Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This is an intoxicating city known for its music culture, local traditions and upbeat lifestyle. People of Chennai happily take pride in their local Tamil language, music and dance choices, passion for cinema, and finger-licking cuisine. The beaches, churches, skyscrapers, British monuments and big institutions located in this city are famous throughout the country.
Best Time to VisitThe heat, however, is a concern for people who are not from Chennai as the city experiences a harsh and humid climate. The ideal time to visit Chennai is in the winter months of November to February.
Places to VisitThe festivals are celebrated here with great pomp and show. Some of the popular festivals to witness are Jallikattu Festival and Pongal (the harvest festival). If you happen to be in Chennai, then do take time to visit some of the known attractions the city hosts. If you are looking for beach fun, then Marina Beach, Edward Elliot Beach and Breezy Beach are the beaches to go. Marina Beach gathers more crowd than the other two and is comparatively quieter. As a cautionary note, the beaches are not suitable for swimming. Pilgrimage places include Kapaleeswarar Temple, Parthasarathy Temple, St. Mary’s Church, Big Mosque. If you are travelling along with kids, then you can visit Fort St. George, Arinjar Anna Zoological Park, Guindy National Park and The Birla Planetarium. The people of Chennai admire and host concerts (Arangetram) of Carnatic music and Bharatnatyam dance performances, and if you like the idea of witnessing the pure classical dance, then you should definitely search for concerts happening in the city before booking.
Hotels and RestaurantsChennai is a heaven for food lovers with a variety of options from regional to fast foods such as Nethili Fry, Masala Dosa, Biryani, Atho, Pongal and Parotta. Filter Coffee rules the coffee culture here and you can find a variety of coffee houses. Annalakshmi Restaurant, Hotel Saravana Bhawan, Adyar Bhawan and Tuscana Pizzeria are some of the recommended dining places.
Chennai offers all kind of accommodation options for stay. Right from Budget Hotels in Chennai to Luxury Hotels in Chennai Resorts in Chennai, from 5 star Chennai hotels to service apartments, one can find multiple options as per their need and pocket. Goibibo being the leading travel website has largest collection of hotels on its platform. One can easily find various collection of hotels as well on Goibibo, like couple friendly hotels in Chennai to hotels preferred by Business travellers in Chennai, similarly hotels preferred by students and also the ones preferred by women. Popular locations in Chennai for stay are near Chennai Airport, Guindy, Chennai Central, T Nagar and Anna Nagar. It is very easy and convenient to compare and book hotels online on Goibibo.
TransportationThe metropolitan city of Chennai is well-connected to many international countries and major Indian cities via airways. The roadways and railways are also very well-maintained for travel purpose. To save time, air travel is considered as the most ideal Chennai International Airport (MAA) has non-stop flights from London, The Middle East, Mauritius, Bangkok, Sri Lanka and many other major cities. Apart from the international cities, many of the Indian cities are connected to Chennai via domestic airlines including Indigo and GoAir. The International flights operate from the Anna Terminal while the Kamraj Terminal is used for domestic flights.
Cheap flight tickets from here to other popular cities can be booked online on Goibibo. Also, flight status & other details related to flight booking & air tickets can be easily accessed on it. So for cheapest air tickets, it is recommended to book flights online.
The railways and roadways are no less behind in providing convenience. The major train stations in the city are Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore. Chennai Egmore, on the other hand, also operates trains for the local areas of the city. If you are looking for travel via bus, then you can head to Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT). A number of inter-state Chennai buses can be availed from this terminus at any time of the day. But there are many buses that ply hourly for certain destinations. Modes of transportation to travel within the city include local trains, metro, buses, auto-rickshaws and private vehicles.
