Chennai is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. The city has a land area of 426 sq. km and a population of around 7.1 million. The city, along with the adjoining regions, constitutes the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
The city is also among the most visited Indian cities by foreign tourists. It attracts around 45% of health tourists visiting India and 30 to 40% of domestic health tourists and is termed as “India’s Health Capital”.
Things to do in Chennai
With plenty of beaches, art galleries, museums, monuments, parks and historic places, there is no dearth of things to do in the city. One can spend a day at Marina Beach, enjoy sunbathing at Breezy Beach, take a tour of MGR Film City, enjoy fun & games at VGP Golden Beach, experience surreal scuba diving or visit the divine Ashtalakshmi Temple amongst other things.
Tourist attractions in Chennai
Chennai is home to a sheer number of cultural, historical, architectural and other sites. Popular attractions are Marina Beach, Fort St. George, Vandalur Zoo, Government Museum in Egmore, Elliot’s Beach, Fort Museum, St. Mary’s Church, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Guindy National Park and the Broken Bridge.
Places to shop in Chennai
Chennai has many options to offer when it comes to shopping. One can walk into Phoenix Market City, Express Avenue Mall, The Forum Vijaya Mall, Ranganathan Street, Chettinad Thari, Pothys Hyper, Chennai Trade Centre, VR Centre, Chennai Citi Centre, Ekagrata and Spencer Plaza.
Best time to visit Chennai
The best time to visit the city is between November and February. This time being the winter season, there are cool breezes from the sea even during the daytime which provide relief from hot weather. This is also the festive time with Pongal being celebrated in January.
Modes of transport
Chennai has options for commuting within the city. Metropolitan Transportation Corporation operates many buses which are the primary mode of transport within the city. A great amount of connectivity is also provided by Suburban Rail. Travellers can also use auto-rickshaws, taxis and app-based cabs.
Weather in Chennai
The temperature throughout the year is between 22 °C and 37 °C. The summer season is between April and July with an average temperature above 35 °C, and the winter season is between October and February with an average temperature below 30 °C.
Airport in Chennai
IndiGo offers domestic flights and international flights to and from Chennai International Airport (IATA: MAA), serving the city of Chennai and its metropolitan area. To know more, visit the flight schedule page on IndiGo’s official website.