Chennai Area Guides

Chennai is the smallest of India’s four 'metro cities' and still retains its small-town roots and feel. It is the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which brought the dance form of Bahratnayam to the world. The language of the state is Tamil and is very different from the Hindi commonly spoken in northern parts of India. Most people are conversant with English, although the Southern Indian accent may leave you somewhat defeated. The town has a very unique cultural identity as it is not a melting pot of many different influences. Chennai's inhabitants can be quite orthodox in their way of life.

The city is also host to Marina Beach which at 13km is the longest beach in India and was greatly affected by the 2004 tsunami. An agreeable place to visit in the evenings, it also hosts 'Tollywood' or the Tamil movie-making centre. Tollywood is quite a robust industry and, while not as large as the one in Mumbai, movies in the regional language give it an edge as most of the local population do not understand Hindi and prefer Tamil-language films. Some old buildings built by the British are local attractions.

Where to Stay in Chennai

There is plenty of accommodation in Chennai and the growing tourist industry there, although unfamiliar in the past to locals, is slowly but surely making inroads into the psyche of the town, meaning more and more choices of accommodation in the future. From the three-star beachside GRT Temple Bay to Southern India's first five-star Eco-Hotel, The Rain Tree, to the luxurious Accord Metropolitan and a lot more besides, it's not that far to suitable lodgings in Chennai. (Read more...)

Chennai Attractions

The city of Chennai has a very active conscience and as a result, the people here are very environmentally alert. There have been many conservation measures taken by the local populace and perhaps it is this that makes Chennai the least polluted of the four main Indian metropolises. Naturally, wildlife conservation and protection feature high here and you can experience this first hand by visiting the many parks and sanctuaries in and around Chennai. (Read more...)

Chennai Activities

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the smallest of the four Indian main 'metro cities', nevertheless there are a lot of daytime activities to choose from although these may seem curiously at odds with Chennai's old world, smaller town charm. The locals are still quite traditional but this doesn't stop them having fun at a water amusement park or on the golf links. As Chennai is not as big as its contemporaries visitors will not have trouble getting around. (Read more...)

Chennai Restaurants

Unlike in Bangalore or Mumbai, the locals in Chennai are not very open to experimentation when it comes to food. This is why most of the restaurants here serve typical south Indian fare with slight variations on north Indian food. If you are looking for different tastes, head for the five-star hotels where you will find a whole gamut of cuisines – albeit at a lot higher prices than local eateries. Otherwise, enjoy some of the best seafood you have eaten, south-Indian style.  (Read more...)

Chennai Nightlife

A typical night out in Chennai usually consists of the family unit going out to catch a movie and eating dinner in a restaurant. There is no drinking in the traditional family as it is frowned upon. While the youngsters today are changing, the city still has a long way to go before its nightlife can be favourably compared with Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore.   (Read more...)

Chennai Shopping

Chennai is world famous for its clothes shopping opportunities. There local markets solely dedicated to clothing stores and the choices, along with the prices, are truly amazing, making this a shopping destination in its own right. Naturally, all the multinational brands are available, but the real bargains are to be found in the street markets and in what is known as the rejects market, the best example of this being 'T nagar'. Both silk and cotton are great buys.  (Read more...)

Chennai Information

To get from the airport into town in comfort use a prepaid taxi from the booth at the terminal. Another way to get into town is to walk the half kilometer to Tirusulam Station and take a MRTS train into town. This will naturally be cheaper than the prepaid taxi. (Read more...)

Chennai Maps

Our interactive map (and satellite views) displays all available hotels with photos, facilities and guest comments as well as attractions, landmarks and other items of interest with links to relevant information pages. (Read more...)