBT, the state-run bus terminus of Chennai. Otherwise, use the pre-paid taxi booth. Aviation Express is massively overpriced. Using the pre-paid taxi to get to the city, each terminal has several booths for several taxi companies when you exit the airport, outside before you meet the crowd. The fares are different for the domestic and international terminals though the terminals are next to each other. You can either choose the standard Taxis (Black with Yellow tops) which are usually the ancient Ambassador cars or the private call-taxi (which can come in any model and in any color). As in any Indian airport, you will be immediately haggled for transportation with promised offerings of the best price. A firm No should make them lose interest, ignore them if they continue harassing you. Its better to keep small change in hand while paying at the counters. Note the taxi numbe r written on your charge slip (one copy is for the passenger and the other is for the driver to collect the fare from the counter). Make your way to the taxi stand and get the taxi number allotted at the designated desk. The helpful drivers offer to take your luggage and guide you to the taxi that drives up quickly near the allotment desk. Prepaid and yellow top taxis are not air-conditioned, are of vintages right from 70s and 80s, rickety, prone to stop midway, drivers exhibit rough behaviour, sometimes could be dangerous, demand exorbitant fares, pre-paid may mean nothing and they may demand more when you get down. Keep away from these types. Or know that you can always negotiate. Typical ride into the central part of Chennai cost around Rs.300, to the farthest part of the city shouldnt cost more than Rs.1000. Online aggregator like Uber and Ola are pretty comfortable and safe. The cars are new and air conditioned. By train edit Chennai has two main long-distance train stations, Chennai Central (code MAS) and Chennai Egmore (code MS). Both are connected to the Airport by the Suburban rail and to the Bus Terminus by City buses. Central has daily trains fromto Bangalore. Mumbai. Coimbatore. Delhi. Hyderabad. Kalkuta. Ahmedabad and virtually all other major Indian cities. Egmore has trains which cover all the places in Tamil Nadu and also a few important places outside it. You can arrive at the prepaid taxiauto stand and book a cab to transport you to your place of stay. Many long distance trains to Egmore stop at Tambaram (code TBM) and some trains to Central stop at Perambur (code PER).These are two railway stations which serve the suburban areas of Chennai. Trains that connect Chennai to major hubs like Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi are usually booked out days in advance. If you plan to travel by train, consider making an advance reservation, the reservation opens 60 days before the day of travel. The AC compartments in the trains are preferable for new travelers as the sleeper class and sitting class compartments are generally very crowded. A 3-tier AC berth from Chennai to Bangalore or Coimbatore costs around 700 and that to Delhi around 2500 including meals. By bus edit Chennai has one of Asias largest bus stations, Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT). Seven different state owned corporations drive buses to and from various destinations within South India. Connected to the Airport and the passenger train stations (Chennai Central and Egmore) by direct buses, it offers a cheap and spontaneous mode of travel. There are hourly buses for places like Tirupati. Pondicherry. Coimbatore, Tirunelveli. You will get the option of AC or Non-AC coaches for cities like Bangalore. Trivandrum. Hyderabad. Several private players also operate buses between most southern destinations. During the weekends most buses are fully occupied and its better to reserve a ticket in advance. All buses terminate near Koyambedu but there are different stands for state owned (CMBT - Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus), and private buses (Omni bus terminus). Both these terminus are near each other, and it is better to tell your exact destination to the taxiauto-rickshaw driver. Buses usually drop passengers at various points in the city before reaching the Terminus. Feel free to ask the driver or fellow passengers the closest drop-off point to your destination. Always ask for the ticket and carry it until the end of your journey. Conning is very rare. Gdy już znajdziesz się w mieście, łatwo dostać za dużo, jeśli spróbujesz wynająć auto-riksze, aby dostać się do miejsca docelowego. While the law requires drivers to use meters, enforcement isnt very effective. It would be more comfortable and hassle free to hire a cab for the duration of your stay, or figure out the city bus routes and the suburban trains schedule. By car edit Chennai is very well connected and to other parts of India by road. Five major national highways radiate outward towards Kolkata, Bengaluru, Tiruchy Madurai. Tiruvallur. and Pondicherry. With the progress of the Golden Quadrilateral project, driving down from Bangalore is an option too. Indian drivers will have no problem fitting into the traffic but international drivers are strongly advised against driving in India. Rules are not really rules and lane switchings happen without any notice. Get around edit Getting around the heart of Chennai city often takes time, due to traffic and heavy congestion, more so because of construction work in progress for Chennai Metro. So it is advisable to plan your journey accordingly. Travelling within Chennai is not so cheap by Indian metropolitan standards, and are quite cheap by European and USA standards. As for foreigners, it is safe to wear a mask during traveling by motorcycles as pollution is bit of a concern. By train edit Chennai has a suburban train 5 network. There are four routes: Western Line: Chennai Central - Arakkonam. North Line: Chennai Central - Gummidipoondi-Sulurpet-Nellore South Line: Chennai Beach - Tambaram and Chengalpet MRTS Line: Chennai Beach - Velachery (MRTS) Few trains on Western and North Line originate from Chennai Beach instead of Chennai Central. The Chennai Beach - Tambaram Chengalpet is the most used line, it takes you from the city to Vandalur Zoo for a getaway. The suburban trains are generally reliable and fast but they were built more for practical purposes of commuting than connecting tourist attractions. Unless you know your destination for sure, check with locals or information desks for the quickest way to reach your destination. The frequency of suburban trains is generally good and it is advisable to take a first class ticket during peak hours. Trains offer a reliable alternative to quickly reach your destination when compared to buses which might get trapped in traffic jams. The fare in Chennai suburban trains is the lowest in the country and you dont have to compromise comfort for the meagre amount that you pay as in other Indian metros. The lowest second class train fare is Rs.5-. Always keep your baggage safe when you are travelling in the suburban railway system . Chennai Central (hub for north and west suburban lines) is opposite to Park Town (MRTS line) and Park (South Suburban line) - These 3 stations make an interchange trio - the highest interchange between suburban lines happens in this zone. By bus edit Metropolitan Transport Corporation(MTC) buses ply throughout the city accessing areas which are not accessed by the suburban trains. These are government-run and extremely cheap. Chennai has few major termini from where the majority of the buses ply towards the rest of the city. Normally Bus Fare in MTC range from 3 - 50. Deluxe and AC Buses are also operated on major routes. Fare for deluxe bus is almost two times as compared to normal bus. For same route, deluxe and normal bus have same number but deluxe buses are being run targeting long distance journey since it will stop at major bus stops only. So if you find normal buses too crowded, take a deluxe one. Non AC deluxe also have power gates and better suspension which you wont find in normal bus. If you have luggage with you, you might have to pay the cost of an extra person depending upon its size. A simple way of identifying the category of the bus is this: White Display Board - Standard Service, green display board-Express, Blue or LED - Deluxe Service, AC Service - 2 door, low floor volvo bus. AC bus run by MTC chennai which run between important routes like Parrys - Tambaram, Parrys - CMBT, Chennai Central - CMBT, Chennai central - Tambaram, CMBT - KelambakkamSirusery, T. Nagar - Kanchipuram, etc. Most frequent AC bus runs between CMBT towards Pondicherry and are known as East coast road (ECR) buses and Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and is very comfortable for intracity travel too. If you are getting into a bus from Chennai central railway station you can either catch a bus just in front of railway station or you can take the subway to cross the road and get it from the bus stop in front of government hospital. Bus Route information for MTC Chennai is available online at official site6. While official site only provides stage wise info, others have more interactive interface which can ease your life specially if you are new to the city. Daily and weekly bus passes are available for tourists costing 50 or 300. They can be used on normal and deluxe bus services on all routes within the city. It is worthwhile to purchase the daily pass if you plan to visit more than a couple of sights in a day and it will save you from the trouble to maintain loose change. The daily pass can be purchased on the first bus you board from the conductor, while the weekly and monthly passes are sold at all major terminus. Recently a hop-on hop-off tour bus has also been organized by the Government. The service covers many of the famous sights along the scenic East Coast Road up to Mahabalipuram. By auto-rickshaw edit Police demand auto-rickshawTuk-tuk drivers in Chennai to use meter. In fact many of them try to avoid using meter some try to overcharge and often drive rashly, but thats part of the fun of being in Chennai. They are happy to exploit foreigners and locals alike. The advantage of being a local is that you know when youre being fleeced, and so youll know when to walk away and find another auto. The advise is to use auto-rickshaws with meters only. Roughly 50-60 of drivers do use meters. So, If a particular driver doesnt agree - just go away and find another one. Move 100 m away from malls where touts concentrate. You will definitely succeed to catch a metered auto within 5-10 during day time. Maybe the driver will ask Rs.10 or Rs.20 extra. Usually Rs.10 is enough. The rates for auto-rickshaws in Chennai are the following (July 2017): Rs. 25- for 1.8KM For next every 1 km - Rs. 12- Waiting charges for every 5 minutes - Rs. 3.5 and Rs. 42Hour Night time ( 11 PM hrs to 5 AM) - 50160 extra of the day time charge Otherwise you can discuss the price with the driver. Often they tell 2-3 times bigger charge. Even so, by Western standards, they are dirt cheap. Youll have no problem once the fare has been agreed and for short trips the Auto is a must. The upside is that autos are ubiquitous and possibly the easiest form of transportation to locate. Use Auto-rickshaws only for short distances because they are uncomfortable. Try to find a rickshaw with a working meter. Dont take the first auto or take the first price, take a least quote and go to the second or third. Never leave anything behind when you leave. Negotiate a rate with the driver beforehand if he doesnt agree, just go to the next auto on the road there will always be others unless its very late or very early or you are in a remote area: then be prepared to pay up. Stick to the agreed price, though on many occasions the driver may attempt to ask for more. Consult local friends beforehand to find out reasonable market prices for the distance you intend to go. Try to hail individual auto rickshaws in traffic which are heading in the general direction of your destination rather than hiring one parked in their stand as they may gang up to you. As a general rule, expect to pay about 10 to 15 for every kilometer (0.6 mi) you travel. You dont have to pay for any empty return trips that the auto-rickshaw driver has to make once you have agreed upon a fare. You tell them to go to a landmark near where you want to go, and upon reaching the landmark, ask them to go a little further along a particular road to your destination. They might cite the extra distance travelled and ask for more money. So it is better to negotiate the fare upfront. If you pay them for petrol, make sure you pay them the remaining fare amount after subtracting petrol charges. Sometimes Airports and Railway Stations have a tariff chart. Share autos have emerged in the recent years as an alternative mode of transport in Chennai. They are over-sized threefour wheelers charge slightly more than the bus but way lesser than a regular auto. Likewise they are faster than the buses but slower than the autos. There are four wheelers known as meter taxis . which dont have a meter and are not taxis. They supplement the existing bus services and sometimes operate on routes based on popular demand. On a side note - if you are fascinated by the idea of going around in an auto, think about all those foreigners, who are riding an auto from Chennai to Mumbai. A Chennai based event management company, Chennai Event Management Services, has been having these auto-rickshaw rallies from Chennai to Mumbai, or Kanyakumari, etc. and has developed a great fan following for the same. By taxi edit Taxis (locally called call-taxis since they must be pre-arranged) can be booked using phone or internet. Since there are so many listed in the phone book already and they are mostly reliable we dont list any. They can be ordered air-conditioned and have digital fare meters, although time-based hire is also possible with some companies. Most companies charge a minimum fare of 100-(Non-AC)150-(AC), which is for 4km (2.4 mile) and for every subsequent kilometer they might charge 12- or 13- depending upon the car model that you choose. Like in other major Indian cities, Uber and its local competitor Ola have pretty much run to the ground the traditional call taxis. These cabs are a boon to a city known for its avaricious and rude autorickshaw drivers, and are probably the best way to get around as a tourist Alternatively, you can hire a cab for limited time or full-day for your travel reasons within the city for charges ranging between 1200 to 3000 depending upon the car model you choose and the time-duration for which you use the cab. If your trip is time-sensitive, it is recommended that you make the booking about 4 hours in advance and call shortly before your journey to confirm. However, there is every possibility of you not getting one in spite of advance booking as they book without any planning and ditch the customers at the last minute. A proper system of confirmed allotment at least 45 min prior to the scheduled time (like in Delhiother cities) is what is required in Chennai. Other car rental companies available in chennai include GetMeCab7. BookCab, Clear Car Rental, Cabs24x7, Avis, Chennai Cabs and Hertz etc. By car edit It is generally not advisable for foreign travelers to drive on their own as they might be unaware of the traffic rules and congestion in the city. Negotiating the Indian traffic is not a part of standard driving lessons and can only be mastered