Chennai - The cultural gateway of India
Chennai is a smart city that is also known as Madras and is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. Famous for the numerous temples counting more than 600 in numbers, Chennai is also an industrial hub and hosts a huge part of the automotive industry in India. UNESCO listed Chennai in its ‘Creative Cities Network’ for its musical heritage. It has an area of 426 sq. km has a population of 70.9 lakh.
Things to do in Chennai
The best thing to do in Chennai is to explore its vast cultural heritage and tour the various museums and monuments that Chennai holds. One can relish the delicious South-Indian cuisines for breakfast and head out to the city tour, spend the afternoons shopping and scroll down the calming beaches in the evening and try the mouth-watering street foods available on the shores.
Tourist attractions in Chennai
Chennai hosts some famous shore-lines like Marina Beach, Edward Eliot’s Beach, ECR Beach, Kovalam Beach and a lot more which attracts both tourists and residents. Some other worth visiting places are the Government Museum, Dakshina Chitra, St. George’s Cathedral, Apparao Galleries, The Faraway Tree Gallery, Bronze gallery, Matsya Narayana Temple and Santhome Cathedral Basilica.
Places to shop in Chennai
Chennai being the industrial hub and a metropolis holds a number of shopping malls and regular markets. The best places to shop around here are Express Avenue, Alsa Mall, Phoenix Market City, Parry’s shopping centre, Panagal Park.
Best time to visit Chennai
The best time to visit Chennai is between the months of October and February, the temperatures are cool and enjoyable between 20°C to 25°C and it’s also a good time to avoid the rain for a better experience of exploring the city.
Modes of transport
Chennai is well-linked via railways and roads and the most cost-efficient ways of exploring the city are public transports like buses and auto-rickshaws available at every corner of the city. You can also hire a taxi or book a cab for a more comfortable and easily accessible tour but at a bit high cost.
Weather in Chennai
Chennai lies on the thermal equator; therefore, it does not face the drastic variations in the seasonal temperature. The temperature typically ranges from 21°C to 38°C and receives moderate to heavy rainfall during monsoon. The weather in Chennai is usually hot and humid all year round.
Airport in Chennai
IndiGo operates daily domestic flights and international flights from Chennai International Airport (IATA: MAA) which is the third busiest airport in India and serves the Chennai metropolitan area.