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How to Get There:
By Air: Chennai International Airport is the third busiest in India. All international flights arrive at Anna Terminal, while the domestic flights arrive at the adjoining Kamraj Terminal, 150 metres away. Europe and North America: Chennai has non-stop flights to Europe and then on to North America. It is linked to Sri Lanka and almost all cities in South-East and Middle-East Asia. All major Indian domestic carriers 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. Use the pre-paid taxi to get to the city; all taxis are in good shape. AC cabs charge double the standard rate, but are worth it.
By Rail: Chennai has two main long-distance train stations, Chennai Central and Egmore,
with daily trains from/to Bangalore, Mumbay, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad , Kolkata and virtually all other major Indian cities. Egmore used to be the metre gauge terminus till expansion.
By Road: Chennai is very well connected and to other parts of India by road. Five major national
highways radiate outward towards Kolkata, Bangalore, Tiruchy/Madurai, Tiruvallur, and Pondicherry. Chennai has one of Asia's largest bus stations, CMBT. Seven different state owned corporations drive buses to and from various destinations within South India. There are hourly buses for places. You will get the option of A/C or Non-A/C coaches for cities like Bangalore, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Pondicherry, Coimbatore, etc. |
Getting Around: Getting around Chennai city often takes time, due traffic and congestion. So it is advisable to plan your journey accordingly. Travelling within Chennai is not expensive by Indian metropolitan standards, and extremely cheap by typical Western standards. Chennai has a suburban train network. There are four routes: Chennai Central – Arakkonam; Chennai Central - Gummidipoondi-Sulurpet-Gudur; Chennai Beach - Tambaram and Chengalpet and Chennai Beach - Velachery (MRTS). The suburban trains are reliable, fast and frequent. These trains are generally good and it is advisable to take a first class ticket during peak hours.
Where to Stay: Chennai has over 100 hotels and occupancy is high. The Pride; Savera ; The Accord Metropolitan; The Royal Regency; Hotel Raj Park and The Checkers Hotel are some mid-range hotels. Central Tower; Suriya International; OMR Guest House; Hotel Mallika and Malles
Manotaa Annexe are budget class. Taj Coromandel; Taj Mount Road; Fisherman's Cove and the Trident Chennai are some of the 5-star hotels.
What to See: The Birla Planetarium; Breezy Beach is in the quiet neighbourhood of Valmiki Nagar; Fort St. George, built in 1653 by the English Company of the Eastern Indies. It houses the oldest Anglican church of India, the church of St Mary. This also happens to be the worlds oldest church east of the Suez. Marina Beach, is one of the world's longest beaches; St.Thomas Basilica The popular myth is that one of the apostles of Jesus Christ died in India and that his body was buried in Mylapore and that this church is built over the tomb; St. Thomas Mount, the hill where it is believed that he died; Kapaleeswarar Temple (Kapaleeshwara), Mylapore, one of Chennai's oldest and best-known temples, said to date to the 8th century; Big Mosque, Triplicane; Jain Temple, Mylapore; and Nalli Silks, Panagal Park, selling Kanchipuram silk sarees is worth a visit as is Burma Bazaar, for smuggled goods.
Where to Eat: Seasons, The Accord Metropolitan Hotel; Pergola, The Accord Metropolitan Hotel; Akasaka, Suraj Towers, Japanese food; Arirang, Nungambakkam High Road; Bella Ciao, Italian-owned and run, with real wood-fired oven pizzas; Benjarong, Thai food; Cafe Mercara, Chola Sheraton; Cedars, Mediterranean food; Citrus, Mediterranean food; Copper Chimney, mainly North Indian with the odd Iranian inspired dish on the menu; Dakshin, Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Excellent food - Starters include traditional fare like Kuli Paniyaram. Try the Idi Appam or Appam and Mutton Stew. Finish off with a Kulfi; Tandoor, Aruna Hotel, gourmet dining; The Great Kabab Factory, Radisson GRT Hotel, Mughlai; Prego, Taj Coromandel, gourmet Italian dining and The Residency are pricey restaurants. Coastline, Radhakrishna Salai, Mylapore, seafood; Dhaba Express, Cenotaph Road, North Indian menu; Dynasty, Harrisons
Hotel, good-quality Chinese-Indian cuisine and ECR Dhaba are mid-range. Mansuk's, T.Nagar. Best for Bombay Chat, Lassi and an unlimited Gujarati Thali; Murugan Idli Kadai. Very famous for their idlis and the many accompaniments which comes with the idlis. Palimar, Parsn Complex, Anna Salai (Mount Road). South Indian cuisine; Rathna Cafe, Triplicane. For fluffy hot idlis, piping hot vadai, delicious pongal dripping in ghee and accompanied by sambhar. Quality
maintained for more than 100 years. Recently opened at Thiruvanmiyur, opposite the RTO.
More expensive than Murugan Idli shop; and Sangeetha, a vegetarian restaurant.
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