by experience. The roads in Chennai are better maintained than the average Indian road. Rush hour traffic may result in nasty jams. Chennai has three arterial roads: Anna Salai Mount Road, EVR Periyar Salai Poonamallee High Road, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai 100 feet Road. Foreign travelers should keep in mind that both diesel and petrol are used as fuel in India and it varies with the model of the car. Some cars have identical models with only a D badge to indicate diesel. Make sure you find out what type of fuel the car uses from the rental company. See edit add listing Restaurants, watering holes and discotheques have been opening with increasing frequency and while the absolute numbers arent much, theyre more experimental than most Indian metros. While in Chennai one can drop into one of the following places. Areas edit Georgetown in the north of the city is considered the oldest neighbourhood and is associated with the nearby port. The whole area is an intense experience and a hive of commercial activity. Not too many tourists visit this part of the city, which is unfortunate because if Chennais heart is to be found anywhere, it is here. This is where the Sowcarpet area is located, in addition to one of the citys most famous thoroughfares, Mint Street. Beaches edit Chennai Marina Beach Beach Watch Note Although Chennai beaches are both beautiful and inviting, they are not swimming beaches . due to strong under currents present along the shoreline. Swimming should not be attempted there. There are no lifeguards and rescue equipment is not provided at any of these beaches. However there are beach police who ride on horses and keep an eye on the people and look out for any trouble. People should avoid wearing swimwear or similar attire in the city beaches as such clothing is not appropriate there and will attract stares. Chennai has several well known beaches: Marina Beach . is 12160km long and offers excellent opportunities for walks and has a very wide sandy foreshore. Its width is up to 300160m (985160ft). The Marina of Madras is the second longest urban beach in the world. Along the shore, there are many buildings built during the British colonial rule. The South Beach Road runs past the Madras University, the Senate House, the Chepauk Palace (Nawabs of Carnatica once held their court here). It is the most popular gathering place for locals, especially in the evenings and on weekends. It can also get very crowded at those times. The beach is relatively less crowded in the early mornings and more pleasant. Walk along the Marina in the evening to cool off and eat crispy sundal (boilt, spiced lentils), freshly caught fish and Murukku(a type of dry noodles). Watching the sunrise from the beach is an experience by itself. Its not a swimming beach, though you will see people fully clothed taking partial dips. Breezy Beach - Valmiki Nagar (Thiruvanmiyur) Edward Elliots beach . is spread along the coast down south from Marina. It is also the night beach for Chennai youth. This beach is comparatively quieter and it is located near Besant Nagar. At the end of this beach are the Velankanni church and the Ashtalakshmi temple. Good roads, pavements, walking track illuminated sands, makes a visit to this beach a real pleasure. It can get really crowded during the weekends as well. Breezy Beach is located in the quiet neighborhood of Valmiki Nagar (Thiruvanmiyur) in Chennai. It is smaller and less popular than the Elliots beach. This beach is not as commercialized as the Elliots beach, and is hence more quiet and peaceful. Evenings are very pleasant and with gentle breezy here, Lots of tourists are attracted towards this beach. Since the residential area around this beach is occupied predominantly by young professionals working in the ITITES industries, this beach has turned into a hot-spot for them. It is less polluted and environment friendly. Those who look for a calm, cool and breezy place to relax, this beach is the best place in Chennai. Historical Places edit Temples edit Entry into the sanctum-sanctorum (the innermost part of the temple) of old temples maybe sometimes be restricted to foreigners because of the traditional beliefs that only a Hindu can enter the temples. In rare instances, it is forcefully enforced. The best thing to do in such situations is to explore the surrounding structures which are equally fascinating. Kapaleeswarar Temple ( Kapaleeshwara ), Mylapore, 9. One of Chennais oldest and best-known temples, said to date to the 8th century, although the present structure dates to the 1600s. Notable above all for its soaring, incredibly detailed 37m gopuram (entrance gate). There is a large water tank behind the temple, used for the Thaipusam festival (Jan-Feb), and plenty of flower shops all around. Within easy striking distance of the city centre. The temple also has an Arubathu Moovar festival in Mar and is known for the crowds and color. Karaneeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in the neighborhood of Saidapet in Chennai, India. It is dedicated to the god Shiva. This temple is located next to the Saidapet Railway station. This temple has a 7-storied Gopuram with two prakarams(closed precincts of a temple). The main deity is Lord Karaneeswara (Shiva) and Goddess Swarnaambikai (Sakthi). It is believed that Lord Indra had come here to worship Lord Shiva to cure his curse. Special worships are done to Shiva on Pradosham days. This temple has a beautiful tank. The temple is heavily crowded on Pradhosham days. Annual ten day Brahmotsavam takes place in the Tamil month of Chithirai. During Chitirai thirvizha, people visit the temple in huge numbers and there will be a daily spiritual talk on Thiruvasagam about Lord shiva. The Parthasarathy Temple 10 at Tiruvallikkeni (Triplicane) as the Britishers called it, is considered be the oldest temple in the Chennai and origins date back to the 8th century AD, the reference of which has been made in the Vaishnavite works of the Alwar saints. The existence of the Tiruvallikkeni village in referred in the Pallava records and before. The temple derived its name from the pond in front of the temple. It was originally built by the Pallavas. The temple was renovated by later dynasties, the Chola and the Vijayanagar kingdom. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The name Parthasarathy has been derived from two Sanskrit words Partha and Sarathy. The former word refers to Arjuna and the later means Charioteer. Its architecture is a combination of several temple building styles. There are inscriptions of the Pallavas, Cholas and the Vijayanagar kingdom on the temple structure. The temple besides being dedicated to Parthasarathy is also revered for Venkatakrishnaswami and to Ranganathar. The temple, when it was built, housed five avataras of the deity Vishnu. The structure, as it stands today, houses the shrines of popular deities like Venkatakrishnan with Rukmani, Balaraman, Satyaki, Anirudha, Pradyumna, Rama, Lakshmana, Barata, Sita, Shatrugna, Varadaraja and Hanuman. Sri Ramakrishna Math - Universal Temple Sri RamakrishnaMath - Universal Temple 11. 31 Ramakrishna Math Rd, Mylapore. Swami Vivekananda on his return from the west was requested by the devotees in Madras (now Chennai) to start a Math here. To fulfill their desire Swamiji sent his brother-disciple Swami Ramakrishnananda to Madras in March 1897. After reaching Madras, the first thing Swami Ramakrishnananda did was to set up a small shrine for Sri Ramakrishna at a rented house. He lived there and led a life of renunciation, service and austerities. Slowly he built up the institution as the present Sri Ramakrishna Math and thus Sri Ramakrishna Math, Madras, came into existence. This is the oldest centre of the Ramakrishna Order in the South. Srimat Swami Bhuteshanandaji Maharaj, the 12th President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, laid the foundation-stone for this Universal Temple on 1 December 1994 in a grand function. It took five years for the project to take shape as the present grand Universal Temple. On 7 Feb 2000 the temple was dedicated by Srimat Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj, the 13th President of the Ramakrishna Order. Sri Ramakrishna Math completed hundred years of its service in 1997. The Math is regarded for its spiritual traditions, modern outlook, acceptance of all religions, service as the way of life. With its lushy green surroundings, the Universal Temple is the ideal spot for contemplation and meditation. 5AM-11:45AM and 3PM-9PM Tele: 91 044 2462110 Email: mailchennaimath. org Web presence: chennaimath. org Kundrathur sivan temple ( vada thirunageshvaram ), Kundrathur ( Kundrathur bus depot ). Sekkizhar built this 1000 year old temple 160edit Kumaran Kundram ( The Deity of Lord Murugan in Kumaran Kundram is considered to be equivalent to the one in Swamimalai ), ( Very near MIT Fly over ). small hillock at Kumaran Kundram near by Madras Institute of Technology 160edit Churches edit Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Thomas Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Thomas. Santhome High Rd. 91 44 24985455, 91 44 24980758 (parishpriestsanthomechurch ), 12. 5:AM-9PM daily. In the whole world, there are only three churches built over the tomb of an Apostle of Jesus Christ - the Basilica of Saint Peter built over the tomb of St. Peter in Rome, Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela built over the tomb of St. James in Spain and Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Thomas built over the tomb of St. Thomas. Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Thomas is in Chennai, India. The present National Shrine of St. Thomas is built over the tomb of Saint Thomas the Apostle, who came to India in the year 52 AD. After preaching on the West coast, he came to Chennai (formerly Madras), and attained martyrdom on a hill at the outskirts of the city, today known as St. Thomas Mount. His body was buried on the spot over which the present Basilica stands. The shrine was restored in 2004. A valuable work of art kept in the Basilica is an ancient painting of Our Blessed Mother, in front of which the other great apostle of India, St. Francis Xavier, used to pray. There are two new structures today: The Tomb Chapel below the Basilica and Museum cum theatre . The new underground chapel with a separate access outside the church structure, allows pilgrims to pray at the tomb and tourists to visit it, without disturbing the sacred functions in the church. The museum exhibits artifacts connected with St. Thomas and the Basilica, and the theatre is used for screening a short video on the life of the Apostle. 160edit St. Marys Church St. Marys Church, situated in the fort, is one of the oldest surviving churches built by the British in India. This is the first English church in India and the oldest Anglican church in the East. Designed by William Dixon, the then Master Gunner of the Fort, it was constructed under the supervision of the Governor Streynsham Master. Given the precarious nature of the English presence in India at the time (not to mention later attacks by the French and the locals), the church has a defensive stance - thick walls, castellated parapets and a well within the grounds - to withstand any bombardment or siege). The church was consecrated on 28 October 1680. The tower was completed in 1701 the steeple added in 1710 and the tower was connected to the main body of the church in 1759. Robert Clive - more famous as Clive of India - married Margaret Maskelyne here in 1753. The first but equally famous wedding was that of Governor Elihu Yale (who was to become the benefactor of Yale College) to Catherine Himmers in November 1680. The interior of the church contains many fascinating plaques and monuments to early British India evoking past glories and lives full of achievement. It also contains the old colours of the Madras Fusiliers, the first European regiment of the East India Company. The glass windows, wall frescos, teak plaques from the colonial times are still preserved. 10AM-5PM daily except closed on F. St. Thomas Mount St. Thomas Mount . Chennai South. St. Thomas, referred to as Didymus, in the Gospel of St. John is one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. He is one of the prime witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. St. Thomas Mount is associated with St. Thomas, the apostle of Christ, who is believed to have been martyred here. The mount is commonly called in Tamil Parangi Malai or Bhringi Malai. History says 2000 years ago, a saint Parangi lived here (parangi in Tamil language is used to refer to a white person). According to local myth, St. Thomas was one of the first Christians to reach India and to preach Christianity. He is believed to have reached South India in AD 52, and spent the last years of his life in a cave on this hill. Tradition states that Thomas was assassinated by an arrow in AD 72, by persons hostile to him. Thus, the hillock acquired the name St. Thomas Mount. Over time Anglo-Indians predominated in this area. A small relic-filled Church built in 1523 at the summit of the 300 feet high St. Thomas Mount. The place was visited by Pope John Paul II during his visit to India on 5 February 1986. At the northern foot of the mount, is a gateway of four impressive arches surmounted by a cross bearing the inscribed date 1547. A flight of 160 steps leads up to the summit of the mount. There are fourteen stations of the cross erected on the way to the summit. The Tamil Baptist Church in Kilpauk is worth a visit. It is a 107 year old monument. Lutheran Adaikalnathar Church(TELC). Tana Street. Protestant Church which is more than 100 years old 160edit St. Matthias Church. Vepery. One of the oldest churches in Chennai which was built by the British. Its also has a Anglo-Indian higher secondary school in the campus which has both boys and girls studying in the school and its famous for Producing High Standard Students with Capability of Speaking English as native speakers of the Language. 