Chennai (Madras) Travel Guide
Chennai, the fascinating, frenetic capital of Tamil Nadu, offers the perfect introduction to the Indian south – colourful temples, famously spicy food and a rich history that leaps out of the architecture.
Formerly known as Madras, Chennai was the site of the first British trading post in South India, and the legacy of the Raj is still visible in the colonial buildings and historic churches that dot the streets of the old city, centred on Fort St George. For more than a century, rival colonial powers squabbled over this corner of South India before the British finally gained the upper hand in the 18th century.
Modern Chennai has grown up rather haphazardly around this colonial core, sprawling along the coastline beside the city’s most famous landmark, the 13km-long (8 mile) Marina Beach. This wide strip of sand is where Chennai residents come to promenade, fly kites, eat snack food and just unwind away from the urban crush.
As the capital of the Dravidian south, Chennai is understandably proud of its Tamil culture, with traditions and religious customs that predate the influx of tribes from central Asia into the north of India.
You’ll see signs of Tamil culture everywhere, from the curving letters of Tamil script on shop signs to energetic performances of Carnatic music and dance and the riotous films produced in Kollywood – the southern Chennai suburb that is home to India’s second largest film industry.
The Tamil influence is also obvious in the city’s famously spicy cuisine, with fiery vegetarian curries flavoured with coconut, tamarind and chilli – traditionally served on banana leaf plates.
Other must try dishes include dosa (crispy rice and lentil pancakes), idli (steamed rice cakes), uttapam (like a dosa but topped with vegetables) and the spicy chicken, lamb and seafood curries produced by the Chettiar community.
In many ways, Chennai is still traditionally conservative, lacking the cosmopolitan flavour (and nightlife) of Mumbai, Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Delhi. However, Chennai is just a short bus or train ride from some of South India’s most famous sights, including the ancient temples of Mamallapuram and the French outpost of Pondicherry.
Occupied by the British for 300 years, Chennai emerged as an energetic metropolis that’s fiercely proud of its Tamil heritage.
In 1639, the local Indian rulers granted the East India Company a parcel of land upon which a fort was built as a residence for British settlers.
The Brits gradually expanded their colony to encompass other settlements and villages, one of which was Madraspatnam. This eventually inspired the name of the city Madras.
Despite a double whammy of plague and warfare in the late 17th century, the colony grew and in 1674 it was granted its own corporate charter.
Thomas Pitt became the Governor of Madras in 1698 and under his 11-year governorship, trade developed and wealth increased.
During the 18th century, the British fought off attacks in Madras from the French twice, the Danes and the Sultan of Mysore.
But by the latter half of the century, Madras had become an important British naval base and they had secured increased control of the region. Trade flourished and businesses sprung up in textiles, banking and retail.
After India became independent in 1947, the city became the capital of Madras State, renamed Tamil Nadu in 1968. The central government started imposing the use of Hindi in business and government, leading to sporadic rioting in Madras, an important base for Tamil opposition to the move.
Further political violence ensued with the civil war in Sri Lanka, with a bomb attack at an airport in 1984 by the Tamil army.
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated near Chennai in Sriperumbudur in 1991, while campaigning in Tamil Nadu.
In 1996, the Government of Tamil Nadu renamed the city Chennai.
The 2004 tsunami lashed Chennai’s shores, killing many and destroying much of the seafront.
Today, Chennai makes its fortune from software development and electronics manufacturing, with tourism also playing an important role.
Founded in 1946, Chennai-based AVM Studios is India’s oldest film production house.
Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman (of Slumdog Millionaire fame) was born in Chennai in 1967.
Chennai is nicknamed the ‘Detroit of India’, thanks to its large car-manufacturing industry.
- Weather in Chennai (Madras)
Chennai has a typically tropical climate. It is hot and humid for most of the year, with temperatures spiking between May and June when they can reach anywhere from 35°C to 40°C (95°F to 104°F). The monsoons start hitting between mid-October and mid-December and there can be cyclones travelling in from the Bay of Bengal. Temperatures are more pleasant between November and January when the mercury hovers around 28°C (83°F).
