Home > Destinations > Tamil Nadu >

Read in Your Language :

Chennai Guide - Essential Information

Chennai Sari Shop

Location

Chennai is in the state of Tamil Nadu. The city is 19 km in length along the Coromandel coast and around 9 km wide. Chennai overall covers a land of some 172 sq. km. Its a very low lying area and the highest point in the city is just 60m above sea level.

Climate

This city is hot throughout the year. The hottest are the months from May to September where temperature can sore up to high thirties. The mean temperature during these months is around 33 C. November to February are most pleasant months with December and January being the coldest months where mean temperature is around 24 C. From October to mid-December, it is the monsoon season where few days can be really wet. Average rainfall is about 1,272 mm. This city is visited throughout the year with summers becoming pleasant due to the refreshing winds coming from the seaside. Although, don't forget to carry your hats, light cottons and shades which will definitely come handy.

General Information

With a population of around 6.4 million, Chennai is a crowded place but well maintained. The fourth largest city of India has majority of its people speaking local language Tamil but English is also widely understood by the localities. Although Hindi is not as popular in these parts of the country as it is in the northern India. People here are more educated with literacy rate around 80.14, and more hospitable than people in other parts of India.

Shopping - Wish for Anything

Chennai is way ahead of the rest of the country in context of retail shopping experience with some of the largest retail stores choosing Chennai as first stop to set up a shop. Apparel market is the busiest and most successful sector in the shopping arena. The stores here sell both western and traditional wear. You can also shop for traditional arts and crafts from Cottage Emporium, Victoria Technical Institute and Poompuhar Emporium and for exclusive Kanjeevaram silk sarees, you may choose Nalli's Rasi and Kumaran silks at T.Nagar which have proved themselves to be the best in the business.

Chennai is renowned for its handlooms, both the exquisite Kancheepuram silk sarees and the cottons used designed sarees, shirts and domestic furnishers. The Co-optex showrooms offer a wide variety of both types of handlooms, whereas the Khadi centres are better known for their cotton varieties. The several Nalli shops, the Rasi showroom in Mylapore and other saree shops near Panagal Park and Dhun Building (Anna Salai) specialise in the finest silks. Several boutiques have exclusively designed more modern sarees. Chennai is also a major handicrafts centre; the Government's Poompuhar specialising in metal (Bronze) and stone work articles. The Victoria Technical Institute has perhaps the widest variety of South Indian handicrafts. Anna Salai offers comfortable shopping for all varieties of goods in western comfort, whereas George Town offers the same variety in a bazaar atmosphere. !

Getting There

By Air

Chennai's Anna International Airport is a good entry and exit point for South East Asia. . The Kamaraj Domestic Terminal is located right adjacent to the international terminal from where all domestic airlines operate flights in and out of the city and flights are available to almost all Indian towns and cities. Fifty-six international airlines have their offices in Chennai because of the large foreign air traffic originating from here. The Trisulam suburban railway station is right across the road. Both terminals offer facility of transfer by a prepaid coach to any part of the city. Airport coach is another option, which ferry people to Parry's Bus Stand and cover all the major hotels along the way.

By Rail

Chennai is connected by rail to literally all parts of the country. There are two main railway stations, Chennai Central for broad gauge, and Egmore for meter gauge. Most express and passenger trains have a stop at the Chennai Central railway station. The central station connects Chennai to all major destinations in the North whereas the Egmore station takes trains to all south destinations. Rail reservations can be made at Chennai Central Stations, from 06:30 hrs. to 20:30 hrs on weekdays and from 07:30 hrs. to 13:00 hrs. on Sundays.

By Road

Chennai is well connected by road as well. The biggest Moffusil Bus Terminus in Asia is situated at Koyembedu in Chennai. It has 30 arrival and 150 departure terminals apart from a spacious lounge, restaurants and a shopping complex. Many States operate their state transport bus service to Chennai. Many private bus operators also have their Luxury coaches plying in and out of the city. Due to excellent road links, states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka can be reached within 24 hours. Road distance to surrounding areas are : Bangalore- 334 km, Hyderabad- 669 km, Kanyakumari- 693 km, Ooty-535 km. Bus reservations can be made at Thiruvalluvar Transport Corporation, Express Bus Stand, Esplanade.

Local Transport

Chennai offers a lot of option to move around in the city. You can hire a taxi, auto or catch a bus which are available in good numbers. Local trains also play a major part in ferrying people inside the city. All major centers of the city are connected by the Local train