Chennai (Madras) Travel Forum

Can anyone please tell me what the facilities and services are like on the TN Express to Delhi. I'm planning to take my parents there but considering it is a 33 hour journey wondering if it's a good idea because of their age. I want to be sure that they will be comfortable all the way. Appreciate any advice.
Thanks
Mara

I am from Sri Lanka and I intend visiting Chennai (T Nagar- Pondy Bazaar area) for shopping end of this month. I will spend 4 nights in T Nagar. Can anyone please tell me whether Hotel Sudhara, 87, Usman Road, T Nagar is O.K.? Thank you.
Jay

I am arriving in Chennai by train from Trivandrum on Monday morning (June 23rd).

I am looking for a decent, clean, fan-cooled room with own bath in the 500 Rs range. Is this possible?

I want to attend the auto expo at the Chennai Trade Centre. It is in Nandambakkam - which I understand is some 8km from the city centre. Can anyone give me options and costs to get there - i.e. bus, rickshaw, taxi, train?

Thanks very much for your help.

Susan Z. Martin

What would be the price for good quality silk suit in Chennai ?
And where could I buy it ?
Do you recommend any shop with silk stuff for men in reasonable prices and good quality ? Do you know an example prices ?

Thanks for help

Hi there,
Does anyone have any information about the palm leaf library in Chennai? Address details and any available information would be great. Many thanks.

Hi VT members!

Is visiting to Tamil Nadu in December best time?

there is a travel agency called either rk travel or ramakrishna travel, adjacent to the ramakrishna math in mylapore, chennai.
could someone pls give their address/tel no. or web/email address.
many thanks.

Hi everyone!
Vincent and I are two French students who are going to stay 3 months in Chennai for work. Our office will be in the industrial zone of Chengelpattu.
Where do you advice us to stay? Chennai seems too far away (1 hour); is Chengelpattu nice? What about Tambaram? Do you know other nice city to stay?
Is furnished rental the best?
Tks for any advice.
Best

Clémence and Vincent

Hi VTers:

Which train should I take from Chennai going to Mumbai? How many hours?
How much? Is there a comfortable cabin or first class cabin?
Anything that I should know like do's and don'ts or something I should watch out for?

Thanks

Ken

Hi Fellow VT's,

I will be traveling to Mumbai via Chennai this April with a one-night stop-over. Can anyone suggest a decent, clean with A/C budget hotel near the airport? (i know that the airport is way out of the city). I was informed to check out hotels in Kennet Lane.

And would you also know if that budget hotel can arrange an airport transfer from and back?

Thanks so much.

Ken

Hello fellow VT's
I will be arriving on the early mrng Qatar airways flight and connecting on to a Kingfisher Domestic flight to Coimbatore.
Can some one guide me on the airport transfers between the International and Domestic terminal. Is it walking distace or are there any airport buses which take you there.
My flight arrives at 0340am and plan to connect on to 0615am departure flight.

Appreciate your help.

I am coming into Chennai for business late Saturday night, and would like to pick up a SIM for my unlocked mobile phone - Can anyone tell me if Airtel stores are open on Sunday, or will I need to wait until Monday?

I am staying at the Park Sheraton and am also curious if they sell SIM there - several "business-focused" hotels I have stayed in in the past offered this service.

Thanks!

Can some on tell me how many days I can leave luggage at Chennai airport and what is the cost for a bag (international travel size)? Is it safe there or people steal? How long it takes from Chennai airport to Vellore? How much it cost for a taxi. I appreciate your help.

Hi
I need to treat my small daughter at the hospital.Please guide me the place to stay near the hospital, hotel or any service appartment for a budget of 1000/- a day .If you have any phone nos of persons or hotel it shall be very helpfull.
Also advice on transport from airport to shanker natrala and cost of the same.
Thanks in Advance

Hi, I'm Raj 27 m from uk (born and brought up there), visiting Chennai on Monday 21st Jan until Wed 23rd. I'm living in Delhi for a few months for work at the moment and will be visiting Chennai regularly

I'm looking to party with people and hav fun whilst I visit.

Can someone inform me which clubs allow stag (single men) entry and the best clubs to visit for hookups.