Getting around Chennai (Madras)
The suburban railway (daily 05:00-23:00) runs approximately every 10 to 15 minutes between Central Railway and the northern suburbs, from east to west, and from the eastern beach to the southern suburbs. Stations include Egmore, the airport (Tirusulam), St Thomas Mount, Lighthouse (Marina Beach) and the fort (Park Town).
Buses (daily 05:00-22:00) are extremely crowded and best avoided for longer journeys. Signs are mostly in Tamil so ask around for the correct route and destination. It can be a real leap of faith, but this is definitely the cheapest way of getting around. Auto-rickshaws are another mode of transport – agree the fare to the destination before you get in.
Chennai Metro Rail Limited
Telephone: +91 44 2379 2000
Website: www.chennaimetrorail.org is a light rail system which opened in 2015 and travels from Alandur to Koyambedu, with further stations and lines under construction. Preloadable smartcards are available.
Taxis are mainly seen outside large hotels, local taxi stands and some transport hubs. You can book taxis independently or through hotels and some travel agents (the latter two attract service charges). You should negotiate the fare at the start of each journey; tipping is optional. Taxi companies include:
CITY CABS
Telephone: +91 44 2815 7777
Fast Track Cabs
Telephone: +91 44 2888 9999
Although the city’s roads are better than average, driving in Chennai is best done if you have experience as it can get horribly congested and often traffic rules are routinely ignored. Those who hire cars often hire drivers too – it’s pretty cheap and less stressful than driving independently.
An ideal cycling city, Chennai is relatively flat and has many planned cycle routes that are fun to navigate. Bicycle helmets are compulsory. Good providers include
Chennai Motorcycle Rental
Address: Salma SVP Arcade, Arcot Road, Kodambakkam, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 99 5210 0400
Website: www.chennaimotorcyclerental.com
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Things to see in Chennai (Madras)
Attractions
- Government Museum and National Art Gallery
Constructed as part of the 18th-century Pantheon Complex, the Government Museum is housed in one of the finest colonial buildings in the subcontinent. The museum displays the state’s archaeological collection, including impressive galleries of South Indian Buddhist and Hindu stone sculptures and bronzes, plus displays on natural history, and anthropology. Also in the complex are the Connemara Public Library and National Art Gallery.
Address: Egmore, Pantheon Road, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2819 3238
Opening times: Daily 10:30-18:30.
Website: www.govtmuseumchennai.org
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Opened in 1976, this massive auditorium was constructed in memory of the poet-saint Thiruvalluvar. All 1,330 verses of his epic work, The Thirukkural, are inscribed on the surrounding granite pillars. The central feature is a 30m-high (100ft) sculpture of a chariot, inspired by ancient Dravidian temples like the Sun Temple at Konark. There is a life-size image of the poet inside.
Address: Valluvar Kottam High Rd, Nungambakkam, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2817 2177
Opening times: Daily 08:30-17:30.
Website: www.tn.gov.in
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Steeped in mythology, the striking 30m-high (120ft) gopuram tower of this ancient Dravidian temple dominates the street. Said to be founded in the 7th century, its oldest inscriptions date to AD1250. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, 63 Shaivite saints adorn the courtyard – the only area non-Hindus are permitted to enter.
Address: Ramakrishna Mutt Rd, Vinayaka Nagar Colony, Mylapore, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2464 1670
Opening times: Daily 06:00-21:00.
Website:www.mylaikapaleeswarar.hrce.tn.gov.in
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Named after King George V, George Town has long been the historical and also commercial hub of the city. Along Popham’s Broadway are the beautiful Armenian Church (1772) and Wesleyan Church (1820). Chennai’s longest road, Mint Street, starts near Central Railway Station and threads 4km (2 miles) towards Vallalar Nagar. Also look out for the High Court Buildings and Old Lighthouse Tower.
