Chennai Information

Getting Around

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.

Once you are in the town you have the options of auto rickshaws, buses, taxis, cars and the MRTS trains. Private taxis can be hired for the day if you are looking to make excursions to nearby townships. The bus is preferable and cheaper than the taxis or auto rickshaws while traveling within the city.Get acquainted with the bus numbers and routes before you start traveling on them. Usually co passengers are helpful. The trains are excellent and efficient. Whenever possible use them in place of any other mode of transportation within the city.

Weather

When you think of Chennai 'hot and humid' comes to mind right away. The city is located on the Bay of Bengal and it is best to visit in the winter as summers can be rather miserable. You must avoid visiting during April to June at any cost.

Monsoons are best avoided due to flooding potential and related problems. Tourist season is usually heralded in November and lasts till February and this is when the climate is best suited for visiting.

Good to Know

As compared to other cities, riding in auto rickshaws in Chennai can be quite tedious. The drivers have a major language problem and communication is difficult. They refuse to use the meters and will demand hefty fares, sometimes changing the fare to an increased amount after you get to your destination.

Chennai is the smallest of the four Indian 'metros' and is still quite laid back and sleepy. It does have a more traditional feel than other cities that you might visit. Dress code should be adhered to so that you don’t disturb local sentiments.

Being a southern city it is quite sunny and you should wear plenty of sunscreen no matter which season you visit.