160edit Mosques edit Big Mosque also known as Wallajah Mosque Big Mosque also known as Wallajah Mosque, is situated at Walajah Road in Triplicane, Chennai is a historical landmark constructed by Wallajah family in memory of Nawab Muhammad Ali Walajah, in 1795 . It is an imposing structure of symmetry and form of architectural magnificence with an imposing facade. The Mosque stands in extensive grounds, which are being used as a forum for religious and cultural activities. The magnificent grey granite structure is built without steel and wood. This architectural marvel is one of the important mosques in Chennai. The Nawabs descendants are still living in a mansion known as Amir Mahal . One distinctive feature of this mosque is that the chronogram engraved in stone and fixed on the inside of the western wall of the mosque is by a non-Muslim, Rajah Makkan Lal Khirad, a Persian and Arabic scholar of repute, who was the private secretary to the Nawab. It may be mentioned in this regard that, as far as is known, no other mosque in the world has a chronogram composed by a non-Muslim. The Mosque has two minarets at the front. The Eid Prayer timing remains the same, 10AM, since 1749 A. D. Adjoining the Wallajah Mosque is the tomb of the great Islamic saint Maulana Abdul Ali Bahrul Uloom, a divine scholar of the days of the Nawab Wallajah. In this enclosure also are the tombs of the late Nawabs of the Carnatic, the Princess of Arcot and other eminent Muslim scholars and theologians. Wallajah Mosque can be reached either from Ellis Rd (backside) or the Triplicane High Rd. Memorials edit Valluvar Kottam . Valluvar Kottam High Rd, Nungambakkam, Chennai. Valluvar Kottam marks the memorial of one of the renowned poet and saint of the region, Tiruvalluvar. The memorial is shaped like a temple chariot and is, in fact, the replica of the temple chariot in Thiruvarur. There is a 101-feet high temple chariot structure with a life-size image of the poet in it. This chariot is a replica of the temple car of Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. The monument stands as a massive auditorium and was open to public in the year 1976. Over 3,000 blocks of stone were used to create this memorial to Tamil culture. Valluvar Kottam has quite an extensive space. The auditorium at Valluvar Kottam is said to be the largest in Asia and can accommodate about 4000 people. The auditorium is surrounded by granite pillars that have the inscriptions taken from the famous work of the poet. The epic Tiruvalluvar, written by the poet consists of 1330 verses, all of which are inscribed on the granite pillar. The 133 chapters of his famous work Thirukkural have been depicted in bas-relief in the front hall corridors of the chariot. It stands as a modern memorial to the great poet who represents the glorious culture of the Tamils. Monuments edit Fort St. George (formerly known as White Town), is located on the banks of the Bay of Bengal. It was established as the East India Companys fortified foothold in Madras and it was from this small trading post (or factory as it was then known) that British influence spread throughout India. The establishment of Fort St. George marked the birth of the new city that is Madras, in the year 1640. The fort was named after St George who is believed to have preached in the region. The British East India Company, after buying the land from the Nayak of Vandavasi in 1639 . led the establishment of what was called the Madrasemen . the permanent settlement of the company. One year later they built the fort as a commanding post in the region. With the increased trade activities of the East India Company the region soon developed into a popular trade and commerce centre. The British enjoyed supremacy in the region until 1746, when the French attacked the fort and captured it. After three years, in 1749 the British regained power by signing a treaty with the French. In the meantime they fortified the base in order to repel the invasion of Hyder Ali and the French. The fort is believed to be the first establishment of the British in India. The military architecture is interesting and holds great historical importance. Inside the Fort is the Fort Museum 13 decorated with cannons of Tipu Sultan. There are a lot of interesting artifacts showcased in the museum. Apart from the museum, the southern division of the Archaeological Survey of India is located here. Today, Fort St George is famous for its exotic collection of books in the library and housing the legislative assembly in the secretariat building. The fort in its present form looks more like a mansion, rather any fort. Various Government offices function inside this building, including the structure which used to be the residence of Robert Clive called the Clive House. St. Marys Church, situated in the fort, is one of the oldest surviving churches built by the British in India. The tallest flag pole in the country can be seen here, its height is 150 feet. The pole is now made of metal but was originally made entirely of teak wood. Sa-Th 10:00-17:00. Fort Museum: Children lt15 yr free, Indian Adults 5, Foreign Adults: 100 The Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India Freemasons Hall is located at 87, Ethiraj Salai, Egmore. It was constructed in 1923 for the troops. The architecture is classical Greek style and houses a lodge room on the first floor where Masonic meetings are held M-F 10:00-17:00 and Sa 10:00-14:00. Museums and Art Galleries edit Government Museum 14. Pantheon Rd, Egmore. Established in 1857, the Government Museum of Chennai is one of the popular tourist destinations in the city. It is a multi-purpose State Government Museum located in Egmore, which is in the heart of the city, spreading over an area of 16.25 acres of land. Six independent buildings in this Museum campus has 46 galleries. There is an Archaeology Section, Zoology Section, Botany Section, Geology Section, Numismatics Section, Bronze Gallery. Childrens museum, Art gallery and various other interesting sections and galleries. It is considered to be one of the oldest museums of India, since its inception dates back to the Colonial rule. There is history behind the origin of this Museum. In 1846 AD, the Madras Literary Society debated the proposal of establishing a museum in the then Madras. The proposal was approved by the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London. Chennai Government Museum was handed down with a sprawling complex and the presently maintained by the State Government. The Museum was formally inaugurated on December 5, 1896 by the Sir Arthur Eli bank Havelock, the then Governor. He named it after the former Governor, Lord Connenmara. The museum was designed by H. Irvin, the consulting architect of the Government of Madras. The Government Museum has a splendid hall, marvelous reading room and striking Teak wood shelf and stands divided into a number of sections. Note that parts of the museum are often closed. Phone: 91 44 2819-3238, 09:30-17:00 except holidays. A free guide service is available at 11:00 and 15:00. National Art Gallery The building of National Arts Gallery was built in the year 1907. This magnificent red sandstone building was designed by Henry Irwin and built by T. Namberumal Chetty. The building represents a typical Indo-Saracenic structure and was initially famous as the Victoria Memorial Hall. Built with sandstone and adorned with motifs, the building bears impressions of Mughal architecture. It is this architecture, not just the gallery collections that make it worth a visit. The gallery exhibits medieval handicrafts, sculptures, metal ware and paintings belonging to various schools of art and eras. The gallerys collections are displayed in four different sections: Tanjore Painting Gallery, Decorative Art Gallery, Indian Traditional Art Gallery and Ravi Varma Painting Gallery. The Tanjore paintings on glass are wonderful. The miniature paintings from Rajput and Mughal eras are fascinating too. The handicrafts that are displayed belong to the 11th and 12th century Indian handicraft period. The top floor, closed in May 2017, offered additional galleries. Sa-Th 09:30-17:00 except national holidays. 91 44 2819-3238. The Birla Planetarium The Birla Planetarium . at Kotturpuram, between Adyar and Guindy, is the most modern planetarium in the country. Adjoining the planetarium is a Periyar Science and Technology Museum which will be of interest to students and other science scholars. Built in memory of B. M. Birla, the well known industrialist and visionary, the Planetarium is considered to be the most modern in the country. Location: Tamil Nadu Science amp Technology Centre, Gandhi Mandapam Rd (Behind CLRI). Tele: 91 44 2441-0025 67515250. The Science and Technology Centre is open daily except national holidays. Programmes at 10:45-13:45 and 15:45. In English at Noon, Tamil 14:30. Miscellaneous edit Integral Coach Factory .15. Check the website for directions as the the auto-rickshaw drivers have never heard of it. Zoological gardens and eco parks edit Arinjar Anna Zoological Park Arinjar Anna Zoological Park ( The Vandalur Zoo ), 91 044 22751089 (aazpyahoo. fax. 91 044 22750741 ), 16. 9AM-6PM daily except Tu. Started in Peoples Park in 1855, the Madras zoological gardens (later renamed as Arignar Anna Zoological Park after C. N. Annadurai, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state from 1967 to 1969) was moved to Vandalur (a former game reserve frequented by governors of colonial Madras) on the outskirts of Chennai city in 1985 owing to lack of space in the congested heart of the city. Today, the zoo is one of the biggest in South Asia housing more than 170 species of mammals, birds and reptiles. Lion safari vehicles, elephant rides, battery operated vehicles are some of the facilities available. The peak time is during Pongal and weekend holidays. The animals are usually housed in their natural settings. 160edit Guindy National Park Guindy National Park. Sardar Vallabhai Patel Rd, Adyar, Guindy. M-F 9AM-5:30PM except Tu. The current park area stands close to 280 hectares. Guindy Park happens to be almost certainly the smallest national park in the country and the only park within the city suburbs of India. The park is inhabited by more than 20 species of trees, about 14 varieties of shrubs and more than 14 species of woodland mammals. Guindy National Park The place also houses many species of rare birds and amphibians. The dry deciduous forests of Guindy are lined with tree species like Amona Squamosa, Atlanta Monophylla, Feronia Limonia and Azadirachta India. The popular park animals include species like Indian Antelope (Black Buck), Elephant, Spotted Deer, Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Hedgehog, Pangolin and Jackal. Some rare bird species found in the park include Black Winged Kite, Honey Buzzard, and Pariah Kite. The park is also home to many reptile and amphibian species. JULY 2018 only childrens park and snake park open. Visits to the National park proper are only allowed with park ranger and the gate is locked. Rs 15, Free below 10 years, 11 to above Rs 5, School Children age 5-12 from government and aided schools Rs 2, children from private schools age 5-12 Rs 10, still camera Rs 10, video camera Rs 75. 160edit Guindy Snake Park. ( next to Guindy National Park ). M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM except Tu. Founded by one of the prominent wildlife conservationist Romulus Whitaker. The park houses a number of snake species, lizards, crocodiles and turtles. The park breeds more than 30 species of Indian snakes. Some of the most sought after species include King Cobra, Indian Rock Python, Reticulated Python, Adders and Vipers. In addition to the snakes the park also breeds species of lizards, crocodiles and turtles. The museum in the park premises contains preserved specimens of many reptiles and amphibians. 160edit Tholkappiar Poonga ( Adyar Eco Park ), 6 103, Dr. D. G. S. Dinakaran Salai, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai - 600 028. 91 44 2461 4523 (membersecretary. crrtgmail. fax. 91 44 2461 4524 ), 17. 2.30PM-4:30PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This park maintained by the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust is the only prominent eco park located within Chennai city limits. Measuring a total of 358 acres, the park covers the estuary of the Adyar river known for its fragile ecosystem. The estuary was restored in various phases starting from 2003 and recently opened for guided public tours. However, prior online booking is necessary in order to visit the park through the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust website. A maximum of 20 visitors are allowed each day. The eco park is popular among bird-watchers as various species of pelicans, herons, storks and butterflies are found here. The park areas houses about 172 endemic species of flowering plants. Sculptures of dinosaurs and various animals carved out of naturally available stone are found within the park. Rs. 20, Children below 12 years: Rs. 5. 160edit Protected areas edit Pallikaranai wetland is a freshwater swamp in the south of the city 18. Being able to retain water throughout the year, it forms an aquatic ecosystem. The marsh acts as a home for many endangered and as a breeding ground for thousands of migratory birds which makes it an ideal place for bird watching. A conservation project is afoot to spruce up the area and build an observation center for visitors convenience. There have been walks conducted in the marsh by the societies like Madras Naturalists Society 19. Contact them to find out about their events. Nanmangalam Reserve Forest is a protected area between Velachery and Tambaram. According to reports, it is home to 85 different species of birds and some rare territorial orchids. Similar to the above marsh, there are no regularly conducted walks, but some photography societies and nature societies organise walks once in a while. Do edit add listing Visit the international headquarters of the Theosophical Society situated at Adyar in the southern part of Chennai. The Adyar Library 20 situated in the societys campus has one the largest collection of Tibetan manuscripts with over 20,000 palm leaf folios. For nature-lovers, a stroll through the vast and biologically rich Theosophical Society Gardens is a must. One of the curiosities is a 450-year old banyan tree. Go for a ride along Kamarajar Salai . a promenade on the sea front. The road is dotted with some of the finest specimens of Indo-Saracenic and art deco architecture such as the University of Madras buildings, Chepauk Palace, Vivekanandar Illam, Queen Marys College, Presidency College and the Chennai police headquarters. Among other buildings are the MGR memorial and Anna Samadhi, Gandhi statue and statues of poet Subrahmanya Bharathi, G. U. Pope and Bishop Robert Caldwell. Food Tours edit Chennai Food Tours ( Blaffer Food Tours ), IIT Madras, Adyar ( Directions depend on the tour location, and are mailed prior to the tour ), 91-8056202141 (contactblaffer. in ), 21. Every weekend. Can be contacted for custom trips if visiting on a non-tour day. South India has contributed numerous dishes to the world Therefore it is imperative to explore Chennai - the hub of South India - through the gastronomic lens. Chennai Food Tours offer a number of tours - street food, food history tour (very unique), kebab tour - all with the mindset of exploring. Do not leave Chennai without going to this tour 160edit Eco Tours edit Nizhal Tree Walks. Ashok Nagar, Chennai. 98841-14721 (nizhal. shadegmail ), 22. Nizhal has 3 series of walks - the Margazhi walks in December January, the Chithirai walks in April and the Madras day walks in August. Nizhal has conducted tree walks to acquaint citizens with the trees around them. Through its tree walks Nizhal has hoped to sensitize citizens to the role played by trees in the environment, the challenges they face and how they can be protected. Walks have also served as forums where tree lovers can network with each other. 