Address: George Town, Chennai.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Named after England’s patron saint, this fort was built in 1644 and was the first bastion of power for the British East India Company and the oldest British construction in the country. The sprawling compound houses the State Legislature and Secretariat. The Fort Museum contains assorted relics from the British Raj, including weaponry, silverware, portraits and military uniforms, as well as Indian antiquities, porcelain and silverware.
Address: Rajaji Rd, near Legislature and Secretariat, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2567 1127
Opening times: Sat-Thu 09:00-17:00.
Website: www.asi.nic.in
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Marina Beach and Elliot’s Beach
Stretching 18km (11 miles), Marina Beach is the world’s second longest beach, though strong currents mean visitors don’t tend to swim. Instead, people watch in the evening when the sands overflow with families, fortune-tellers and vendors. The promenade has statues of scholars and local heroes. Further on, Elliot’s Beach holds Velankanni Church, and the Ashtalakshmi temple, which enshrines eight forms of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
Address: Marina Beach, Chennai.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Adjacent to Raj Bhavan, this forest reserve is home hundreds of native species, including rare black buck, spotted deer, jackals, mongoose, snakes, geckos, plus over 60 types of butterfly and 100 species of bird, including parakeets, kingfishers and lapwings. It’s nature trails and lakes are great for getting away from the noise and chaos of urban India for a few hours.
Address: Rangeguindy, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2950 5150
Opening times: Daily 10:00-17:00.
Website: www.guindypark.com
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
This elegant cathedral is believed to mark the spot where St Thomas the Apostle was buried after being killed by a mob in AD78. The Portuguese built the original church in the 16th century, but the current basilica dates from 1896. Its stunning stained glass window portrays the story of St Thomas, and the central hall has 14 wooden Stations of the Cross.
Address: Mylapore, San Thome High Road, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2498 5455
Opening times: Daily 06:00-21:00.
Website: www.catholicshrinebasilica.com
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Built in 1892, this red Indo-Saracenic structure is one of Chennai’s main landmarks. The world’s second largest judicial building after the Courts of London, it remains a working court, with Madras Law College in the same complex. Thronging with lawyers, students and defendants, tours and courtroom visits are available through the registrar.
Address: George Town, Parry’s Corner, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2530 1349
Opening times: Sun-Fri 10:00-17:45.
Website: www.hcmadras.tn.nic.in
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
This church is centred on a tiny, rock-hewn cave where St Thomas is believed to have lived when he came to India around AD58. Reputedly fleeing villagers who objected to his teachings, the saint left an imprint of his hand near the entrance. Entry is via a church built in 1551, which enshrines a stone cross that St Thomas is said to have clutched as he died, after being fatally speared by the mob.
Address: Saidapet, Lodge Road, Near Saidapet Bridge, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2999 4200
Opening times: Daily 04:30-21:00.
Website: www.littlemountshrine.com
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
- Federal government office-Indiatourism Chennai
Address: 154 Anna Salai, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2846 1459
Opening times: Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00.
Website: www.incredibleindia.org
The national tourist office is the best place for information on things to do and see in Tamil Nadu and across the country. They have reams of brochures and maps that may steer you towards attractions you might not have thought of.
Things to do in Chennai (Madras)
- Check out the crocs at the Croc Bank
The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
Website: www.madrascrocodilebank.org was set up in 1976 to “promote the conservation of reptiles and amphibians and their habitats” and is still going strong. It’s safe to say they welcome visitors with welcome arms. Don’t leave without getting a look at Jaws III; at 16ft, he’s the largest captive croc in India.
- Eat George Town’s finest street food
Street food in Chennai is king, and nowhere is it so regal as George Town’s maniacal streets. A newcomer may find themselves overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells, so take the Food Trail tour with:
Story Trails
Website: www.storytrails.in who will guide you to the best eats.
- Learn to surf, Chennai style
Bay of Life Surf School & Ocean Literacy
Website: www.bayoflife.com run four- and eight-day courses that aim to get you catching tubes (or at least standing up on your board) before you leave.