My id on yh and gm is the same as here

Raj

Hello
Does someone know the rates for a double bedroom with bathroom in the Comfort guest House in Triplicane, Chennai
Thanks for your help
Annie

Where can I get some local delicacy (cookies or candy) as souvenir in Chennai??

How much is the approximate price for one piece of gulap jamon?

We will be touring south India in February, arriving in Chennai BUT flying home from Bangalore.

I can rent a suitable cell phone in the USA, but they charge $2.99 per minute for local calls and $3.99 per minute for calls to the USA.

Would renting a cell phone in India be cheaper? But is there such a service at the Chennai and Bangalore airports? If I rent in Chennai, can I return it in Bangalore?

Perhaps someone has been through a similar experience and could offer advice.

Peter in Toronto, Canada

If I have a weekends to spend, what arsue the places that should not be missed? Any suggestion for the itinerary?

Is it possible to go to Pondicherry and go back to Chennai in a one day trip?

Thanks.

Do I need to take any vaccination in order to travel to Chennai?

Dear Chennai VT,

Can anyone please help me with Air-India Express Inflight Magazine said to be called "Namaskaar Express"? I am an inflight magazine collector. Will pay for Indian postage through PayPal if someone can help me with this and send it to my address in Singapore:

Chyan
205 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1
11th Floor, Unit Number #11-1087
Singapore 560205
Singapore, Asia.

Please respond. Thank you.

Chyan

So I am still not sure about what to do...I am carriying a suitcase it is rather big but not so heavy...So I am not sure if there is space in the bus from Chennai to Pondicherry for it (do they have storage for bags in there?)...And surely do not want to travel without a seat either...As for the taxi do not know if it is safe enough to travel in taxi by night since I am a solo female traveler. So, taxi same evening my flight arrives to chennai? Or Bus same evening that my flight arrives? Or Taxi next morning? Bus next morning? Also are there any buses that leave from the airport? If not where should i catch it and I want the one that takes the least amount of time.... Any real good suggestions please

Hi
I need to stow our luggages for 2 days in (preferably) Chennai Airport.
Is there any facilities at the airport?
If there is, what do they charge for the service?

I searched in the Chennai Airport website, but could find none.
(But, mind you, the website doesn't even have arrival / departure information, which is surprising in a country full of IT talented people.)

Can any Chennites give me the answer for my question?
Thanks in advance, for your help.

Hi,

Could any bod suggest a trecking place near chennai?

Thanks in advance...

Hi,

This is our first trip to India.We are arrivng on 20.7.2007 in Chennai. We are a couple looking for a homestay with a family so that we can learn about the Indian culture. We would also be interested in taking short term Indian Cooking Classes & Yoga Classes. We would be happy to have breakfast and dinnner with the Indian fmaily. Any information on rates and plces is most welcome.

I need to know the contact details of the upmarket shopping establishments and eating out joints in chennai. Can anyone help me on this ? I had visited a restaurant called cedar where good lebanese food was served. Also West side in Spencers plaza gave me a good variety of apparel. I am curious to know about similar kinds of establishments. Can anyone give me details as to from where can I get the contact nos.of these establishments. I had checked up a few websites and found them to give me only the pain of searching.

Is it possible to buy HUTCH cellphone recharge/reload cards at the Chennai International airport? Do they sell SIM cards as well?

How far is it between International and domestic terminals?

Appreciate your reply. Thanks

Siva

Hi, I will be in Chennai for a day..... going there for shopping.
What are the stores in Chennai where I can find designer sarees, fancy sarees, ready made sarees. Preferablly with reasonable prices.
Names of stores and the areas would be very helpful.

Thank You

Not wishing to sound like a poor traveller but would love to see the champions league final despite being in Chennai and it being on so late. Does anyone have any ideas?

Does anyone know of regulations or restrictions regarding retirees?
My wife (Indian Malaysian) and I (ex Australian) want to migrate to Chennai to live permanently.
Is it possible to get permanent residency status?

Are there foreign investment rules if we want to buy property?

In Europe, a foreigner cannot buy car insurance (buying the car is not a problem but without insurance, there's not much point). Any similar problems in India.?

Help is greatly appreciated.
cheers
greg barlow
Malaysia