160edit The Chennai Trekking Club (CTC) 23 organizes weekend treks and getaways. A lot of cleaning operations, blood donation and photography camps are also organized by CTC. Membership is free and costs are shared equally. Events edit Madras Music Season 24 Organized in December-January every year in an unbroken sequence since 1928, the Madras Music Season is the most important cultural event in the Chennai calendar. The season features Carnatic music concerts, dance programmes, operas, plays and magic shows. Chennai Book Fair 25 Held usually for two weeks in December-January every year since 1977, the Chennai Book Fair is the second largest book fair in the country after the Delhi Book Fair. The 2017, 2017 and 2018 editions had more than 700 stalls and over one million visitors. Organized by the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI), many important publishers in India participate in the fair. Debates, prize distributions, lectures and film screenings are also held at the venue. Madras Day or Madras Week 26 The Madras Day or Madras Week celebrations are held in August every year to commemorate the purchase of the village of Madrasapatnam by East India Company factors Andre Cogan and Francis Day on August 22, 1639. The celebrations usually comprise of heritage walks, exhibitions, lectures, nature and tree walks, book and postage cover releases and film screenings. Though the celebrations typically last a week, the 2017 and 2018 editions extended through August and into September as well. The Hindu Lit for Life 27 Held during the Pongal festival (2nd week of January) every year since 2017, The Hindu Lit for Life is an international literary festival organized by The Hindu group of newspapers. The festival typically comprises of group discussions and lectures and The Hindu Lit for Life award is given at the end of each festival. Music and Dance edit Chennai has a lot of Carnatic music Sabhas (loosely translates to concert house) where concerts are held during the Madras Music season. You will see mostly older celebrities, although occasionally there will be some world-class young virtuosos. The Music Academy 28. No. 168, T. T.K. Road, Chennai - 600 014. Phone: 91-44-2811 2231 91-44-2811 5162, Email: musicmusicacademymadras Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall 29. Madras Seva Sadan, No 7, Harrington Road. Chetpet. Call for details: 91 44 43561198 and 91 42146632, Email: infosirmuthamemorial VDS Arts Academy 30. MOP Vaishnava College for Women, Nungambakkam. Music and Bharatanatyam dance concerts throughout the year at 6:30 PM. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday by young artists. Admission: free. Brahma Gana Sabha 31. Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium, M. Ct. M School, 179, Luz Church Road, 91 92821 06425, 91 98412 96684 Indian Institute of Music and Arts . R. K Swamy Auditorium, Sir Sivaswamy Kalalaya, 5, Sundareswarar Street, Mylapore. Kartik Fine Arts 32. Narada Gana Sabha Hall, TTk Road. 91 44 2499 7788, 91 44 2495 2695 ( 30th Year Art Festival ), Sri Krishna Gana Sabha 33. Dr. Nalli Gana Vihar, 20. Maharajapuram Santhanam Road, T. Nagar, 91 44 2814 0806 ( The 49th Art and Dance Festival amp Pongal Nagaswara Isai Vizha And the 24th Natya Kala Conference ), Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha 34. Vani Mahal, 103, GN Chetty Road, 91 44 2815 2166 ( The 25th Isai Iyal Nataka Vizha ) Kalalayaa Art Academy . Kalalayaa Art Academy. 2nd Floor, 100ft Bye Pass Road, Velachery.(Landmark: Opp to Bharat Petroleum Petrol Bunk, Above Nuts amp Spices) 91 98408 77546, 91 44 4303 6546 35 GK Parigi in Cine Abinayam star night programme. contact:parigeyahoo. co. in Nungambakkam Cultural Academy Trust Chennai is a major centre of Bharata Natyam with over 1000 dance performances a year. More dance forms are now encouraged and taught like Kuchipudi (Traditional dance form from Andhra Pradesh ), Mohini Attam . etc. Some other dances like Odissi Manipuri can be found, but are rarer. Cinema edit When in Chennai, do not miss a chance to watch a movie. Make sure to book your tickets in advance especially in the weekend, because most of the cinemas will be sold out. Chennai also provides best cinematic experience at lowest cost Rs. 120- and lesser, which is very less compared to other metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata. There are several cinemas in the city. Check out any local newspaper or websites to get to know the movies running in and around Chennai. Some of the cinema halls are Udhayam Theatre . Ashok Pillar, Chennai Devi Cineplex . 36. In the heart of Chennai on Anna Salai. The Cineplex is a huge complex and a great architectural beauty. Jazz Cinemas . 37. In Phoenix Mall, Jazz Cinemas has a lot of screens and 2 IMAX screens. Sathyam Cine Complex 38. Thiru-vi-ka Rd, phone 044-42244224. One of the best theaters. Provides quality food and the main screen is one of the biggest in INDIA. Escape Cinemas 39. Express Avenue, Royapettah, phone 044-4224 4224 Inox 40. Chennai Citi Centre, R. K.Salai Mayajaal Cine Complex 41 . Abhirami Cine Complex . Purasawalkam. Shanti Cine Complex . Anna Salai Ega theatres 42. p. h road, Kilpauk (Features Hindi movies). Sangam Cine Complex in Kilpauk. Rohini Cinema Complex . Koyambedu. Ganga Theatre complex in Kolathur. Rakki Theatre in Ambattur. AGS Royal, Villivakkam, AGS Navalur, OMR Luxe cinemas . 11-screen multiplex in Phoenix Market City, Velachery AGS Cinemas OMR, Navalur. Vetri Theatre . Chromepet. Sports edit Chennai has been one of the prominent sporting location in India, with wide variety of sports played almost everywhere right from every street corners to big stadium matches. M. A. Chidambaram Stadium (Famously known as Chepauk Stadium) Cricket by itself is a festival in India, every TV in the Mall is tuned to cricket during the match season and the whole city would be tuned in to the sport some way or another. Chennai is an international venue for cricket and is also a home ground for the Chennai super Kings (a famous cricket team).While in Chennai it might be interesting to catch a game and enjoy the electric spirit of Indian cricket. Close to Chepauk there are several sporting good store where you can buy good quality cricket equipments at low cost Chennai open is a prominent tennis tournament that happens around January every year, the event has attracted lot of high ranked players such as Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moy, Leader Paes. The event is well organized with details published online including ticket sales. Learn edit Chennai has dozens of different institutes of higher learning from arts to engineering. The city also offers plenty of opportunities to learn Yoga, Bhartanatyam, Carnatic music and The Bhagavad Gita. Alliance franaise de Madras ( (AFM) ), No.24, College Road, Nungampaakam, Chennai 600 006 ( Nearest to bus stop name: Nungampaakam Sterling Road ), 91 44-28279803. 43. Monday to Saturday: 8.30 am - 6:30 pm. Indo-French cultural center and a place to learn French. AFM is one of the best places to learn French next only to Alliance Franaise de Delhi. 160edit Chinmaya Mission. 2 13th Ave Harrington Rd, Chetpet. 91 44 2826 5641 ( 91 44 2827 4046 ). 160edit The World Community Service Centre. ( Vedathri mahirishi Vision for wisdom ), 044-24571153. 44. free yoga. 160edit ISKCON ( International Society For Krishna Consciousness ), Hare Krishna Land Injambakkam. 91 44 2501 9303 ( 91 44 2501 9147 ). 160edit Isha Yoga. 81 Manoharan St, SW Boag Rd ( near Pazhamudhir Nilayam ), 91 44-24333185 ( mobile 91 9442515557. chennaiishafoundation. org ), 45. 160edit Kalakshethra. Kalakshetra Foundation, Tiruvanmiyur. 91 44 2491 1836 ( 91 44 2491 4359. fax. 91 44 2491 4359 ), 46. 160edit Kishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. 31, 4th Cross St, R. K. Nagar. 91 44 2493 7998 ( 91 44 2493 3092. fax. 91 44 2461 334 ), 47. 160edit Krishnamurthi Foundation. 124, 126 (Old 6465) Greenways Rd. 91 44 2493 7803 infokfionline. org ( 91 44 2493 7596 ), 48. 160edit Raja Yoga ( Ishwariya Vishwa Vidhyalayam ), 49. Learn Yoga free of cost. 160edit Theosophical Society. Adyar, Chennai. 91 44 2491 2815 (intl. hqts-adyar. org. fax. 91 44 2490 2706 ), 50. 160edit Buy edit add listing Stores on Doors ( Best Online Shop in Chennai for Grocery, Vegetables and Fruits ), 1714, Pallavan Street, Alwarthirunagar, Chennai. 044 65158534. 51. 160edit Shopping Malls edit Express Avenue 52. Royapettah High Road. It is the second largest shopping mall in South India and features unique stores like Hamleys, Global Desi and Peekaboo, designer wear like Guess and Diesel and high-street chains like Body Shop, Tie Rack, Esprit and Lush. It has a few fine-dining restaurants and also one of the largest food courts in India. Spencer Plaza 53. 769, Anna Salai. Spencer Plaza is the oldest shopping mall in India dating to the 1980s. The present building stands in place of an Gothic-style one which housed the Spencers, Asias first departmental store. The original was destroyed in a fire, and the current building dates back to 1983. The new Phase III section even has a mock Indo-Saracenic atrium in the style of the original. One of the earliest shopping malls in India, it has slightly lost its charm with the arrival of swanky new malls, but it is still an excellent place to buy handicrafts, ethnic wear, Indian jewellery and books (it houses the largest Landmark bookstore in Chennai). There is a reasonably good food court on the 2nd level of Phase I and Phase III. Chennai Citi Center 54 10, Radhakrishnan Salai. Opened in March of 2006, it houses mostly mens western-wear brands like Adidas, Louis Philippe, Parx and Zodiac. Has a good food court, an Indian restaurant, INOX cinema and a supermarket. Shoppers Stop 55 2, Harrington Road, Chetpet. This is one of the largest department stores in Chennai, and you can buy everything from clothes to shoes to books here. Ispahani Center Nungambakkam road. An early shopping centre - has a cafe, bar amp shops. Prince Plaza . Pantheon road, Egmore. It has been featured in many movies. Ampa Mall . 56. A new shopping mall in Chennai with both western and Indian brands featuring in the shops. Most popular for its PVR Cinemas multiplex, Star Bazaar grocery store and one of the few McDonalds in the city. It also has a food court and a boutique hotel. Pheonix Market City . 57. A new shopping mall in Chennai Located in velachery. Biggest mall in chennai, It houses Satyam Cinemas in the name of luxe cinemas will open 11 screens here which will also house Chennais first IMAX theatre. Chennais first Hardrock Cafe is soon to come up here. Forum Vijaya Mall . 58. A big shopping mall in vadapalani. one of the Biggest mall in chennai, Houses Satyams 9 screens, chennais second IMAX will come up here. Spectrum Mall (formerly known as Grand Venus Mall) is a shopping mall located in Perambur, Chennai, India. It is the first mall in North Chennai. The mall was developed at the site of erstwhile Venus theater on Paper Mills Road in Perambur. The mall is spread over an area of 1,60,000 sq. ft with two levels of retail shopping and a five screen multiplex Chandra Metro Mall is a shopping mall located at Virugambakkam, Chennai. The Mall with a built up area of 1.43 lakh sq. ft. The mall has a five screen multiplex with a capacity of 1300 seats called as Fame National Books edit Chennai has a wide selection of rare books and maps in the many second-hand book stalls. With luck you may end up getting one of the best deals ever. English, Tamil and Hindi books are widely available and sold, other language books are sold by specialised stalls. Alwars Roadside bookshop opposite Kamadhenu theatre in Mylapore. Bookfield . Opposite the LIC building on Anna Salai (Mount Road) Moore Market near Chennai Central Vendors on Mount Road outside Devi Theatre and the GPO (General Post Office) Higginbothams . Anna Salai. Kennedys Book House . Anna Salai. For more current publications Landmark 59. Spencers Plaza, Anna Salai (Mount Road) - Books, Toys, CDs etc. four locations: Spencer Plaza, Anna Salai (Mount Road) - 37,000 sq. ft. Apex Plaza, Nungambakkam High Road - 12,000 sq. ft. - The original store. Chennai Citi Centre, Radhakrishnan Salai Ampa Mall, Injambakkam - newest location Odyssey . Behind Gandhi Nagar Bus Stand, Adyar and Express Avenue, Royapettah Giggles . Connemara Hotel Binny Road - General books from a friendly shop keeper Chennai Book Fair (annual) If you happen to be in Chennai in January, the ChennaiBookFair is an event not to miss. Plan to visit on a weekday as they attract lesser crowds and you can browse through the collections peacefully. If you pick a weekend or holiday, try to visit in the morning instead of the evening. Look through all the shops but it is usually better to skip the marquee stalls and visit the smaller ones which have books stacked all around. You will be rewarded with some great finds as these shops have lesser known but excellent titles from all around the world. Carry cash as many of the smaller shops do not accept creditdebit cards and cash also helps to bargain down the price of the books to some extent. On average, paperback novels in bargain shops cost 100 to 200. A budget of 3000 (around 50) should be enough to purchase a good collection of books. Clothes edit AMAARA 60 2714, C. V. Raman Road, Alwarpet, Chennai - 6000018. 91 9842212173 91 44 45000020. Located in the heart of the city is a quaint little designer boutique - Amaara. Amaara specializes in high quality Indian ready to wear clothing for Women. Their cuts are simple, fashionable amp sophisticated. Amaara clothes use handloom fabrics such as maheswari cottons, tussar silks, jute, hand block printed kalamkari etc. The store is co-owned by sisters Soorya amp Vijayalakshmi, who are usually around at the store to help you out, which adds to the personal touch. Brass Tacks 61. 7713, Corporation Shopping Complex, C. P. Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet, 91 44 4208 1767. Contemporary clothing from natural fibres for women. FabIndia . 62. The Ilford House location at 3 Woods Road is probably the best in terms of choices and selections. This is the place to go for all your natural-dyed, hand loomed and hand made textiles. The prices have been going up the last few years, but FabIndia is the only source for this sort of textile in Chennai at any retail outlet. Just Casuals . Nungambakkam, 1, Sterling Road, 91 044 28273882. A good place to head if youre in the mood for the Banana RepublicAbercrombieOld NavyGap type stuff. They seem to get all the export rejects or overstocks. Youll find that all the brand tags are cut out due to some agreement with the manufacturer. The quality and prices are good, but unfortunately theres no bargaining possible. Handloom Exhibitions . Year-round there is always a handloom exhibition profiling the work of one state or the other. These temporary installations (youll have to check the local papers to find out where they set up) generally have a good selection of interesting fabrics and textile products. And there is always the option to bargain, which makes it a better bet than oft-overpriced retail stores. The Royapettah YMCA (across from Royapettah Hospital) has a regular handloom exhibition. Crafts edit Poombukar . 108 Anna Salai, Plandmark. ( opposite the LIC building in Annasalai and next to Higgingbothams book store ). They sell handicrafts. Amethyst . Sundar Mahal, Padmavathi Rd, Jeypore Colony, Gopalapuram, 91 44 2820 3582. They sell handicrafts. Victoria Technical institute 63. located very close to Spencer Plaza and a few minutes by walk from Express Avenue. They have a huge display of handicraft items, paintings, wood carvings and metal work statues. Ashvita - Arts and Artifacts . 11 2nd St, Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore, 91 44 2847 6063. Art, jewellery, photo prints. Crafts and Weaves . 1, 1st Main Road, CIT Colony, Mylapore. 91 44 2466 0232. Handicrafts. Giri Stores . Adjacent to Kabaleeswarar Temple, ( opposite the Radha Silk Emporium, Mylapore Tank ). Hindu spiritual items like Rudraksha garlands, books, CDs amp tapes for chanting, incense sticks, camphor and lamps. Hidesign . Ispahani Centre, Nungambakkam High Rd amp Phase 3, Spencers Plaza. 64. Leather goods. Vimonisha Art Gallery . 12 Khadar Nawaz Khan Rd. Handicrafts. Jidoka Store . 