Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu, in the southern part of India. Located on the Coromandel coast of Bay of Bengal, Chennai is as dynamic as it is immersed in tradition. This 'capital of the south', is one among the four metropolitan siblings of India, having a rich cultural history which it perfectly balances with its metropolis lifestyle.
Amid its chaos of traffic and sweltering humid climate, Chennai is worth visiting for its temples steeped in south-Indian culture, British-era museums and monuments, culinary delights and Marina Beach (Second largest urban beach in the world). Chennai's skyline is famous for its towering skyscrapers, but the heart of Chennai has an old-world charm to it that refuses to be overshadowed.
Chennai is famous for being one of the best shopping destinations in the country, and be it street shopping or shopping in the classiest of malls, Chennai has everything you could possibly need. If you are someone who loves shopping, then Chennai won't leave you disappointed. T Nagar, also known as Thyagaraya Nagar, is the most famous shopping district in the town, and you buy anything starting from trinkets and junk jewellery to expensive Chennai Silk Sarees.
Some of the important and famous shopping destinations in Chennai are Pondy Bazar, Anna Salai, T-Nagar, Anna Nagar, Egmore and Mylapore. For the people looking for high-end branded shopping, there are also several malls in Chennai like the Spencer Plaza, Chennai Citi Centre, Express Avenue and Phoenix Market City.
Nightlife in Chennai
Despite being a metropolitan, Chennai's nightlife is not as happening as you would expect it to be. Though the nightlife scene has been improving in the recent years, yet most of the bars and pubs only regulate in high-end hotels due to some regulations. The bars and pubs are prohibited from regulating after midnight. Some of the mid-range hotels also have drinking room where you can have a nice time. Some of the famous bars and nightclubs in Chennai are The Westminster, Zara's 10 Downing Street, The Leather Bar, Pasha and Elixir. Make sure to dress neatly as most of these places have a strict dress code.
The city of Madras, started out its journey towards becoming modern day Chennai - capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, manufacturing hub of the country and hence the ‘Detroit of India’ ; as a part of the famous Vijayanagara kingdom. The 400 year old city thus has a colorful history which has contributed to its rich heritage, grandiose architecture, culture and traditions. It has been ruled by all major South Indian dynasties such as the Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas and the Vijayanagaras. Due to its ideal location on the Bay of Bengal coast, it tempted not just the British, but also the Portuguese and the Dutch before them. The Portuguese were the first to come in 1522, and constructed the beautiful church Sao Tome. The land was part of the Vijayanagara kingdom when the British arrived, who quickly established their supremacy over the city, with the support of the diminished Dutch and Portuguese forces. The Madras Presidency was thus established in South India in the late 18th century. The development of railways and ports thus made the city an important linchpin for the British, and it was the only Indian city to be bombed by the Germans during the First World War. Following India’s independence in 1947, the city was named as the capital of Tamil Nadu. Madras also played a major role in the Tamil agitation against the Centre’s attempt to impose Hindi as the main language for communication in the 1960s. In the 1980s, the city was engulfed in political violence during the Sri Lankan civil war. In 1998, the city was renamed Chennai, in honor of Damarla Venkatadri Nayaka, who was the chieftain of Chennapatnam when the British arrived in India over a century ago, thus retaining in its name a legacy of its historical roots.
Restaurants and Local Food in Chennai
Chennai’s local cuisine consists of traditional South Indian food such as sambar, dosas and idlis. Ranging from street side stalls to upscale restaurants, you can enjoy a complete gourmet experience in Chennai.
Chennai like any sparkling city that is constantly growing and expanding in all its spheres, fosters a cuisine that provides countless options. The city has a vibrant street food culture as well as well laid out and flattering fine dining experiences. While you can try a number of cuisines and foods here, one must not miss what Chennai is known for- traditional and authentic South-Indian cuisine. Hence do not miss the filter coffee as well as items like Idli, Dosa, Appam, Vada, Upma, Sambhar, Parotha, Chettinad Chicken, Pepper Chicken, Chicken Stew, Sweet Pongal, Kesari, Payasam and much more. Read more about Street Food in Chennai.
Day 1 - Reach Chennai by morning. Start your sojourn South-Indian style by having Chennai's famous idlis, vadas, and dosas at one of the popular restaurants like Sangeetha's or Murugan Idli shop. Team it up with a glass of steaming hot filter coffee. Next, head out to Mylapore to get a flavor of traditional Tamil culture which includes the famous Kapaleshwara temple, and shops selling local artefacts and jewellery. In the evening, pay a visit to the bustling Marina beach and perhaps even catch a local performance or play if you're lucky, in addition to the beautiful sunset!
Day 2 - Take a day trip to Dakshinchitra museum, located around 25 km to the south of Chennai city. After a scenic ride along the ECR coast, revel in the museum's portrayal of South Indian culture, art, and craft. Further, explore some local South Indian cuisine for dinner at restaurants in Alwarpet or Adyar.
Day 3 - Devote this day to satisfy your shopping cravings by visiting some of the city's famous shopping areas like T. Nagar and Pondy Bazar, where you can find traditional Kancheevaram silk and other local goodies. For a relaxed afternoon and evening, take a ride through Guindy National Park, and check out the Government Museum and the Birla Planetarium. If time permits, a stroll through IIT Madras would offer you glimpses of deer and peacocks amidst the lush green foliage of the campus. End your trip with an experience of Chennai's nightlife at Besant Nagar beach with a dinner and drink at one of the lovely restaurants there like BOATs (Based On A True Story).
This city is well connected with major cities in the country and daily trains are easily available. Chennai is also well connected to both national and international cities via air. From the airport, the cheapest way to the city is by taking the suburban train into the city which only costs Rs 12. The suburban train connects you to Chennai Central and Egmore, the two main passenger train stations. Read More
What is famous about Chennai?