They take place on the beach at the fishing village of Covelong 40km (25 miles) south of Chennai, so they’re relatively free of tourists and/or potentially mocking observers.
- Take a turtle conservation walk
Every night, between January and April, the:
Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network
Website: www.sstcn.org walk 7km (4 miles) from Neelangari beach to Besant Nagar beach, relocating exposed Olive Ridley turtle eggs. The walk is open for serious volunteers to join and lasts from 2300 to approximately 0500.
- Visit India’s oldest bookstore
Higginbothams started life when an English stowaway, Abel Joshua Higgingbotham, set up a bookshop on Mount Road in 1844. Over 150 years later it’s still selling the good word and has the honorable distinction of being India’s oldest bookshop. It’s got a sizable English language section, and worth a visit for the whitewashed colonial visage alone.
Chennai (Madras) tours and excursions
Chennai (Madras) tours
Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (
TTDC)
Offers a wide range of tours, including a five-hour Chennai sightseeing tour visiting Fort St George, the Government Museum, Valluvarkottam and Kapaleeswarar Temple. TTDC also runs day trips to Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram.
Telephone: +91 44 2533 3444
Website: www.ttdconline.com
A tour around the spices and ingredients of South India, Chennai Magic takes foodies to a local’s home where they can learn to make a fried starter with chutney, a main meal consisting of parota (bread), korma (a chicken or vegetable curry dish), a rice dish and accompaniments, plus a dessert. Walking and car tours are also available.
Telephone:
+91 44 4501 0202
Website: www.storytrails.in
Chennai (Madras) excursions
About 80km (50 miles) southwest of Chennai, Kanchipuram is one of Hinduism’s seven most sacred cities, and it has been a pilgrimage destination for centuries. Its historic temples cover a staggering range of South Indian architectural styles, built over more than 2000 years. The Ekambaresvara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is famed for its exquisitely carved Thousand Pillar Hall (although it has fewer than 1,000 pillars today). Kanchipuram is also famous for its weavers.
- Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)
50km (31miles) south of Chennai, Mamallapuram is world renowned for its carved granite temples, created by the Pallava kings in the 7th century. Spread out along the beach is the Shore Temple, a masterpiece of ancient stone architecture, and Arjuna’s Penance, one of the largest bas-reliefs in the world. The temples are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the town is still a famous centre for stone carving – artisans can still heard chipping away all over the city.
Shopping in Chennai (Madras)
From a plethora of new, fast-rising shopping malls to chaotic and colourful street markets, Chennai has plenty to offer the avid shopper and souvenir-hunter.
George Town is the wholesale area of Chennai, where you can find everything from paper and textiles to cosmetics and decorations. The streets are an atmospheric place to wander around. If searching for souvenirs, the Victoria Technical Institute, 765 Anna Salai, a government outlet promoting high-quality Indian handicrafts (with artists receiving a share of the profits), has a wide range of fixed price arts and crafts. SIPA’S Craftlink, 70 Kodambakkan High Road, Nungambakkam, is an artisan’s collective and fair trade craft shop.
For quality fabric including raw and hand-spun silks, Nalli Silks , 9 Nageswaran Road, is recommended. Higginbothams, 814 Anna Salai, is an institution, a huge bookshop with a vast selection of English-language titles.
The small stalls and shops lining Sir Thyagaraya Nagar Road, known as Pondy Bazaar, have an array of great fabrics, cheap clothes and jewellery, plus the divine smell of jasmine from the colourful flower stalls. Burma Bazaar is renowned for its electronic goods, while Mint Street is laden with kitchenware, textiles and jewellery.
Shopping malls are springing up fast and furiously in Chennai, transforming everyone’s shopping habits. Spencer Plaza, Anna Salai, is a massive mall with everything from clothes, cosmetics and shoes to household items, CDs, and souvenirs. On the second floor, Fabindia offers top quality handmade textiles (from garments to cushion covers) with lovely contemporary designs. There are government emporia from many states along Anna Salai.