1st Lane, Nungambakkam High Rd, 91 44 2822 3516, 91 44 2822 3317. Handicrafts. Poppat Jamals . Mount Rd Anna Salai, ( opp. Spencers Plaza ). Crockery. Manasthala . 12 Cenotaph Rd, 91 44 2433 2842. Terracotta ceramics. Art galleries edit Prakrit Art Gallery . Dhandayuthapani Nagar, 2nd St, Kotturpuram, 91 44 42188989, 65 . Lakshmi Ethiraj Art Gallery . 70 1st Main Rd, CIT Nagar, 91 44 4359 223. Raasi Art Gallery . 1 Anna Ave, Bakthavatsala Nagar, Adayar, 91 44 2441 0389. Apparao Galleries . 7th St, Wallace Garden, 91 44 2827 226. Contemporary arts and crafts showroom . 41 CP Ramaswamy Rd, Alwarpet, 91 44 2499 7069, 91 44 2466 0159. Chennai Studio . 222 Peters Rd, Royapettah, 91 44 98405 43420, 66 . Sarees edit Revathy Stores, No. 78, RK Mutt Rd, ( Luz Bazaar Building ), 91 44 24934328. Small store with a wide variety of Kalyani and Indian hand-loomed sarees. Aavaranaa . 15, Ashoka Street, Alwarpet, 91 44 24988292. Vardhrams and Sons Silks . Harington Rd, Chetpat. Radha Silk Emporium (Rasi) . Silk sarees, ethnic wear, arts amp crafts in multiple locations. 1 Sannadhi St, Mylapore, 91 44 2494 1906 827, Dhun Building, Mount Rd, 91 44 2852 0251 23 1st Main Rd, Nanganallur, 91 44 2232 4176 Shilpi . 29 C. P. Ramaswamy Rd, Alwarpet. Jewelry edit Joyalukkas . TNagar. Vummidi Bangaru Jewellery . Nungambakkam, also a location TNagar. Bapalal Jewellers . Kakani Towers, Cathedral Road. KANISHK . TNagar. Music edit Sapthaswara Musicals . Features Western and Indian musical instruments. Shruthi Musicals . 10 Harleys Rd, Kilpauk, 91 44 2660 3630. Sruthilayais . 93 Royapettah High Rd, Mylapore, 91 44 2499 4045,91 44 2498 2625. Musical instruments. Lakshman shruthi . Vadapalani Signal, Vadapalani. Musical instruments, CDs. In addition to these there are several exhibitions at Das Community Hall (Cathedral Rd), Shankara Hall (TTK Rd) where artisans display their work. Check the local newspapers for details and timings. Eat edit add listing Chennai has numerous restaurants, offering an assortment of cuisine. The beach restaurants are well maintained and serve great food during the evenings. The eat outs in Chennai range from budget, midrange and to up-market. There are swanky star quality restaurants, plain open traditional vegetarian or non vegetarian restaurants - where you share a table with strangers, street stalls, tea kadais, fast food centers, western fast food centers, food courts, coffee shops, bakeries. Vegetarian restaurants serve tiffin and vegetarian meals. There are also a number of restaurants that serve a variety of Tamil, Andhra and Kerala vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare. Many of these restaurants have nowadays diversified and offer other Indian and Indianized Chinese dishes as well. Usually the check includes a service charge, written next to S. C. If no service charge is added, it is customary to leave a moderate tip. Budget edit Hot soup stand outside Santhome, Chennai All these budget eateries serve only vegetarian food and are very cheap. DOJO KULFIS . A must visit for Traditional Indian desert - Kulfis, Ice creams, Faloodas, Smoothies amp Coolers. Situated in Kutchery Road, Mylapore and Ennore. They supply their products to most of the hotels, restaurants, food courts. Contact 91 99620 22850, maildojokulfis, dojokulfis. Eat N Drink. 570-N, Anna Salai, Teynampet ( next to Courtyard Marriott ). South Indian fast food, from masala dosas to uttapam and pongal. Fast, cheap, tasty and hygienic. Rs 20-40. 160edit Geetha Caf . Pondy Bazaar. South Indian tiffin. Hot Chips . T. Nagar and Anna Nagar for budget priced South Indian tiffin, including North Indian chaat (snack) items. Kebab Junction . Royapettah, NV, opp. Express Ave, ( near Melody theatre ), Karpagambal Mess . Mylapore, ( opposite the Kapaleeswarar temple ). Cheap and authentic South Indian Food. Komalas . Kodambakkam High Rd. South Indian fast food. Mansuks . T. Nagar. Best for Bombay Chaat, Lassi and an unlimited Gujarati Thali. Palimar . Parsn Complex, Mount Rd, Anna Salai. South Indian cuisine. Rathna Cafe . Triplicane. also Thiruvanmiyur, ( opposite the RTO ). For fluffy hot idlis, hot vadai, delicious pongal dripping in ghee and accompanied by sambhar. Quality maintained for more than 100 years. More expensive than Murugan Idli shop. Sangeetha . at intersection of Valluvar Kottam High Rd and Nungambakkam High Rd in Nungambakkam Chain of vegetarian restaurants. A mix of good-quality and tasty South Indian, North Indian, and Indo-Chinese cuisine at very reasonable prices. A chain restaurant. Saravana Bhavan . 67. Probably Chennais best known restaurant chain, with 25 branches in Chennai itself (incl. one next to Kapaleeswarar Temple). Pure vegetarian Indian food with high standards of hygiene. Sanjeevanam . New No. 97, Old No.45, Nungambakkam High Road in Nungambakkam, Chennai 91 44 4549 0324. Adyar location: Old No.24, New No.76, B. Venkatarathinam Nagar, Adyar, 68. A popular vegetarian health restaurant that cooks its foods using ayurvedic principles. The food is truly delicious, and the concept is that they are cooked with low amounts of oil, using healthy ingredients. The chain also features Ayurvedic and yogic classes. Sri Krishna Sweets . Mount Rd, Spencers Plaza, Adayar, Anna Salai, also at MG Rd, Shastri Nagar. Indian sweets amp salad bar. North Indian chat (snack) items. The Spice Box . Thiruvanmyur, 91 44 4304 2365. Lunch deliveries and gourmet outdoor catering. Wholesome, innovative lunch-dinner in 6 options is great to try out. Vasantha Bhavan . ( near Vadapalani Bus stand ). Chain of vegetarian restaurants. Mid-range edit Mother Cluckers Cafe. 7, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai. 91 91761 13893. 69. Good food on a tight budget. Burgers, Pizzas, Waffles, Pancakes and Thick Shakes. Meal for 2 - Rs 500. 160edit Dynasty . Harrisons Hotel, (Non-Vegetarian) 315, Valluvarkottam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai. Good quality Chinese-Indian cuisine Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 52222777 The Cascade . Quality Inn Sabari, 1. floor, 29 Thirumalai Pillai Road, T. Nagar, Chennai 600 017, Tel: 91 44 2834 3030 Texas Fiesta . (Non-Vegetarian) 172, Shaffee Mohammed Road, off Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Chennai 600006. It is owned and operated by a Tex Mex aficionado who fell in love with this great cuisine while in the USA. Favorite dishes include chicken wings, cream of leeks and potato soup, chicken fajita and grilled tenderloin steak apart from burritos, quesadillas and tortillas. Meal for two would cost about 500. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 43087882 Amethyst . (Vegetarian),Sundar Mahal, Padmavathi Road, Jeypore Colony, Gopalapuram, Chennai. 91 44 2820 3582. Garden and patio cafe and restaurant with a mix of western (pastas, burgers) and Indian fare. Cuisines served by Amethyst are Coffee and International. It is a nice, cozy, romantic place to chill out on weekends. Their cuisine is nice and so is their interiors. Its a colonial house turned into a restaurant. Highly recommendable. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28353581 Curry House: (Non-Vegetarian), 2, Block AB, 11th Avenue, Anna Nagar, Chennai. Hyderabadi, Chettinad, and Kerala delicacies. Good tandoori fare of the Non-Veg variety popular among the punjabis and found all over Delhi is also offered. Open: 12PM to 3PM and 7PM to 11PM. Price range: Meals for two around 350. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 42611167, 42611168 Dhaba Express . (Non-Vegetarian) 9, Cenotaph Road, Teynampet, Chennai and Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai. Cuisines served by Dhaba Express are North Indian. They serve Chicken Tikka Masala, Mutton Rogan Josh, Tandoori Aloo (starter), Naans and Roomali Rotis. Valet Parking. Open: 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, 6:30 PM to 1:30 AM. Price range: Meals for two 500. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 2432 8213. ECR Dhaba . (Non-Vegetarian) 976, Kunnukadu, East Coast Road, Near Muttukadu Boat House, Chennai. Cuisines served by ECR Dhaba are Punjabi Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 27472943, 91 098407 04050. Open: 11:00 AM to 11:45 PM Coastline . (Non-Vegetarian) 118, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore, Chennai. South Indian Seafood. Freshly done Interiors, slow service but delicious food. Crab Rasam, Prawn or Fish Biryani. Vide variety of sea food offerings. Must try place. Price range: Meals for two 600. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28251128 Aiwo . (Vegetarian) . 7 Rosy Towers, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai. Fusion and health foods. Aiwo features a 14-course meal served on a conveyer belt that moves around the room. Various dishes served are supposed to be cooked in olive oil. Healthy tasty food for the health conscious. Resonably priced at 199 per meal inclusive of taxes. Table Reservations Tele:91 044 66514241 Amaravathi . (Non-Vegetarian) . 1 Cathedral Road, Gopalpuram, Chennai. It serves South Indian sea food cuisines and is known for its spicy Andhra food . Their famous Andhra meals, chicken and mutton biryani, Vazahapoo and Keerai Vadi are a must try. Wide range of delicacies includes chilly chicken, chili paneer, momos, soups, burgers, rolls, etc. Punjabi dishes like kadhai chicken, butter chicken, daal makhni, roti, butter naan, paneer butter masala, allu matar etc. Special fish prawns and Amaravathi chicken are the main dishes of the restaurant. Price: Avrg. for 2 persons 500. Seating: 135 covers. Valet Parking and Take away. Open: Seven days a week. 11AM to 11PM. Table Reservations Tele: 91 044 28116416, 28110305 350. Open: 11.30AM to 3.30PM and 7PM to 10.30PM. Table Reservations Tele: Mr. Chinniah 91 044 28340242, 42122176 Anjappar . (Non-Vegetarian) J. P. Tower, 72, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai 600034. Speciality: Anjappar Popular Meals: White Rice, Chettinad Chicken, Mutton Gravy, Fish Gravy, Sambar, Rasam, Kootu, Porial, Keerai, Curd, Buttermilk, Appalam. Also famous for Spl. Mutton Dum Biriyani, Nattu Koli Biriyani and Chettinaad Fish Masala. Price range: Meals for two 500. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28217200, 2825666, 42144573. They have other outlets in Chennai: Anna Nagar: . (91 44 26264111) Chennai Airport-Food Court - Anna International Airport, . (91 44 22561793, 2256194) Near Central Station: (91 44 25382666, 25383334) Egmore . (91 44 42134111, 42179222) Purasaiwalkam . (91 44 42089188, 26400200) TNagar . (91 44 24328444, 24328555) Mylapore . (91 44 24982883,24981226) R. K.Salai . (91 44 28114555, 28114666) Annalakshmi: (Vegetarian) 183, Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road (Marshall road), Sigapi Achi Building I Floor, Adjacent to Raja Muthaiah amp Rani Meyyammai Hall, Egmore, Chennai 600008. This is a must try expensive South Indian food restaurant. Elegant ambience, friendly service and good food. Filling portions served. Best selling dishes - Elumichai Sevai, Badam-saffron milkshake. Elite crowd. Pricy at 1000 for 2 meals. Open: Tuesday to Sunday (Monday weekly holiday) Lunch: 12 Noon to 2.30 PM. Dinner: 7.30 PM. to 9.45 PM. Table Reservations Tele: 91 044 28525109 044 42141210 Anupama Southern Spice . (Non-Vegetarian) 25, 1st Floor, G. N. Chetty Road, Thyagaraya Nagar, Chennai 600017. Specialty Andhra Cuisine. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 31000733 Hotel Coronet . (Non-Vegetarian) 128, Lattice Bdge Road, Adyar, Chennai 600020. This is one of the oldest restaurants in the area. Very reasonably priced, Coronet is known for its great Mughalai food. Their specialties are the mutton korma with parotha, Ceylon egg parotha, and kheema masala. They also serve Kerala Malabar dishes. Modest ambience. Open: 9 AM to Past midnight. Tele: 91 44 24413446, 91 44 24411915 Madurai Appu . (Non-Vegetarian) 40, Sarojini Street, TNagar, Chennai 600017. Speciality: Authentic Chettinad Cuisine: Known for its Chettinad Chicken Masala, Chicken and Mutton Biryani. Price range: Meals for two 500. Table Reservations Tele: 91 044 2432 8484. They have other outlets in Chennai: Valasaravakkam: . (91 044 2486116624860022) Mugappair: (91 044 2656767626567393) Triplicane . (91 44 28580786, 28591515, 28592929) East Coast Road (ECR - Vettuvankani) . (91 44 24490077, 24491515) Barbeque Nation (BBQ Nation) . T. Nagar. Gallopin Gooseberries . Burgers, Sandwiches and Entres. Has two outlets: 1. 4359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, 91 44 24493924 2. 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: 91 44 28291077, 28292190 Gyan Vaishnav . Mount Road, Near Anand Theatre. North Indian Kadalivanam . Mogappair. 70. 100 natural, fully vegetarian restaurant Karaikudi . VeeraRaghava Road, T. Nagar, 91 44 2815 1021. (also at Anna Nagar, Besant Nagar, Mylapore, Thiruvanmiyur) Chettinadu cuisine. Edens . Harrisons Hotel, 315, Valluvarkottam High Road, Nungambakkam. Wonderful Continental cuisine, fully vegetarian. Once Upon A Pirate. . A Pirate Theme Restaurant, Besant Nagar Beach Road, Opp Velankanni Church. 91 44 45511980. Indian Tandoor Chinese Cuisines. Murugans Idli Shop . 2 locations: GN Chetty Road T. Nagar and Besant Nagar. Murugan Idli Shop is a chain restaurant, and the GN Chetty Road shop in particular is a well-kept secret among locals as a purveyor of high-quality food on weekends, there is a long line for entry. The price for one meal is around 20-40 rupees, or around 1. South Indian. Mughals Zaika . Rajaratnam St, Chetpet, Behind Ega Theatre. This is the best place in Chennai for any Kebabs esp. their Juicy Irani Kebabs They also serve the best amp authentic Mughlai Biryani. Great value for money. One drawback (or advantage) is its non-ac, its an open-air restaurant. The price for one meal is around 80 rupees, or around 2. MughlaiPersianAfghaniIrani. Noodle House . A chain restaurant, whoese locations include: 1. Spencers Plaza, Anna Salai (Mount Road) and 2.the Intersection of Sterling Road and Nungambakkam High Road in Nungambakkam. Chiński. Pizzaurant . Velachery Road, Little Mount, Saidapet. Cuisine - Pizza amp Pasta.(Without MSG) Home delivery for nearby areas, Very Indian. Poonamallee . Breeze Hotel, 850, Poonamallee High Road. 91 44 2641 3334, 91 44 2643 0596. Multicuisine Ponnusamy . Commander-in-Chief Road (opp Ethiraj College), Egmore. Chettinadu cuisine Rangis . Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. Chiński. Swati and Swayam . at Saravana Bhavan, Peters Road. South Indian. Sparkys . located in Egmore, is an American diner operated by an American expatriate settled in Chennai. Mexican, Italian and American food. Prices range from 70-150 rps for a meal.71 Splurge edit Peshwari . Sheraton Chola Hotel, Cathedral Road, Chennai 600 086. The award winning Peshawari is the Indian specialty restaurant with the rugged flavours of the North-West Frontier and the art of tandoori cooking. The food is cooked in clay ovens or tandoor in the traditional style which is viewed through the open kitchen. (5 Star Hotel) Rated Expensive. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28110101 Mainland China . Hotel Tulip Aruna, 144145, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai.( 4 Star Hotel) The restaurant chain serves authentic cuisine from the major provinces of China. Table Reservations Tele: 91 044 28238345, 044 39155261, 044 39155256 Shanghai Club . Hotel Chola Sheraton, 13,Cathedral Road, Chennai 600086. Well known for its most authentic Chinese Cuisine. Live three piece band. (5 Star Hotel) Rated Expensive. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28110101 Shansi Chinese amp Tandoori Restaurant . AnnaNagar - Indian and Chinese - 26213109 Cafe Mercara In Chola Sheraton Hotel, 13,Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram, Chennai - 600086. Coffee Boutique which serves an amazing array of coffees and tea from around the world - Burgers, pizzas, salads and snacks. (5 Star Hotel) Rated Expensive. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 24322640 91 44 28110101 Cilantro . Coffee Shop Restaurant of Le Royal Mridien,1 GST Road, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai-600016. The restaurant serves continental, Indian, South Indian, Italian, Arabic Shawarmas, Chinese, Thai and a teppanyaki grill of Japanese Cuisine. Open: 24 hrs. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 22314343, 91 44 43534545 The Residency . Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chamiers Road, Alwarpet, Chennai. Lavish buffet and an international a la carte menu. In a gracious setting reminiscent of the Edwardian era. Live music. Open: 12.30 PM to 2.45 PM, 7.30 PM to 11.45 PM. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 2499 4101 Grill and Indian Cuisine Pergola . The Accord Metropolitan Hotel, 35, G N Chetty Road, T Nagar - The highest open to sky restaurant in the city - Featuring GrillsIndian cuisines - Hours of operation 19:00 Hrs - Midnight - Seating capacity 120 covers - Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28161000, 43911000. Bella Ciao - Lounge Beach Garden, 4, Shri Krishna Enclave, Kottivakkam, Chennai - 600041, Italian-owned and run, authentic Italian food. The famous wood fired oven pizza, home made pastas, steaks and salads. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 24511130 Little Italy . Italian Restaurant, Eldorado No 112, Nungambakam High Road, Chennai-600034. Italian classic cuisine with a perfect wine. Chefs favourites: Pizza Mellino, Pasta del Fattore and In Wines - Brunello di Montalcino. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 42601234, 42601230 Prego . Taj Coromandel, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. 91 44 5500 2827. Gourmet Italian dining, replaced Patio Rhapsody . Courtyard Marriott, 564 Anna Salai, Teynampet. 91 44 66764499. Authentic Italian restaurant with an attached lounge. Akasaka . Suraj Towers, Ground Floor, 128 L. B. Road, Behind Jayanthi Theatre, Thiruvanmiyur. Japanese Chef, The ambeince is Japanese - low seating and all that. Own fishing boat, excellent sushi and sashimi. Very Expensive-- figure on over 1000 for a meal here. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 24453424, 24456493 Arirang Korean Restaurant - Dr Thirumurthy Nagar 91 Main Road Nungambakkam, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28233739 Lebanese and Middle Eastern Delicacies Cedars . Wallace Garden Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600085. Dim lit ambience is beautiful with exquisite furnishing in Mediterranean style. They serve the most authentic Lebanese, Middle Eastern delicacies and some interesting Mediterranean cuisines. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 42182397 Don Pepes . 73, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram, Chennai. Mexican. Located above Hot Breads as an extension, They are best known for their fajitas (sizzlers) and enchiladas (a tortilla wrap with some Mexican rice). Rated Expensive. Open: 12:00 to 2:45 PM, 7:00 to 11:45 PM. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28221461 Entree Restaurant 72. Located in Emall hotel, Express Avenue Mall, Gate No 1, Pattullous Road, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.Tele: 91 044 28463333, 91 044 28463358. 100160 Vegetarian multi-cuisine restaurant in Chennai. Serves a delectable fare from all around the world - Thai soup, Mexican main course, Indian spice tadka, French pastry for deserts. Citrus . Savera Hotels Ltd. 146, Dr. Radhakrishnan Road, Mylapore, Chennai - 600004. Multi-cuisine - featuring Mediterranean barbeque and Norwegian smoked salmon. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28114700 Cream Centre . 55, 2nd Main Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai - 600028.(Near Kaliappa Hospital)Cream Centre offers a wide range of vegetarian food choices - North Indian and Mexican, to American, Italian and even Lebanese. Nachos, Channa Bhatura, American Corn Cheese Ball, Sizzlers amp Sizzling Brownie. A specialty here is the Mera Thali, where you have a choice of dishes from which you can make your own thali. Open: 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM, 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM (11:00 AM to 11:00PM on Weekends). Table Reservations Tele: 91 044 42815777, 91 044 42815776. Seasons . The Accord Metropolitan Hotel, 35, G. N. Chetty Road, T Nagar, Chennai - Extensive Buffets featuring cuisines from all over the world - Oriental to Italian, Continental to Indian, and Global A la Carte - Open: 24 Hrs. Seating capacity 65 covers - Breakfast buffet 07:00 - 10:30 Hrs - Lunch buffet 12:30 - 15:00 Hrs - Dinner buffet 19:30 - 23:00 Hrs - Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28161000, 43911000 Copper Chimney . 74, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram, Chennai. (Opposite the Chola Sheraton). Mainly North Indian and Iranian inspired dish. Specialities: Bagani Bahar, Paneer Musselum. Rated expensive. Open: 12:00 to 3:00 PM, 7:00 to 12:00 PM. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 28115770, 28114941 The Great Kabab Factory . Radisson G R T Hotel, G. S.T. Road, St Thomas Mount, Chennai, 600016. Specialities: Galoutti Kabab, Tangri and Murgh Malai Kababs, Fish and Mutton Kababs. They serve alcohol and have valet parking. Pricing: Rated expensive. Open: 12:00PM to 2:45PM, 7:00PM to 11:45PM, Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 22310101 Navaratna . Le Royal Meridien, Le Royal Mridien,1 GST Road, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai-600016. Indian restaurant serving Royal Indian Cuisine. Live Ghazal performances. A Private dining room is available for up to 12 persons and an intimate bar for pre-dinner drinks. Rated very expensive. Open: For Lunch from 12.00 Noon to 3.00 PM amp For Dinner from 7.00 to 11.45PM. Table Reservations Tele: 91 44 22314343, 91 44 43534545 Tandoor . Quality Inn Aruna Hotel, 4th Floor, 144 amp 145, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam. Chennai - 600034. Specialties: North Indian, Punjabi, Tandoori and Mongolian amenities: outdoor seating and valet parking. Serves alcohol. Table reservations Tele: 91 44 28262626, 91 44 28283636. Kayal . Seafood Restaurant of Le Royal Meridien, 1, G. S.T. Road, St. Thomas Mount. Chennai 600016. Specialities: Coriander Prawn, Seafood Platter, Kadia Lobster, Prawn Biryani. Nice complimentary garlic bread with butter. Rated very expensive. Open: 7:00 to 11:30 PM. Table reservations Tele: 91 44 22314343, 91 44 43534545 Dakshin . Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, 132, T. T.K. Road, Alwarpet, Chennai. South Indian Cuisines - Dakshin offers the rare pleasures of ethnic coastal and regional cuisines. The choicest cuisine of the four southern states served in a regal setting. Live Carnatic music. Expensive but excellent food - Starters include traditional, kuli paniyaram. Try the Idi Appam or Appam with mutton stew. Desert: Kulfi. Open: 12.30 to 2.45 PM, 7.30 to 11.45 PM. Table reservations Tele: 91 44 24994101. Southern Spice . Taj Coromandel, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. 91 44 55002827. Benjarong . 146, TTK Road, Alwarpet, Chennai 600018, The authentic flavor of Thailand. Seating capacity 68 covers. Open: 12.15 PM to 2.45 PM and 7.15 PM to 11.45 PM. Table reservations Tele: 91 44 24322640 Drink edit add listing Chennai is a difficult place in which to drink. Government rules state that only establishments with a minimum of 21 bedrooms can obtain a barliquor license. Hence there are no standalone bars or pubs here. All the bars that are around are part of a hotel and are far apart. This makes traditional drinking activities like pub crawling an impossibility. Drinking is a habit of two social classes in India: the lower sections of the society and the highest. As a result, you will either find dingy places or exceptionally classy ones. Government run liquor stores called TASMAC are all over the place but, in general, not at all a pleasant experience. They usually have rude staff, are filthy and do not have the brand of your choice. Also, they tend to mark up each bottle by 5 to 10 over the listed price. Go for it if you want a one time war-like experience in order to obtain some booze. Clubs and discotheques may be thought to be a rarity in conservative Chennai, but there are plenty and the list is growing. Compared to other cities, Chennai has no curfews over closing hours, so theoretically they can be open 24hours, but most clubs and bars close by 3am. Most bars double as night clubs. Budget edit The Pub . Liberty Park Hotel, 1st Main Road, Kodambakkam, Ph - 24725950 Paradise Bar . Aruna Hotel, 20 South Usman Road, T Nagar, Chennai - 600017, Ph - 243465650834 Nandini Palace . 14, Giri Rd, Lakshimi Colony, T. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017, India, Ph - 91 44 4212 Mid-range edit Bike and Barrel . Residency Towers, T. Nagar. Nice ambience there are 2 levels-lower level for couples and upper level for stags. Nice sitting arrangement, but can get crowded. Expect to spend around 1000 for 2 people for drinks and food. Champagne amp Cider . Grand Orient, Anna Salai (Mount Road). Crystal . Hotel Ranjit, Nungambakkam High road, Nungambakkam. Grammy . Hotel Sabhari, Thirumala Pillai Road, T. Nagar, Ph - Platinum . (Formerly HFO), Hotel Quality inn Aruna, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam Hudson . Harrisons Hotel, 315, Valluvarkottam High Road, Nungambakkam, Ph - 42222777 Has two levels. Hudson Upper and H2O. Cramped seating providing very little privacy. The liquor stable is limited to the local brands and a bottle or two of Scotch. Society . Hotel Ambassador Pallava, Montieth road, Egmore, Ph - 28554476 Pretty small. Crowd is predominantly hotel guests. Attire is business casual and drinks are a little pricy. Diesel . G. N Chetty Road, T. Nagar Cambridge . Hotel Dee Cee Manor, GN Chetty Road, T. Nagar Million Dollars . Hotel Ambica Empire, 100 Feet road, Vadapalani Star Rock . Kodambakkam High Road (Next to Palmgrove hotel), Nungambakkam Zero bar . Quality Inn Sabari, ground floor, 29 Thirumalai Pillai Road, T. Nagar, Chennai - 600 017 Splurge edit OPM - Nightclub . The Accord Metropolitan, 35,G. N.Chetty Road, TNagar, Chennai - Open: 18:00 Hrs Onwards. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but available for private events. Information and Reservations: Tele: 91 44 28161000 43911000 Zodiac - Lounge Bar . The Accord Metropolitan, 35,G. N.Chetty Road, TNagar, Chennai - Popular labels, ingenious cocktails, rare blends of liquor amp a wide selection of hot and cold canaps. Open: Monday to Friday:16:00-23:00 Hrs, Saturday amp Sunday:11.00-23.00 Hrs - Seating capacity 76- Information and Reservations: Tele: 91 44 28161000 43911000 Geoffreys - The Pub, Radha Regent (formerly - Radha Park Inn), 171, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Inner Ring Road, Arumbakkam, Chennai 600106. Decor is a mix of British and American - very contemporary and trendy looking - pool tables, swinging DJs and live shows. An area of 2700 sq ft with 97 covers which makes it the largest of its kind in the city. Open: 4 pm to 11 pm on all days. Information and reservations: Tele: 91 44 66778899 The Westminister . Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chamiers Road, Alwarpet. 91 44 2499 4101. Zara . Cathedral Road. Dublin . Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chamiers Road, Alwarpet, Ph - 24994101 Durrants Bar . Chola Sheraton, Cathedral Road, Ph - 28110101 Distil Bar . Taj Connemara, Binny Road Leather Bar . The Park, Nungambakkam High Road The largest liquor stable in Chennai - includes hard to source Moet amp Chandon, Glenfiddich and a variety of other scotch. Loud Music. The Rain Bar . Hotel Raintree, St. Marys Road, Alwarpet The Havana . Hotel Raintree, St. Marys Road, Alwarpet 10 Downing Street Kences Inn Hotel, North Boag Road, T Nagar Elixir Lounge Bar 73 Located in Emall hotel, Express Avenue Mall, Gate No 1, Pattullous Road, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.Tele: 91 044 2846 3333, 91 044 2846 3392. Indulge yourself with some of our fine liquor, exotic cocktails and amazing concoctions, along with an eclectic choice of delicious finger food and savory cuisine from all over the world. Local Specialities - Soft Drinks edit Tender Coconut Definitely try a tender coconut on a hot summers day. Available on roadside stalls at 20 a coconut. NeerMoar Spicy butter milk, with local seasoning. Available at most South Indian restaurants. Fruit Bizz ( Adyar signal ), left corner building from ananda bhavan road to guindy. This is one of the best juice shops very famous in adyar region. Shop open from morning 10 am till 1am. 30-50. 160edit DOJO KULFIS Definite visit for Kulfis, Ice creams, Faloodas, Smoothies amp coolers. Situated in Kutchery Road, Mylapore and Ennore. They also supply to leading restaurants, hotels and food courts. Contact 91 99620 22850, maildojokulfis, dojokulfis Sleep edit add listing Alcove Service Apartments Chennai. Anandapuram, Off Dr. Ranga Road, Mylapore. Chennai 600004. 91-9900578231 (stayalcove. co. in ), 74. Single room. Independent 3 or 4 BHK Apartments, Air-conditioned rooms, Lounge and dining area and independent bathrooms, TV, fully furnished kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, toaster, mixer, grinder and gas stove complimentary breakfast, free wi-fi internet 160edit Broadlands lodging house No 18, Vallabha Agraharam Street, (opp. Star Theatre) Triplicane - a travellers institution which is very popular with the backpacker crowd, leafy courtyard, a rustic feel to the whole hotel, good rooms are situated to the back of the hotel and one of the most recommended rooms are room 43 and 44 which are roof cottages. Rooms start at 400 for single without ensuite and 450 for single ensuite. Great place to get over your jet-lag and get acclimatized to india. Walking distance from the beach and 10 minute rickshaw ride to most places you would like to see in Chennai-email: broadlandshotelyahoo. Kanchi . C-in-C Road, Egmore Old Woodlands ,(a. k.a Royapettah WoodlandsWoodlands Hotel that is next to Woodlands Theatre) in Royapettah. Phone: 91 44 2848 2150, 91 44 2848 2152. Little known, but an excellent place to stay. The hotel building is at least one hundred years old and stands in the middle of sprawling grounds and surrounded by massive trees. The main building was once the palace of Raja of Ramnad. The auto-rickshawstaxis will not tell you about the place as the hotel does not pay a commission to middlemen. Pay no more than 40 rupees to get there from the railway station. New Woodlands Hotel . 75 It is sometimes crowded and a tad busy. There is a nice quiet art gallery and cafe nearby, the ashvitha cafe. Recommended for those wanting to slow down and soak in the pace of life in Chennai. Theaters and shopping arcades are close by. Sri Krishna Residency . Ph: 044 24643617 South mada street. Mylapore. Hotel Karpagam International, Ph: 24613701, South mada street, Mylapore. Hotel Regent . 