Accessible from all over the country and has excellent transport facilities. One of the most visited Indian cities by foreign tourists, Chennai houses almost 2467 heritage buildings within the metropolitan area - highest within any city limit in the country. The Mylapore and Triplicane areas are famous for their beautiful, serene temples and delicious cuisine, while North Chennai areas like Sowcarpet are dotted with shops selling everything under the sun, including clothes, bicycles, food and electronic items.
Vestiges of the British rule like the stunning Madras University and Queen Mary's College, the Ripon Building and the museums are lovely examples of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture that the metropolitan is known for. The modern metropolis of Chennai - a buzzing city of glorious beaches, monuments standing as a testament to the time, and the people who have preserved age-old traditions - is sure to sneak its way into your hearts.
What is not so good about Chennai?
Temperatures are very high from March to October. Most of the people do not speak Hindi and English, knowledge of basic Tamil may be required. Auto drivers are known to charge higher rates to non-locals
Who should visit Chennai?
Chennai is ideal to be used as a base for people looking for a trip to South India. Chennai is also suitable for beach lovers. If you’re a nature lover, or even if you just want to escape the bustle of the city and find some peace and quiet, a visit to the Pulicat Lake (and Bird Sanctuary) is a must. Home to a vast variety of rare species of birds, including egrets, herons, flamingos, and sandpipers, this lake is one of the most famous bird sanctuaries in the country. Tourists can opt to go on boat rides and cruises and watch a beautiful sunset amidst the melodious chirping of the birds.
What is the best time to visit Chennai?
Being one among the most popular religious capital cities in India, Chennai is quite a crowd puller for its ancient culture and art. Its geographical location on the beautiful coastline mostly keeps the city's weather hot and humid. Hence, the best time to visit Chennai is the pre-monsoon and the winter season, i.e. between October and February. This time of the year is considered as the best time to explore the metropolitan city as summers are scorching and monsoons bring torrential downpours and cyclones. Read More
What is the local food in Chennai?
Chennai’s local cuisine consists of traditional South Indian food such as sambar, dosas and idlis. Ranging from street side stalls to upscale restaurants, you can enjoy a complete gourmet experience in Chennai.
Chennai like any sparkling city that is constantly growing and expanding in all its spheres, fosters a cuisine that provides countless options. The city has a vibrant street food culture as well as well laid out and flattering fine dining experiences. While you can try a number of cuisines and foods here, one must not miss what Chennai is known for- traditional and authentic South-Indian cuisine. Hence do not miss the filter coffee as well as items like Idli, Dosa, Appam, Vada, Upma, Sambhar, Parotha, Chettinad Chicken, Pepper Chicken, Chicken Stew, Sweet Pongal, Kesari, Payasam and much more. Read more about Street Food in Chennai.
The packages for Chennai start at INR 6768 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here
What are the top hotels in Chennai?
There are 849 in Chennai which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Chennai are Phoenix Serviced Apartment - Anna Nagar, Aditi Home Stay, TEMPLE TREE HOMES, HOTEL VAITHEE PARK, Thariff Residency, Vadapalani, SGN GUEST HOUSE. You can see all the hotels in Chennai here
What are the things to do in Chennai?
The top things to do in Chennai are Marina Beach, Government Museum, Chennai, MGR Film City, Breezy Beach, Marundeeswarar Temple, Arignar Anna Zoological Park. You can see all the places to visit in Chennai here
What are the places near Chennai?
The top places near to Chennai are Pulicat which is 40 km from Chennai, Bodinayakkanur which is located 40 km from Chennai, Pondicherry which is located 136 km from Chennai, Mahabalipuram which is located 48 km from Chennai, Kanchipuram which is located 64 km from Chennai
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There are no 'winters' as such in Chennai. Temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees, so the cold will not be much of a problem for you in planning your trip. Apart from that, there are numerous plac (Read More)es you could visit in Chennai. The Marina beach is a must. If you're an artchitecture junkie, then check out the Santhome Cathedral Basilica. Or you could visit the Arignar Anna Zoological Park 30km from the city and explore the wildlife of the region. Also, Snake Park and Crocodile Bank are quite interesting places.
The last week of December is comparatively colder but the temperature lies somewhere between 20 and 30 degree Celsius and remains the same until the end of January. Not so cold winters when compared (Read More)to the weather in other major cities. as Chennai is too hot in other months of the year heading to the beaches around Chennai would be a great idea. If you want to relax surrounded by music, then there's Madras Music Festival which is coming up too. If you get the time you could also visit Pondicherry which is just a 2-hour drive from Chennai for a good time in the beautiful city. There are abundant hotels in Chennai which can cater to your needs. Here's a list of hotels you can choose from.
https://www.holidify.com/places/chennai/hotels-where-to-stay.html
Chennai is huge city but very huge language problem for north indians because no one speaks Hindi and also public transport is lackluster as outskirts of the city are not well connected to the rest o (Read More)f Chennai
Sanjeet Singh
4 years ago
Been there for three days , need 2-3 more to cover Chennai. City of Chennai has old world charm. What I can say after three days that people are good, helpful most of the time, local street food or m (Read More)id range food joints are very cheap but one thing that is negative is that auto drivers there tends to overcharge you in double or triple.
Thia Milone
4 years ago
I took my children there yesterday. We all very sad to see that an elephant chained to tree. It was all by itself and clearly under a lot of distress as it rocked back and forth and whipped the chain (Read More) around. The area it is kept in is large but has no fence or moat to keep the elephant in. This needs to change. Elephants are extremely emotional, intelligent, social animals, and chaining them to tree alone is incompletely inhumane. I really hope they make changes to this. All of the other animals seemed to have free range of appropriate size enclosures.