Nearby is the gigantic Express Avenue Mall, Club House Road, which claims to be the largest of its kind in southern India and has over 200 stores. Other top shopping centres in the city include: Arimbami Mega Mall, Fountain Plaza, the Gold Souk Grand Mall and Century Plaza.
Shops and bazaars opening times vary, but most open daily from around 09:00-10:30 until 20:00-21:00 (some places close on Sunday).
Pick up arts and crafts, jewellery, woodwork, leatherware, silks, textiles, sarees, electronic goods, books, furniture and homeware.
Restaurants in Chennai (Madras)
Eating out in Chennai is a food-lover’s dream, with everything from classy hotel restaurants to the cheap lunch canteens that host the city’s office workers. The restaurants in Chennai below are listed alphabetically in three different pricing categories:
Expensive (over Rs800)
Moderate (Rs400 to Rs800)
Cheap (under Rs400)
These prices include a three-course meal for one, with half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, as well as tax. Tipping is optional.
Expensive
Cuisine: Asian
With an open kitchen and fine service, the sleek restaurant at the ITC Grand Chola hotel is one of India’s top Asian restaurants. The menu is a culinary road trip through the Far East, serving dishes from as far afield as China, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia.
Address: ITC Grand Chola, Anna Salai, Little Mount, Guindy, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 4906 5272
Website: www.itchotels.in
Cuisine: North Indian
Sister restaurant of the award-winning Bukhara in Delhi, the ITC Grand Chola’s non-veg restaurant serves up the delectable flavours of the North-West Frontier. Predominantly cooked in the charcoal grill and clay oven, the beautifully marinated meat dishes are succulent perfection, and there are also good vegetarian choices for non-carnivores.
Address: ITC Grand Chola Hotel, Little Mount, Guindy, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2220 0000
Website: www.itchotels.com
Cuisine: South Indian
The elegant South Indian restaurant at the Taj Coromandel pulls together the diverse flavours of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Surrounded by grandiose pillars and striking Indian artwork, the house thali (a plate meal made up of a selection of dishes) is a fantastic introduction to the food of South India.
Address: Nungambakkam, Uthamar Gandhi Rd, Anna Salai, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 6600 2827
Website: www.tajhotels.com
Moderate
Cuisine: Modern European
A big hit with the city’s well-to-do middle classes, Amethyst spills out on a gorgeous terrace looking over a tropical garden. The menu is European-inspired and sophisticated (think tomato, mushroom and olive risotto or tomato and mixed peppers galette), and there’s a chic boutique and flower shop in the compound.
Address: Whites Rd, next to Union Bank, Express Estate, Royapettah, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 4599 1633
Website: www.amethystchennai.com
Cuisine: South Indian
Run by devotees of Swami Satyananda Saraswati, this handsome mid-range vegetarian restaurant swims with the flavours of the Indian south. There’s an extensive range of South Indian staples, as well as less familiar Jain dishes, made according to strict vegetarian principles.
Address: Mayor Ramanathan Salai, Spur Tank road, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2836 8222
Website: www.annalakshmichennai.com
Cuisine: North India
The kebab is king at Barbeque Nation, where delicious skewers of chicken, mutton, fish and paneer are grilled right at your table. There are good options for vegetarians too, but it’s the meaty dishes that have earned the restaurant a loyal following amongst Chennai diners. There are two more locations around the city.
Address: Bergamo Mall, Khader Nawaz Khan Rd, Nungambakkam, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 80 6902 8724
Website: www.barbequenation.com
Cheap
Cuisine: South Indian
A Chennai institution, this vegetarian restaurant offers superb South Indian fare, such as uttapam (savoury pancakes), dosa (crepes made from rice batter and black lentils) and idli (steamed rice cakes), as well as Western-inspired dishes like meat-free pizzas. Established over 30 years, it boasts a loyal local following and there are often queues at lunchtime. There arenseveral branches in the city.