11 Kennet Lane. Phone: 91 44 2825 3347. Zam Zam Guest House. 91 4442664508. checkin: 24 hrs checkout: 24 hrs. Newly built with clean spotless rooms and nice staff. It is located about 100m behind Thaj Regency Hotel on the small street. Look for the black marble entrance and sign. All rooms have bath, fan, sat TV, intercom and wifi, although from the third floor up you may have difficult time getting the signal. Squat toilets only. No mosquito nets on the windows. Official prices start from Mid-range edit 2925) means two single beds. Comfort Inn Marina Towers . 2A Ponniamman Koiil Street Egmore, Phone: 91 44 2858 5454, Fax: 91 44 2858 5454, 76 Dakshin . Venkatnarayana Road, Near Nandanam Signal, T. Nagar Dee-Cee Manor . GN Chetty Road, T. Nagar GRT Grand Days Grand Orient . Anna Salai (Near Anand Theatre) Harrisons . 315, Valluvarkottam High Road, Nungambakkam, Ph - 91 44 5222 2777 Imperial Serviced Apartment . 11 Harrington Road, Chetpet, Chennai - 600031. Highly recommended and suitable for both long term as well as short term stays 91 98417 42520 77 . Lemon Tree Hotel, Chennai . Sardal Patel Rd, Guindy, 78 . Somerset Greenways Chennai. No 94 Sathyadev Avenue, MRC Nagar. Located just 10 minutes from the central business district in Chennai, you can travel conveniently throughout the city while enjoying the comforts of home with designer layouts, furnishings and facilities presented at these contemporary serviced apartments. 160edit The Raintree Hotel. 636, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai, India 600035. 4443939999. 79. Located in the city centre of Chennai, India, the modern Raintree Hotel features 105 contemporary guest rooms, Jacuzzi, bamboo wood flooring, flat screen TV and high speed internet. ( 13.0339982. -80.2440313 ) 160edit Opposite the Raj Bhavan. 1500-2800 plus taxes. Peninsula . GN Chetty Road, T. Nagar President . Radhakrishna Salai, Mylapore Raj Residency. 22 Kennet Lane, Egmore ( 2 min walk from the Egmore railway station ), 82. USD 17-147. 160edit Ranjit . Nungambakkam High Road, Residency . GN Chetty Road, T. Nagar Residency Towers . Boag Road, T. Nagar Westin Park . Montieth Road, Egmore Aspni Inn. 77 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, 100 Feet Road, Vadapalani, Chennai - 600 026, Tamilnadu, India. 91 44 2362 2284. 83. Aspni Inn the Luxury amp Business class hotel is situated nearby Chennai Metropolitan Bus Terminus and Vadapalani Lord Murugan Temple. Aspni Inn has 51 Luxurious Rooms. Rates start at 1000. 160edit Aloft by Starwood Hotels - 84 - 102 Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Sholinganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 119 - Opened 1 July 2017 - from Best Guest House. 29 amp 31 South Usman Road, Corner of Damodaran Street, Opp, T. Nagar Bus Terminus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017 ( opposite T Nagar Bus Terminus ), 91-44-24360717 24360718. checkin: 24 hours checkout: 24 hours. Double and triple ac and non-ac rooms with bathrooms and cable TV. 300-1,000. ( 13 2 0.48. 80 13 50.45 ) 160edit Splurge edit The closest hotels to the airport are The Trident . Le Royal Meridian . Hilton and Radisson GRT Hotel all five star properties. The Accord Metropolitan . 35, G N Chetty Road, T Nagar, Tel: 91 44 2816 10004391 1000, Fax: 91 44 2816 1001, 85 ,86. Chennais Premier Five Star Hotel. Ambassador Pallava . 30, Montieth Road, Egmore, tel: 91 44 2855 4476, Fax: 91 44 2855 4492, pallavaambassadorindia. 87. Reasonable value and friendly staff. My Fortune . Cathedral Road, tel: 91 44 2811 0101, Fax: 91 44 2811 0202, 88 . Courtyard Chennai. 564, Anna Salai. 91-44-66764000. 89. Known by locals simply as the Marriott . this is a gorgeous, recently renovated business hotel located on the western edge of the city core, near the airport. Two restaurants, gym, no pool. 7100 and up. 160edit Hyatt Regency . 365 Anna Salai, Teynampet, tel: 91 44 6100 1235, 90 . ITC Hotel Park Sheraton amp Towers . T. T.K. Road, Alwarpet, tel: 91 44 2499 4101, Fax: 91 44 2499 7101, 91 . Le Royal Meridian . Business District, 1 GST Road, St. Thomas Mount (Near Kathipara Junction), tel: 91 44 2231 4343, Fax: 91 44 2231 4344, 92 . The Park . 601 Anna Salai (next to the Anna Flyover), tel: 91 44 5214 4000, Fax: 91 44 5214 4100, 93. Modern style with a film theme. Radisson GRT Hotel . Radisson GRT Hotel, 531, GST Road, St. Thomas Mount (Near Kathipara Junction), tel: 91 44 2231 0101. Taj Connamera . Binny Road, tel: 91 44 5500 0000, 94 . Taj Coromandel . 37, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, tel: 91 44 5500 2827, 95 . Trident Chennai . 124, G. S.T. Road, tel: 91 44 2234 4747, Fax: 91 44 2234 4555, chennaitrident-hilton. 96 . Emall Hotel (E hotel, Chennai) 97. Express Avenue Mall, Gate 1, Patullos Road, Tel: 91 44 2846 3333, e-mail: bookingsemallhotel. A chic and trendy boutique hotel at the business hub of Chennai located in Express Avenue Mall. Specious rooms, 24 hours Wi-Fi connectivity, the 40 LED TV, global vegetarian restaurant, mini bar and an electronic safe. Stay safe edit Chennai is generally a safer area of India in terms of crime, although pickpocketing, muggings, and robberies sporadically occur. Keep your doors and windows shut and locked at night and do not carry or display large amounts of cash if possible. It is advisable for women, especially unaccompanied ones, to dress modestly and limit their interaction with unfamiliar local men. Foreigners were generally overcharged by auto-rickshaws simply because they were ignorant of the prevailing fares and are still now. However with recent regulations coming in from 2017, it is compulsory for autos to run on meters. The minimum standard rate is Rs 251.8 km, over which Rs. 12.50km. In the night (10.00 PM o 6.00 AM) the fares are charged 50 extra. It is necessary to confirm whether the driver knows the exact destination. Autos, as auto-rickshaws are known in Chennai, are notorious for fleecing customers, tourists and locals alike so before getting into an auto ask if the driver will set the meter on. Be alert to your surroundings and watch where you step, especially if you get caught in a large crowd where it is difficult to look at what is in front of you. Cross streets extremely carefully as traffic is generally heavy. On major roads, use the underground crossings (locally called subways). Avoid using underground road-crossing subways in the night or if you notice them to be empty. Traffic signals are frequently ignored by drivers and pedestrians alike, and it is not at all advisable for tourists to try driving in Chennai. Stay healthy edit While in Chennai it is advisable to drink only bottled water . Do not trust water from small local restaurants as it may be from the tap, and avoid cold or iced drinks that are not commercially sold (Bigger chains of eateries and juice shops can be trusted to an extent). Eating fresh vegetables and fruits that have sat outside in the presence of insects can also be unhealthy, although bananas and coconuts are usually safe because they are opened only immediately before eating. Hot drinks in restaurants such as tea, coffee, and other local specialties are safe, as are packagedbottled drinks such as Aquafina water, Frooti (a popular local mango drink) and others. If you have access to a stove, boiling tap water before drinking is also an option. Never eat from roadside shops as the food is prepared in the most unhygienic conditions. Chennai summers are humid and sultry its better to step out with an umbrella . bottled water and some oral rehydration salts (available from pharmacies, the brand name is Electral). These come in handy if you happen to get dehydrated. Chennai is the medical capital of South East Asia. Hospitals edit Apollo Hospitals . Greams Lane, Off Greams Road, Nungambakkam Tel - 28293333 Aysha Hospital . 91A Millers Rd. Tel: 26426930. Balaji Hospital G. S.T Road, Guindy, Tel - 22345282 New Hope Medical Centre . Kilpauk, Tel - 25321532, 98 CSI Rainy Hospital . Royapuram, Tel - 25951329 Hindu Mission Hospital . 103, G. S.T. Road, Tambaram West, Tel: 22262244, 99 . Madras Medical Mission . Moggapair 37 -26565961 91, 100 . Ramachandra Hospital . Porur Tel:91 44 2476 8403 Dr. Kamakshi memorial Hospital . No1, Radial Road, pallikaranai, Chennai 600 100 101 Dr. Mehtas Hospital, No2,McNichols Road,3rd Lane, Chetpet, Chennai 31-Tel:4227100042271004 Devaki Hospitals . Opposite to Rangachari cloth store mylapore Pharmacies edit Kanthi Pharmacy . No 12,L. B.Road, Adyar, Chennai-20 ph: 24915410 Apollo Pharmacy . All Over the City Health amp Glow . Spencers Plaza (Phase 3), Mount Road Nungambakkam High Road Madras Medical Mission . 24 Hr. Pharmacy, Mogappiar, Chennai-37 102 The Psychotherapy Clinic ,261, Arcot Street, T.nagar, Chennai 600 017 103 MY MOTHER PHARMACY, E.B. COLONY, CHENNAI-88 Contact edit Landlines edit BSNL 104 and Airtel 105 Reliance, Tata, are main providers of terrestrial telephone lines in Chennai. You can make long distance calls from one of the many booths that display NSDISD i. e. National Subscriber Dialing (National Long Distance) and International Subscriber Dialing (International Long Distance). Calling cards are also available with these providers which are considerably cheap. Mobile Phones edit Cell phone rates are one of the cheapest in the world. GSM service providers: BSNL 106 GSM Triband with 3G services AirTel 107 GSM Triband with 3G and 4G services Vodafone 108 GSM Triband with 3G services AirCel 109 GSM Triband with 3G services Reliance GSM launced in 2009 Tata DOCOMO GSM launched in 2009 Idea GSM launched in 2009 and providing 3G services MTS CDMA launched in 2009 mtsindia. in You can buy a sim card with a photo and a copy of your passport. For making long distance calls Aircel is cheaper with 49 card calls to US and Canada will be 1.50Min. this will work only in home network. For other destinations Please check with operator. CDMA service providers are Reliance 110 , TATA Indicom 111. Virgin Mobile and MTS . Starter packs and top-up cards can be picked up from numerous outlets. Seemles roming across the country is provided by all providers. Internet edit There are several internet cafes from where you can access the internet for sending email or uploading your digital photos. Reliance WebWorld . incorporating JavaGreen coffee shops, Spencers Plaza, Anna Salai (Mount Road) TTK Road, Alwarpet, Besant Nagar, L. B.Road, Adyar. The TTK Road branch has free wifi if you use the coffee shop. Sify iway . 112 Several of them in the city Apart from that you can access Internet provided in your hotel or if you are staying long you can buy Internet packs from all mobile providers. Cope edit ATMs edit ATMs are commonplace, you will not be more than 200m from an ATM. Most international creditdebit cards are charged a transaction fee of 150 on top of whatever your bank charges except if they have an agreement of some kind with local banks. Major exception to this rule is State Bank of India, which does not add any transaction fee. Deutsche Bank . 114, Kothari Building, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam - Part of Global ATM Alliance. BNP Paribas . Prince Towers, 3rd Fl, 2526, College Road, Chennai 12 American Express . Near Anand Theatre, Anna Salai (Mount Road) Citibank . Opp Spencers Plaza, Anna Salai, GN Chetty Road, Opposite Citi Centre, Velachery Highway, Nanganallur ABN Amro . Harrington Road, Opp Residency Hotel on GN Chetty Road, Adyar - Sardar Patel Road, TTK Road HSBC . Adyar, Mylapore, Pondy Bazzar, Tidel Park, Kadar Nawaz Khan Road, Annanagar, Rajaji Salai, Kathipara Junction Andhra BANK . All over Chennai HDFC Bank . ITC Centre, Anna Salai (Mount Road),Anna Nagar(West) All over Chennai ICICI Bank . All over Chennai Axis Bank . All over Chennai Standard Chartered Bank . Haddows Road State Bank of India . All over Chennai. They have an ATM locator online Indian Overseas Bank . All over Chennai Indian bank, All over chennai Oriental Bank of Commerce, Adyar LB Road, Mylapore, G N Chetty Road, T Nagar Money changers edit Many hotels will change money for you at the front desk. However, they may not have the best rates. It is best to change money at the city based money changers than the ones located at the airports. The ones at the airport offer much less for exchanging forex into Indian Rupees and sell forex for a much higher rate than the market rate. American Express . Spencers Plaza, Anna salai Thomas Cook . Spencers Plaza, Anna salai Beauty parlors amp hair salons edit Celeste Beauty Salon . Spencer Plaza,(Mobile -9941130508) F-26. Phase 1, First floor. Chennai 600002 Ayush . Anna Nagar (Ph - 262231022622344626203862), Kilpauk (Ph - 5217963526472298), Mylapore (Ph - 5206707130907691) - Therapy includes Abhyangam . Abhyangam with Pichu . Abhyangam with local Pizhichil . Abhyangam with Thalam . Udvartanam . Abhyangam with Nasyam . Abhyangam with local Navarakizhi . Muka Lepam Anushka ,6,Thyagaraya Road, Pondy Bazaar, T. Nagar, Ph - 52179197 Green Trends . 1576, 13th Main Road, Anna Nagar (ph - 26161534) Ashok Nagar (Ph - 52193636) Adyar (Ph - 24451759) Purusawakkam (Ph - 52174414) Taylors Road, Kilpauk (Ph - 26453331) T. Nagar (Ph - 28143886) Velachery (Ph - 22445590) Virugambakkam (Ph - 55511973) - Exotic natural treatments like Strawberry facial, Avocado Butter Massage Facial, Red Banana Facial, Baby-Corn under eye treatment etc etc Jazzy . North Boag Road, T. Nagar Lakme . Adayar (Ph - 24469730), Alwarpet (Ph - 24662481), Anna Nagar (Ph - 26268841), Ashok Nagar (Ph - 23750207), Kilpauk (Ph - 52179634), Nungambakkam (Ph - 28333050), T. Nagar (Ph - 28155577) Salon Nayana . GN Chetty Road, T. Nagar, Ph - 28256064 Style Mantra - Makeover Concepts . Nungambakkam (Ph - 28280066), R. K. Salai (Ph - 28110707) Dollys beauty parlour . Elcanso Plaza, Egmore, ph: 9840118882 Gyms edit Mind N Body 360degree Fitness Studio - Ramapuram amp Mugalivakkam. 9600030058, 8754409900, 044-42017949 Body Sports Gym - Govindan Road, Saidapet. 9841151091 Blue Boutique Gym -329, TTK Road, Alwarpet.24996045,24996064. Talwalkars . Near Khader Nawaz Road, Nungambakkam Talwalkars . 23rd Cross Street, Indira Nagar, Adyar O2 Gym 113 . Kader Nawaz Road, Nungambakkam, Velachery Soldiers Gym . Triplicane High Road, Triplicane (and on Anna Salai) Golds Gym No 111, Lattice Bridge Road, NPL Devi, 7th and 8th Floor, Adyar, Chennai - 600041 Post edit Post Offices are a common sight, although they may be discreet without big advertisings. Snail Mail in India is by a Post Card (25Ps), Inland Letter Rs 5, or envelope Rs 5. The Speed Post facility allows you to send mail more conveniently than a courier service. Public Telephones in India are available on almost every street usually painted with the letters PCO (Public Call office, local calls), STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing) and ISD (International Subscriber Dialing). All booths have electronic metering and you pay whats displayed on the meter. (Included in the metering is a nominal Rs 2 as service charges). Youll also get a receipt if you insist on one. Libraries amp Cultural Centres edit British Council - Anna Salai, Phone - 52050600 Ext 350351. 114 Connemara Library - Pantheon Road, Egmore, Phone 28193751. 115 Max Mueller Bhavan (German) - Khadar Nawaz Khan Rd. Nungambakkam. 116 American Information Resource Center Library (located within the American Consulate - see list of consulates) High Commissions edit Canada. 18 (Old 24), 3F, YAFA Tower, Khader Nawaz Khan Rd, Nungambakkam. 91 44 2833-0888. 117. 