Address: Palani Andavar Koil St, Vadapalani, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2480 5577
Website: www.saravanabhavan.com
Cuisine: South Indian
Famed for its idli (steamed rice cakes), this is one of Chennai’s favourite breakfast stops, with 15 branches around the city. The signature dish comes with a side serving of spicy sambar (tamarind and lentil curry) and tangy coconut curry. Wash it down with a jigarthanda milkshake.
Address: Thyagaraya Nagar, North Usman Road, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 4859 9355
Website: www.muruganidlishop.com
Cuisine: South India
The house sambar (lentil and tamarind curry) is said to be the best in town at this lively canteen in Triplicane. The spicy sauce is served as a side with filling plates of idli (steamed rice cakes) and dosa (crepes made from rice batter and black lentils), as well as other South Indian staples.
Address: Triplicane, Triplicane High Road, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2848 7181
Website: www.ratna.cafeChennai (Madras) Nightlife
Laws that prohibit bars and nightclubs operating beyond midnight curb Chennai’s nightlife scene, but some do stay open a little longer. Nevertheless, there are some lively nightspots, many at 5-star hotels, though nothing quite on the scale of Mumbai, Bengaluru (Bangalore) or Delhi. Many nightclubs have a weekend cover charge, a smart dress code and may only allow couples (not single males).
Most national newspapers have a Chennai edition, including the Hindu, the Indian Express and the Times of India, with a supplement dedicated to local nightlife listings.
Bars in Chennai (Madras)
A convincing facsimile of a British pub, 10 Downing Street is all warm wood and leather loungers. First impressions, however, can be deceptive and the boozer hosts plenty of DJ nights, rock evenings and karaoke shows too. There’s even a small dancefloor for when things get lively.
Address: Kences Inn, Boag Rd, T. Nagar, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 98 4051 0203
Website: www.10ds.in
Located in the Residency Towers Hotel, this is a cheerful, split level English pub with a lively atmosphere. The cosy décor has (you’ve guessed it) barrels for tables and a flying motorbike suspended from the ceiling. The pub grub isn’t bad either, but fellas need to be in shoes, sleeved shirts and trousers.
Address: The Residency Towers Chennai, Sir Thyagaraya Rd, T. Nagar, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2815 6363
Website: www.theresidency.com
Ever so designer, the Leather Bar at The Park Chennai hotel could have been plucked straight from the pages of a coffee table book on home interiors. The namesake leather spreads over the furniture, floor and walls and there’s an alfresco terrace where you can catch the breeze over a cool cocktail.
Address: Anna Salai, The Park, Uthamar Gandhi Rd, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 4267 6000
Website: www.theparkhotels.com
Clubs in Chennai (Madras)
- Lower Deck Bar & Nightclub
Lower Deck Bar & Nightclub is a neon-heavy cocoon of cocktails and resident tune spinners. With exposed industrial pipes, LED tables and some rather bizarre paintwork, it’s certainly nailed a vibe. With room for 200.
Address: Valluvar Kottam High Rd, Ponnangipuram, Nungambakkam, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 90 2522 0015
Website: www.parkelanza.com
For a glam night out, trendy Flame Le Club in a magnet for Chennai’s beautiful people. Lounge on recliner divans and cushions that are hidden behind Persian drapes, before grabbing a classy cocktail and hitting the LED dancefloor to the beats of resident DJs.
Address: Grand Southern Trunk Rd, Ramapuram, St.Thomas Mount, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 75 5002 2133
Website: www.marriott.com
The bar at the Hilton Chennai is where Chennai’s A-listers come to live the high life, literally. Set beside the hotel’s rooftop pool, Q Bar gazes out across the city, with shaded gazebos, an impressive cocktail list, and its own resident DJ spinning the disks nightly.
Address: Hilton Chennai, Feet Rd, Poomagal Nagar, Guindy, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2225 5555
Website: www3.hilton.com
Live music in Chennai (Madras)
Founded by the philanthropist Dr K.M. Munshi, and opened with a blessing from Mahatma Gandhi, the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan runs cultural festivals and one-off performances around the city. Expect everything from bhajan (Hindu devotional songs) to veena and sitar shows as well as choirs, violinists and other traditional music.
Address: E Mada St, Vinayaka Nagar Colony, Mylapore, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2464 3450
Website: www.bhavanschennai.org
Founded in 1936 by dancer Rukmini Devi to preserve and promote classical dance and Carnatic music, the Kalakshetra Foundation stages performances of classical dance, especially Bharatanatyam. They also hold a highly regarded 10-day arts festival in December and January.
Address: Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2452 3418
Website: www.kalakshetra.in
Established to promote music and dance in Chennai, the Music Academy runs high profile cultural festivals throughout the year, with periodic music and dance programmes, plus plenty of live concerts. It’s a great place to see traditional musicians perform, particularly in December when it hosts an annual festival.
Address: 168 T.T.K. Road, Chennai.
Telephone: +91 44 2811 2231
Website: musicacademymadras.inChennai (Madras) Food And Drink
Food In Chennai (Madras)
- Madras curry or Madras sauce
Madras curry or Madras sauce is a curry sauce. Madras is brown in colour and is made with heavy use of chili powder.The main difference is the heat that the Madras brings, so a little spicier than the curry powder. This heat comes from chili peppers that are added into the spice blend, so it can have a little bit of a different color than regular curry, a little more red and darker.
A rich, fragrant and relatively hot curry, chicken madras is easy to make at home in one pan. Blending the onion gives the sauce a thick and sumptuous texture. A great Friday night curry.
Dosas and idlis are the most famous food in Chennai and are a must-try for anyone visiting the city. Dosas are a type of pancake or crepe made from fermented batter and are typically served with chutney and sambar. Idlis are a type of savoury cake made from a similar fermented batter of rice and urad dal.
Paniyaram more commonly known as Kuzhi paniyaram in Tamil Nadu, gunta ponganalu in Andhra Pradesh, are ball shaped crisp dumplings made with fermented urad dal and rice batter. Made in both sweet and savory variations, Paniyaram are a traditional everyday Breakfast food from South Indian cuisine.
Bhaji is made from a tasty and nutritious blend of vegetables, including potatoes, cauliflower, peas, carrots, and onions. It is blended with bhaji masala, a mix of spices that is similar to chaat masala but a little hotter. The bhaji is served with Pav – soft, buttery buns.
Pakora is a Punjabi word, and refers to vegetables, meat or fish deep fried in a spicy batter. Bhajis can refer to deep fried vegetables as well as other vegetarian dishes.
Boli / Puran poli is typical Indian sweet made with channa dal and jaggery or sugar filling. It is made on festive occasions. In South Kerala boli is made for Hindu weddings and for maru veedu (Bride’s family visiting the groom’s home first time after the wedding).
Drink In Chennai (Madras)
Vodka Madras is a sweet and delicious cocktail consisting of cranberry juice, orange juice, lime, and of course our award winning vodka. The addition of chamomile and cardamom gives this carbonated cocktail a craft twist. It’s the perfect combination of juicy, sweet and savory.
The Cape Cod or Cape Codder is a type of cocktail consisting of vodka and cranberry juice. Some recipes also call for squeezing a lime wedge over the glass and dropping it into the drink.
They’re all made in the same way, and getting a new drink is simply a matter of swapping out one of the juices. While the bay breeze uses pineapple, the sea breeze mixes grapefruit juice with the cranberry. Switch to a combination of orange and cranberry juices, and you have a madras.
The Screwdriver is a classic combination of vodka and orange juice that has been designated an International Bartender Association official cocktail.
The Hybrid Spirit That Blends Vodka and Tequila.
The fermentation process involves feeding sugar to yeast so that the yeast will produce alcohol. You can make vodka from any starchy or high sugar plant matter mixed with yeast and water. Most vodkas are made using a blend of grains like rye, wheat, malt, flaked maize, corn, or sorghum.