160edit Chile. Oakland House, 7 Adayar Club Gate Rd. 91 44 2434-0610. 118. 160edit Finland Honorary Consul. 202 Anna Salai. 91 44 2852-4141 (finconschennaigmail. fax. 91 44 2852-1253 ), 119. 160edit Germany. 9 Boat Club Rd. 91 44 2430-1600. 120. M-F 08:00-11:30. 160edit Greece. 37 Sterling Road, Nungambakkam. 91 44-8203663 (nkumarindchem. fax. 91 44-8200038 ). 160edit Japan. No.121 Cenetoph Rd Ist St, Teynampet. 91 44-24323860. 121. 160edit Argentina. San Luis Commercial Office ,6163 Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore. 160edit Armenia ( Honorary Consulate ). Shivsu Towers, 149 Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk 160edit Australia ( Consulate General ), 9th Floor, Express Chambers, Express Avenue Estate, Whites Road, Royapettah. 160edit Austria, Honorary Consulate, Kothari Buildings, 115 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. Belgium, Honorary Consulate, Spic House, 97 Anna Salai, Guindy. Czech Republic, Honorary Consulate,64 Thirumalai Pillai Road, T.Nagar. Denmark, Consulate,9 Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram. Ethiopia, Honorary Consulate,83 First Main Road, R.A. Puram. France, Honorary Consulate, Shri Vishwavandita, 19 Poes Garden, Gopalapuram. Hungary, Honorary Consulate, Tiam House, 28 Rajaji Road, Georgetown. Iceland, Honorary Consulate, Bhavani Mansion, 2nd Floor, 4th Lane, 3 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. Indonesia, Honorary Consulate,2-D, Eldorado Building, 2nd Floor, 112 Nungambakkam High Road. Nungambakkam. Ireland, Honorary Consulate, Mecheri Centre, 49 Eldams Road, Teynampet. Kyrgyzstan, Honorary Consulate, 2nd Floor, 35-36 Greams Road, Thousand Lights. Latvia, Honorary Consulate, Khivraj Complex II, 2nd Floor, 480 Anna Salai, Nandanam. Liberia, Honorary Consulate,18 Cenatoph Road, Alwarpet. Luxembourg, Honorary Consulate,2D South Gate, 17 Kasturi Rangan Road, Alwarpet. Malawi, Honorary Consulate,8341 Armenian Street, Golf Links, Gopalapuram. Maldives, Honorary Consulate, Royal Textiles Mills Ltd, 22 (Old 855) Anna Salai, Mount Road. Malta, Honorary Consulate,10 II Street, Seethamal Colony, Alwarpet. Mauritius, Honorary Consulate, RR Tower, 9495 Block 6, 8th Floor, Guindy Industrial Estate, Guindy. Mongolia, Honorary Consulate, Agastyar Manor, 20 Raja Street, T. Nagar. Netherlands, Honorary Consulate,8081, 7th Floor, MBC Towers, Alwarpet. New Zealand, Honorary Consulate, Rane Engine Valves Ltd, Maithri, 132 Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram. Norway Consulate, Harbour Gate House, P. O. Box 1396, 4445 Rajaji Salai Georgetown. Paraguay, Honorary Consulate, AVM Studios, NSK Salai, Vadapalani. Philippines, Honorary Consulate, Spic House, Annex Building, 8th Floor, 88 Anna Salai, Guindy. Serbia, Honorary Consulate,3D, 5 Murrays Gate Road, Alwarpet. Seychelles, Honorary Consulate, Hello Telecom (P) Ltd, 62 Veerabadran Street, Nungambakkam. Singapore, CONSULATE GENERAL,17-A North Boag Road, T. Nagar. Slovenia, Honorary Consulate, Shanthi Apartments, Flat No. 4, 1st Floor, No. 22 Judge Jambulingam Road, Mylapore. South Africa, Honorary Consulate,19 Rajaji Salai, Georgetown. South Korea, Honorary Consulate, Chaitanya, 19, 3rd Floor, 12 Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam. Spain, Honorary Consulate, 6 Nimmo Road, Santhome. Sri Lanka, DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSION,196 T. T.K. Road, Alwarpet. Sweden, Honorary Consulate,6 Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram. Switzerland, Honorary Consulate, I-6 Dr. V. S.I. Estate, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Thiruvanmiyur. Thailand, CONSULATE GENERAL, 2122 Arunchalam Road, Kotturpuram. Turkey, Honorary Consulate, The KCP Ltd. Ramakrishna Building, 2 Dr. P. V. Cherian Crescent, Egmore. Turkmenistan, Honorary Consulate,3 Mangesh Street, T. Nagar. Zambia, Honorary Consulate, Rosy Tower, II Floor, 7 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. Malezja. New no.7,Old no.3,Cenotaph Road,1st street, teynampet, Chennai-600018 ( Near SIET College ), 9144-28226895. 09:00am to 05:00pm. 160edit Russia. Santhome High Rd, Santhome ( Next to St. Bedes School ). 160edit United Kingdom. 20 Anderson Rd, Nungambakkam. 91 44 4219-2151 (bdhcchenvsnl. fax. 91 44 42192322 ). M-F 08:30-13:00 and 13:30-16:00. 160edit United States. 220 Anna Salai ( Near Gemini Flyover ), 122. secret. 160edit Get out edit East Coast Road (ECR) edit The East Coast Road (ECR), named for the stretch of coastline which the road abutts, is a two-lane state highway which connects Chennai with Pondicherry. The stretch of road, especially between Chennai and Mahabalipuram. is a popular weekend getout with a number of beaches, resorts, amusement and theme parks and multiplexes. Some of the important tourist spots on this stretch include: Marundeswarar Temple 123 (14 kms from Chennai) is a 11th century Hindu temple located barely a few hundred metres into the East Coast Road. that one comes across on the route. The presiding deity is Shiva. Cholamandalam Artists Village: 124 (21 kms from Chennai) Set up by a group of artists to serve as a recluse for artists of all genres. This village offers the ambience needed for creativity to flow and is inhabited only by artists. The village offers guesthouse facilities exclusively for artists from elsewhere so that they could also benefit from the environment provided by the place. A must visit for those who appreciate the finer things of life. VGP Universal Kingdom 125 (23 kms from Chennai) Started in Injambakkam village in 1975 as the VGP Golden Beach, the Universal Kingdom is the oldest amusement park along the ECR and also the first of its kind in Tamil Nadu. Ploughing a lonely furrow for decades, the Universal Kingdom has been facing stiff competition from other amusement and theme parks in the last two decades. Though this has a caused a significant fall in revenues, the VGP Universal Kingdom still maintains a significant though much-reduced presence along the beach. The Prarthana Drive In Theatre and Restaurant: 126 nearby was started in 1991 and advertises itself as the worlds first beach drive-in theatre and Indias only beachside drive-in theatre. Kart Attack: 127 (23 kms from Chennai) Situated in Akkarai village next to Injambakkam, Kart Attack is the first karting centre in Chennai and the most popular one. It has also been instrumental in creating a few go karting champions also. There is also an RC car race track next to Hot Kitchen Restaurant nearby. Mayajaal: 128 (29 kms from Chennai) Started in Kanathur village in 1997, Mayajaal, which extends for over 100,000 sq. ft is Asias largest multiplex theatre. The complex includes movie theatres, bowling alleys, video games parlours and multicuisine food courts. The multiplex is open from 11 AM to 11 PM every day. The MGM Dizzee World . situated nearby is a theme park that offers joy rides, food stalls and other games. It is spread over an area of 27 acres. Dakshinachitra: (129 ) (30 kms from Chennai) Dakshinachitra is a museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of South India. It was started by Deborah Thiagarajan, an art and crafts lover in 1996. Muttukadu Boat House: (35 kms from Chennai) Started in 1984, the Muttukadu Boat House offers rowing, wind surfing, water skiing, and speedboat riding facilities. There are a total of 15 row boats, 27 speedboats and 9 pedal boats besides two high-speed aqua scooters. The boat house is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) and is visited by more than 4,000 people every weekend. Covelong (36 kms from Chennai) . locally known as Kovalam, is a small fishing village that was fortified by the Nawab of Carnatic, Saadat Ali in the 18th century. A former Dutch colony, the fort was taken by the French under General Labourdonnais in 1746. Covelong was conquered by Robert Clive in 1752 and the fort was destroyed. The Beach is separated from the mainland by the canal running from Chennai to Mahabalipuram. The Taj Group of Hotels runs the Fishermans Cove Resort on a building of Dutch colonial vintage. There is a Catholic church, Hindu temple and Muslim darga on the beach. Sunbathing here attracts much less attention than in the city beaches. Wind surfing is a popular sport on the beach. Crocodile Bank Trust 130 (40 kms from Chennai) The brainchild of Romulus Whittaker, the acknowledged specialist on reptiles, this center has gained fame as an endeavor for the preservation and propagation of endangered species of crocodiles. The center also houses a large variety of snakes. To get to Crocodile Bank from Chennai (Triplicane), you need to get on the PP19BX bus (runs along the beach) to Kovalum, which is the last stop for 14 (75mins30km). Then at this same intersection, get on 588CX bus to Mamallapurum (7Km7mins) for 1418AC. The entry fee is 35locals60foreigners w a 20 still camera 40 video camera fee. Some people know it as a farmpark rather than a bank if you are asking for directions. Saluvankuppam (47 kms from Chennai) A fishing village, 5 kms from Mahabalipuram, which is known for a Pallava-era monument known as the Tiger Cave . Maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and dating to the 8th century AD, the Tiger Cave is a popular family picnic spot enroute to Mahabalipuram. Krishnas Butter Ball - Mamallapuram Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram: (52 kms from Chennai) The world-famous tourist destination includes two UNESCO World Heritage monuments - the Pancha Rathas and the Shore Temple . The Pancha Rathas are believed to have been the work of the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I (also known as Mamalla) (630-668) while the Shore Temple was constructed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman II (also known as Rajasimha) (695-722). The Shore Temple is one of the oldest structural temples constructed in Tamil Nadu. The temples are listed as monuments of national importance and maintained by the ASI. ECR beyond Mahabalipuram edit Kalpakkam (67 kms from Chennai) The Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), Indias first fully indigenously constructed nuclear power station is situated in Kalpakkam. Sadras (70 kms from Chennai) . or Sadurangapattinam is a former Dutch colony which has a fort maintained by the ASI. Pondicherry (167 kms from Chennai) . a former French colony and administrative headquarters of French India. Restaurants along ECR edit The ECR road abounds with restaurants and eating spots, which offer a wide range of cuisines and tasteful ambience. And you can plan your dinner or lunch in one of these hotels. A few of the food outlets are listed below: Basera Blue Lagoon - Thanjavur Restaurant Food Village - Coastal Kitchen Hot Kitchen Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road edit Meenambakkam (18 kms from Chennai) The Chennai International Airport is located in Meenambakkam. Tirusulam (19 kms from Chennai) Tirusulam is a municipality in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu. The Tirusulanathar Temple constructed by the 11th century Chola king Kulothunga I is located in Tirusulam. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and possesses inscriptions from the Chola period. Pallavaram (22 kms from Chennai) A municipality in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu, Pallavaram gets its name Pallavapuram, as it was an important settlement during the Pallava period. Within the precincts of the Islamic dargah located atop a hill within the town, are a set of 7th century rock-cut shrines or mandapa s believed to have been hewn from rock by the Pallava king Mahendravarman I (600-635). There is also a Sanskrit inscription in grantha characters. Pallavaram is also the place where the oldest man made artifact in India, a hand-held stone axe, was found by Robert Bruce Foote in 1861. This proved that the region was inhabited as early as the Early Palaeolithic, that is 500,000 years before Christ. The hand axe was only the first of many discoveries of the what came to be known as the Madras industry. Vandalur (31 kms from Chennai) The Arignar Anna Zoological Park or Vandalur Zoo is situated in Vandalur. For more details, refer the section on Zoological parks. Singaperumal Koil (47 kms from Chennai) It is a township in Kanchipuram district. It is famous for the Patalathri Sri Ugra Narasimhar Temple, a mountain shrine of the Pallava period (6th to 9th century AD) deicated to Narasimha, an avatar or incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. Chengalpattu (55 kms from Chennai) It is a municipality in Kanchipuram district. Chengalpattu is a famous for its mud fort, a few hill shrines and the Kolava Lake. Situated at an elevation of 118 feet, Chengalpattu was a health resort during colonial times. GST beyond Chengalpattu edit Madurantakam (78 kms from Chennai) . A municipality in Kanchipuram district, Madurantakam is known for the Eri Katha Ramar Koil or the Temple of Rama who protected the Tank. It is believed that in 1798, the British District Collector of Chingleput (as Chengalpattu was called back then) named Sir Lionel Blaze had a vision of the Hindu gods Rama and Lakshmana gurading the temple tank each with a bow and a quiver of arrows and hence the name. Melmaruvathur (88 kms from Chennai) Melmaruvathur is known for the Adhi Parasakthi Siddhar Peetham . a famous shrine of Hindu pilgrimage. Tiruchirappalli (320 kms from Chennai) The fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu, Tiruchirappalli, popularly known as Tiruchi or Trichy and in colonial times as Trichinopoly is a popular Hindu pilgrimage centre and manufacturing hub. The Rockfort temples, the Jambukewarar Temple at Thiruvanaikkoil and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam are the most important Hindu temples in the city. Archaeological excavations at Uraiyur, a suburb of Tiruchirappalli have revealed the remains of an Early Chola settlement which is almost two thousand years old. Tiruchi is also famous for the Trichinopoly cigars. Temples edit South India is famous for its temples. Even if you arent on a pilgrimage, these are worth a visit if you are interested in grand buildings and architecture. There are 33, 000 temples in and around Chennai. Some of them are Chidambaram 8212 Approximately 250 Kms from Chennai. The famous Lord Nataraja temple which has the golden roof for the moolavar which was offered by Parantaka Chola I . Tiruvallur 8212 Approximately 45 Kms from Chennai. It is famous for its Vaidhya Veera raghava Swami Temple and Sri Viswaroopa Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami Ashram which has a 40 ft tall Murti of Hanuman. Tirupati 8212 Approximately 150 Kms from Chennai, in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Madurai 8212 Home to the famous Meenakshi temple. Tirunelveli 8212 Home to the TamilNadus largest Shiva temple. Nellaiappar Temple . Swamithoppe 8212 Ayya Vaikundar Pathi, religious head quarters of Ayyavazhi. Kanchipuram 8212 Kamakshi temple, seat of one of the Shankaracharyas - the closest Hinduism comes to a spiritual head. Thanjavur 8212 Brihadeswara temple (Big Temple). Tiruvannamalai 8212 Arunachala Temple famous for full moon day girivalam and Deepam Tiruchirapalli 8212 Its situated 350 kms south of chennai. By NH45 Trichy can be reached in 5-6 hrs and it has lot of attractions including the Srirangam temple (Sri Renganathar),Ucchi Pillayar (Rock Fort temple) and the river Cauvery. This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow
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